With great attention to detail, we follow Heinz Guderian, Eric von Manstein and Erwin Rommel, three generals in the German Army that successfully routed the French Army as they swept through France, Belgium, Holland and Great Britain.
Germany brought to bear a new way of fighting in May of 1940. On May 10, 1940 Hitler attacked Belgium using a concentrated force of tanks in what became known as "maneuver warfare," a concept that left many generals uncomfortable and highly sceptical that it would result in success.
Alexander shows us throughout his book that static warfare was no match for maneuver warfare. Static warfare is fought on a linear line that stretches so far as to not be vulnerable to flanking by the enemy. Reserves can readily be brought up to close any breach that might occur. With maneuver warfare, General Heinz Guderian kept his tanks massed and concentrated in several key areas, with ground troops following closely behind and air support being provided ahead of the tanks. General Guderian was able to breach the linear line so successfully that they also punched right past the reserve forces.
France fell with astonishing quickness to the German army. In part this was due to their horrid communication systems, rumor and a superior attitude by the French regarding their own military. Winston Churchill summed it up nicely "No one can understand the decisions of that period without realizing the immense authority wielded by the French military leaders and the belief of every French officer that France had the primacy in the military art."
Had Hitler not shown a lack of confidence in his generals' ability to succeed in their use of maneuver warfare, World War II might have had a far different outcome. Hitler feared being flanked by the Allied forces (even though his own generals reported differently) and called a halt to the panzer forces.
Erwin Rommel "flagrantly violated orders" direct from Hitler and Rundstedt and would surely have faced a court-martial for his actions had he not been so successful on May 15, 1940. "Hitler had no choice but to award him his highest decoration, the Knight's Cross."
"Fortunately for the world, Adolf Hitler possessed none of the military insight of the officers - Manstein, Guderian and Rommel - who made his stunning battelfied victories possible."
Giving one's generals the ability to adapt as the battle unfolds without having to wait for the delivery of written orders before proceeding, trusting their assessments of the enemy's ability to counter-attack and keeping the pressure on, might have made all the difference in the outcome of World War II.
"Inside the Nazi War Machine" is definitely a good read, especially if you are interested in seeing how the blitzkreig began. Bevin presents his analysis with great detail that doesn't bog the reader down.
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