Blitzkrieg in Poland and Blitzkrieg in Poland and NorwayNorway

BlitzkriegBlitzkrieg

Operation Fall Weiss was planned by Operation Fall Weiss was planned by German High Command German High Command

Hans Guderain and Ernst Rommel Hans Guderain and Ernst Rommel able to implement Blitzkrieg strategy able to implement Blitzkrieg strategy in the plans for the Invasion of Polandin the plans for the Invasion of Poland

AIM – to conquer Poland before an AIM – to conquer Poland before an assault in the West by France and assault in the West by France and Britain Britain

AssaultAssault

September 1September 1stst 1939 1939 44thth Army (Group North) attacks Army (Group North) attacks

Eastward into the Polish Corridor (von Eastward into the Polish Corridor (von Boch)Boch)

33rdrd Army (Group North) attacks Polish Army (Group North) attacks Polish Corridor in Westerly direction from Corridor in Westerly direction from East Prussia.East Prussia.

AssaultAssault

11stst September 1939 September 1939 1010thth Army (Groups South) advance from Army (Groups South) advance from

Silesia directly to WarsawSilesia directly to Warsaw 88thth Army (Group South) advance to the Army (Group South) advance to the

west of 10west of 10thth army army 1414thth Army (Group South) advance to East Army (Group South) advance to East

of Warsawof Warsaw Meet up with Army Group North and Meet up with Army Group North and

encircle Polish capital and defences. encircle Polish capital and defences.

StatisticsStatistics

Over 2000 Panzer Over 2000 Panzer tanks deployed by tanks deployed by 5 armies5 armies

Over 1000 planes Over 1000 planes of the Luftwaffe of the Luftwaffe engaged in engaged in bombing missions bombing missions against Polish against Polish positionspositions

CapitulationCapitulation

Warsaw surrenders, 28Warsaw surrenders, 28thth September September 19391939

October 6October 6thth, remnants of Polish army , remnants of Polish army surrenderssurrenders

Analysis: Why was Blitzkrieg so Analysis: Why was Blitzkrieg so effective in Poland?effective in Poland?

Firstly, put the success in context, it Firstly, put the success in context, it wasn’t as big a walk in the park as it wasn’t as big a walk in the park as it may seem:may seem:

There were 48,000 German casualties.There were 48,000 German casualties. 550 planes of the Luftwaffe were 550 planes of the Luftwaffe were

destroyeddestroyed Many Polish troops, planes and the Many Polish troops, planes and the

navy escapednavy escaped

AnalysisAnalysis

Superiority in the airSuperiority in the air Better trainingBetter training Archaic Polish weaponryArchaic Polish weaponry Soviet involvement on 17Soviet involvement on 17thth September September Lack of response in West by France or Lack of response in West by France or

BritainBritain Surprise Surprise

NorwayNorway

Different terrain to Polish assaultDifferent terrain to Polish assault Coastal landings requiredCoastal landings required Longer lines of supplyLonger lines of supply Face stronger lines of fixed defenceFace stronger lines of fixed defence AIM – prevent British use of Norway AIM – prevent British use of Norway

as a base for operations against as a base for operations against Germany Germany

NorwayNorway

Codename Codename Weserubung Weserubung April 1940April 1940 107 German ships involved in sea 107 German ships involved in sea

borne operationborne operation Largest naval armada ever (at the Largest naval armada ever (at the

time, overtaken several times in time, overtaken several times in WW2)WW2)

NorwayNorway

Navy splits into groups. One landing in Navy splits into groups. One landing in the north – near Narvik, the second near the north – near Narvik, the second near Trondheim and a third aiming for Bergen.Trondheim and a third aiming for Bergen.

Air assault coincides with landingAir assault coincides with landing Narvik captured by 18.10pm Day 1.Narvik captured by 18.10pm Day 1. Trondheim captured on Day 1. Trondheim captured on Day 1. Bergen falls to German forces by Bergen falls to German forces by

06.10am06.10am

OsloOslo

Group 5 launches assault on Oslo Group 5 launches assault on Oslo Fjord on 8-9Fjord on 8-9thth April April

Bulcher (ship) sunk by Norweigan fireBulcher (ship) sunk by Norweigan fire German withdrawal forcedGerman withdrawal forced Norwegian Government escapeNorwegian Government escape Paratrooper assault on Oslo airfield, Paratrooper assault on Oslo airfield,

morning of April 9morning of April 9thth. .

NorwayNorway

Norway effectively under German Norway effectively under German control by April 10control by April 10thth (All major cities) (All major cities)

British counter attack 13-14British counter attack 13-14thth April April Narvik captured by British 28Narvik captured by British 28thth May May British destroy port, advance attempts British destroy port, advance attempts

fail.fail. Total withdrawal of Allied troops, 7-8Total withdrawal of Allied troops, 7-8thth

JuneJune