Poll: What was the turning point of World War 2?

[Fulax]

The Germans were in trouble as soon as they invaded the Soviet Union but the true turning point was Stalingrad imo. As others have said, it was their first major defeat.

 

[Ignignoct]

As per US Navy History and advancement exams go, the Battle of Midway was the turning point when we started a winning streak against the JAP...anese.

So... ehh...

I'm sure there was plenty of fun stuff in Deutschland too.

 

[Zani]

Midway in the Pacific and overall Operation Barbarossa in Europe.

 

[Berethond]

The Winter War in Finland, destroyed what was left of Russia's command structure (military) and decimated them, causing them to sign the Non-Aggression Pact with Hitler and invade Poland.

 

[HerrBobo]

^^ This guy talks a lot of sense. What shouldn't be forgotten is that the German army had been built around the concept that modern wars would be mobile affairs that could be decisively settled in short order. Protracted war fighting ultimately proved beyond the Wehrmacht's capabilities, their problems exacerbated by dependence on horse rather than machine power, the absence of a strategic bomber force and supply problems due to Germany's recently fragile economy (during the 1930s).

Thanks. You made some very good points your self, which saved me from having to go into some stuff. Also good point about the horses.

I think thats a point that kinda backs up my own first point. The doctrine of war changed durning the second half of WW2. The shift was from tactical to strategic victories, the two always went hand in hand of course, but in many ways they were now reversed. For example, the bombing of German was a straegic victory for the allies that allowed them to cripple the German war effort, which in turn allowed the troops in the field to win tactical victories. In the early stages of the war it had been tactical bombing and tactical victories on the ground that had allowed Germany to win strategic victories, such as the capture of Paris.

That is what the Germany army was designed for. In the latter part of the war the German army was unable and unwilling, in some cases, to evolve to this new level of warfare.The Russians were the same, but unlike German were able to cover this with huge resorces.

 

[HerrBobo]

The Winter War in Finland, destroyed what was left of Russia's command structure (military) and decimated them, causing them to sign the Non-Aggression Pact with Hitler and invade Poland.

Thats incorrect. The Non-agression pact was signed 2 months before the Winter War.

 

[Bulletinmybrain]

Eastern Europe: Battle of Stalingrad. It was a massive fuck you to hitler. (Who might as well been the only nazi, because save a few everyone of the nazis bent to his will)

Pacific: Midway: Complete annihilation of the most feared military unit to date of a nation, the aircraft carrier.

Western: Battle of Britain: It shown that the nazis couldn't achieve their goal of putting Britain in a cask to be seal at a later date.

 

[xChevelle24]

^^ This guy talks a lot of sense. What shouldn't be forgotten is that the German army had been built around the concept that modern wars would be mobile affairs that could be decisively settled in short order. Protracted war fighting ultimately proved beyond the Wehrmacht's capabilities, their problems exacerbated by dependence on horse rather than machine power, the absence of a strategic bomber force and supply problems due to Germany's recently fragile economy (during the 1930s).

Thanks. You made some very good points your self, which saved me from having to go into some stuff. Also good point about the horses.

I think thats a point that kinda backs up my own first point. The doctrine of war changed durning the second half of WW2. The shift was from tactical to strategic victories, the two always went hand in hand of course, but in many ways they were now reversed. For example, the bombing of German was a straegic victory for the allies that allowed them to cripple the German war effort, which in turn allowed the troops in the field to win tactical victories. In the early stages of the war it had been tactical bombing and tactical victories on the ground that had allowed Germany to win strategic victories, such as the capture of Paris.

That is what the Germany army was designed for. In the latter part of the war the German army was unable and unwilling, in some cases, to evolve to this new level of warfare.The Russians were the same, but unlike German were able to cover this with huge resorces.

I'm still confused as to which option you voted for (it's twelve AM and I don't feel like squinting to read everything)

Although I do give you kudos, you sure do know your stuff!

 

[Inverse Skies]

I believe Stalingrad is well considered to be one of the pivotal turning points of WWII, either that or Operation Uranus which crushed the German 3rd Army (or was it the 6th? One of those two).

 

[Radelaide]

The end of Germany occurred when they put that lunatic in power. They had no chance.

Not true. If Hitler hadn't become so power hungry during the campaign, the Germans and their alliances may very well have won the war.

 

[Motti]

The Battle of Britan. It showed the world just how dumb Hitler was, how useful radar could be and the pure celtic bloodymindedness still showing in UK citizens.

 

[gh0ti]

Battle of Stalingrad simple

A question for UKers, though. What was it like before the U.S. actually entered? I haven't seen too many WW2 books that talked about what you guys went through.

Ah ok if i can remember, The US suppiled the UK throughout the war and these ships were sunk by Uboats supplies were low. life sucked

The battle of Britain if i can remember was pretty much attacks by the luftwaffe trying to knock out our airforce and also destroying key factories, Germany was near their goal to destroy the RAF when a luftwaffe bomber accidentally attacked a city changing Hitlers orders to demoralise British support for the war.

Please correct me if i'm wrong (my mind is to fuzzy)

Essentially after Dunkirk there was a real fear that Britain would be invaded and the politicians discussed making peace with Germany. Churchill however, who had come to power just a month or two earlier, persuaded (the majority) of his cabinet that surrender to Germany would be as devastating to British interests as a crushing defeat. Thus Britain 'went it alone', her allies having been systematically overrun through the Spring and Summer of 1940. Hitler knew however that for an invasion to be possible, he first needed air superiority, which meant destroying the RAF.

This was going OK for the Germans at first, but then they made the fateful decision to switch priority from RAF military bases to civilian centres, thus beginning the Blitz. However, British morale did not crumble, despite the devastation of major cities, and they were still able to outproduce the Germans in terms of fighters - the Nazis had to split production between fighters and bombers, whilst the Brits made the decision early on to only manufacture fighters. By October, it became clear to Hitler that the RAF was simply too strong to overcome in this way and that Germany lacked the firepower to bomb Britain into submission. He always had one eye on Russia, and wanted to begin preparing for an invasion there the following Summer. Thus, he acknowledged defeat and the Battle of Britain ended.

Meanwhile the US govt. was shocked by the speed with which the Germans had destroyed France, even if the American people at large were still against involvement. This led them to step up their material support of Britain, a policy that would culminate in the lend-lease agreement. Despite this, foodstuffs and other necessities were limited, resulting in rationing. Ironically, it is often said that the majority of people were actually made healthier by their WW2 diet than prior or since, given that everyone was allotted the basic essentials to survive.

That is what the Germany army was designed for. In the latter part of the war the German army was unable and unwilling, in some cases, to evolve to this new level of warfare.The Russians were the same, but unlike German were able to cover this with huge resorces.

Yeah, I read somewhere that the German high command deliberately put off developing a heavy bomber because they were too expensive to mass produce - they felt that smaller bombers in vast quantities looked far more impressive at military rallies!

 

[Ushario]

The Battle of Britain was the point that signalled the turn in the tides of the war.

On the production of vehicles effecting the outcome of the war, the production of heavier tanks by the Germans, and their move away from more easily produced tanks, meant that they couldn't field enough.

If they had stuck to the simpler and smaller tanks that they had already proven to be effective, they may have halted their retreat.

 

[Syvari]

The turning point of world war two was when a giant cinnamon roll ate the nazis,and then I ate it. But really I think it was Stalingrad: Imagine what the war would have been like if Germany was able to capture Russia (and world events afterword).

 

[WrongSprite]

stalingrad

(wouldnt pearl harbour have meant that japan won the war xD)

No....it was their downfall as it bought a little country called America into the war.

 

[GloatingSwine]

There were lots of "turning points" in the war.

The outcome of the Battle of Britain halted German expansion to the west with an enemy remaining on that front, meaning that the full power of the Wehrmacht couldn't be brought to bear on the Eastern Front, and this was intensified by the American entry into the war.

The battles of Moscow and Stalingrad ground the German advance in Russia to a halt, which essentially defined the limits of their possible expansion, and allowed Russia's heavy industry to recover.

There wasn't really a "turning point" in the Pacific war. The absence of the United States carrier fleet at Pearl Harbour meant that the Japanese were unable to capitalise on their early advantage, and couldn't bring their plan of a forced peace with their influence in the pacific and asia greatly increased, it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that they would lose. (Japan's industrial output for the entire war was outmatched by the US' per year, they could simply not have won in the Pacific)

 

[xLANKYx]

The end of Germany occurred when they put that lunatic in power. They had no chance.

Not true. If Hitler hadn't become so power hungry during the campaign, the Germans and their alliances may very well have won the war.

hitler was power hungry before the war, thats why WW2 started & thats the main reason (not the only reason) they lost WW2. there are many turning points that added up to germanys defeat.

the problem with picking specific events is you dont know what wud have happened if things had been differant, hitler defeating the RAF & invadeing the UK may have still ended with defeat for germany (in a differant way) ect ect ect, we just dont know.

 

[johnman]

Stalingrad and Mosocw, if Hitler had actaully listened to his generals Germnay would have probly steamrolled Russia.
But Mosocw only Bogged the Germans down, after Stalingrad they never stopped retreating.

 

[johnman]

Also its to note that Germany only one of greatest General's and field tacticians ever Rommel, lucky for us Hitler should have heard him more often.

Only Rommel? What about Manstein who planned the invasion of France, Guderian Who pioneered Bliztkreig and Von Runstadt. Germany had the best military command of all the nations in the war, its jsut that Hitler messed it all up.

 

[ZeeClone]

When the British captured the Enigma machine along with German code books in May 1941, thus finally could crack Germany's transmission codes as fast as they could be typed.

This meant that the allies knew everything the Germans were trying to do. Quite a big advantage.

Monumentally seconded. The code books being the bigger of the two wins. Colossus was doing a pretty good job without enigma by that stage. But translation is useless without interpretation.

I know little of the eastern front of WW2 so won't post comment, but agreed with El Alamein for the African Theatre & Battle of Britain for the European.

Don't get me started on some of the dirty tricks played by our allies on us prior to their joining the War. I'd post further... but I don't want to attract the ire of mods/those who are better informed.