What was the most important battle of WWII and why?

Answer 1

Too hard to pick single battle, so by major theater:

ETO: The Battle of Stalingrad. Sure, the Normandy Invasion was the first true assault on Festung Europa, but the fact remains that but for the Russians holding Stalingrad and bleeding off so many German military resources, any invasion of Western Europe would have been doomed. Those of us in the West have a tendency to overlook the Eastern Front as a "sideshow" to the main attraction. Fact is, in number of troops, casualties, and territory, the Eastern Front was much larger than the Western. The Battle of Kursk (largest tank battle in history) would also be a contender here.

PTO: The Battle of Coral Sea. This battle effectively checked Japan's advance across the Pacific towards Australia, was a strategic victory (though a tactical stalemate) for the Allies, and set up the later destruction of the Japanese Navy in the Battle of Midway. Without the Battle of Coral Sea, Australia would likely have been invaded, compelling the Allies to commit more troops to defend it, and thus postpone any offensive action in the Pacific.

Answer 2

The Battle of Stalingrad late 1942-early 1943.

You can say what you want about D-Day, Midway, and the Bulge, but the truth is that if Germany had beaten the USSR (which they probably would have if they'd taken Stalingrad) the Allies would likely have lost the war. The Allies were going to beat the Japanese; in the long run that was never in doubt. Both the Germans and Soviets threw so much effort and material into the Stalingrad campaign that it became a do-or-die for each side. If the Germans had won they'd have defeated a very high proportion of the Red Army and the Soviets might have lost their will to resist entirely after such a defeat. Also, the Germans would have had free access to the Caucasus and its resources, namely the oil fields.

Answer 3

In North Africa The Battle of El Alamein. After the Allies had chased the Germans out of North Africa it would seriously cut down the Germans' oil supply.

In Europe it would be The Battle of Stalingrad. Here the tide of the war turned against the Germans With heavy losses of manpower and materials The Germans were no longer able to support a two front war and from then on The Soviets would chase The German Army back into Germany. From here on The Germans would be fighting a defensive campaign in the East.

In Asia it would be The Battle of Midway. Here the Americans had destroyed the Japanese carrier fleet and could begin to move on toward The Japanese Mainland and the Phillipines. The tide had shifted and The Japanese were now fighting to defend their terrirtory.

Answer 4

The United States dropping atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 to hasten the end of World War II in the Pacific. Although it would be the first, and to date the only, actual use of such weapons of "mass destruction," the mushroom clouds have hung over every military and political policy since then.

And the human population has stared into the dark abyss of global suicide since those dreadful days in August '45..

Greatest military victory....hmmmm, i don't like the term 'great' for nuclear war, and aerial bombardment of citizens was pretty barbaric, but the consequences were pretty monumental...i guess war IS hell.

I almost picked Stalingrad, the 1.8 million deaths cry out for recognition and it was the turning point of WWII. The battles on the western front were miniscule in comparison.

Answer 5

It depends on the situation.
Let's look at various battles.

Battle of Midway: For months, the US had been beaten by the Japanese. The US sunk four of Japan's carriers, hindering their efforts in the last 3 years of the war.

Battle of Normandy(D-Day): Begginning of the end for Germany. Allied forces invade Europe. Begin push for Germany.

Stalingrad: Stop of the German offensive on the Eastern Front. Soviets put up a hard fight and forced the Germans to retreat. The Russians are the only people who can fight well at 30 degrees below 0.

Answer 6

The Battle of the Bulge. On the march to Germany . The US army found themselves surrounded by Germans.Hitler had send every available man he had.The Americans were out numbered 10 to 1. Apparently the great General George Patton had not bothered to count.His troops were not surrounded and he stormed in with his troops while the battle was going on.All the Americans decided to stand their ground and fight back until it was won.
General Patton was a great field General. If you get a chance read his biograghy.Supposedly he did a lot of swearing but he believed strongly he was chosen by God to lead armies into battle.

Answer 7

The Battle of Midway because the allies had broken the Japanese codes and broke the back of their Pacific fleet by taking out their main aircraft carriers. After that battle it became a defensive battle for Japan and we were able to divert more resources to the Atlantic theatre.

Answer 8

The Battle of Britain since that meant that a re-invasion of Europe would eventually come, and, of equal importance, the Battle of the Kursk salient - from that point on it was all downhill for Germany.

Answer 9

I agree with the above answers: D-Day/the Normandy Invasion. To me Pearl Harbor wasn't a battle it was an attack. The battle on the coast of Normandy was when the allies officially (in my opinion) began their retake of Europe from the Nazi control. With the success of Normandy the allies opened a gateway for more troops to arrive.

Answer 10

There is quite a bit of US and western bias here, I am American by the way. Keep in mind that roughly 80% of German casualties were suffered on the eastern front. The USSR defeated Germany. In Europe I have to say either the counter-attack at Moscow or the stalemate at Stalingrad.

In the Pacific I have to say Midway.