- Rapid Territorial Gains: Blitzkrieg allowed Germany to quickly capture vast territories of Poland, France, and other European countries. This put the Allies in a defensive position and demoralized their forces.
- Superior Military Strategy: The combination of speed, surprise, and coordination among the German panzer (armored) divisions, Luftwaffe (air force), and infantry enabled Germany to overwhelm the Allied defenses. This demonstrated the effectiveness of a new form of warfare.
- Psychological Impact: Blitzkrieg sowed fear and panic among Allied troops and civilian populations. The lightning-fast advances created an impression of German invincibility, further eroding Allied morale.
- Changing Alliances: The success of Blitzkrieg prompted other countries, such as Italy, to join the Axis powers, while solidifying the alliance between the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union (though this relationship became strained later in the war).
- Allied Strategic Reassessment: The Allied forces had to reassess their strategies in response to Blitzkrieg. They adapted by strengthening their own armored divisions, improving air defenses, and adopting new tactics such as "defense in depth."
- Catalyst for the Battle of Britain: Germany's initial success with Blitzkrieg ultimately led to the Battle of Britain, a critical air campaign between the German Luftwaffe and the British Royal Air Force. The German failure to gain air superiority in this battle marked a significant turning point in the war.
- American Involvement: The Allied struggle against Blitzkrieg and the fall of France prompted increased support for the Allies from the United States, though the US entry into the war would not occur until the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941.
- Prolongation of the War: While Blitzkrieg initially gave Germany substantial territorial gains, the resistance encountered by the German forces in places like the Battle of Britain and at Stalingrad proved that Blitzkrieg tactics could not guarantee constant success. This contributed to the eventual Nazi defeat.
Overall, Blitzkrieg had a profound impact on the course of World War II, forcing both sides to adapt and innovate their military strategies in response to its challenges and opportunities.