ABSTRACT
Between the wars, the Germans evolved the doctrine of Blitzkrieg (q.v.), which sought to avoid an expensive war of attrition, and a style of opera tion was planned that did not risk a set-piece po sitional battle with the outcome determined by weight of fire. Operations were intended to remain fluid and not to slow down lest firepower be con centrated in defense. Shock action by armor would replace the massive artillery bombardment as the
primary means of breakthrough, and where this was in danger of being thwarted, aircraft controlled from the ground by radio would deliver the heavy, long-range firepower to smash resistance.
