The attack punched through the defending French forces and proceeded to race across northern France, causing confusion and disarray. The close coordination of German air and ground forces, to produce maximum destructive firepower, was also significant. Superior German communications aided this style of warfare – even the smallest field units were equipped with radios that allowed them to move and react faster than the Allies. However, the Allies were so outmanoeuvred and confused that they were unable to act in unison, allowing the Germans to surround and destroy them piecemeal, or cause continuous retreat. The inherent risk was that Allied forces might cut through the extending German lines of communication. The key element of Blitzkrieg was disorientation, to stop the enemy from reorganising and counterattacking. This was quickly followed by more attacks from fast-moving tanks, artillery, infantry and aircraft, with the aim of surrounding enemy troops in a zone or Kessel (cauldron), causing their destruction or surrender.

Blitzkrieg, or ‘lightning war’, involved striking with overwhelming force in a crucial location (the Schwerpunkt, or ‘centre of gravity’). The German attack on north-west Europe used risky but well thought out tactics.

Battle of arras tank battles ww2