Battles That Changed Our Lives

World War II will forever be remembered as one of the darkest, most brutal moments in our history. Many lessons were learned, but the most important was the fragility of human life. Countless battles took place throughout this war, ending numerous lives. Here are 20 of the most crucial battles that took place, reminding us of the brave soldiers who fought and defended our freedom.

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1. Pearl Harbor

On December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii was caught completely off guard by a surprise attack from the Japanese Navy Air Service. Approximately 2,400 lives were lost in this U.S. naval base, fueling the country's desire for justice. This was an incredibly significant moment as it led the United States to officially join World War II.

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2. Operation Barbarossa

As one of the largest battles in history, consisting of around 10 million soldiers with 8 million casualties, Operation Barbarossa is not something we can forget so easily. Germany and their fellow allies attempted to invade the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941, only for them to eventually lose due to poor planning. This historic event is crucial, as many consider it one of the turning points in the war. 

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3. Battle of Stalingrad

Taking place across several months from July 17, 1942 to February 2, 1943, the Battle of Stalingrad is considered one of the biggest battles in the Eastern Front during World War II. Many remember it as one of the most brutal, horrifying fights in history. With close-quarter combat and civilians caught in the crossfire, the Soviet Union tirelessly fought off Germany and the Axis Powers for control over Stalingrad.

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4. Battle of the Atlantic

As the longest military campaign during World War II, this extensive battle lasted a whopping five years. The Allies struggled to defend against Germany as they attempted to cut off crucial shipping for European countries. Starting from September 3, 1939 all the way till May 8, 1845 when Germany was finally defeated, this was a hard-won fight. 

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5. Battle of Britain

As the name suggests, this intense battle was fought between the United Kingdom and Germany. What's unique about this fight was it was all done mostly up in the air. The Luftwaffe, Germany's World War II air force, carried out massive and deadly aerials attacks from above which the The Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm, and the Royal Navy (successfully) defended against.

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6. The Siege of Leningrad

Lasting over two years, the Siege of Leningrad consisted of German forces cutting off roads leading in and out of the city. With resources being cut, this siege became one of the most devastating in all of history. Approximately 1.5 million people lost their lives, with too many civilians passing due to starvation. 

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7. Battle of Midway

Six months after the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor, the Battle of Midway began and was one of the biggest naval battles during World War II. This was a key fight that had to be won - it gave the victor control and power over the Pacific. In the end, the Americans were successful in taking the fight which was important in minimizing Japan's power during the war. 

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8. Operation Torch

Operation Torch was a successful invasion performed by the Allies on November 8-16, 1942. By winning French North Africa, this was the first U.S. victory in World War II and was seen as an opportunity for the American soldiers to gain experience on the field against the Axis Powers. 

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9. Battle of Dunkirk

Following the losing battle in France, the Battle of Dunkirk was an evacuation attempt for Allied Forces. This significant event took place across multiple days from May 26 to June 4, 1940. Around 338,000 soldiers were saved in this process, and all things considered, was seen as a huge win that kept British and French troops largely in tact.

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10. Battle of Okinawa

With a combined loss of approximately 150,000 soldiers from both sides, the Battle of Okinawa was no small battle. Fought between the United States Army and Japan, this horrific fight is known for holding some of the most dangerous kamikaze attacks in history. The result was devastating; it's said that around 150,000 civilians lost their lives. 

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11. Operation Bagration

Also known as the Byelorussian strategic offensive operation performed by the Soviet Union in 1944, this campaign led to what is now considered the biggest German military loss in history. Starting on June 22 and lasting until August 19, this offensive attack ended with around 450,000 German casualties.

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12. Battle of Crete

The Battle of Crete, or sometimes known under its codename Operation Mercury, was an attempt by the Axis Powers to take over the island of Crete. While the Greeks and Allies were able to strongly fend off Germany on the first day, which was thought to signal a quick victory, they were quickly overwhelmed and had to retreat. 

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13. Battle of Anzio

In an attempt to free Italy, the Allied Powers landed on the coast of Anzio and began their attack. However, the Germans held their ground and defended their control, resulting in very little progress. Despite the stalemate, numerous lives were still lost in the process. 

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14. Battle of Monte Cassino

Perhaps better known as the Battle for Rome, the Allied Powers were able to score another victory after executing four military attacks on the Axis forces. The main goal was to tear down the Winter Line, which was a number of military fortifications built by Germany and Italy. 

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15. Battle of Leyte Gulf

The Battle of Leyte Gulf, which lasted for three days in the Pacific, is seen in history as the biggest naval battle to ever take place. Around 200,000 people were involved! This war on the water is also seen as the last in history to have been between battleships. With the U.S. claiming victory for this fight, the Japanese Navy could not recover from its heavy losses.

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16. Battle of Luzon

After Luzon, which was the largest island in the Phillipines, was taken over by Japanese control, the Americans believed it was strategically necessary to retake this land. As a result, a massive war on land ensued with nearly 400,000 lives lost. Although the U.S. and Phillipines claimed the victory, the war was far from over. 

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17. Second Battle of Kharkov

The Second Battle of Kharkov, which is known by some as Operation Fredericus, took place on May 12, 1942 and was an attempt of the Soviet's trying to reclaim the city. It was a very vicious battle, with numerous lives lost in the process. And despite the Soviet Union's efforts, they were unable to succeed in the end.

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18. Battle of the Philippine Sea

Noted for being one of the biggest aircraft carrier fights in World War II, the Battle of the Philippine Sea ended in a secure win for the United States and Allies. The Japanese Navy suffered such a massive loss that they were unable to carry out-large scale carrier attacks moving forward. In other words, they lost more than just the one battle that day.

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19. Battle of Moscow

Taking over Moscow, which was the biggest city in the Soviet Union, was a major goal the Axis Powers wanted to accomplish. There's no doubt that if this was lost, the war would have been very different. And while it was a hard-won fight, the Soviets were able to leave victorious, pushing back German armies with their defenses.

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20. Normandy (D-Day)

Also known as Operation Overlord, the Battle of Normandy is important for so many reasons. Not only is it considered the largest amphibious attack in all of history, it's often considered as one of the great wins that began the path to ending World War II. 

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