An examination of the German Blitzkrieg operations from Poland to Operation Barbarossa, as experienced by junior commanders and enlisted men, exploring why they were so successful.
The successes of the German Blitzkrieg in 1939–41 were as surprising as they were swift. Allied decision-makers wanted to discover the secret to German success quickly, even though only partial, incomplete information was available to them. The false conclusions drawn became myths about the Blitzkrieg that have lingered for decades.
It has been argued that German victories in the early part of the war rested less upon newly developed tanks and aircraft and more on German military traditions: rather than creating a new way of war based on new technology, the Germans fitted the new weapons into their existing ideas on warfare. These doctrines focused on independent action, initiative, flexibility, decentralised decision-making and mobility. The conduct of German soldiers, particularly the lower-ranking men, on the battlefield was at the core of the concept and German victories rested upon the quality of the small combat units.
This book focuses on the experience of the enlisted men and junior officers in the Blitzkrieg operations in Poland, Norway, Western Europe and Russia. Using accounts previously unpublished in English, military historian Niklas Zetterling explores how they operated, for example how a company commander led his tanks, how a crew worked together inside a tank, and the role of the repair services. The author fits these narratives into a broader perspective to give the reader a better understanding of why the Germans were so successful in 1939–41.
About the Author
Niklas Zetterling is a military historian and researcher at the Swedish Defense College. His previous books include Bismarck, The Korsun Pocket, and The Drive on Moscow, 1941.
Industry Reviews
"This book's greatest value lies in how it takes real life facts and circumstances and uses them to educate the reader on core concepts driving the German approach to tactics and operations."
Globe at War
"Niklas Zetterling, a former historian at the Swedish Defense College, provides a very different perspective by examining blitzkrieg not as a revolutionary means of waging war, but as a logical extension of exiting German operational art brought to its fullest capability."
New York Journal of Books
"Blitzkrieg not only shows you the big picture, economically, strategically, but also takes you right into the Panzers. This book looks at the nuts and bolts of the German army during the blitzkrieg years. It gives you a background on the theory of blitzkrieg war-making as well... As usual, this Casemate Publishers book is a well written and absorbing read. For those of us who are interested in the tactics and strategy of the early war years, it is a book you won't want to miss."
A Wargamers Needful Things
"A comprehensively detailed work of definitive scholarship... Blitzkrieg: From the Ground Up is an extraordinary and highly recommended addition to community and academic library World War II Military History collections."
Midwest Book Review
"For those who wargame these periods there are some good scenarios which would translate very nicely onto the wargames table."
Miniature Wargames
