8 PANZAS AND STUKAS WEREN’T AS IMPORTANT AS PEOPLE THINK

Panzers (tanks) and Stukas (divebombers) were central elements of successful Blitzkrieg. Moreover, they were the most visible symbols of Blitzkrieg to those who fought against it. However, they were just two cogs in a much bigger machine and their role has been somewhat exaggerated. The panzer divisions’ combat power lay not primarily in their mass of tanks but in them being well-balanced all-arms forces that combined tanks, motorised infantry, engineers, and motorised artillery operating on a fast-paced offensive doctrine. The rapier edge of the panzer divisions was further supported by well-equipped combined-arms infantry divisions and conventional artillery units. Additionally, the Luftwaffe provided a wide range of close air support, not just precision tactical strikes by Stukas but strafing attacks by fighters too. The Luftwaffe also undertook important aerial reconnaissance missions. Special forces, including the elite air landing glider and parachute air assault forces, also played central roles in helping the deep penetration of Allied defences before the enemy could react effectively.