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Under Hitler’s command, an offensive attack method was developed which was termed blitzkrieg, meaning lighting war, as Hitler believed that, “wars were won by the side that could achieve the swift advance, not by great armies facing each other along deadlocked front fighting a war of attrition” , as in the First World War. The blitzkrieg followed a pattern, with the initial surprise attack coming from the Luftwaffe, then a Panzer attack with the infantry closely behind. This method of attack was successful for the Germans from 1939 to 1940, where Germany was able to conquer most of Central Europe which strengthened Germany economically as well as providing them with a consolidated geographical situation. In Hitler’s first years as the Commander in Chief, he was successful in reoccupying the Rhineland, which had been taken away from Germany under Treaty of Versailles, as well as obtaining the German areas of Czechoslovakia through the Munich Agreement of September 1938 by use of ultimatums. However, the Führer had dreams of economic expansion for Germany or Lebensraum, meaning living space, as he had described it in his political testament, Mein Kampf. Hitler intended to, “isolate Poland and to defeat it in a rapid campaign” , fully knowing that Britain and France would defend Poland if Germany invaded. Not intimidated by their possible interference, Hitler ordered the invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939, before which he stated to his military commanders, “close your hearts to pity. Act brutally. Eighty million people must obtain what is their right” . After the invasion of Poland and the declaration of war, Hitler, “ordered the full conversion of the economy to war” , realising that in order to be successful against the powers of France and Britain, a strong economy would have to support the Wehrmacht’s war efforts. In the early years of the war, Hitler was never prepared to take a defensive position and always believed in quickly and efficiently defeating the enemy, although he knew, “the idea of getting out cheaply is dangerous. There is no such possibility” . It was this mindset and his dominant personality that meant that the Wehrmacht’s initial attacks during the Second World War were highly successful. Thus, “by the summer of 1940 Hitler had achieved domination of the continent” , as a result of the Wehrmacht’s blitzkrieg approach and Hitler’s efficient and optimistic leadership as Commander in Chief.