To attack suddenly and without warning.

A rapid and violent military attack with intensive aerial bombardment.

The (anglicization of Blitzkrieg) German air raids against Britain 1940–41, following Germany's failure to establish air superiority in the Battle of Britain. It has been estimated that about 40,000 civilians were killed, 46,000 injured, and more than a million homes destroyed and damaged in the Blitz, together with an immense amount of damage caused to industrial installations.