(5/5)TANKS!: Blitzkrieg; A Blueprint for Victory

Videos Running Time 00:48:00 in 5 Parts

TANKS!: Blitzkrieg A Blueprint for Victory

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This episode of the excellent series Tanks; chronicles the early days of the panzer force, and blitzkrieg tactics.

The dominance of blitzkrieg lay with superior tactics, radio communication, training and air support of the Whermacht. Before World War II the German Army spent considerable time training armored forces. Many in the German High Command refused to be swayed by the younger officer corps, that deep attacks into the enemy rear was the wave of the future. Many conservative generals reasoned that; logistical problems would doom a deep thrust attack to failure. Prior to World War II, then Col. Heinz Guderian authored a book titled Auctung Panzer. Guderians brilliant theories expanded on the prior writings of British General Fuller and Liddell Hart. Most nations still clung to the old theory of tanks supporting infantry, rather than infantry supporting tanks. Guderians theories found acceptance with Hitler, who expanded the armor program into practice.

Even though, the French and British based their defense of France and the Low Countries on old military theories, their equipment in some cases was superior to the Germans. The Panzer I was considered a training tank, with halftrack armor protection and 2 machine guns. The Panzer II was a reconnaissance tank with little armor protection and a 20mm cannon. These two panzers were almost worthless in tank to tank duels with the Allies Char-1b, S-35 and Matlida tanks. The Panzer III, with heavier armor protection, and a 37mm anti-tank gun, was the Germans main battle tank. The heavier Panzer IV possessed similar amour protection as the Panzer III, but was designed as an infantry support tank. The Panzer IV possessed a 75mm low-velocity gun. The captured stock pile of Czech T-38s after the invasion of Czechoslovakia added a welcomed addition to most panzer divisions.

Gen. Mansteins brilliant plan played into the Allied High Commands assumption that the main German attack would drive through the Low Countries. The Whermachts superior tactics and the Allies panic turned the German attack into a rout.

World War II Tank Tanks Guderian German Hitler Panzer Allied Manstein French British Allies Blitzkrieg Military Armor Whermacht



Enjoy this excellent episode of TANKS!

Category:

Education

Tags:

• World
• War
• II
• Tank
• Tanks
• Guderian
• German
• Hitler
• Panzer
• Allied
• Manstein
• French
• British
• Allies
• Blitzkrieg
• Military
• Armor

[MalteseFalcon786]

This documentary is better researched than most. Many documentaries make scarce mention of the Achilles' heel of Blitzkrieg, viz. its dependence on quick results and a rather long logistical tail. Thanks for uploading GD.

[JackCarter123]

That was a pretty good documentary. Tanks a lot for uploading it.

[martynrobin121]

El Alamein and Stalingrad marked the turning point and end of the Axis campaigns in both Africa,Russia. But many could say the turing point came as early as 1940/41 with the European Axis hudge defeats in Britain,Moscow. For the Axis powers to win the war was just impossible.

[redreaper2020]

7:35 Blitzkrieg was used again--in 1991!

[ajarmoc]

Thank you for posting, waiting to see more.

[scotter420wigb]

I'm yelling at the screen for someone to axe Hitlers head, what are u waiting for?

[Tecguy122]

Kursk was suicide for the germans; it was not time for an offensive, but it was rather time to apply the elastic defence

[Eurofighter19]

Great documentary.

[MalteseFalcon786]

Again, I'm not so sure he had anything to do with the formulation of the doctrine itself. The Sichelschnitt was a very original concept that went counter to the original Schlieffen Plan that the Allies were expecting the Germans to follow. The origins of Blitzkrieg actually lie with the Stosstruppen tactics of the First World War and were developed on later by people like Liddell Hart, Fuller, and Guderian.

[A2Kaid]

@MalteseFalcon786

Yes I am referring to the Sichelschnitt. From what I have read and studied Manstein greatly contributed to the Blitzkrieg doctrine so did Guderian. Don't you think Manstein should have been given credit as well for the formulation of the Blitzkrieg doctrine?

[MalteseFalcon786]

I wasn't aware von Manstein had anything to do with the formulation of the doctrine itself. I knew he was instrumental in the conception of the Sichelschnitt cut through the Ardennes in 1940 which brought France to it's knees and which may be described as a classic Blitzkrieg. Is that what you are referring to?

[A2Kaid]

@MalteseFalcon786

The Documentary is decent and educational, however I am disappointed in the lack of attention given to the role of Fld. Marshall Eric Von Manstein in regards to the Blitzkrieg war doctrine. Gen. Gunderian is given credit but not a single word mentioned about Fld. Marshall Eric Von Manstein...