ABSTRACT
This chapter demonstrates why Hitler was drawn to the two approaches and how his experiences and personality led him to the concept of military surprise as a means to bridge the gap between the war fighting dichotomies. The Nazi leader normally initiated all major deception plans by devising the broad outline and even specifying the main theme of each strategic operation, leaving it to his personal military staff to effect the detailed coordination with the appropriate military, propaganda and foreign affairs bureaucracies. The focus of the Blitzkrieg as it moved through distinct phases turned as much on the disorientation and dislocation of the enemy command, control, communications and intelligence (CI) as it did on the annihilation of enemy forces. Although not so evident in Norway, part of Hitler's problem with the exploitation stage was his lack of full commitment to the pure indirect approach of Blitzkrieg, one which he shared with the majority of the German High Command.
