9. Battle Of Stalingrad (1942-43)
One of the major turning points in World War II was Hitler's decision to initiate Operation Barbarossa. It was the largest invasion ever, with over four million Axis troops crossing into the Soviet Union, however, the operation screeched to a halt on the outskirts of Moscow. Hitler, who was beginning to think himself quite the tactician, believed that taking Stalingrad, as well as providing a morale boost, would set them up to take Baku and secure vital petroleum resources. The Luftwaffe bombed Stalingrad in August, preparing for the arrival of Axis ground forces. General Vasiliy Chuikov commanded the Soviet forces, and his plan was to battle building-by-building, keeping close to the Germans so their air support would be ineffective. General Georgiy Zhukov planned the counter-offensive. In 216BC, Hannibal made one of the most famous tactical manoeuvres of all-time. His force slaughtered the much-larger Roman Republic army, luring them in through the centre, before catching them in a pincer movement and surrounding them. Zhukov used the same tactic, and, within four days of Operation Uranus being initiated, 250,000 German troops were trapped. 150,000 German troops died and the rest surrendered. It marked the end of the eastern front, and, with the British defeating Rommel's force at El Alamein, it meant the tide had turned against Hitler. If the German troops had a decisive victory at Stalingrad, the Caucasus would have come under their control and more troops could have been sent back to battle on the western front. Whether or not Stalingrad could have changed the war, or even the eastern front, is still a divisive issue among historians.