Key Battles of World War II

Battle of the Atlantic

• Duration: Almost entire war, peaked 1940-1943
• Combatants: Germany vs. Great Britain
• Objective: Control of Atlantic sea routes
• German Strategy: Navy and air force attacks on Allied shipping
• Allied Defense: Protected by British and Canadian forces
• Conclusion: German defeat in May 1945, massive casualties both sides

Battle of Britain

• First major battle fought solely by air forces
• Duration: Began July 1940
• German Strategy: Air raids and terror campaigns
• Outcome: Nazis failed by end of October, prevented full-scale invasion of Britain
• Significance: First defeat of Hitler’s forces, highlighted air military superiority

Siege of Leningrad

• Duration: September 1941 - January 1944
• German Strategy: Encroachment on Leningrad
• Soviet Defense: Civilian fortifications and Red Army support
• Outcome: Neutralized German advance, massive civilian and military casualties
• Casualties: Over 1 million civilians, significant Soviet soldier losses

Pearl Harbor

• Date: December 7, 1941
• Aggressor: Japanese forces
• Objective: Unimpeded expansion in Southeast Asia
• Outcome: Drew USA into WWII
• Casualties: Over 2000 American deaths, significant equipment loss

Battle of Stalingrad

• Duration: August 23, 1942 - February 1943
• Combatants: Germany vs. Soviet Union
• German Strategy: Control of Stalingrad
• Outcome: German forces capitulated, significant turning point in the war
• Casualties: About 40,000 civilians killed

Invasion of Normandy (D-Day)

• Date: June 6, 1944
• Allied Forces: Britain, USA, Canada
• Objective: Free northern France from Nazi control
• Outcome: Area freed by end of August, high casualties both sides
• Significance: Celebrated annually as D-Day

Battle of the Bulge

• Duration: Winter 1944
• Location: Belgian forest
• Allied Struggle: Bad weather, overconfidence
• Outcome: Allies regained strength, forced German withdrawal
• Casualties: Considered worst American losses with 19,000 soldiers killed

Battle of Okinawa

• Objective: Strategic control by Allies
• Duration: Began March 1945
• Japanese Defense: Kamikaze attacks
• Outcome: United States victory after two months
• Significance: Largest air-sea-land battle in Pacific theater

Battle of Berlin

• Date: Began mid-April 1945
• Combatants: Red Army vs. Germany
• Outcome: Soviets captured Reichstag by April 30
• Significance: Hitler's suicide, end of war in Europe during WWII