WW2 - Part Four : Turning Points
Barbarossa and Allied Pushback
Frustrated in the west, Hitler turned east. On June 22, 1941, Germany launched Operation Barbarossa, invading the Soviet Union and breaking the non-aggression pact.
Early Blitzkrieg successes saw millions of Soviet soldiers captured, but fierce resistance and the brutal Russian winter of 1941 stalled Germany’s advance.
America Joins and the Tide Turns
The war shifted globally on December 7, 1941, when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, pulling the U.S. into the conflict. Initially neutral, the U.S. had indirectly supported Britain and France with weapons.
Now, fully engaged, it bolstered the Allies. On June 6, 1944, the D-Day invasion at Normandy saw over 150,000 Allied troops and 5,000 ships reclaim France. Paris was liberated by August 25, 1944. The Soviets, meanwhile, pushed west, reclaiming Poland and reaching Berlin by April 16, 1945. On April 30, Hitler killed himself as Soviet forces closed in.
Germany surrendered on May 7, 1945 (V-E Day: May 8), ending the European war. Japan followed on August 15, 1945 (V-J Day), concluding World War II.
In the next section, I will write about The Aftermath and Lessons of World War II. Please look forward to it.