Operation Barbarossa & Pacific War: WWII Turning Points
Operation Barbarossa
Despite the non-aggression pact with the USSR, Hitler's Germany was preparing for the invasion of the Soviet Union, codenamed Operation Barbarossa. Germany's initial plan was delayed due to Italy's failure to occupy Greece, requiring German support. This led Germany to focus its interest on Eastern Europe: Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria were occupied, followed by Greece, Yugoslavia, and Crete.
The invasion of the USSR began in 1941 with these objectives:
- Destroy the Bolshevik regime.
- Subjugate the population and exploit the country's resources: food, minerals, petroleum, and industrial assets.
The attacks followed three main directions:
- North towards Leningrad.
- Center towards Moscow.
- South through Ukraine.
Leningrad withstood the German attack for three years. In Ukraine, the German advance was halted at the Battle of Stalingrad. Stalin relocated Soviet industry to the Asian part of Russia and implemented a scorched-earth policy, leaving no resources for the advancing Germans. The failure of the Soviet invasion marked the beginning of Germany's decline.
War of the Pacific
The Pacific War started with the Japanese surprise attack on the US naval base at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The US President declared war on Japan, and subsequently, Germany and Italy declared war on the US. Initially, Japan advanced rapidly, occupying Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Burma by 1942. Japan also aimed to occupy Australia and New Guinea.
The tide of the war began to turn when the US contained the Japanese advance in two crucial battles: Guadalcanal and Midway. These battles marked a shift in momentum in favor of the US.
Defeat of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan
From 1943, the course of the war changed significantly. The Allies' economic and military potential surpassed that of the Axis powers (Germany, Japan, and Italy). Allied offensives forced Germany to retreat, and massive Allied bombings targeted German cities. The resistance movements in occupied countries played a crucial role.
Allied Offensive
Campaign in Italy: The Allied landing in Sicily initiated the Italian campaign. The advance through Italy led to the fall and imprisonment of Mussolini. Hitler aided Mussolini, invaded northern and central Italy, and freed Mussolini, who established a Fascist state in the north, based in Salò. Italy was divided into two parts: the Fascist north and the liberated center and south. The Allies continued their advance northward. Yugoslav and Albanian partisans successfully liberated their countries from German rule.
Normandy Landings: The Allies launched a landing in Normandy in 1944 (Operation Overlord, often called D-Day), involving Anglo-American troops. They liberated Paris, and France was subsequently freed. From there, the Allies advanced towards Germany.