The Blitzkrieg
History: KS3, topic 19.1.5
The Blitzkrieg
The Blitzkrieg lasted between April and June 1940 AD. During this period, Germany attacked the Allied forces (the side that Britain and France were on).
Blitzkrieg tactics
- ‘Blitzkrieg’ means ‘lightning war’ in German, because it was mostly a bombing campaign.
- The aim was to make enemy troops disorganised.
- Campaigns were targeted, intense and quick.
Territories conquered by Germany
- Between April and June AD, Germany conquered Denmark, Norway, Belgium, The Netherlands and France.
Dunkirk
- Dunkirk as an outcome of a campaign was a massive military disaster but as an operation itself it was an extraordinary success.
- The British Expeditionary Force (The British Army) had to retreat to Dunkirk, and waited on the beaches for rescue as German planes bombed and shot at them.
- Between 26thMay and 4th June around 330,000 soldiers were evacuated from Dunkirk.
- Both military ships and tiny civilian fishing boats crossed the channel during the war to pick them up.
Would Germany invade Britain?
- On the 4th of June 1940 AD, Churchill (the British Prime Minister) warned Parliament that Germany might invade Britain.
Test yourself on The Blitzkrieg
What does 'blitzkrieg' mean in German?