Back to Blitzkrieg for a moment.

Posted by David FG on September 09, 2004

In Reply to: Back to Blitzkrieg for a moment. posted by Smokey Stover on September 08, 2004

: : : : : Does it mean to "deal it with energy and attention?"

: : : : : and is it commonly-used?

: : : : No! Blitz is short for the German 'Blitzkrieg' meaning 'lightning war' and was used to describe the Nazi method of warfare - complete, devastating, bombardment by throwing everything - planes, artillery, infantry, the lot - at the enemy to achieve a fast and total victory by means of the complete destruction of the other side.

: : : : In its much weaker sense, it means to attack ferociously. It is in common use, at least in the UK (perhaps not too surprisingly.)

: : "Blitz" is commonly used about housework - "having a blitz" usually means getting every room tidy and both the kitchen and bathroom spotlessly clean.

: David FG has it right when he calls Blitzkrieg lightning warfare (the literal translation from the German). The Germans realized the value of the surprise attack (Poland, Rotterdam, for which Guernica was a practice run). Hit the enemy fast and without warning, like a bolt out of the blue. It was very effective in 1939, but it didn't work on Britain, for a variety of reasons (including Dunkirk, the RAF, radar, a loss of nerve in German HQ). Using everything you've got was a slightly different concept--that of "total war." It didn't take much to almost obliterate Rotterdam and achieve the desired goal--just a bunch of Stukas, along with total surprise. The Germans did not have a lot of opportunities to use their total capability against limited targets. Hitler tried to hit too many targets at once, depleting the resources available on any one battleground. The big test was Russia, and that campaign ended in terrible failure. SS

SS (an unfortunate set of initials, in the circumstances!) you are, of course, right. My attempt at a definition was overly simplistic.

DFG