What was the most significant battle in WW2?

Question

D day?, stalingrad? Battle of britain? Battle of berlin?

Answer 1

There are so many to pick from. There are valid reasons to pick Midway, Stalingrad, Battle of Britain or others.

If I had to pick just one, I would say Stalingrad. It marked the farthest reach of the Nazi Empire. From there it was all down hill.

Answer 2

The Battle of the Atlantic (the longest battle of WW2, aimed at destroying the supplies to Britain through shipping).



Had Britain been starved of resources, it would have capitulated. Britain is an island, everything for its survival necessitates on shipping. There would have been no Western advance through Europe had Britain become neutral. There would have been serious implications for the colonies, no doubt Egypt and the British controlled Middle East would have been handed over to Italy and Germany, granting Italy security from a Southern invasion from North Africa and giving Germany the energy resources it craved.



Nazi Germany would have focused its entire efforts onto the Eastern Front, it would have invaded Russia through the Caucuses (which it wanted for oil and gas), and maybe even Central Asia (which was weak militarily and viciously anti-British rule).



Britain would have had to evacuate the empire due to Japanese pressure on the Nazi's. With Britain out of the picture in Asia, the Japanese would have been able to steam role across the former British colonies, hardening its position against an American invasion.



Everything in the war depended upon the survival of Britain as an Allied power.

Answer 3

Define "significant" If your asking for opinion I would say the Battle of Stalingrad 23 August 1942 – 2 February 1943. Since it was the first major defeat of the axis powers as well as the battle that led the Soviet Union joining the ally forces in WW2. It is the battle were The Third Reich invaded the Soviet Union which broke the Nazi-Soviet pact. The reason that The Third Reich betrayed The Soviet Union has been debated among historian. But Adolph Hitler was against the idea of communism. And only joined the Soviet Union in order to maintain peace with Russia as he was conquering Europe.

Answer 4

There are several. The North African campaigns between Rommel and Patton were pretty significant, and so was Stalingrad, where it was the first time when the Nazi Army was ground to a halt. Also, the war would have gone on far longer is D-Day had failed, and the Battle of the Bulge was the Nazis' futile last major stand before the Allies got to Berlin.

Answer 5

The undeclared war between the Russians and the Japanese in Manchuria in August 1939. Japan's army was whipped and its government decided it would be safer to plan on attacking the USA with its navy. Stalin, paranoid about successful generals, especially if they were Jews, replaced his commander Stern with his deputy, a choice that eventually provided him with the real architect of victory in WW2, Zhukov. And when Pearl Harbor showed Stalin he was safe from Japan, he had a well seasoned and fresh army to rush westward at the last minute to save Moscow in the winter of 1941-42. Manchuria and the risk of another Jap attack was why he had invaded Finland with a second rate army that took months to defeat a far smaller army and thereby convince Hitler that a German invasion of Russia would be a push over! Had the Japs won in Manchuria, then the USA would not have been attacked in 1941, while the USSR would have been conquered by an invasion from both east and west.

Answer 6

The battle which led to final victory for the Allies, so that must be not really a "battle", but the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with nuclear bombs in August 1945.



Most previous battles were significant, even those lost by the Allies, in that they moved the war forward. At the time of each battle, that battle seemed very significant, but it was later overtaken in significance by later battles. Only that constant drip, drip, drip of wearing away at the enemy, until the enemy's capabilities are so worn down that there is no possibility of overall victory, wins any war.



Josh should note that it was not only the USA but also the efforts of the other Allies which eventually gained victory over the Nazi Germans in the year and more after D-Day!

Answer 7

The parts with George Patton. It was one giant battle but Patton was the reason it was happening in the first place. I call it, the great Patton war of 1940-1945. His greatest battle was eradicating every nazi from Italy and France. As well as bribing a mafia don to end the Italian support. No one else was that awesome. "The invasion of Sicilly". If Patton never got on the ground the war would have been lost.

Answer 8

Midway Island...Japan's hope for a Pacific Empire vanished in less than 24 hours of battle. The loss of 3 out of 4 of it's largest aircraft carriers crippled in 5 minutes.

Answer 9

the Battle of Britain if the UK had Lost No Bases for the launch of D Day No win In North Africa no Americans in Europe



and From the Loss of the battle of Britain the Nazis never won any battle that helped them Win WW2



No Britain in WW2 No Americans In Europe No allies in Europe Just the USSR against the Nazis alone without any Lend lease without any Supplies from Canada



No D Day and the Germans Taking Moscow and Stalingrad



Take the British Out of the war In Europe and what do You Have



Answer a Nazi Fortress Fighting on One Front against the USSR end of story



D Day was only to ensure Stalin's 7.2 Million stopped at agreed Lines he could have Moved on to the Mediterranean and Not even the Incompetent Paton could have Done anything about that



Go to Europe Look at the Battle Ground No UK in WW2 the Germans only had one front so the battle of Britain was the First Major defeat in WW2



followed By the Double defeat of El Alamain Both lost By the Germans thus keeping the British in WW2



Many Historians say the Germans would have Lost without a single American putting a single foot on European Soil

Answer 10

None of the above....The most significant battle was actually just BEFORE the war in Europe ever started. In the massive tank battle of Khalinin-Gol, Japan faced off against Russia, and lost. What if Japan had won? Then Japanese agression would have been turned against Russia instead of America, there would have been no Pearl Harbor, America may not have entered the war at all, and Russia would have been thoroughly defeated in a 2-front war.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battles_of_Khalkhin_Gol

Answer 11

There were three neutral countries in South America that allowed ships to use their harbour facilities – Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. Under international law, a naval ship could only use a harbour once every three months. However, Harwood had built up a number of contacts in each country and this ‘law’ was given a liberal interpretation by both parties.



On December 2nd, 1939, Harwood received a message that a merchant ship, the ‘Doric Star’ had been attacked by a large German naval vessel just off St. Helena. The next day, Harwood was informed that another ship, the ‘Tairoa’, had also been attacked 170 miles to the south-west of where the ‘Doric Star’ had been attacked. Harwood assumed that it was the 'Graf Spee'. By using the distance covered over 24 hours, Harwood estimated where this German naval ship could be. He worked off of an average speed of 15 knots an hour – in fact, the Graf Spee cruised at 22 knots; 50% faster than that estimated by the British. However, luck also assisted Harwood’s skill. The Graf Spee’s average speed was 22 knots – but it had been reduced as a result of the Graf Spee’s attacks on merchant shipping……to 15 knots, exactly what Harwood had calculated.

Answer 12

It is a toss up between the Battle of Britain and Stalingrad. While the Battle of Britain prevented the German forces from further westward advances it also allowed Britain to continue fighting. It also allowed Roosevelt to proceed with his Lend-Lease programme to Britain. If the British had been defeated the Allies would have been unable to stage their D-Day landings in Normandy.

The Battle of Stalingrad mired the German troops in a useless military objective and were unable to further advance eastward. In addition these troops which were needed on the Western Front were stuck in the East and they also received no reinforcements. These troops were ordered to remain where they were and to take Stalingrad at all costs, Because of the numbers of German casualties Hitler was forced to recruit even younger German boys to serve. This made it even more difficult for Hitler to maintain his military machine.

Answer 13

The Battle of Britain. It was the first major defeat for the Nazi's.



Whether or not Britain was a powerful place it matters not, it was huge historical and symbolic power and the fact that Germany lost to Britain in battle was a huge blow to them, and the mentality of the world. It was the first hope that the Germans were not unbeatable and could be destroyed.

Answer 14

The battle of the Atlantic. Had Germany won, Britain would have been starved of supplies from North America and the rest of the world.



Oddly enough, the RAF Staff and Winston Churchill constantly ignored Coastal Command's requests for strategic aircraft in favour of Bomber Command. In 1941, VLR Liberators finally closed the air gap in the North Atlantic.

Answer 15

I suggest the battle of Kursk in July 1943. Khruschev considered Kursk not Stalingrad the real turning point of WWII on the eastern front--the most important front inasmuch as the vast bulk of the German army was committed there. Soon after Stalingrad Manstein's successful counterattack restored the situation for the Germans and they regained the initiative. It wasn't until after Kursk, which demolished the panzer elite, that the Germans were thrown on the defensive for good and constantly lost territory. Kursk gave the soviets the initiative and they made steady progress until they won. It was Kursk which doomed the reich to defeat.

Answer 16

It was the Battle of the North Atlantic, strictly it was a campaign with a series of smaller actions.



Without success in that battle the war would have been ended before either USA or USSR became involved, at best Britain would have been forced to come to terms with the Axis forces facing it.

Answer 17

Define you mean by significant battle,

I think D-Day was most significant because now they have to fight two front.

Battle Of Berlin in way is significant as not turning point but as fall of the Nazi regime.

Stalingrad was turning point but not final one for eastern front.

Answer 18

The battle of Briton. Look at it as a unsinkable aircraft carrier. Supply depot, Launching point. We had already tried to go up threw Italy and could not.

Answer 19

I'd go for Kursk. The Germans never recovered from the losses they suffered in this battle and were never able to regain the strategic initiative - from then on the Red Army essentially dictated events on the front.

Answer 20

Stalingrad

D-Day

Midway

Berlin

Answer 21

The Battle of Moscow 1941, the German defeat at Moscow was the first time during the war the German blitzkrieg was stopped and the German Army was forced to retreat. The Germans never threatened Moscow again and it gave Soviets and their Allies, hope, and confidence the Germans could be defeated.

Answer 22

It is generally considered to be the Battle of Britain as without England there would have been No battle of Alamein, no broken German Code and No D Day. It also has to be said that the Russians would have faced even more German troops.

Answer 23

The Normandy landing. It's one of the largest in history. And one that required the3 most technological support. Artificial docks etc..



it was also crucial for opening up the second front. Without which the war COULD HAVE BEEN LOST



@tuffy:. Stalingrad is also a good turning point..

Answer 24

hmmm well youve really got 3 wars going on-Western Europe-Battle of Britain.Eastern Europe-Stalingrad.Far East-Midway.They were all turning points.

Answer 25

Stalingrad and Tobrok. Those battles stopped the German advance.

Midway. That stopped the Japanese advance.

Answer 26

Stalingrad. It is where hitler s forces started retreating and battle of Imphal. If japan had won that they would have taken India and britsh empire might have had collapsed

Answer 27

Code breaking was not a specific battle, but it allowed the allies to commit troops/ships where they were needed most. This allowed them to win battles.

Answer 28

Kursk. Largest tank battle that decimated the German armies ability to attack.



Luck

Answer 29

Not just one battle several were significant

Answer 30

BATTLE OF BRITAIN . Hitler had to turn east . but britain became allied with russia . and then came america . with britain invaded . the west could have collapsed. but Hitler lacked the will to defeat britain

Answer 31

Atlantic

Answer 32

The Battle of Stalingrad - it forced Nazi Germany into a two-front war.

Answer 33

Battle of Britain or Battle if the Buldge

Answer 34

D Day

Answer 35

Midway. The very fact that there are so many European options in your question basically excludes any of them.

Answer 36

i think it would be D-day it was the battle that got the good guys in German territory . which then lead to the Us advancing to take down the nazis

Answer 37

Being born!!!

Answer 38

atlantic