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Hitler's army thundered through Europe from 1939 to 1945 and brought needless death and destruction to the European continent. What was it like to service in this army? To conduct one of the bloodiest wars in history? To occupy half of Europe and yet to suffer total defeat? This five-part portrait provides long-awaited answers and sheds light on the Wehrmacht's complex bonds of loyalty, conscience and honor. The thought-provoking story of an Army's evolution from defense troops to military force to exterminating power.
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Episode 1
43 mins
Blitzkrieg 'the lightning war' in German incorporate modern weapons and vehicles as a method to help avoid the stalemate of trench warfare and linear warfare in future conflicts. The first practical implementations of these concepts coupled with modern technology were instituted by the Wehrmacht in the opening theaters of World War II. The strategy was particularly effective to Germany in the invasions of Western Europe and initial operations in the Soviet Union. These operations were dependent on surprise penetrations, general enemy unpreparedness and an inability to react swiftly enough to German offensive operations.





