2-1 Discussion_Strange Defeat or Strange Victory
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Apr 3, 2024
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2-1 Discussion: Strange Defeat or Strange Victory Last week we discussed the Appeasement strategy and how this led to World War II. It was obvious to Germany that they were able to ignore, for the most part, the Versailles Treaty and begin developing weapons and moving troops as they see fit without the interference of Europe or any of the other Allies. Germany’s early success can be attributed to not only the Appeasement strategy, but also its technological, tactical, and strategical operations set fourth by its leadership. Germany’s technological advances were mostly seen in their development of rockets and the Panzer tank. I believe these two are the main technological advances that Germany has developed and aided them in war. There were other developments like the jet-engine plane, but this was not seen heavily in combat in the early part of the war. Germany also developed several rifles that were utilized by their army, which were more advanced than most allied weapons in the early parts of the war. The tactical advantage that Germany had in the early part of the war was the Blitzkrieg, or also known as the “Lightening War.” This tactic is described as a method of offensive warfare that is designed to strike at the enemy quickly and directly, utilizing mobile infantry, manurable forces, and utilizing tanks and air support to reach their objective. This concept allowed Germany to move quickly to their objective and eliminate the enemy prior to them being able to organize and create a counterattack. This tactic was used in the attacks on Poland, Norway, Belgium, Holland and France. This tactic was considered a new art of warfare. While this tactic helped Germany in the early part of the war, it was less successful against more organized armies. By 1943, this tactic was pretty much eliminated, and Germany was forced into more of a defensive role. The Blitzkrieg tactic is still considered a viable tactic. This tactic was used in 1991 during the first gulf war. Germany’s first strategy was to invade Poland, a country he believed Europe and France would not come to the aide of and support. Hitler was correct in this assessment, no allied rushed to Poland’s side. This was a quick and decisive victory, then Germany paused and waited to see what would happen. This pause was called the “Phony War.” There was some fighting that went on between the Allies and Germany, but no major combat actions that were taken by either side. Once Germany decided to start conflicts to the west, or eastern Europe, the strategy was the same as we seen in Poland. Using the tactic, Blitzkrieg, and choosing targets wisely, the German army was able to move quickly, and gain holds on territory in France without major resistance from France’s army. France may have had a well discipline and trained army, but they placed their more trained and experience troops in a location far from where Germany would attack. France was unable to defend Germany’s technological and operational planning. Germans strategical planning in the early part of the war was methodical and deliberate, but it also was a gamble. Germany made assumptions on how the French would react, their assumptions paid off and the French acted according to how they predicted. Once Hitler came into power, Germany was ruled by fear and loyalty. Hitler, like most leaders, surrounded himself with what he believed was his closest allies and most talented personnel in combat operations. Hitler was able to convince his leadership, his armies, and the German people that he would bring back the might to Germany and would lead his people to many victories. Hitler had the ability to convince the German people that his victories and the atrocities which he soon would oversee, would allow the German population to be a proud nation again, which they have not felt since the end of World War I. The leadership which he put in place to oversee is military, would help motivate his armies to not only follow Hitler’s orders, but would also do unimaginable acts like genocide. Like most countries, Germany was a proud nation, and after World War I, most of the population was embarrassed and wanted a leader to show that Germany had a mighty military and considered to be the world leader amongst others. In the early part of World War II, German made a lot of predictions and assumptions on what their enemies would do. This allowed them to make strategic plans, where if they were wrong, they would lose those battles. This worked for them in the early part of the war, but as the Allies started to work together and develop their own planning, Germany quickly saw defeats, and this enabled the Allies to start pushing the German army back into Germany. I believe where Hitler failed was when he did not pivot or change strategy as the war moved forward. The Allies
2-1 Discussion: Strange Defeat or Strange Victory adjusted and improved their technology, tactics, and strategy to counterattack Germany which changed the course of the war. References Murray, Williamson, and Millett, Allan R.. A War to Be Won: Fighting the Second World War. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2000. Samuel W. Mitcham Jr. Blitzkrieg No Longer : The German Wehrmacht in Battle, 1943. Mechanicsburg, Pa: Stackpole Books, 2010. https://search-ebscohost-
com.ezproxy.snhu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=414314&site=eds-live&scope=site Weisser, Henry G. “Military Overview of World War II.” Salem Press Encyclopedia, 2023. https://search-
ebscohost-com.ezproxy.snhu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ers&AN=96776754&site=eds-
live&scope=site
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