What was the strategy did Germany used during the battle of France?

Answer 1

The early strategy of the Germans was to secure their physical borders and improve their economic situation. Thus the Germans occupied Bohemia to lock down the southeast border. Poland added some resources and food production but mainly secured a military buffer zone against the expantionist Soviets. Actions to the north in Norway were taken to stop aggression by the British who had designs on blockading German iron ore imports from Sweden. In the west, German efforts were to defeat the large armies of France and Britain and thus secure that border area. Once these quick and decisive actions were accomplished, Germany was relatively secure border-wise and had greatly improved her economic position. The German national strategy then becomes much more problematic. Supposedly the war with the Soviets was to further strengthen eastern border security while obtaining large new economic benefits. However, the methods by which the war was conducted led to a long drawn out affair with high attrition, thus negating the potential benefits. Actions in the so called "battle of Britain" and the north African campaign are so puny in comparison that they had no real 'strategic' value. They were mainly diversionary, tactical actions, to keep the British tied up. The British history book writers love to play up these two tactical arenas and as such they typically take up about half of any 'history' account provided by the English. IMO they played zero strategic importance as to the outcome of the war. As the war expanded to include the USA, the German strategy becomes even more muddled. Supposedly, Germany hoped to stalemate the Russians into a position favorable to Germany, probably along the Volga River. This was within reach by late 1941 and possibly could have been done in 1942. By the spring of 1943 however, it was impossible. Against the west, the best that could be obtained was another stalemate along the English channel and in the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. This was to be accomplished by a strong strategic initiative involving Atlantic Ocean submarines. On land, occupation troops and a competitive air force in the north of France would prevent British/American invasion. In the event, the British largely defeated the German submarine force and the Americans destroyed the German air arm over France and western Germany. The large German occupation army in France was incapable of stopping the western Allies by itself. Thus a successful strategic Allied invasion via Normandy and a quick end to the war (about ten months). The lack of a long term coherent strategy by Germany is one of the reason she lost the war.

Answer 2

Blitzkrieg, or lightning war was the primary German offensive strategy in WWII. They concentrated their best troops as an arrowhead to break through enemy lines, then poured through the gap as quickly as possible. They would bypass securely held strongholds to cut their enemy's supply lines, and continue on leaving just enough strength behind to prevent a breakout from the stronghold. They would return to attack the holdouts later. This was effective as long as Germany held the initiative. But when the initial thrust bogged down, the dynamic element of attack was lost, and they needed to pay more attention to defense. However, Hitler's policy did not allow for strategic withdrawel to defensive lines, and left his troops without adequate strength or support for defense in Russia, and again in Italy. A general who sacrifices all his men doesn't get to be general anymore.

Answer 3

Brute force and skill

Answere:

Hitler had always fostered dreams about major military campaigns to defeat the Western European nations as a preliminary step to the conquest of territory in Eastern Europe, thus avoiding a two front war. However, these intentions were absent from Fuhrer Directive N°6. This plan was firmly based on the seemingly more realistic assumption that Germany's military strength would still have to be built up for several more years and that for the moment only limited objectives could be envisaged. They were aimed at improving Germany's ability to survive a long, protracted war in the West. Hitler ordered a conquest of the Low countries to be executed at the shortest possible notice. This would stop France from occupying them first, and prevent Allied air power from threatening the vital German Ruhr It would also provide the basis for a successful long term air and sea campaign against Britain. There was no mention in the Fuhrer-Directive of any immediate consecutive attack to conquer the whole of France, although as much as possible of the border areas in northern France should be occupied.

While writing the directive, Hitler had assumed that such an attack could be initiated within a period of at most a few weeks, but the very day he issued it he was disabused of this illusion. It transpired that he had been misinformed about the true state of Germany's forces. The motorized units had to recover, repairing the damage to their vehicles incurred in the Polish campaign, and ammunition stocks were largely depleted.

Mg42 killer

Answer 4

the germans plan was to bomb the navy so british supplies were down and then get rid of the air fields so they could attack by boat.

Answer 5

Artillery and machines guns caused armies to stay in defensive positions

Answer 6

It was the Schlieffen Plan.