What was the Blitzkrieg? The Blitzkrieg was the idea that by using tanks and trucks, armies could move very quickly to capture lands. It was how the Germans captured much of Western Europe at the start of the Second World War.

Blitzkrieg (lightning war)

German Panzer tanks advance up a road.

Blitzkrieg (German for 'Lightning War') was a new way of fighting that the Germans developed in the 1930s. In the past armies had relied on horses and so advances were slow. The Germans saw that using motor transport would speed up any advance.

They were right. They had built motor roads (autobahnen) right to the borders with neighbouring countries, so they were able to get supplies to their troops quickly.

Advances right across Western Europe took just a few weeks as a result of this new way of attacking.

Video: Blitzkreig.

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