Economics provide the foundation for a modern military.
Stalin saw industrialization, mass production, as
the decisive factor to winning the war with Germany.
A successful war economy made huge numbers of
battlefield necessities because combat wear and
tear quickly used up all the trucks, tanks, planes,
and ammo on hand.
Germany had few strategic resources of its own.
A six month supply of critical materials such as
steel and oil was all that Hitler could count on to
win the war. Everything Germany needed to be
strong militarily was imported, scarce and often
not reliably available.
The strategy for war had to take this into account.
Success over your enemy had to be quick, decisive.
The Allies base their strategy on defense.
The strategy of Britain and France was to play defense.
Prolonging the war worked to their favor because of
Germany's material disadvantage. The German
military could be crippled by denying this elite force
it's 20th century underpinnings.
Germany bets on an armored punch with speed.
Blitzkrieg was the tactic German strategists wanted
because it offered the potential for quick victory.
This meant a very selective, pinpoint offense of
armor, artillery and air support. Concentrated firepower
would overwhelm your opponent's defense, creating
a breach that would enable tanks to speed behind
enemy lines - disrupting supplies, capturing
command centers and causing confusion.
Surprise is an essential component of victory.
Your enemy's most vulnerable point is where your
main attack is least expected.
France believed the Ardennes region along its
northern border was too mountainous to
support an advancing panzer force.
French defense along the Meuse River was
infantry, mostly older reservists lightly armed.
They hadn't trained for confronting an army
of tanks.
The Luftwaffe controlled the skies over Ardennes.
The German force headed for the Meuse
was backed up over a hundred miles of
narrow, winding mountain roads.
The French were right. This was not tank country.
Meanwhile, the Allies thought they were fighting
the main German attack in Belgium. Everything
was going as planned. Britain and France rushed
their troops forward into battle. They had matters
well in hand. So they thought.
Turns out they were just chasing the bait.
* * * * *
OVER EASY
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