Battles

Battles, campaigns and important basic decisions of WW2.

At this page, various interesting strategic decisions, campaigns and individual battles are investigated more closely, which had a more or less great influence on the course of WW2.

Were there alternatives to Operation Barbarossa ?

Were there alternatives for Hitler to Operation Barbarossa ? Part II to the question 'Why the Germans invaded Russia ?'

Why Hitler attacked Russia ?

Why Hitler attacked Russia ? (Part I) Looking on the subsequent events appearing after Hitler's decision to attack Russia, it

Soldiers of the 69th US Division and the Soviet 1st Ukrainian Front

Second World War overview 1943-45

Second World War, overview of the course from 1943 to 1945 with the defeat of the Axis powers by the

Second World War overview 1941-42

Second World War, overview of the course of the 'Axis high tide' from 1941 to 1942 (Part II). Mediterranean theater,

Second World War overview 1939-40

Second World War, overview of the course of the 'Blitzkriege' (lightning wars) from 1939 to 1940 (Part I). Polish campaign,

Battle of Britain

The Battle of Britain in 1940-1941. Operation Sea lion, strengths of the German Navy and Luftwaffe vs RAF, the air

Arctic convoy PQ-17

Artic convoys to Russia 1941 and 1942. First convoys, the destruction of PQ-17 and losses of PQ-18, new tactics with

End of Polish campaign

The Polish campaign from the Battle of Bzura, the invasion of the Red Army to the surrender of Warsaw and

Soldiers of the 214th Infantry Division with truck

Eastern Front 1944

The Eastern Front from winter 1943-44 until late summer 1944. Ending the siege of Leningrad and Operation Bagration, the destruction

'Schleswig-Holstein' bombards the Westerplatte

Polish campaign 1939

The campaign against Poland in September 1939 (Part I). Deployment, the German attack and the advance on Warsaw until 9

pain of an innocent creature, as well as the millions of humans, in a terrible war

17-Battle at the Vistula 1945

The last Russian Winter Offensive of the war started with the Battle of the Vistula. On January 12, 1945 the

Battle of Kursk

Battle of Kursk in July 1943, the greatest tank battle in military history. The strategic decisions, preparations, the German offensive

Roosevelt is talking with his foreign minister Cordell Hull.

Hitler’s declaration of war to the USA

Part III of 'Why did Hitler declare war on the US?' Back to PART II: The 'undeclared war' of the

US destroyer Kearny (DD-432) was also damaged by a German U-boat

Undeclared War

Part II of 'Why did Hitler declare war on the US?' Back to PART I: Why did Hitler declare war

Why did Hitler declare war on the US?

Hitler's declaration of war to the United States appears to be difficult to understand, superfluous, and sealed the fate of

Losses in World War II

Losses and casualties during World War II. Military personnel and civilian losses, aircraft, warships and merchant ships of the combatants

Operation Rhine Exercise

Operation Rheinuebung ('Rhine Exercise'), the final cruise of the Bismarck Detailed action, numerous photos and video. Here to Part I:

Operation Barbarossa

Could had Operation Barbarossa - Hitler's attack on Soviet Russia - a different course and why was the invasion carried

Control of Europe 1942-45

The map of the control of territories at the European theater of war from 1942-45. Below is the strategic map

Airborne invasion of Crete

Operation Merkur (Mercury), the 'Battle of Crete'. German Plan of Attack and assault troops, deployed forces, intelligence, the fighting and

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Attack of German infantry during the Blitzkrieg campaigns.

In so doing, less emphasis is placed on the number of battles or even on the complete treatment of all campaigns and strategic decisions, but on the essential and important operations for an important time interval of the WW2 War Diary or the armies‘ organization. The main focus here is on the units deployed in these battles and campaigns, and their strength, equipment and armament.

Additional, a large space is given to the strategic decisions of the principle – and here, above all (except maybe Joseph Stalin), the notorious individual decisions of the German Fuehrer, Adolf Hitler, who dominate everything. Hitler so decisively influence the course of the war as no other of the participating decision-makers.

Although Hitler had all options in his hands until the summer of 1941, his decisions resulted in the creation of the campaigns and battles, but the booklet of the trade was then torn from his hands of the Allies. However, all subsequent events, which were mostly triggered by the Allies, were still the product of Hitler’s strategy.

Especially for the development of war games as exact simulations are questions of the possible historical options and the ‘what if?’ necessary, besides the exact assessment of the fighting power of the involved armed forces and weapons for the calculation of alternative and fictional battles, if players or an artificial intelligence (AI) as ‘Supreme Commander’ takes other decisions than actually happened during WW2.