Blitzkrieg!

What is a Blitzkrieg?

• A revolutionary new form of warfare

• “Lightning war”

• Designed to defeat an enemy with a quick, unexpected attack

• Hitler’s military strategy that includes ground forces, an air strike and motorized infantry happening simultaneously

Six Elements of Blitzkrieg…1. Surprise the enemy must be caught off guard

2. Psychological Warfare propaganda is used to weaken the enemy’s will to fight & cause confusion

3. Concentration of Firepower Germans always found the weakest defended section of enemy lines & sent ALL of their fire power through this narrow area

4. Speed Germans kept moving despite the enemy’s defensive fire; the attack was carried DEEP into the enemy’s territory

5. Leadership from the Front German generals drove into battle with their panzers (tank or armour); they could then change orders to adapt to new circumstances

6. Co-ordination German panzer divisions included many formations of a variety of arms, all working together…

A New Kind Of War• Fast moving war

• Technological Developments: Airplanes, Bazookas, Machine Guns

• Sophisticated Communication Systems

• Could attack from 1000’s of km’s away

• Cryptologists: Develop secret codes

• CAMP X: Camp used by Canadians to develop secret codes that commanders could use and to break codes of enemy

Reconnaissance Aircraft

Artillery

Motorized Infantry

Stuka Dive Bomber

1 September 1939: Blitzkrieg in PolandGermany Invades Poland

• 3 September 1939: Britain declares war on Germany

• 10 September 1939: After a week of debate, Canada declares war on Germany – the first independent declaration of war in Canadian history

• Sept 1939 – April 1940: The Phony War…… no fighting takes place. Both England and Germany wait for one another to make the first move…

April 1940:

Operation Sicklecut...

The invasion of Belgium,Holland, Luxembourg, and France

1941: German General Rommel’s forces march across North Africa

Our Only Hope is Canada: Video1. What is Mackenzie King’s thoughts about

Hitler?

2. Who is Cairine Wilson?

3. Who is Dr. Norman Bethune?

Quebec, 1943:King, Roosevelt, Churchill, Earl of Athlone (GG)

Canada at War• Read pp. 108-109 and answer

questions 1-2• Read pp. 112-113 and answer

questions 1-2 (COMPLETE)