5 Battles That Decided World War 2
1. Battle of Britain (1940)
What: German air campaign to achieve air superiority over Britain
Why it mattered: Hitler needed to defeat the Royal Air Force before invading. He failed.
Outcome: Britain survived alone, proving Germany could be resisted. Hitler turned east to attack the Soviet Union.
2. Battle of Stalingrad (1942-1943)
What: German assault on the strategic Soviet city
Why it mattered: The turning point on the Eastern Front — Germany's first major defeat
Outcome: German 6th Army destroyed. ~2 million casualties. Germany began retreating and never recovered.
3. Battle of Midway (1942)
What: Naval battle between US and Japanese fleets
Why it mattered: Japan lost 4 aircraft carriers — its offensive capability was crippled
Outcome: Japan shifted from offense to defense. The Pacific tide turned.
4. Battle of Kursk (1943)
What: Largest tank battle in history — 6,000+ tanks
Why it mattered: Germany's last major offensive in the East
Outcome: Soviet victory. Germany lost initiative permanently. Soviets advanced westward.
5. D-Day (1944)
What: Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France
Why it mattered: Opened the Western Front, squeezing Germany from two directions
Outcome: Liberation of Western Europe began. Germany fought on two fronts and collapsed within a year.
Honorable Mentions
- El Alamein (1942): British victory in North Africa
- Leyte Gulf (1944): Largest naval battle ever; ended Japanese naval power
- Berlin (1945): Final battle; Hitler's suicide and German surrender
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