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Wikipedia:Featured article review/Blitzkrieg/archive1

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The following is an archived discussion of a featured article review. Please do not modify it. Further comments should be made on the article's talk page or at Wikipedia talk:Featured article review). No further edits should be made to this page.

The article was removed by YellowAssessmentMonkey 02:27, 21 August 2009 [1].

Blitzkrieg

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Review commentary

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Notified: Piotrus, Dapi89, WikiProject Germany and WP:MILHIST

The article fails the featured article criterion in several ways. The lead is excessively long and does not summaries the article (2a), several sections lack citations (1c) and I also find the structure weird. How can an article about a military doctrine start with a section called "Interwar years"? --Peter Andersen (talk) 06:47, 23 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Comment. Images need alt text as per WP:ALT. Eubulides (talk) 07:13, 23 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I've already made some (I hope acceptable) changes. The intro has been shortened and its text moved to a more appropriate place. If the editors involved would like to add their citation needed tags to the text that requires citations I'll see what I can do to cover them and save the article from losing FA. Dapi89 (talk) 12:11, 23 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks. Can you please write some alt text too? You can visit "alt text" in the toolbox at the upper right hand corner of this subpage, to see what's missing. Thanks. Eubulides (talk) 16:20, 23 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]
I see that alt text has been written, thanks; but it still needs some work. The alt text typically makes claims about images that cannot be immediately verified by non-experts. For example, a non-expert can't look at the image and tell that it's a Jagdpanther. Generally speaking, all the proper names should be removed from the alt text. (That info should appear in captions.) For more, please see WP:ALT #What not to specify. Eubulides (talk) 18:05, 24 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Images The fair use rationale for File:PanzerInfantryAdvance.jpg is too weak; there must be free-use images of tanks available. File:Il2 sturmovik.jpg: licensing may be invalid as there is no information on first publication or date of the image. DrKiernan (talk) 10:01, 24 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]

@Dapi89: The "Limitations and countermeasures" and "Operations in history" sections are largely uncited. This should be dealt with. But first of I'm more concerned about structure and the actual content. I'm not convinced that the present structure is ideal. I'm thinking something like:

  • What is blitzkrieg
  • Development of blitzkrieg
  • Use of blitzkrieg
  • Legacy

Comments?--Peter Andersen (talk) 19:48, 25 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Okay, well I'll ry to introduce a section entitled "the popular perception of Blitzkrieg" first. And see if that gives some initial context. Dapi89 (talk) 13:00, 29 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I've written a better intro, introduced what Blitzkrieg is, added the cites. I have yet to fix the captions or write a legacy section for which I will need more time. Dapi89 (talk) 16:59, 31 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]
The entire article is rather hopeless. I like Peter Andersens structural layout. Would probably make it much more readable, not to metion relevant. My current critizism of the article:
1. In general, the article is one long critizism of the concept of Blitzkrieg, it's proponents and the armed forces of WW2 in general.
2. The lead suggests, that German military operations were more or less accidental - without aim or purpose and hopelessly uncoordinated. It then shortly describes Blitzkrieg (with one source - an excerpt from one page in one book!!!) and then proceeds to a lengthy critizism of the blitzkrieg interpretation (the section is 4-5 times larger than the subject of it's critizism!). Much of that ctitizism is repeated in the bottom, under "myths and realities".
3. "Alledged beginning of "Blitzkrieg"" - What kind of headline is that? Words like "alledged" are hardly needed. This segment develops into a critizism of Fuller and especially B.L. Hart. I see little relevance of BLH's manipulations in this segment.
4. "Guderian in the Wehrmacht" - What? Who is Guderian, and what is he doing in the Wehtmacht (or more interestingly - what did he do OUTSIDE the wehrmacht)? Guderian although mentioned earlier (rather out of context BTW), is referred to as a person everybody knows. The brief description of him hardly helps very much. After all, he is percieved by many, as a very important person in the development of armoured warfare. Instead, the sement goes on to critizise Guderian for HIS critizism of other German generals (i.e. Beck). I don't know what that entire section is there for. It suggests that Guderian lies, and that Beck is some overlooked person in the development in Armoured warfare. I only know of Guderians characteristic of Beck in this regard - but if anyone can enlighten us, please do so (in the regard that Guderian is wrong about Beck). Under all circumstances, it has no purpose in an article on Blitzkrieg, as it involves, at best, petty rivalry, jealousy or animosity between two generals. (From here on, the article more and more takes the form of a book review).
5. The next section "methods of operations" seems to be the strongest element of the article. The only problem is the mentioning of Soviet soldiers starving to death as germa POWs. While the matter is surely serious, it has no relevance in an article on Blitzkrieg.
6. The segment about Limitations and countermeasures are also rather strong - if it wasn't for the rest of the articles insistence that there is no such thing as a Blitzkrieg. What influence does environment have on a non-existing doctrine? What influence does air superiority have on a non-existing doctrine? What countermeasures can be employed against a non-existing doctrine? Does logistics really matter to a non-existing doctrine? What I'm trying to say is, that if the article insists on Blitzkrieg being fictional or, at best accidental, then it is completely irrelevant, what circumstances were present or what countermeasures could be employed.
7. The historical operations are a very relevant subject. But it's riddled with oddities. First of all, it claims that Poland wasn't an example of Blitzkrieg. If not, why mention it? That particular subject also develops into a dubious analysis about the Germans being able to win, if the war was slightly prolonged. Regarding France, this statement is made: "Overall, Yellow succeeded beyond almost anyone's wildest dreams, despite the claim that the Allies had 4,000 armored vehicles and the Germans 2,200, and the Allied tanks were often superior in armour and caliber of cannon." - Yellow succeedes "despite the claim"? Despite a claim? How can anything succeed despite a claim? Did the allies have armoured superiority or not? I think this should be examined closer - or perhaps change "claim" to "fact". It goes on: "the "Blitzkrieg Myth" was more palatable for public consumption than the notion that they had simply been outfought" - Is there a difference? Isn't the appliance of Blitzkrieg supposed to outfight your enemy? Regarding the Soviet union, the segment hardly mentions blitzkrieg or blitzkrieg-related words. It's more a brief description of the war in the east until 1944. This is also the case regarding the western battles 1944-45.
8. Then comes a really horrendous segment - the "myths"-segment. First of all the "myths and realities"-wording it wierd. Second, it's first part (oppossition) sounds like an excerpt from a book-report on the subject. Third - BLH fabricated his involvement in the development of a theory that didn't exist! Is that a critizism? If so, of who/what? Again, it is claimed, that the Germans had little grasp of what they were doing (though this time not limited by a time frame, as in the lead - another flaw). Even if there wasn't a "coherent theory" (who decides?) several German generals had a pretty good idea of what they were supposed to do - this includes both the strategical, operational and tactical level (from Manstein, over Guderian to Rommel - and many others). I'm not an expert and I've never read any of the books in this segment - but it seems that the authors of the references material doesn't consider that German doctrine or espirit du corps (in lack of better words) prescribed "thinking on your feet" - a de-centralized command structure. And Blitzkrieg was developed in that spirit - not so much as a manual to be distibuted. Then the article moves on to critizise the lack of the word "blitzkrieg" in german pre-war litterature. This can hardly be a critizism of Blitzkrieg as a concept. Regarding Blitzkrieg economics, the article states that Hitler reduced the army because he wanted to win the war in the factories. It is sourced, so there's nothing to do there. I would however, argue that Hitler would not do what he did, to win the war in the factories. First of all, Germany wasn't interested in a winter campaign. There would be little reason to remain mobilized, if you don't think you want to fight. More importantly, though, Hitler still believed he could talk the French and Britis out of it (if not, he surely made a big mistake, as French and British blocades kept him from vital ressources). Anyway, the sourced analysis seems deeply flawed or, at least, incomplete. Then the article tries to tear down the Wehrmacht as a Blitzkrieg force. The analysis is a listing of facts that doesn't try to address the issue, really. The idea with Blitzkrieg is not to have a larger, armoured/mechanized army than your enemy, as this segment indirectly argues, but to employ this, smaller force, in another way that before. This is the whole idea in the Schwerpunkt concept. Apparantly, once you reach 40, you're no longer able to fight a blitzkrieg. "Legend" becomes an argument against reality. The allies had more motorized vehicles than the Germans. How is that counter-blitzkrieg? The rest of this segment is a general critizism of... I guess the French, as they were soundly defeated by a semi-modern army, consisting of what must be described as militia-forces, equipped with inferiour weapons, using a doctrine developed in the late 1800s (as the next paragraps boldly establishes). What doctrine did the French use? Thou must not kill? Then there's the segment "was Blitzkrieg new?" - who asked that question? It consists of two paragraphs that more or less repeat each other. And the fact that Germany prefers short decisive campaigns hardly disables Blitzkrieg as concept (BTW - what nations prefer drawn-out indecisive campaigns?) "It was just that they could not generaily manage to achieve short-order victories in First World War conditions." Oh. And how is that a critizism or rejection of Blitzkrieg? Blitzkrieg was developed to avoid fighting another WW1. "What made the difference, transforming the stalemate of the First World War into tremendous initial operational and strategic success in the Second, was partly the employment of a relatively small number of mechanized divisions, most importantly the Panzer divisions, and the support of an exceptionally powerful air force." But isn't that EXACTLY what Blitzkrieg is about?
Those were some of the problems with the article, as I see them. This article should have it's FA status removed immideately. I'd rate it as a B article at best--Nwinther (talk) 01:54, 1 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]
I think you're analysis is appalling. You obviously don't under stand the subject, so I'm not going into here. Blitzkrieg didn't exist, the campaigns were improvised up until the attack on the Soviet Union. The operational histories are important to demonstrate how much of the classic interpretation was employed in subsequent campaigns.
If you bothered to follow the citations, almost every source does not except the Blitzkrieg myth - most of it comes from a German historian - Karl-Heinz Frieser, among others Richard Overy - heavy weights.
Your rant has not addressed anything useful. I particularly take issue with your misinterpreation of the German fighting style - namely And the fact that Germany prefers short decisive campaigns hardly disables Blitzkrieg as concept. The Germans WERE NOT preparing for a Blitzkrieg war in 1933-39 - THATS THE POINT.
The rest of it is just speculative rubbish which has been exposed as myth for a good 30 years. Dapi89 (talk) 13:37, 1 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]
What subject don't I understand? I would like to know what you understand by the word "improvise" and how FoF was more improvized than Barbarossa. I realize, that the sources don't accept Blitzkrieg, but I'm not sure what to make of it. Especially in the wordings provided, such as "myths and reality". One could argue that Blitzkrieg was "the type of operational warfare employed by the German army in the years 1940-1942" (and btw the 6-days-war). The lack of some published manual doens't, to me anyway, seem as a valid premise to dismiss blitzkrieg on. The sources seem to define a doctrine existant, only when the entire army and the national economy is set up accordingly. The timeframe whitin Blitzkrieg was developed taken into account, suggests that it would be natural for only the armoured forces to be "Blitzkrieg-ized". If one looks as the armoured divisions actions in FoF and later, they seem to have operated by a rather agreed-upon method, if not a doctrine. Blitzkrieg was perhaps in its infancy in 1939, but some concepts that were to be developed (or survive) into Blitzkrieg were already employed, mainly the massing of armour and coordination with dive bombers. Improvisation, I believe, is very much within the Blitzkrieg concept. Why you take issue with "And the fact that Germany prefers short decisive campaigns hardly disables Blitzkrieg as concept" I can't understand. That the Germans were not preparing for blitzkrieg in 1933 can hardly be an argument against the doctrines being (besides, it was still being developed in those years). German mobilization was not only a question of military doctrine - but more that of economic doctrine. German economy had other considerations than how the next war might be fought. What "rest" are you refering to (your last line)? Most of my points aren't regarding the Blitzkrieg-denial, but the structure and composition of the article. I find it odd you hardly address ANY of my points, like the almost complete lack of presentation of Guderian, references to dying soviet POW's, the lengthy critizism of "classic" Blitzkrieg as concept compared to the very brief definition of Blitzkrieg (taken from a single page in a single book) - that is sadly as close as the article gets on atually trying to describe Blitzkrieg - myth or otherwise. My "rant" points to a series of problems in the article, that has to be addressed - from my POV. I'm not sure what you mean by "anything useful".--Nwinther (talk) 14:59, 1 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]
I find it odd you hardly address ANY of my points - because they are already dealt with in the article. With the exception of James Corum, who has been thrashed over this, there is hardly any worthy historian that accepts Blitzkrieg as a coherent doctrine. In Poland it was the infantry and artillery that won the campaign. The initial plan for France was nothing more than a land grab. It only involved into a risky pincer plan later on. And even then it relied far more on what the Allies did (or did not as was the case) do than what the Germans did.
As for operational art it was not one. The Germans practised operational improvisation which handed down operational level responsibility to Division, much less Corps commanders. This is NOT an operational system. It is a tactical method of operating which is pretends to be operational. The scope of the forces involved has enabled Blitzkrieg to be passed off as such. Such a method works only against an enemy that does not know what its doing, which is why it failed after 1941.
Using the word doctrine when dealing with Blitzkrieg is dangerous. It was not a doctrine. The points you are trying to raise about the economy have already been raised in the article and explains itself. Interestingly enough most of the sources these guys use are German. And Karl-Heinz Frieser has taken the lead in debunking the Blitzkrieg myth.
Why you take issue with "And the fact that Germany prefers short decisive campaigns hardly disables Blitzkrieg as concept" I can't understand. That the Germans were not preparing for blitzkrieg in 1933 can hardly be an argument against the doctrines being (besides, it was still being developed in those years). German mobilization was not only a question of military doctrine - but more that of economic doctrine. German economy had other considerations than how the next war might be fought. ? Of course it can! Jeez. If the Germans were not streamlining their economy to fight a short war, but instead were preparing for an all out war, it hardly makes sense they would be developing a strategy for achieving their total aims based on a doctrine of short sharp conflicts. Dapi89 (talk) 16:44, 1 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Comment. I also find the structure of the article odd. There is not a straightforward history of the origins of the word (that could include any alternative explanations) and followed by its history. Rather the headings and their order do not follow a typical encyclopedia format:

  • What is Blitzkrieg?
  • Classic interpretation of "Blitzkrieg"
  • Problems with the interpretation
  • Alleged beginning of "Blitzkrieg"
  • Development of German tactical methods
  • Alleged foreign influence
  • Britian
  • France
  • Russia
  • Guderian in the Wehrmacht
  • Guderian's armored concept
  • Spanish Civil War
  • Methods of operations (with subheadings)
  • Limitations and countermeasures (with subheadings)
  • Operations in history (with subheadings)
  • "Blitzkrieg": Myths and Realities
  • Opposition to the existence of a "Blitzkrieg" theory
  • The Myth of the Blitzkrieg Economic
  • The Wehrmacht: A "Blitzkrieg" armed force?
  • Was "Blitzkrieg" new?
I would favor the outline suggested by Peter Andersen above as allowing a clear presentation of the information in reasonably chronological order. "Alleged beginning of "Blitzkrieg" gives the reader the idea than there are few accepted facts about its origin. The "Blitzkrieg": Myths and Realities" section seems like it could be original reasearch. Also, the headings violate the MoS guideline to avoid repeating the title of the article in the headings. Regards, —Mattisse (Talk) 18:42, 5 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

FARC commentary

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Suggested FA criteria concern are citations, structure, original research. Also note the recent change to WP:WIAFA (1c) requiring "high-quality" sources. FAQ? YellowMonkey (cricket photo poll!) paid editing=POV 02:25, 7 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]
  • Delist, per FA criteria concerns. Cirt (talk) 11:17, 10 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]
  • Delist. The idea that blitzkrieg was a post hoc myth or legend is well-supported among reliable sources, but the current article gives the idea too much weight and veers off into advocacy of it. Agree with comments re organization. The alt text problems remain. In rereading the article, I noticed a major topic missing: what happens after blitzkrieg? E.g., resistance, relationship to Nazi planning for extermination of the Jews and others, etc. Eubulides (talk) 15:49, 10 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]
  • Delist. Per the above concerns, including Eubulides's comments. Although the lede is relatively clear, there seems to me an intermingling in the article body of the history, origination etc. of the term "Blitzkrieg" and the history, origination etc. of the military tactic retrospectively labelled "Blitzkrieg" in a particular war, but actually "an old method of fast-paced encirclement battles using new technology". —Mattisse (Talk) 16:18, 10 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]
The above discussion is preserved as an archive. Please do not modify it. No further edits should be made to this page.
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