BLITZKRIEG (LIGHTNING WAR)
In the first phase of World War II in Europe, Germany sought to avoid a long war. Germany's strategy was to defeat its opponents in a series of short campaigns. Germany quickly overran much of Europe and was victorious for more than two years by relying on a new military tactic called the "Blitzkrieg" (lightning war). Blitzkrieg tactics required the concentration of offensive weapons (such as tanks, planes, and artillery) along a narrow front. These forces would drive a breach in enemy defenses, permitting armored tank divisions to penetrate rapidly and roam freely behind enemy lines, causing shock and
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Germany became embroiled in a long war, leading ultimately to its defeat in May 1945.
This second global conflict resulted from the rise of totalitarian, militaristic regimes in Germany, Italy, and Japan, a phenomenon stemming in part from the Great Depression that swept over the world in the early 1930s and from the conditions created by the peace settlements (1919—20) following World War I.
After World War I, defeated Germany, disappointed Italy, and ambitious Japan were anxious to regain or increase their power; all three eventually adopted forms of dictatorship (see National Socialism and fascism) that made the state supreme and called for expansion at the expense of neighboring countries. These three countries also set themselves up as champions against Communism, thus gaining at least partial tolerance of their early actions from the more conservative groups in the Western democracies. Also important was a desire for peace on the part of the democracies, which resulted in their military unpreparedness. Finally, the League of Nations, weakened from the start by the defection of the United States, was unable to promote disarmament (see Disarmament Conference); moreover, the long economic depression sharpened national rivalries, increased fear and distrust, and made the masses susceptible to the promises of demagogues.
The failure of the League to stop the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1931 was followed by a rising crescendo of treaty
In addition, Hitler learnt that the League of Nations, itself a creation of the Treaty of Versailles failed to ensure collective security, and could possibly do nothing to impede his actions. The most crucial factor is that Woodrow Wilson himself, the creator of the League of Nations, was not allowed to join it by the Congress. Also, it proved to be ineffective at various occasions. It was first unsuccessful in 1931 during the Manchurian Crisis. The League of Nations sent a committee to investigate the situation and concluded that Japan had violated China’s security. Although they condemned Japan’s actions, there was not much Britain or
The defeat of Germany in World War Two was due to many factors. All of these factors were influenced by the leadership and judgment of Adolf Hitler. Factors such as the stand fast policy, Hitler's unnecessary and risky decision making in military situations, for example when attacking the USSR, and the declaration of war on the US. Plus other factors, like Hitler's alliance with Italy, despite its obvious weaknesses, and the pursuit of the final solution, can all be attributed to the poor leadership and judgement of the Fuhrer, which would eventually lead to the downfall of the Third Reich.
Doomsday is defined as the day where the world will come to an end and people will face God on Judgment Day. Many people are fascinated by the notion that Doomsday will eventually happen soon, but there’s always a miscalculation when it comes to predicting as when the world will end. World War II is the most significant period in the twentieth century because technology, civil rights movement in the U.S, and the ability to explore outer space took a huge leap of fascination around the world. The two powerful allies emerged during World War II as to begin a Cold War with each other that defined the twentieth century. The idea that the world will come to an end by a nuclear war based on previous events from World War II that can potentially one day happen again because of historic evidence from the Cold War that wiped out two major cities in Japan, scientific evidence of a secret nuclear weapon written in India’s ancient epics, and the production of radiation smoke that builds up overtime can slowly kill humans. Zombies are dead corpse that is revived by a virus. The myth of zombies originated from Haiti in 1626 to 1800s, as an image of inhumanity where slaves were treated ruthlessly. In the Haitian religion, slaves believed that dying was a way for them to return to Guinea, where they are free from torture in the afterlife. Under the ruled by Saint-Domingue in France when African slaves to work for the sugar plantation. Slaves who worked under the French were treated
World War II World War II was a pivotal event of the 20th century and a defining
Prior to the First World War, Europe was the world center of industry and capital. Massive death, destruction, and resentment after World War I left most countries unable to recover to a normal existence and damaged the world economy. The economic collapse and the political instability caused by World War I eventually led to the rise of fascism in Europe. Forceful dictators in Italy, Germany, and Japan took advantage of these problems to seize power by territorial expansion. These events caused a major repositioning of world power and influence. This paper traces a variety of significant factors and forces that contributed to the outbreak of World War II.
and throughout the 1930’s the clouds of war were forming. Dictators arose in countries that were
After the First World War, many countries saw political, social and economic changes. The world was plunged into World War 2 because of the Munich Agreement, an agreement regarding Nazi Germany's annexation of portions of Czechoslovakia along the country's borders. This agreement caused many issues between European countries. Many people of the “Big Four” had different views on dealing with aggression. Collective Security was a more effect response to aggression than appeasement.
In the years since 1945, it has become increasingly evident that the alliance between the British and the United States was often in disagreement over the correct strategy to insure the final defeat of the Axis powers. Early on, both British and American staffs could agree that Germany represented a greater military threat than Japan, but they did not often see eye to eye on the strategy that would most efficiently defeat them.
The carnage of world war one was the result of the clash between new technologies, but old strategies. Blitzkrieg warfare would be the first form of modern military tactics for it fully utilizes the technological advancements of that time. The term “Blitzkrieg” was not invented by the Germans, but by an English magazine that described the invasion of Poland (Showalter). While many accredit the invention of Blitzkrieg warfare to Heinz Guderian, Germany's Chief of Mobile Troops during WWII, it was actually invented far before that. In fact, it was developed right after WWI after seeing the devastating effects of trench warfare(Showalter). Ironically, the basis of Blitzkrieg warfare was also laid by German Field Marshall Alfred von Schlieffen of the famous Schlieffen plan of WWI(Showalter). The basic essence of Blitzkrieg warfare was built upon the belief that Germany was always going to be out resourced and out numbered in every war and thus in order to win it, the Germans must strike hard and fast and penetrate deep behind enemy lines(Showalter). Thus, Blitzkrieg warfare was the most effective military tactic of its time because it utilized all of the technology of its time, it not only utilized physical warfare, but also psychological warfare, and because Germany’s opponents were not prepared for this kind of warfare.
Government and politics- The rancor in the Germans, the fragility of the Weimar system, fear brought by soldiers in violent Nazi military groups, and Hitler’s intellectual speeches; is what encouraged Hitler’s rise to power. During the Great Depression in Germany, people wanted someone to fault, and searched for a way out- Hitler provided them with what they wanted. Germany and Italy were angry at the results of the Treaty of Versailles. Fascism gave them control, in all characteristics, of the state. Benito Mussolini was the first leader to establish Fascism. During the Great Depression the growth of population required tremendous food imports. The high tariffs and racism of other countries against Japan restricted the exporting of goods. Consequently, Japanese surmised that that broadening through armed acquisition would resolve Japans financial complications. This time of despair affected the US as well. Americans feared entering another war and therefore turned into isolationism.
“The world must know what happened, and never forget.” (World War 2) General Eisenhower reflecting upon the world war II, and acknowledging it as a pertinent event in the history of the United States of America. War is war, it is not pretty or humane, but what it is, is a diplomatic way in which to settle disputes and aggressions between countries. By analyzing these wars of the past, the people of the country can learn many things, be it mistakes made by one side, strategy from someone else or battle field etiquette. And it is through this analysis that the human race is able to further itself to not repeat the mistakes made by their ancestors. There are many lessons to be learned from looking at the
Chaos and continual disorder encompassed the people across the globe in the years prior to the declaration of war between the Axis and Allied powers in 1939. The Great Depression that had struck soon after the First World War left much of the world unemployed and desperate for relief. Nationalism swept through Germany in response to the terms of the Versailles Treaty that ended World War I. China and Japan had been at war since Japanese troops invaded Manchuria in 1931. Germany, Italy, and Japan began multiple invasions and occupations of nearby countries. When they received no meaningful consequences for their aggressive actions, they felt emboldened and World War II began. In the midst of war and the growing totalitarian aggression, the
They succeeded in causing a serious fire situation in the docks. An area about 1½
Blitzkrieg in a literal sense means “lightning war” meaning that they would use speed and confusion to upset the enemy forces. Rommel is credited as being the one who perfected the art of war known as Blitzkrieg and for good reasons. It’s believed that Rommel and Guderian were told under the command of Hitler to disobey their superiors and to push the front, leaving their flanking forces behind them to create confusion and surprise for the enemy. Rommel used this method of
During the early stages of the war, most of Germany’s victories were because of the success of blitzkrieg, or lightening war. Blitzkrieg tactics