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Here’s a comprehensive list of major battles and campaigns of World War II, organized chronologically and by theater of war (Europe, Africa, Pacific, etc.). These engagements significantly influenced the outcome of the war.
European Theater
1. Invasion of Poland (Sep 1939)
- Marked the beginning of WWII; Germany and the USSR invaded from west and east.
2. Battle of France / Fall of France (May–June 1940)
- Germany defeats France, Belgium, Netherlands using blitzkrieg tactics.
3. Battle of Britain (Jul–Oct 1940)
- First major air battle; Britain resists German aerial bombardment (Luftwaffe).
4. Operation Barbarossa (Jun 1941 – Dec 1941)
- Nazi Germany invades the Soviet Union; largest land invasion in history.
5. Siege of Leningrad (Sep 1941 – Jan 1944)
- 900-day siege by Germany; over 1 million civilian deaths.
6. Battle of Moscow (Oct 1941 – Jan 1942)
- Soviet defense halts the German advance on the capital.
7. Battle of Stalingrad (Aug 1942 – Feb 1943)
- Turning point; Soviet victory leads to German retreat.
8. Battle of Kursk (Jul–Aug 1943)
- Largest tank battle in history; Soviets decisively repel German offensive.
9. Operation Bagration (Jun–Aug 1944)
- Massive Soviet offensive destroys Germany’s Army Group Centre.
10. Battle of Berlin (Apr–May 1945)
- Final major European battle; Soviets capture Berlin, Hitler commits suicide.
North African and Mediterranean Theater
11. North African Campaign (Jun 1940 – May 1943)
- Key battles:
- Operation Compass (1940–1941)
- Siege of Tobruk (Apr–Nov 1941)
- Battle of Gazala (May–Jun 1942)
- First Battle of El Alamein (Jul 1942)
- Second Battle of El Alamein (Oct–Nov 1942) – Major Allied victory.
12. Operation Torch (Nov 1942)
- Allied landings in French North Africa; beginning of Allied push into Tunisia.
13. Tunisia Campaign (Nov 1942 – May 1943)
- Ends Axis presence in North Africa.
14. Allied Invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky) (Jul–Aug 1943)
- Opens door to Italy.
15. Italian Campaign (Sep 1943 – May 1945)
- Includes:
- Battle of Salerno (Sep 1943)
- Battle of Monte Cassino (Jan–May 1944)
- Battle of Anzio (Jan–Jun 1944)
Western Front (Post D-Day)
16. Operation Overlord (D-Day) (Jun 6, 1944)
- Allied invasion of Normandy; begins liberation of Western Europe.
17. Battle of Normandy (Jun–Aug 1944)
- Intense fighting post-D-Day; Allies break out from beachheads.
18. Liberation of Paris (Aug 1944)
19. Operation Market Garden (Sep 1944)
- Failed Allied airborne attempt to capture bridges in the Netherlands.
20. Battle of the Bulge (Dec 1944 – Jan 1945)
- Germany’s final offensive in the west; Allies eventually repel.
Pacific Theater
21. Attack on Pearl Harbor (Dec 7, 1941)
- Japan attacks U.S. base; brings the U.S. into the war.
22. Battle of the Philippines (1941–42)
- Japan defeats Allied forces; infamous Bataan Death March.
23. Battle of the Coral Sea (May 1942)
- First aircraft carrier battle; strategic Allied victory halting Japanese expansion.
24. Battle of Midway (Jun 1942)
- Turning point; U.S. sinks four Japanese carriers.
25. Guadalcanal Campaign (Aug 1942 – Feb 1943)
- First major Allied offensive in the Pacific.
26. New Guinea Campaign (1942–1945)
- Series of Allied victories to retake territory from Japan.
27. Aleutian Islands Campaign (1942–1943)
- U.S. retakes islands occupied by Japan (Alaska).
28. Battle of Tarawa (Nov 1943)
- First major U.S. amphibious assault in the central Pacific.
29. Battle of the Philippine Sea (Jun 1944)
- “Great Marianas Turkey Shoot”; cripples Japanese naval aviation.
30. Battle of Leyte Gulf (Oct 1944)
- Largest naval battle in history; Japan’s navy effectively destroyed.
31. Battle of Iwo Jima (Feb–Mar 1945)
- Iconic U.S. Marine battle; heavy casualties.
32. Battle of Okinawa (Apr–Jun 1945)
- Largest Pacific battle; over 200,000 casualties.
China-Burma-India Theater
33. Battle of Wuhan (Jun–Oct 1938)
- Large-scale battle between China and Japan.
34. Burma Campaign (1942–1945)
- Allied effort (including Indian and Chinese forces) to push out Japan.
