Germany at War 1939–1945

The war was the logical culmination of Nazi ideology — Lebensraum, racial empire, and the destruction of 'Judeo-Bolshevism.' Was Germany's defeat inevitable, or could the war have ended differently?

Key Definition: Blitzkrieg ('lightning war') used rapid, concentrated attacks with tanks, motorised infantry, and close air support. Spectacular in 1939–41 but inadequate for prolonged attrition.

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The Course of the War

Phase 1: Blitzkrieg (1939–1941)

Campaign	Date	Result
Poland	Sept 1939	Conquered in five weeks
France	May–June 1940	Defeated in six weeks
Battle of Britain	July–Oct 1940	Germany's first failure
Balkans/North Africa	1940–41	Supporting Italian allies

Phase 2: Barbarossa and Turning Point (1941–1943)

The invasion of the USSR (22 June 1941) was the most significant decision. Initial successes were spectacular, but the campaign failed due to vast distances, Soviet resilience, the Russian winter, Hitler's interference, and underestimation of Soviet capacity.

Stalingrad (Aug 1942 – Feb 1943) was the decisive turning point: the 6th Army surrendered — over 800,000 Axis casualties.