The turningpoint of WWII

[Benny_DK]

What do you think was the turningpoint and why.....

[General Sun]

There never was a turning point. It was inevitable that righteousness would triumph.

[Spork]

Operation Barbarossa was, in my opinion, the true fundamental turning point in world war two. Despite it's early success, it resulted in the truly devastating Russian counter-offensive, that hit Berlin very quickly after the deadlock ended. I believe that this alone could have ended world war two, even without a western front.

[Sylver]

Originally posted by General_Sun@Jan 29 2005, 10:40 PM
There never was a turning point. It was inevitable that righteousness would triumph.

Righteousness? Its all a matter of perspective. If the Nazis had won, you would be saying that they were righteous. And dont say you wouldent be, because its not true. History is written by the victor.

In my opinion, Stalingrad. Without a Russian victory there, The Russians would not have been able to push the Germans back.

Then again, it could also be the Battle of Britain. If the Germans won the air war, Britain would have been invaded, maybe even conquered. The allies would then have no foothold in Europe, and Hitler would have been able to destroy the rest of the resistance. If Britain had fallen, we very well could have lost.

Brave warriors of Brittania and the Commonwealth, I salute you.

[Hallock]

I would say all the events from 1943 to mid 1944 was the major turning point.

[Niles Crane]

In my opinion, Germany had lost the war by 1939. The invasion of Russia and their deadly winter was a big mistake. Especially when Hitler started meddling with the plans of new assault vehicles, (tanks, jeeps, etc.)
But a major turning point for the Allies? When Britain and America began bombing the industrial sites of Germany. Cutting their armanents production by a huge percentage in the end.

[Rapax]

Originally posted by General_Sun@Jan 30 2005, 04:40 AM
There never was a turning point. It was inevitable that righteousness would triumph.

Please spare us this political correctness BS in history.

@octavian:
1939 is a rather strange assessment since things could have worked out either way, nothing is doomed from the beginning.

Turning point for me would be stalingrad since it put a stop to germanys eastern offensive, which would ultimately enable D-Day and victory in 1945.

[therussian]

The Battle of Stalingrad because the German invasion of Russia has come to a halt and they are now retreating from the Red Army. But, some scholars can argue that the Battle of Moscow was the turning point. It was the first victorious battle for the Russians and foreshadowed the end of Operation Barbarossa.

[Spork]

D-day just quickened the war in my opinion. I don't think it was really essential for victory, UNLESS the Nazi's were able to develop a nuclear bomb in that time. In that case, you can see a stalemate between the Nazi Europe and America - instead of the Soviet Union and America. Interesting stuff.

[Hallock]

I don't think it was really essential for victory, UNLESS the Nazi's were able to develop a nuclear bomb in that time.

They were developing, and had the capabilities if they found the correct way, to produce an atomic bomb.

[Ravyn]

I believe the turning point of WW2 is when Hitler decided not to pursue the development of long-range bombers for example such as the B-52. The twin engines the germans were using could not make it past the Ural Mountains where the brunt of the Russian Industry was located.

[GoldenKnightX2]

The Battle of Stalingrad wsa turing point to me

[Rush Limbaugh]

Id say the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Once the US was brought fully into the war on the side of the allies their victory was garunteed. I believe Winston Churchill though the same.

[Sidus Preclarum]

As the saying goes, After Stalingrad, the Germans began to wonder wether it was possible they'd lose this war . After Kursk, wether it was possible they'd win it ...

[iamrobk]

I think it was the battle of Britain (and what would have been Operation Sea Lion). If Hitler had won the BoB, he inevitably would have performed Operation Sea Lion. If THAT had been successful (and unfortunately, I believe it would have. The UK didn't have much in terms of ground troops, especially compared with Hitler), Hitler would only have 1 front to fight on, and I believe that his judgement would have been better (by the end of the war, he was pretty much delusional, most likely from the falling of his empire) during Barbarossa, and they probably would have won.

[Niles Crane]

1939 is a rather strange assessment since things could have worked out either way, nothing is doomed from the beginning.

My point is that they had lost by the time the Russian winter had begun. They were losing hundreds of thousands of men on that side, whilst their cities and industry were being bombed to oblivion.

[OTZ]

gotta go with Rush on this one - Pearl sealed the fate of the Axis. without US participation the German conquest of Russia may very well have been possible in 1942.

[Sidus Preclarum]

Originally posted by OTZ@Jan 30 2005, 07:07 PM
gotta go with Rush on this one - Pearl sealed the fate of the Axis. without US participation the German conquest of Russia may very well have been possible in 1942.

I'm definetely not a specialist, but I think most historians would disagree with that assertion .
Afaik, by the end of 1942, the US had commited "only" 110 k troops on the western theatre , in northern Africa, and those were men with no combat experience, as the first combats with the panzeramee Afrika _which , iirc , didn't receive significant reinforcement _ painfully showed ...
At the same time, PAulus was being cut off from the rest of the Wehrmarch in Stalingrad, and Hoth's attempt at breaking the encirclement had failed, and the whole army group A withrdrew from the Caucasus .

[RusskiSoldat]

In 1937. No typo here. That's IIRC the year we had a border clash with Japan the army of who Zhukov promptly surrounded and forced to surrender. Afte rthat Japan feared attacking su. Who knows wha twould have happenne dif Japan attacked from the East. No Siberian reserves to help out in Moscow and Stalingrad. As for the actualy wartimne Stalignrad for Europe and Midway for Pacific.
OFF TOPIC EDIT: found some Russian wartime songs here. The second of them really is amusing, sings about Fascists being burned to death by drinking hot Russian tea.

[Damage_Inc]

The battle of Midway for the Pacific. And Stalingrad because not only did they lose the battle but they lost an entire field army. Something that is not easily replaced. Kursk was the final nail.