The Battle of Stalingrad was a turning point that greatly affected World War II. The battle at Stalingrad more or less bled the German army dry in the Soviet Union after this defeat; the German army was in full retreat. The Battle of Stalingrad took place during the winter of 1942 to 1943. In September of 1942, the German army advanced on the city of Stalingrad. Their motive was to secure the oil fields in the Caucasus. Stalingrad was also an important target because it was the Soviet Union’s main center of communication and manufacturing. After finding out the Germans had been attempting to take over Stalingrad, …show more content…
Joseph Stalin took action; his order to his army was “Not a step backwards.” This eventually led to the defeat of the German army. According to this article: 91,000 Germans were taken prisoner, along with the loss of their manpower and equipment. These facts prove that Germany started to decline in the war.
The next turning point that greatly affected World War II is the Battle of the Atlantic.
The Battle of the Atlantic was basically a contest between the Western Allies and the Axis powers (mainly Germany) for control of the Atlantic sea routes. The main three objectives for the Allies were the blockade of the Axis powers in Europe, the security of Allied sea movements, and freedom to project military power across the seas. According to the Britannica Encyclopedia, the Battle of the Atlantic represented Germany’s best chance to defeat the Western powers. Phase One of the battle for the Atlantic lasted 1939 to 1940. During that period the Anglo-French coalition drove German merchant shipping from the sea and created a fairly effective long-range blockade, while the German navy attempted to give some measure of damage on the Allies at
sea.