France has fallen - La Chute continuez ....

[AlfredJPruffock]

That served the French right. Blitzkrieg was invented by a young French lieutenant called Charles de Gaulle as a result of what he had seen in WWI. The French general staff ignored it.

Wel well well - I didnt know that - how ironic !

[Pondlife]

That served the French right. Blitzkrieg was invented by a young French lieutenant called Charles de Gaulle as a result of what he had seen in WWI. The French general staff ignored it.

I thought it was a method first employed by the Mongols.

[Purple Dalek]

I thought it was a method first employed by the Mongols.

The mongols had tanks and stuka dive bombers? yeah right....

[expat]

I thought it was a method first employed by the Mongols.

In the vague sense of sending in overwhelming force able to travel fast, yes maybe. De Gaulle (and to an extent Liddell Hart) developed a theory and its application using modern mechanised transport and armaments, to do that while protecting the flanks of a narrow advancing force with the men and materiel being advanced. The Germans saw that that was exactly what they needed to get to Paris à grande vitesse.

The French should have seen that coming. Why do you think they never build good straight railway lines or even roads directly to the east? Good transport links outre-Rhin was the last thing they ever wanted.

[sasguru]

The mongols had tanks and stuka dive bombers? yeah right....

Blitzkreig refers to the method of warfare whereby rather than massing on a broad front to take enemy territory inch by inch, highly mobile and fast spearheads go deep into enemy territory, striking behind enemy lines, spreading confusion and leaving enemy strong points behind them to be mopped up by slower troops.
As such the Mongols with their horse squadrons did indeed use an early form.
The Germans perfected it for modern armour and planes.

[expat]

Blitzkreig refers to the method of warfare whereby rather than massing on a broad front to take enemy territory inch by inch, highly mobile and fast spearheads go deep into enemy territory, striking behind enemy lines, spreading confusion and leaving enemy strong points behind them to be mopped up by slower troops.
As such the Mongols with their horse squadrons did indeed use an early form.
The Germans perfected it for modern armour and planes.

They added the critical innovation of siphoning off some force on each side of the advance, to protect the flank, all the way along: so that the main highway remained open for continuous advance of more forces.

[sasguru]

They added the critical innovation of siphoning off some force on each side of the advance, to protect the flank, all the way along: so that the main highway remained open for continuous advance of more forces.

Ah those clever Teutons.

[Pondlife]

This is a good read.

Well, I liked it anyway

[AlfredJPruffock]

In the vague sense of sending in overwhelming force able to travel fast, yes maybe. De Gaulle (and to an extent Liddell Hart) developed a theory and its application using modern mechanised transport and armaments, to do that while protecting the flanks of a narrow advancing force with the men and materiel being advanced. The Germans saw that that was exactly what they needed to get to Paris à grande vitesse.

The French should have seen that coming. Why do you think they never build good straight railway lines or even roads directly to the east? Good transport links outre-Rhin was the last thing they ever wanted.

I recall reading that the orginal Nazi plan for France was a tradional slug fest - however a LuftWaffe pilot who had this plan had to make an emergency landing near Mechlen in Bellebum - this breach of plan caused the Nazis to rethink and adopt the Blitzkeirg - makes you wonder what would have happened if that pilot didnt make that landing.

[expat]

I recall reading that the orginal Nazi plan for France was a tradional slug fest - however a LuftWaffe pilot who had this plan had to make an emergency landing near Mechlen in Bellebum - this breach of plan caused the Nazis to rehink and adopt the Blitzkeirg - makes you wonder what would have happened if that piolt didnt make that landing.

The French stuck to the plan they used successfully in WWI: in 1914, having agreed that in the event of German invasion Britain would send help, the Foreign Secretary asked his French counterpart how many British soldiers France would need. "One" said the Frenchman, "as long as he is killed by the Germans".