Blitzkrieg in Poland and Norway

Blitzkrieg Operation Fall Weiss was planned by German High Command Operation Fall Weiss was planned by German High Command Hans Guderain and Ernst Rommel able to implement Blitzkrieg strategy in the plans for the Invasion of Poland Hans Guderain and Ernst Rommel able to implement Blitzkrieg strategy in the plans for the Invasion of Poland AIM – to conquer Poland before an assault in the West by France and Britain AIM – to conquer Poland before an assault in the West by France and Britain

Assault September 1 st 1939 September 1 st th Army (Group North) attacks Eastward into the Polish Corridor (von Boch) 4 th Army (Group North) attacks Eastward into the Polish Corridor (von Boch) 3 rd Army (Group North) attacks Polish Corridor in Westerly direction from East Prussia. 3 rd Army (Group North) attacks Polish Corridor in Westerly direction from East Prussia.

Assault 1 st September st September th Army (Groups South) advance from Silesia directly to Warsaw 10 th Army (Groups South) advance from Silesia directly to Warsaw 8 th Army (Group South) advance to the west of 10 th army 8 th Army (Group South) advance to the west of 10 th army 14 th Army (Group South) advance to East of Warsaw 14 th Army (Group South) advance to East of Warsaw Meet up with Army Group North and encircle Polish capital and defences. Meet up with Army Group North and encircle Polish capital and defences.

Statistics Over 2000 Panzer tanks deployed by 5 armies Over 2000 Panzer tanks deployed by 5 armies Over 1000 planes of the Luftwaffe engaged in bombing missions against Polish positions Over 1000 planes of the Luftwaffe engaged in bombing missions against Polish positions

Capitulation Warsaw surrenders, 28 th September 1939 Warsaw surrenders, 28 th September 1939 October 6 th, remnants of Polish army surrenders October 6 th, remnants of Polish army surrenders

Analysis: Why was Blitzkrieg so effective in Poland? Firstly, put the success in context, it wasn’t as big a walk in the park as it may seem: Firstly, put the success in context, it wasn’t as big a walk in the park as it may seem: There were 48,000 German casualties. There were 48,000 German casualties. 550 planes of the Luftwaffe were destroyed 550 planes of the Luftwaffe were destroyed Many Polish troops, planes and the navy escaped Many Polish troops, planes and the navy escaped

Analysis Superiority in the air Superiority in the air Better training Better training Archaic Polish weaponry Archaic Polish weaponry Soviet involvement on 17 th September Soviet involvement on 17 th September Lack of response in West by France or Britain Lack of response in West by France or Britain Surprise Surprise

Norway Different terrain to Polish assault Different terrain to Polish assault Coastal landings required Coastal landings required Longer lines of supply Longer lines of supply Face stronger lines of fixed defence Face stronger lines of fixed defence AIM – prevent British use of Norway as a base for operations against Germany AIM – prevent British use of Norway as a base for operations against Germany

Norway Codename Weserubung Codename Weserubung April 1940 April German ships involved in sea borne operation 107 German ships involved in sea borne operation Largest naval armada ever (at the time, overtaken several times in WW2) Largest naval armada ever (at the time, overtaken several times in WW2)

Norway Navy splits into groups. One landing in the north – near Narvik, the second near Trondheim and a third aiming for Bergen. Navy splits into groups. One landing in the north – near Narvik, the second near Trondheim and a third aiming for Bergen. Air assault coincides with landing Air assault coincides with landing Narvik captured by 18.10pm Day 1. Narvik captured by 18.10pm Day 1. Trondheim captured on Day 1. Trondheim captured on Day 1. Bergen falls to German forces by 06.10am Bergen falls to German forces by 06.10am

Oslo Group 5 launches assault on Oslo Fjord on 8-9 th April Group 5 launches assault on Oslo Fjord on 8-9 th April Bulcher (ship) sunk by Norweigan fire Bulcher (ship) sunk by Norweigan fire German withdrawal forced German withdrawal forced Norwegian Government escape Norwegian Government escape Paratrooper assault on Oslo airfield, morning of April 9 th. Paratrooper assault on Oslo airfield, morning of April 9 th.

Norway Norway effectively under German control by April 10 th (All major cities) Norway effectively under German control by April 10 th (All major cities) British counter attack th April British counter attack th April Narvik captured by British 28 th May Narvik captured by British 28 th May British destroy port, advance attempts fail. British destroy port, advance attempts fail. Total withdrawal of Allied troops, 7-8 th June Total withdrawal of Allied troops, 7-8 th June