Blitzkrieg facts for kids
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Blitzkrieg is a German word which means lightning war, referring to the high velocity of a lightning bolt.
In a blitzkrieg the attacking armies move very quickly, and are helped by tanks and by aircraft. Enemy slower moving units are overrun or surrounded. They are often captured with little fighting. Often the slower units might not be ready to fight when they are captured.
It was used by the German army in World War II during the invasions of Poland, France, and the Soviet Union.
The Blitz refers to the German bombing of Britain, particularly London, during World War II, which destroyed over a million homes and killed over 40,000 people. The bombing was supposed to quickly destroy industry and morale (happiness) and make it easier for the German Army to invade. But the RAF (Royal Air Force) was able to stop The Blitz, and regain the control of the British airspace.
Towards the end of the war, the Allies learned to defeat German blitzkrieg attacks by attacking the sides of the attackers with reserve forces.
Images for kids
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Ju 87 Bs over Poland, September–October 1939
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British armoured car and motorcycle at the Battle of Megiddo (1918).
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The Ju 87 "Stuka" dive-bomber was used in blitzkrieg operations.
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The Hawker Typhoon, especially when armed with eight RP-3 rockets, posed a threat to German armour and motor vehicles during the Battle of Normandy in 1944.
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In Poland, fast-moving armies encircled Polish forces (blue circles), but not by independent armored operations. Combined tank, artillery, infantry and air forces were used.
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German advances during the Battle of Belgium
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German advances during the Battle of France
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After 1941–42, the Wehrmacht increasingly used armoured formations as a mobile reserve against Allied breakthroughs. The blue arrows depict armoured counter-attacks.
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See also
In Spanish: Guerra relámpago para niños
