What events in Europe and the Pacific helped turn the tide in favor of the Allies?
1 Answer
I think this a quite difficult question to answer with a definite and unique option. I would say the Battle of Stalingrad and the Battle of Midway...but....
Explanation:
The Battle of Stalingrad (Russia/URSS - August '42-February '43) caused a deep change in the situation of the war in Europe. The Wehrmacht lost the initiative and an entire army (together with generals and one field marshal too!) and started a slow but constant retreat up to Berlin.
There are also two other moments of capital importance:
1) The Battle of El-Alamein (October-November '42) in North Africa where the Afrika Korps under the command of Erwin Rommel was defeated by the British under Bernard Montgomery;
This is considered the first defeat of the German Army but it doesn`t carry the volume and gravity of losses of Stalingrad (considering also that the North African front was probably considered secondary by the German High Command).
2) The Normandy landings/Invasion (D-day - 6th June 1944): this was an incredible operation that showed the astonishing capacity of the US to wage war wherever it wanted, when it wanted and with a huge amount of materials, weapons and men (the US was fighting in Europe AND in the Pacific at the same time!!!)). I see this as the final nail in the coffin more than a turning point.
The Battle of Midway (June 1943), in the Pacific, represents a change in initiative in the war, up to that moment, dominated by the Japanese. It doesn't mean that the Japanese lost the war at that moment but, like a boxer stunned by a powerful blow, they started to have to defend themselves instead of attacking.
On the other hand you have the first total engagement of US Navy, Air Force and Army at Guadalcanal that was the first major operation to retake territory from the Japanese Imperial Army. The fact is that at Guadalcanal the US could capitalize upon the terrible blow suffered by the Japanese Navy at Midway and so be, reasonably, free to conduct the campaign with a certain degree of confidence.
