Before we can assess the effectiveness of blitzkrieg we must understand how it works. Once that is explained, we can begin to see how it was effective in Poland and other countries such as France. Then, we can examine why it was not successful in the USSR.
Blitzkrieg is a strategy that utilizes speed to surround and outflank enemies. It begins with paratroopers being dropped behind enemy lines to cause confusion and chaos. Then Stuka dive-bombers strafe enemy targets and bomb out communication centers. Panzers and armored cars follow up the attack and keep the momentum going. The tank was used as a separate unit and thus was not hindered by slow infantry unlike the French tactics with tanks. The armored cars were used to protect the tanks from enemy units getting too close to the tanks. Following all of these were the infantry "they were carried in through motorized means. The supplies were trucked in. The common theme is speed and mobility. .
Against Poland there are a few factors that allowed blitzkrieg to succeed. First, the land area is flat. This went to the advantage of the Nazis since a flat land would increase the speed of transports and tanks. Second, the Polish army consisted of cavalry. Against the tanks, the cavalry obviously did not have a chance. Poland fell in a matter of weeks. Moreover, despite Britain and France condoning the attack and declaring that Poland was not alone, they were geographically unable to assist Poland. Poland was simply unreachable, as Germany was in the way. .
Against France it was much different. The French were in a defensive mentality. It was folly of them to believe that they would be safe behind their Maginot Line. The Luftwaffe could simply fly over this defensive structure. The Nazi's plan was to simply avoid it "letting the French stay in their line. The French also planned for this contingency and believed that the Germans would come through Belgium again "a la Schlieffin Plan 2.
