Originally Posted by Missileer

The constant firebombing, UK all night and US all day, demoralized Germany and made it almost impossible to regroup without being bombed. All the Mosquito bombers, B-17s, B25s, and every other bomber after we gained air superiority over Germany and were bombing at will.

Next, the support we gave Russia on the Eastern front took enough pressure off Stalin so they could become offensive for a change.

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the firepower and accuracy of bombing in WW2 seemed to be inefficient to really defeat an enemy without using land troops at the end.

Originally Posted by AussieNick

PACIFIC: Defeat of the Japanese at Milne Bay (PNG)

I agree with you on that Nick.

had the Japanese secured Milne Bay, they could have Bi-passed Port Morseby and gone staright ahead for the Australian Mainland, cutting off our forces already in PNG.

Plus had they Won Milne Bay, they could have moved in on Port Moresby directly and cut off Maroubra Force on the Kokoda Trail, and had we lost Milne Bay, the USMC couldn't have mounted the invasion of Guadacanal.

In comparsion to other battles in the Pacific and even WWII. it wasn't a huge battle, but it sure as hell was an important one.

Following events turned the face of WWII:

- Attack on Pearl Harbour (USA enters WWII)
- Hitler attacks Russia and the defeat at "Stalingrad" (First blunder then German Invincibility shattered)
- Capture of Monte Casino (Italy crumbles)
- D-Day marine invasion (Normandy - France)
- Invasion of Okinawa (Japanese War-machine rendered in-effective)

If given only one pick, its got to be STALINGRAD.

I think that are a couple of major turning points, one was Battle Of Britain for if Britain had gone under then just where would the Assault on Europe be launched from. Two The Invasion by Germany of Russia as that sealed the fate of the war as much as anything. Last of all number THREE when America came into the war, not only with her forces but with her industrial muscle, which was far enough away from the war zone never to affected by bombing or any other ravages of the war.

I don't think the turning point was external. I think the turning point was an implosion of Hitler himself. They coquered france in about 6 weeks and had Britain on their heals. Ok now the turning point of the war happens when Hitler decides to engage all his forces straight on into Russia where they were strong. He, also to make matters worse, split his armies into three seperate armies with know one specific goal in mind...(Three goals Leningrad, Moscow, and the Ukraine he got greedy and wanted it all) By doin this he was already destined to lose and definatly could not win a war of attrition with the Red Army. This is the biggest blunder Hitler could have made and determined the war. Raeder, Manstein, Rommel, and Guderian all knew it was a insane to attack the strong head on. If Hitler would have listened to these four men they would have easily won.

These men proposed an attack on Malta which would stop all traffic from britain to supply alexandria and the Meditteranian. Then supplying Rommel with 6 panzer division than the 2 he originally received (and almost won with) would have thrown the british back and would have forced them to retreat. This would have ended allied control of the Mediteranian and would have in turn been an axis lake. Then they could have taken the middle east and ride right into the Caucasus, cut supply routes to the Russian army and would be stairing at a soft underbelly. Germany would have easily taken over Russian territory and all there supplies. This would have made Germany soo strong that a landing by Allied forces anywhere in Europe almost an impossibility.

Definitely Stalingrad. The greatest and most horrible battle in history.

The Battle Of Britain...........For if Britain had lost this battle then the country would have been invaded and it does not matter just how we hard we fought or many of us died we did not have the equipment to fight of the German Army at this stage of the war. Now if Britain had gone Hitler would have taken Ireland as well along with Iceland and Greenland stitching up his whole Western flank. The knock on effect would have been that Germany would have taken over Gibraltar closing up the Mediterranean and probably the Suez Canal as well, he would got hold of all the oil wells in the Middle East. To many people out side Britain this battle was only a small one, but had we lost then so would have every thing else have changed.

Originally Posted by kar98k

I don't think the turning point was external. I think the turning point was an implosion of Hitler himself. They coquered france in about 6 weeks and had Britain on their heals. Ok now the turning point of the war happens when Hitler decides to engage all his forces straight on into Russia where they were strong. He, also to make matters worse, split his armies into three seperate armies with know one specific goal in mind...(Three goals Leningrad, Moscow, and the Ukraine he got greedy and wanted it all) By doin this he was already destined to lose and definatly could not win a war of attrition with the Red Army. This is the biggest blunder Hitler could have made and determined the war. Raeder, Manstein, Rommel, and Guderian all knew it was a insane to attack the strong head on. If Hitler would have listened to these four men they would have easily won.

I dont disagree with you however while a multi-prong attack on Russia would have made life a lot easier for the Germans if carried out in 1941 it would not have helped by 1943, the time it would have taken to secure the middle east would have simply given Russia time to strengthen its defences and may possibly have delayed things to the point that Russia attacked Germany first.

I still maintain that had the Italians been anywhere near useful and stayed out of Albania and Greece, Germany could have used the troops and time used in bailing them out to better effect on the Russian front.

Yes this is true i agree with what u said however even if they did muster up more defenses their oil and rubber supply would have been cut off and with Japan to the east no aid would have ever entered Russia. Germans could then, if even stopped, have won a war of attrition. Think russia as a pen (just bear with me here lol). If u hold the pen with your right hand then put one edge of the pen agaisnt your left palm and try to grip it, u will be able to grip it half way but not very strongly. Now take the same pen with your right hand and make a T with your fingures and then grip the pen...u will notice that almost all of the pen is covered and your grip is now stronger. This would be like a noose to Russia. Because your palm is closer to your fingures (representing supply line) u would have a tighter grip and choke of all russian access and capture moscow.

As for the battle of britain..it was a hard fought battle but the battle of britain was more of two great nations flexing muscles. Hitler contimplated invading britain but felt the cost was too high because he wanted russia. After awhile he just started bombing cities to make britain just give up but after a while seeing british determination he said the hell with it. Hitler even sent peace treaties to britain and told them just to succumb...if hitler really wanted to take britain in any way he would have invaded the island, north africa (more effectively), and india. Hitler in the back of his mind wanted russia so i do not think the battle of britain was a turning point...maybe for moral for British soldiers but not the entire German campaign