Blitzkrieg
/ˈblɪtskʁiːk/masculine
The German phrase Blitzkrieg means fast military offensive.
Blitzkrieg is a masculine noun used to describe a military offensive.
Meaning: fast military offensive (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of Blitz (lightning) and Krieg (war), literally meaning 'lightning war'.
How does it change in a sentence?
As a masculine noun, it is preceded by the masculine definite article der in the nominative case (der Blitzkrieg).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈblɪtskʁiːk/
Did you know?
- The term Blitzkrieg was not actually an official military doctrine name used by the German High Command, but rather a term coined by journalists to describe the observed tactics.
- While Blitzkrieg refers to war, the prefix Blitz- is used in many everyday German words for speed, such as Blitzschlaf for a power nap.
- In modern German, the term is often used metaphorically in sports or business to describe a sudden, overwhelming success or an extremely rapid way of doing things.
Examples in context
- Wir werden in dieser Vorlesung den Einfluss des Blitzkriegs auf die Geschichte analysieren.We will analyze the impact of blitzkrieg on history in this lecture.
- Die Armee plante einen Blitzkrieg.The army planned a blitzkrieg.
- Ein Blitzkrieg kann die Front durchbrechen.A blitzkrieg can break through the front.
Example conversation
Julia and Julian are studying for a history exam.
- JuliaWas genau ist ein Blitzkrieg?What exactly is a blitzkrieg?
- JulianEs ist ein sehr schneller militärischer Angriff.It is a very fast military attack.
- JuliaWurde der Blitzkrieg oft benutzt?Was the blitzkrieg used often?
- JulianJa, vor allem im Zweiten Weltkrieg.Yes, especially in the Second World War.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “blitzkrieg” translations and entries Blitzkrieg, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
