Why the allies won

Where was the majority of WWII fought in Europe, and who did most of the fighting?

The war was won in the East by the Soviets, who did the majority of the fighting and killed 8 out of every 10 German soldiers.

What was Operation Barbarossa, and why was it significant?

Operation Barbarossa was the German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941 — the largest invasion in human history across an 1800-mile front — and Hitler's great mistake of the war.

How did the initial phase of Operation Barbarossa unfold?

German attacks were highly successful, capturing two million Soviet soldiers in two months, partly because Stalin ignored warnings and had purged much of his military leadership

What defensive strategy did the Soviets use against the German invasion?

The Soviets used scorched earth tactics, burning everything in their path while retreating.

How did the Soviet winter affect German forces?

The harsh winter devastated German forces: they wore summer uniforms, their oil congealed, weapons locked up, and frostbite was widespread.

Which two principal cities did the Germans fail to capture in the Soviet Union?

The Germans failed to capture Moscow and Leningrad.

What critical strategic mistake did Hitler make in 1942?

Hitler split his forces to drive toward oil in the Caucasus instead of concentrating on defeating the Soviets first.

Why was Hitler fixated on capturing Stalingrad?

Stalingrad was a symbolic city on the Volga River; Hitler became obsessed with capturing it.

What type of fighting characterized the Battle of Stalingrad?

The Battle of Stalingrad involved brutal, close-quarters, hand-to-hand combat in a destroyed cityscape.

How did the Soviets turn the tide at Stalingrad?

They attacked the vulnerable German flanks, encircled the German army, and refused to let it retreat, leading to its destruction.

What happened to the German Sixth Army at Stalingrad?

The Sixth Army was encircled and annihilated; only about 3,500 of the 92,000 German prisoners taken survived Soviet camps.

Why is the Battle of Stalingrad considered a turning point in WWII?

It marked Germany’s first major strategic defeat and the beginning of the Soviet offensive westward.

What was the impact of the D-Day invasion on Germany?

It opened a second major front against Germany, forcing them to fight the Allies in the West and the Soviets in the East.

When and where did D-Day occur, and who led it?

D-Day occurred on June 6, 1944, at Normandy, France, and was coordinated by Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Why was Eisenhower’s decision on D-Day remarkable?

He chose to proceed with the invasion based on instinct despite poor weather conditions.

How was the D-Day invasion carried out?

It was a multi-allied effort, with Americans, British, and Canadians storming different beaches during the largest amphibious invasion in history.

What was the situation in Italy during WWII after North Africa?

After North Africa, the Allies invaded Italy in 1943, but progress was slow due to Italy's mountainous, defensible terrain.

What early victories did Japan have in the Pacific?

Japan captured the Philippines, Singapore, and other territories at the start of the Pacific War.

What was the Battle of Midway, and why was it important?

Midway was the turning point in the Pacific; the U.S. broke Japan’s code and sank four Japanese carriers, crippling Japan's offensive ability.

How did the U.S. win at the Battle of Midway?

The U.S. knew the Japanese plan due to codebreaking and turned the battle in 20 minutes by sinking four Japanese carriers.

What was the "Island Hopping" strategy?

The U.S. skipped heavily defended islands, capturing key ones to get closer to Japan and starve out isolated garrisons.

Why was the capture of Guadalcanal important?

It was critical to prevent a possible Japanese invasion of Australia.

What key victories did the Allies achieve in the Pacific in 1944?

The U.S. retook the Philippines, and the British retook Burma.

Why were the islands of Iwo Jima and Okinawa important?

They were needed as bases for launching an invasion of Japan.

What was the goal of the Allied strategic bombing campaign against Germany starting in 1943?

To destroy German infrastructure and production capabilities by bombing day and night

What cities suffered heavy civilian casualties from Allied bombing?

Hamburg, Dresden, and Tokyo, with tens of thousands of civilians killed.

What was the result of the firebombing of Tokyo?

Tokyo was essentially wiped out, with enormous civilian casualties.

What was the Manhattan Project?

A multi-allied secret project from 1940–1945 to develop atomic bombs, with significant contributions from Hungarian scientists.

Where was the first atomic bomb tested?

At White Sands, New Mexico, where the test blast was more powerful than predicted.

What cities were bombed with atomic weapons?

Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, and Nagasaki three days later.

What effect did the atomic bombs have on Japan?

After the second bomb, Japan surrendered, ending WWII, despite arguments that they were already close to surrender.

Why is the argument that Japan was about to surrender without the bomb considered unconvincing?

Japanese forces often fought to the last man, making a peaceful surrender unlikely without the bombings.

After Stalingrad, what was Germany’s overall military position?

Germany was permanently on the defensive after losing at Stalingrad.

What major disadvantages did Germany face late in the war?

Demographic decline, manufacturing losses, lack of oil, and reliance on draft animals instead of motorized vehicles.

Why was Japan so difficult for the Allies to defeat?

Japanese soldiers followed the Bushido code and fought to the death, causing extremely high casualties on both sides.

How important was Allied collaboration to the war effort?

Allied cooperation was crucial for successes like the Normandy invasion and the Manhattan Project.

What role did Winston Churchill play during WWII?

As Britain’s wartime Prime Minister, Churchill recognized early how dangerous Nazism was and led Britain through critical periods like the Battle of Britain.

What British technological advantages helped in WWII?

The Supermarine Spitfire fighter plane and the use of radar, both crucial during the Battle of Britain, Germany’s first defeat.

What was Germany’s condition by the end of the war?

Germany was completely destroyed and in ruins; the war in Europe ended on May 8, 1945.