What were the effects of the Blitzkrieg policy on the Germans?

Answer 1

In short, the Blitz, the sustained bombing campaign over England for some eight months in '40 and 41, made life miserable - and dangerous. Particularly in the "target" areas. In the initial stages, the Germans concentrated on airfields and some industrial and military targets. Later where the Germans were bombing night and day and targeting London and civilian targets, it was, quite frankly, hell. But the Brits kept a stiff upper lip and put every effort into keeping the RAF up after the Luftwaffe. German losses were so heavy that they scaled back their Blitzkrieg and cut back to night bombing only. This permitted the English to catch their breath. Hitler wanted to demoralize the English, but was failing miserably in his attempts to do that. The attacks were scaled back even more as regards London and other civilian areas, and raids were (re)directed at industrial and military facilities as well as ports. Losses continued to mount for the Luftwaffe, and the Nazi air units were sent up less often. Eventually it became too dangerous and far from cost effective to continue much of an aerial war over England. Some 50,000 to 60,000 people died in the bombings. Later in the war when the rocket and buzz bomb campaign began, nearly 10,000 more people lost their lives. It was quite harrowing then, too. And no German planes or airmen were at risk, too. Bomb shelters were a must for anyone near a target area. The subways of London were used as bomb shelters at all hours, and later mostly at night (during the night bombing campaigns) because people slept there where it was relatively safe. They emerged after the "all clear" to see if their homes or flats were still standing. They would "pick up the pieces" and try to hustle up some groceries. It was light years from easy. The fire department personnel tried to catch some zzz's after being out all night quashing blazes and mounting any rescue efforts that might arise. They often had to work through some or even all of the following day. Lots of children (some 650,000 or thereabouts) where sent to the countryside to live with farm families and in small communities to reduce their risk. They were thus spared the hardship of hanging out at "ground zero" and having to endure what those who stayed in London went through. London took a beating, and a number of smaller cities where industrial or military complexes existed got hammered, too. There was plenty of misery to go around. The risk of death or serious injury, and the daily hardships on Brits at or near target areas was wearing. The terror and uncertainty as to what might be hit or not weighed on people. Losses of shops and homes, and particularly of family and friends, were difficult things to bear. Obtaining basic necessities such as shelter and food became problems that took great effort to overcome. It was a dark time. Those who endured showed true grit. Use the link below to the Wikipedia article on the Blitz. It's worth the read to skim down through it. Really.

Answer 2

Blitzkrieg created a perpetual feeling of terror in British cities where the Germans dropped bombs. The sirens would sound and citizens had minutes to run for shelter in underground cellars, basements and even the Tube stations before the bombs began to fall. The bombardment commenced both day and night, buildings were destroyed by impact and fire sometimes before their residents could escape. Many civilians were killed by the German planes even though they were far from the battle field. A useful link: http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/blitz.htm

Answer 3

I think there is some confusion of terms here. Blitzkrieg refers to the use of combined forces in battle, using armored vehicles like tanks and troop carriers to support fast moving ground forces accompanied by continuous air support. The point is to quickly get behind the enemy's battle lines forcing them into a reactive mode where they cannot effectively prepare defensive positions or execute large scale offensive operations. Military tacticians refer to these operations as "getting inside the opponents decision cycle". Successful execution of blitzkrieg operations can result in the kind of one-sided battles like Germany's Belgium-France campaign in 1940, or the US led coalition easy victories against Iraq in 1991 and 2003.

The London "Blitz" was a sustained air bombing campaign against London and other British cities in 1940-41. Air power enthusiasts at the time believed that strategic bombing of war industries along with morale sapping bombing of civilian populations would so impair a government's ability to wage war and dampen the morale of the population that victory could be easily achieved, even without the use of large scale land operations.

This bombing doctrine has proven to be mostly noneffective in the years since, as the English population, even having as many as 100,000 causalities was not cowed into submission. It was observed that if there was any definitive result of the Blitz, it was that the London and other British urban areas were angered enough at the Nazi Reich that they were determined to persist until final victory. Similar results were reported in evaluating the Allied strategic bombing of Germany in 1943-45. After the results were analyzed, it was argued by many that the actual results achieved did not justify the hundred thousand or so of Allied air crewman lost and the compromise of moral principle. The question asked by many was how did the bombing of Germany make the Allies any different from the Nazi "monsters" who perpetrated the 1940 Blitz? Of course, there was a tremendous effect on the personal lives of those who lost loved ones and friends in the bombing of cities. Tens of thousands of families in England alone were devastated by the Blitz. Public services, utilities, and transportation were hugely affected. The big picture was, though, that the determination to see the war fought through until final victory was not impaired, but perhaps even aided by the terrible resolve it produced.

Answer 4

Great Britain was attacked by Hitler with his luftwaffe (air force). Hitler's U boats also attacked Britain. London and other important cities were daily attacked by the luftwaffe throughout the night. This is called as battle of Britain. A great deal of civilian property was destroyed and many people lost their lives in this war.

Answer 5

There was no effect whatsoever, for two reasons:

1) The Battle of Britain was fought completely in the air.

2) Blitzkrieg didn't actually exist.

Answer 6

I would imagine the effect on German morale was positive. Huge teritorrial gains were made quickly and with few casualties, so it must have looked like a winning war.

Answer 7

The Blitz affect people in Britain by hurting them or actually killing them!