Blitzkrieg (Lightning War) By: Jake, Kortlin, Levi

Blitzkrieg It was a German Maneuver using all motorized units including the armored tank, militarized airplanes, and motorcycles. It was used in Poland, Belgium, France, and Russia. Succeeded in all countries but Russia. The reason Blitzkrieg failed in Russia is because of the Russian winter and thawing season. The Blitzkrieg style of warfare was to attack at the least obvious point, in order to concentrate the offensive against the weakest defense, punching through, and then maintaining a highly mobile offensive in order to keep the enemy off balance. This was usually planned as a surprise attack and could easily overwhelm the enemies.

The Blitzkrieg Maneuver

London Blitz

London Blitz Otherwise known as Battle Over Britain 1940-1941 Originally meant to destroy Royal Air Force for Operation Sea Lion Germany was close to achieving air dominance, but instead switched to bombing cities after Britain bombed German city Bombings didn’t end until 1945 (end of war)

London Bombings German Bombers

Tactics

Tactics “Hugging” “Banzai/Kamikaze” “Pincer” “Steamroller” Soviet technique used to eliminate artillery and air support by being extremely close to German positions “Banzai/Kamikaze” Banzai methods were mass suicide charges. Pretty darn ineffective. Sometimes helping to shorten the war Kamikaze were Japanese Ships, Planes, and Torpedoes filled with explosives, fuel, and one suicidal man. “Pincer” Flanks attacked at the same time to encircle enemy forces “Steamroller” Soviet method using thousands of troops and material to overrun enemy positions no matter how many deaths

A failed Banzai Attack Above: A Kamikaze pilot is going down in a suicide dive Below: The Essex is hit by a Kamikaze plane Stalingrad – Where the Soviets managed to repel the German force using the “Hugging” Tactic

Maginot Line

French Maginot Line French defensive line located on Franco-German border. German’s bypassed the line by going through Belgium and flanking the Maginot Line. Otherwise they went around it. Made up of huge underground bunkers with turrets that rose from the ground

This is a photo taken fairly recently of the tunnels that ran underneath the Maginot Line. Some portions of it are available for viewing by the public. The red line shows areas of strong defense along the Maginot Line while the dashed line shows areas not well guarded due to the existing forest. The two pictures to the right show what some of the above ground rooms looked like.

Weapons

New weapons WWII brought a new era of weapons such as: Jets Rockets Assault Rifle Better Improved Tanks Airplanes and Nuclear BOMBS

German Weapons Infantry Weapons Vehicles including Artillery Fg-42, mg-42, mp-40,mp-38, Luger, Mauser C96,mg-38, Mauser Kar 98k, Bayonets Vehicles including Artillery Stuka Bomber, Me-262 (jet),V1 and v2 rockets, Panzer tanks, King Tiger Tanks, Panther tanks. 88mm flak gun (used as AA and AT gun)

Below: FG42 Left: Three Stuka bombers. Right: Panzer Tank

Allied Weapons Infantry Weapons Vehicles M1 Garand, Tommy gun, M1 Carbine, colt 1911,browning mg, BAR, Springfield, Enfield bolt action,M1 Flamethrower, Trench gun, Vehicles P-51 Mustang, B-17 flying fortress, Sherman tank, Abrams tank, PPSH, bayonets,T-34

Left: M1 Garand Right: Tommy Gun Sherman Tank

German Wonder Weapons Jets, Sun gun, sound cannon, Sub-orbital bomber, air cannon, rifle-attachment allowing them to shoot around corners. Sun gun- a mirror orbiting the sun that focused on a city to boil it. The “real” wunderwaffe known as the Nazi bell was a rumored advanced air prototype, Vortex cannon, sound cannon The sound cannon was able to kill at 100 yds. and able to mortally wound up to 300 yds. but was too big to be used in battle Most of these were never fully developed with the exception of the sound cannon, the jets, and the rifle attachment.

PICS of wonder weapons