The most important battles of the Second World War. The greatest battle of World War II

The Second World War was the most terrible and bloody war in the history of mankind. The world was in the state of the Total War. The anti-fascist coalition won but, some of these battles did not always end with the victory. The article discusses ten battles that changed the course of the war.

Battle for France

After the Germans won Poland in September 1939, Hitler paid his attention to the West. The invasion of the territory of the Soviet Union was its main goal, but he knew that, above all, you need to capture Western Europe to avoid the war on two fronts. At first it was necessary to capture the Netherlands (Holland, Luxembourg and Belgium) and France. Hypothetically, Germany could conquer Britain, re-deploying his troops in the east, and then start hostilities against Russians.

The German army in numbers exceeded the army of the anti-fascist coalition. Nevertheless, it did not matter, since the German plan was very effective. After the Germans invaded the Netherlands, the French Army, and the British Expeditionary Corps (BEF) moved to the north, faced face to face with the forces of the Germans. This allowed the German army to break through the defense of the coalition in Ardennes and move towards La Mansu, but it was a trap. The Germans captured Paris, France fence, and the British Expeditionary Corps was evacuated in Dunkirk. The country was divided into German occupying zones in which the Vichy mode was introduced. Now Germany could concentrate and strike in Britain

Operation "Overlord"

By the summer of 1944, the Red Army had already stood on the threshold of Germany. There is no doubt that Russians could alone defeat Nazi Germany, but Stalin put pressure to the West to create the second front there and try to distract the attention of the Germans and quickly finish the war. Since 1942, the US Air Force and the Royal UK Air Force committed a massive bombardment. The coalition was headed by the Mediterranean operation and in 1943 they invaded Italy. However, it was necessary to beat off France to destroy the main power of the German army in Northern Europe.

Overlord operation began with the landing of troops in Normandy in June 1944. By August, in France there were about 3 million troops of the anti-fascist coalition. Paris was released on August 25, and the German army was thrown back and on September 30, they retreated to the Sena River. Germany was forced to strengthen his western front, taking reinforcements from the Eastern Front. The anti-fascist coalition won a strategic victory. By September, Western coalition troops approached the border of Germany. Nazi Germany surrendered less than a year. It was important that Western Europe could not manage Russia, which was so worried not the best times.

Battle for Guadalkanal

The battle for Guadalkanal or Operation "Watchtauer" was held from August 7, 1942 - February 9, 1943 at the Pacific Theater of Military Action. The war went between the forces of allies and Japan. The fighting was carried out on the island of Guadalkanal (Solomon Islands).

On August 7, 1942, the first divisions of the Allies, landed on the Islands of Guadalcanal, Tulagi and Florida, in order to prevent the Japanese to use them as their bases that were a threat to the USA, Australia and New Zealand. Allies intended to use Guadalkanal and Tulagi as a bridgehead. The initial disembarkation found the Japanese surprise. The allies immediately managed to capture the islands of Tulagi and Florida, as well as the airfield on Guadalkanal (which then called Henderson Field).

Not expecting such an allied on the part of the Allies, the Japanese committed several attempts to regain Henderson Field. These attempts led to large battles, and as a result, the Japanese without support. In December 1942, the Japanese began to evacuate their troops. The battle for Guadalcanal was very important knowledge, since it marked the loss of Japan's strategic initiative and the Allies switched from defense to the offensive.

Battle in the Gulf of Leate

This is the largest marine battle in history. The battle occurred in the seas in the Philippine Island from October 23 to October 26, 1944. Battle went between the American and Japanese fleet. The Japanese tried to discard back the forces of allies that were located on the island of Leite. For the first time in the war, Kamikadze tactics were used. As a result, the fleet of allies won a significant victory and was able to sink one of the largest battleships of the world - Musasi and damaging another battleship - Yamato. After this battle, the combined fleet of Japan did not carry out major operations.

Battle for Moscow

Hitler intended to seize Moscow. This capital was considered an extremely important point in military and politically. The initial plan was to be seized by Moscow for four months. Hitler and his coalition is making a decision to capture the capital before the onset of winter. Weather conditions were prevented by the Germans, but in December they were practically 19 miles from Moscow. Then there were strong torrential rains. And the temperature dropped sharply and reached -40. German troops did not have winter clothes, and the tanks were not designed to work at such low temperatures. December 5, 1941 Russian counterattacked, throwing the German thread back. For the first time, the Germans retreated, and Barbarossa's operation was failing.

Kursk battle

Kursk battle occurred after the Stalingrad battle. The Germans wanted to break through the northern and southern flanks to surround the Soviet troops. However, the Soviet Union knew about the intentions of Hitler, and began to prepare for defense. The Germans detained the offensive, as they waited for tanks: Tiger and Panther, thereby giving a red army more time to dig and collect forces for the counterattack. The protection around Kursk was 10 deeper than the Magino line. German troops switched to the offensive on July 5th. It was the first time Bluzkrieg's plan was defeated, not even broke through the defense. After a failed attack, the Red Army passed into counteroffensive.

War in Europe will last for another two years, but the Kursk battle ended, the Americans and the British could invade Italy. In a Kursk arc, the Germans lost 720 tanks, 680 aircraft and killed 170,000 people. This battle was the largest tank battle in history. After three years of war, the allies finally received a strategic advantage.

Battle for Midui

After the attack on Pearl Harbor Japan began preparations for the next operation against the United States in the Pacific Ocean. The goal of the Japanese was the destruction of US aircraft carriers and the seizure of a strategically important Midway Atoll, which is equal to removal from Asia and North America. The Americans managed to decipher the encrypted messages of the Japanese, and now the United States could prepare for attack. On June 3, 1942, the Battle of Midway began. The combat aircraft flew off the Midway Atoll, they began bombing and torpedoing at the time of being in the air. The United States defeated the battle, and it became a turning point in the War in the Pacific Ocean.

Barbarossa operation

The invasion of the Nazis in the USSR began on June 22, 1941. 8.9 million fighters, more than 18,000 tanks, 45,000 aircraft, as well as 50,000 artillery guns participated in the operation. When the Germans switched to the offensive, the Red Army was caught by surprise. The nonsense pact was signed to the German and Soviet invasion of Poland. Both countries invaded and occupied Poland, but Hitler has always seen Russia as a source of agriculture, slave labor, oil and other raw materials. Three groups of the army were formed; Each of which had its own task. The group in the north should capture Leningrad. The central group had to take Moscow, and the group in the south should capture Ukraine and move east to the Caucasus.

The Germans quickly moved. The main battles took place in Smolensk, Uman, and in Kiev. Tank divisions could survive and capture three million Soviet soldiers by the time they got to Moscow. By December, they surrounded Leningrad from the north, reached the consistent Moscow in the center, and took Ukraine in the south.

Battle for Stalingrad

Stalingrad Battle - the decisive battle of the Second World War, in which the Soviet troops won the largest victory. This battle marked the beginning of the indigenous fracture during the Great Patriotic War and World War II as a whole.

The Stalingrad battle is customary to divide for two periods: defensive (from July 17 - November 18, 1942) and offensive (from November 19, 1942 - February 2, 1943).

Stalingrad battle surpassed all battles in world history: in terms of duration, by the number of people and military equipment. The battle took place in a huge territory. According to the results, this battle also exceeded all preceding. Under Stalingrad, Soviet troops defeated the German army, Romanian and Italians. In this battle, the Germans lost 800,000 soldiers and officers, as well as a large number of combat technology and equipment.

Battle for Britain

If the United Kingdom would be withdrawn from the war, Hitler could focus the entire military potential of Germany to the Soviet Union. America and the Soviet Union would have to deal with the Hitler's coalition, and the Overlord operation could not take place at all. For these reasons, the battle for Britain, no doubt is the most important battle of World War II. The British Expeditionary Corps was successfully evacuated in Dunkirk. However, most of their equipment remained in France. Germany received dominance in the air over the UK, and could begin the operation of the sea lion (invasion of the British Islands). The royal fleet would be ineffective without covering from the air.

The initial strategy of Luftwaffe was to destroy the UK Air Force. It was quite a good idea, but then the strategy has changed. And it gave the Royal Air Force to win. Radar was important to America. Without it, the royal Air Force would have to keep their aircraft in the air. They lacked resources to do it. Radar would allow the troops to wait and coordinate the attack of the Germans. By October 1940, Luftwaffe had a shortage of military equipment and crew. Hitler did not receive advantages in the air and the Operation "Sea Lion" fell. These battles allowed the United Kingdom to restore their strength. After the victory was on the side of the Allies Winston Churchill said: "Never human conflicts were so exacerbated as now.

In Stalingrad, the course of world history made a steep turn

In the Russian military history, the battle near Stalingrad has always been considered the most outstanding and significant event of the Great Patriotic and World War II. The highest assessment of the victory of the Soviet Union in the Stalingrad battle gives modern world historiography. "At the turn of the century, Stalingrad was recognized as a decisive battle of not only the Second World War, but also the epoch in general," the British historian J. Berertc emphasizes.

During the Great Patriotic War there were other, no less brilliant victories of Soviet - and in their strategic results, and in terms of military art. So why are Stalingrad singled out among them? In connection with the 70th anniversary of the Stalingrad battle, I would like to reflect about it.

The interests of historical science, the development of cooperation between peoples require to release military history from the spirit of confrontation, submit to the study of scientists in the interests of the deep, truthful and objective coverage of the history of the Second World War, including the Battle of Stalingrad. This is due to the fact that someone wants to falsify the history of the Second World War, "re-sell" the war on paper.

About the Stalingrad battle is very written. Therefore, there is no need to retell its move in detail. Historians and the military fairly wrote that its exodus was due to the increased power of the country and the Red Army by the fall of 1942, the high level of the commander of its command personnel, the mass heroism of the Soviet soldiers, the unity and dedication of the entire Soviet people. It was emphasized that our strategy, operational art and tactics during this battle made a new major step forward in their development, enriched in new provisions.

Play of Parties for 1942

When discussing at the expense of the Supreme Command (VGK) in March 1942, the Plans for the Summer Campaign, General Staff (Boris Shaposhnikov) and Georgy Zhukov proposed the main way of action to consider the transition to strategic defense.

Zhukov considered it possible to undertake private offensive actions only in the Western Front strip. Semen Tymoshenko proposed, in addition, to conduct an offensive operation in the Kharkov direction. At the objections of Zhukov and Shaposhnikov about this suggestion, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Joseph Stalin said: "Do not sit in defense in defense, do not wait for the Germans to strike first! It is necessary to apply a number of proactive shocks on a wide front and swell the readiness of the enemy. "

As a result, it was decided to take a number of offensive operations in the Crimea, in the Kharkov region, at the Loan and Smolensk directions, in the districts of Leningrad and Demyansk.

As for the plans of the German command, then one time it was believed that it puts its main goal of mastering Moscow by deep bypass from the south. But in reality, according to the Directive of the Fuhrer and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Germany, Hitler No. 41 dated April 5, 1942, the main purpose of the German offensive in the summer of 1942 was the mastering of the Donbass, Caucasian Oil and by violating communications in the depths of the country to deprive the USSR of the most important resources coming from these regions.

First, when applying a strike in the south, conditions were created to achieve suddenness and more favorable opportunities to achieve success, because Nashk in 1942 again expected the main strike of the enemy in the Moscow direction, and the main forces and reserves were concentrated here. There was no infant and a German disinformation plan "Kremlin".

Secondly, at the occurrence of the German troops at the Moscow direction, the German troops would have to break through the pre-prepared, deep-legged defense with the prospect of conducting protracted hostilities. If in 1941, near Moscow, German Wehrmachut could not overcome the resistance to the retreating losses of the Red Army, he was all the more difficult to count on the seizure of Moscow in 1942. At that time, in the south, in the area of \u200b\u200bKharkov, as a result of a major defeat of the Soviet troops of the German army, our significantly weakened forces were opposed; It was here that the most vulnerable site of the Soviet Front was the most vulnerable.

Thirdly, when applying the main strike of the German army in the Moscow direction and even at the thin end of the mastering of Moscow (which was unlikely), withholding the Soviet troops of extremely important areas in the south created conditions for the continuation of the war and its successful completion.

All this suggests that the strategic plans of the Hitler's command mainly correctly took into account the established situation. But even at the same time, the condition of the troops of Germany and its satellites would not be able to move so far and reach the Volga, if there were no major mistakes of the Soviet command in assessing the direction of the opponent's possible strike, inconsistency and indecision in choosing a method of action. On the one hand, in principle, it was supposed to move to strategic defense, on the other hand, a number of unprepared and unsecured financial offensive operations were taken. This led to spraying forces, and our army turned out to be unprepared for defense nor to the offensive. Whatever enough, but Soviet troops were again in the same indefinite position as in 1941.

And in 1942, despite the defeats of 1941, the ideological cult of the offensive doctrine was so continued to crush, the underestimation of defense, her false understanding was so deeply rooted in the consciousness of the Soviet command, which were shy as something unworthy for the Red Army and did not solve in full use.

In the light of the parties discussed above, an important aspect is clearly clarified: the Stalingrad Strategic Operation was interrelated part of the entire strategic action system of the Soviet Armed Forces in 1942. In many military historical works, the Stalingrad operation was considered in the separation from other operations carried out in the West direction. This also applies to the operation "Mars" of 1942, the essence of which is most perverted, especially in American historiography.

The main remark is reduced to the fact that the main, decisive strategic operation in the fall and in the winter of 1942-1943 were not operations in the south-west, but offensive operations conducted in the Western strategic direction. The basis for such an output is the fact that it was allocated for solving problems in the south than in the west direction. But in reality, it is not entirely so, because the southern strategic direction should be taken as a whole, and not just troops under Stalingrad, including troops in the North Caucasus and the troops of the Voronezh destination, which were practically directed to the southern direction. In addition, it is necessary to take into account the fact that the offensive actions of our troops in the West did not allow the German command to transfer forces to the south. Our main strategic reserves were southeast of Moscow and could be deployed south.

Defensive operations on the approaches to Stalingrad

The second group of questions relates to the first stage of the Battle of Stalingrad (from July 17 to November 18, 1942) and follows from the need for a more objective, critical assessment of defensive battles and operations on the approaches to Stalingrad. During this period, there were most omissions and disadvantages in the actions of our command and troops. The military-theoretical thought still has to clarify how our army managed in catastrophically difficult conditions still restore in the summer of 1942 almost completely disturbed strategic front on the south-west direction. It is known that only on July 17 to September 30, 1942, the TGC rate sent 50 rifle and cavalry divisions, 33 brigades to strengthen the Stalingrad direction, including 24 tanks.

At the same time, the Soviet command did not plan and did not put the tasks of the troops to stop the upcoming opponent only after the waste to the Volga. It repeatedly demanded to stop the enemy on a number of frontiers still on distant approaches to Stalingrad. Why didn't it succeed, despite the large number of reserves, the courage and mass heroism of officers and soldiers, skillful actions of a number of connections and parts? Of course, there were a lot of cases of confusion and panic, especially after severe defeats and great losses of our troops in May-June 1942. To have a psychological fracture in the troops, there was a serious shake. And in this respect, the order of the People's Commissar No. 227, who gave an acute and truthful assessment of the situation and permeated by the main requirement, played his own positive role in this regard. " It was very stern and to the limit of a hard document, but forced and necessary in the conditions that were then.

Feldmarshal Friedrich Paulus preferred captivity of suicide.

The main reason for the failures of a number of defensive battles on the approaches to Stalingrad was that in the organization of strategic defense, the Soviet command repeated the mistakes of 1941.

After each major breakthrough of the German army, instead of a sober assessment of the situation and making a decision on defense on a particularly advantageous line, where the retreating troops were deployed with the battles, and fresh compounds from depths were tightened in advance, orders were given at all costs to keep the frontiers, even when it was impossible . Backup compounds and the incoming replenishment with the move went into battle, as a rule, to apply poorly prepared counterattacks and counterdovern. Therefore, the enemy had the opportunity to beat them in parts, and the Soviet troops lost their opportunities to properly entrenched and organize defense at the new strokes.

A nervous reaction to each retreat further aggravated the already heavy, complex setting and conceded troops to new retreats.

It should also be recognized that the German troops quite skillfully led offensive actions, widely maneuvering and massively applying tank and motorized compounds on an open, tanque area. Having met resistance on one or another plot, they quickly changed the directions of strikes, seeking to go to the flank and rear of the Soviet troops whose maneuverability was significantly lower.

The formulation of unrealistic tasks, the purpose of the deadlines for the start of hostilities and operations without taking into account the minimum necessary time to prepare for their implementation, they were given themselves to know and when applying many counterattacks and counterdovern during defensive operations. For example, on September 3, 1942, in connection with the difficult position in the Stalingrad Front Strip, Stalin sent to the representative of the TGK telegram's bet: "Require from the commander of the troops standing north and northwest of Stalingrad, to immediately hit the enemy and come to the rescue to the Stalingrads."

There were many such telegrams and requirements. A person, at least a little sense in military affairs, it is not difficult to understand their absurdity: how can troops without minimal training and organization take and "hit" and go to the offensive. The defense activity was of great importance for sprinkling the enemy, breaking and delayed by its offensive actions. But the counterdasters could be more effective with more thorough preparation and material support.

In the course of defensive battles on the approaches to Stalingrad, the air defense was extremely weak, and therefore had to act in the context of the significant superiority of the opponent's aviation, which especially difficult to maneuver the troops.

If at the beginning of the war, the inexperience of personnel has also affected the war, then after large losses in 1941 and in the spring of 1942, the problem of personnel stood even more acutely, although there were a lot of commanders who managed to harm and acquire combat experience. Many mistakes, omissions and even cases of criminal irresponsibility on the part of commander of fronts, armies, commander of the compounds and parts were made. In their totality, they also seriously complicated the situation, but did not have such a decisive value as the miscalculations made by the VGK bid. Not to mention the fact that too frequent change of commander, commanders (only in July-August 1942, three commander of the Stalingrad Front changed) did not allow them to be mastered at the situation.

On the stability of the troops, the fear of the environment has adversely affected. A detrimental role in this regard was played by political distrust and repression against military personnel, which during retreats in 1941 and in the spring of 1942 came to the environment. And after the war of officers who were surrounded, did not attend military academies. The military-political authorities and the refivisions of the NKVD seemed that such an attitude to the "surripes" could be increased by the resistance of the troops. But everything was the opposite - the fear of the environment reduced the persistence of troops in defense. At the same time, it was not taken into account that the surroundings fell, as a rule, the most resistant defending troops, often as a result of neighboring deviations. It is this most dedicated part of the servicemen who was persecuted. No one for this wild and criminal incompetence suffered responsibility.

Features of the Stalingrad offensive operation

From the experience of the second stage of the Battle of Stalingrad (from November 19, 1942 to February 2, 1943), when the troops of the South-Western, Don and Stalingrad fronts carried out counteroffensive, the important conclusions and lessons on the preparation and conduct of offensive operations on the surrounding and destruction of the enemy.

The strategic design of this countertime was to be concentrated by the blows of the south-western (Nikolai Vatutin), Donsky (Konstantin Rokossovsky) fronts from the north and Stalingrad Front (Andrei Eremenko) from the South Stalingrad district in the general direction to Kalach to surround and destroy the German-fascist grouping troops and their satellites (Romanian, Italian, Hungarian troops) east of Stalingrad. Far aviation and Volga Flotily also participated in the operation.

Different points of view are expressed about who owns the initial idea of \u200b\u200bcounteroffensiveness with the environment and the destruction of the essential forces of the enemy. Khrushchev, and Eremenko, and many others claimed. If we talk objectively, then this idea in general, as many participants in the war remember, literally "rushed in the air", for the configuration of the front already suggested the need to strike on the flanks of the enemy grouping under the command of Friedrich Paulus.

But the main, most difficult task was to specify and implement this idea, taking into account the established situation, how to collect and in time to focus the necessary forces and means and organize their actions where it is specifically to direct strikes and with what tasks. It can be considered the established fact that the basic idea of \u200b\u200bthis idea is definitely belongs to the BGK bet, and above all, George Zhukov, Alexander Vasilevsky and the General Staff. Another thing is that she was born on the basis of proposals, meetings and conversations with generals and front-line officers.

In general, I must say that the level of military art of team personnel and headquarters, combat mastery of the entire personnel in the preparation and management of offensive operations at the second stage of the Stalingrad battle was significantly higher than in all previous offensive operations. Many ways of preparing and conducting hostilities, appearing here for the first time (not always in complete form), then with great success were used in operations of 1943-1945.

Under Stalingrad, the massive use of forces and means on elected directions was carried out with great success, although not yet to such an extent as in operations of 1944-1945. Thus, on the south-western front on the breakthrough site 22 km (9% of the entire bandwidth) of 18 rifle divisions, 9 were concentrated; on the Stalingrad front on a plot 40 km (9%) of 12 divisions - 8; In addition, 80% of all tanks and up to 85% of artillery were concentrated in these sites. However, artillery density was only 56 tools and mortars per 1 km of the breakthrough site, while in subsequent operations - 200-250 or more. In general, the highness of the preparation and suddenness of the transition to the offensive was achieved.

Essentially, for the first time during the war, there was not only a thorough planning of operations, but also carried out in the necessary scope of painstaking work on the ground with commander of all degrees to prepare hostilities, organizing interaction, combat, rear and technical support. Intelligence succeeded, although it is incomplete, open the enemy fire system, which made it possible to carry out his more reliable firing defeat than it was in previous offensive operations.

For the first time, an artillery and aviation offensive was applied, although in the methods of artillery preparation and support for the attack was not still quite clearly worked out.

For the first time before the onset on a wide front, in the bands of all armies, the fight was conducted by the fight of advanced divisions in order to clarify the location of the front edge and the enemy fire system. But in the strings of some armies, it was held in two days, and in the 21st and 57th armies - in five days before the start of the offensive, which under other circumstances could reveal the beginning of the offensive, and the extracted data on the enemy fire system was to significantly .

Under Stalingrad, for the first time when conducting a large offensive operation, new combat infantry orders were applied in accordance with the requirements of the order of the defense defense No. 306 - with the one-energous construction of not only units, parts, but also connections. Such a construction reduced the loss of troops, made it possible to more fully use fire facing. But at the same time, the lack of second echelons made it difficult to extend efforts to develop the offensive in depth. It was one of the reasons why the shooting divisions of the first echelon could not break through the defense of the enemy; Already at a depth of 3-4 km, the tank corps had to be introduced into the battle, which, at the situation, then the situation was forced to be forced. The experience of these and subsequent offensive operations showed that in shelves and divisions, when there is an opportunity, you must certainly create second echelons.

Significantly increased material and technical support for troops. On three fronts, 8 million artillery shells and mines were concentrated by the beginning of the counteroffensive. For example: In 1914, the entire Russian army had 7 million shells.

But if you compare with the needs of fire lesion, the November offensive operations of 1942 were relatively not fully ensured by ammunition - an average of 1.7-3.7 ammunition; South-West Front - 3.4; Donskoy - 1.7; Stalingradsky - 2. For example, in the Belarusian or Vorol-Oder operations, the provision of fronts by ammunition accounted for up to 4.5 ammunition.

According to the second stage of the Stalingrad battle associated with the actions of the troops on the destruction of the enemy's surrounded grouping and the development of the offensive on the external front, two questions arise, which various opinions are expressed.

First, some historians and military specialists believe in a serious withdrawal of the Soviet counterproactive operation under Stalingrad, the fact that it was formed a large gap between the environment of the enemy grouping and its destruction, while the classical position of military art says that the environment and the destruction of the enemy should be a single The continuous process, which is subsequently and has been achieved in the Belarusian, Yasso-Chisheven and some other operations. But what was done under Stalingrad was a great achievement for that time, especially if you remember that in the offensive near Moscow, under Demyansky and in other areas it was not even possible to surround the enemy, and under Kharkov in the spring of 1942, Soviet troops surrounding the enemy, They themselves went into the environment and defeated.

During the counter-offering near Stalingrad, on the one hand, all necessary measures were not taken to dismember and destroy the enemy during its environment, although it is necessary to take into account the major dimensions of the territory on which surrounded by an opponent was located, and the greater density of his groupings. On the other hand, the presence of a major enemy forces at the external front, striving to dress surrounded by the 6th Army of Paulus, did not allow the possibilities to focus sufficient forces to quickly eliminate surrounded by Stalingrad of the enemy troops.

In Stalingrad, the fight was for each house.

A bet of VGK was decided to combine the management of all troops engaged in the destruction of surrounded grouping, in the hands of one front. Only in mid-December 1942, a directive was received on the transfer of all troops involved in Stalingrad, to the Don Front.

Secondly, how a legitimate decision of the NGC rate on the direction of the 2nd Guards Army of Rodion Malinovsky for the defeat of the grouping of Erich Manstein on the Kotelnikovsky direction. As you know, initially the 2nd Guards Army was intended for action in the South-Western Front, then, with a change in the situation, it was decided to transfer it to the Don Front to participate in the destruction of the surrounded enemy grouping. But with the appearance of the "Don" army on the Kotelnikovsky direction under the command of Manstein, a new decision was made at the request of General Yeremenko - to transfer the 2nd Guards Army to the Stalingrad Front for Action on the Kotelnikovsky direction. This proposal was supported and Vasilevsky, who were at this time at the command paragraph of the Don Front. Rokossovsky continued to insist on the transfer of the 2nd Guards Army into the Don Front in order to accelerate the destruction of the surrounded enemy grouping. Against the transfer of the 2nd Guards Army to the Stalingrad Front, and Nikolay Voronov also performed. After the war, he called such a decision of the "terrible miscalculation" rate of VGK.

But attentive analysis of the situation of that time with the attraction of the enemy's documents that became known for us after the war shows that the decision of the BGK rate to send the 2nd Guards Army to defeat the manstein, apparently, was more appropriate. There was no guarantee that with the connection to the Don Front of the 2nd Guards Army, it will be possible to quickly divide with the surrounded group of Powllus. Subsequent events confirmed how difficult the task was the destruction of 22 enemy divisions, consisting of up to 250 thousand people. There was a big, insufficiently justified risk that a breakthrough of the manstein grouping and a punch towards her Pouryus army could lead to the release of the surrounded enemy grouping and breaking the further onset of the troops of the South-West and Voronezh fronts.

On the meaning of the Stalingrad battle for the course of the Second World War

In world historiography there is no single understanding of the meaning of the Stalingrad battle for the course and outcome of the Second World War. After the end of the war in Western literature, statements appeared that not the Stalingrad battle, and the victory of the Allied troops near El Alamein was the most significant turning point during World War II. Of course, for the sake of objectivity, it is necessary to recognize that a large victory was obsessed with a large victory, which made a significant contribution to the defeat of the general enemy. But still the battle near El Alamein cannot be made any comparison with the Stalingrad battle.

If we talk about the military-strategic side of the case, the Stalingrad battle occurred in a huge territory, almost 100 thousand square meters. km, and the operation near El Alamein is on a relatively narrow African coast.

Under Stalingrad, more than 2.1 million people were participating at the Battle of Battle on both sides, more than 26 thousand guns and mortars, 2.1 thousand tanks and over 2.5 thousand combat aircraft. The German command for battles near Stalingrad attracted 1 million 11 thousand people, 10,290 guns, 675 tanks and 1216 aircraft. While under Al-Alamein, the African Corps of Rommel had only 80 thousand people, 540 tanks, 1,200 guns and 350 aircraft.

The battle near Stalingrad lasted 200 days and nights (from July 17, 1942 to February 2, 1943), and the battle near El Alamein is 11 days (from October 23 to November 4, 1942), not to mention the incomparableness of tension and fierce of two These battles. If under El-Alamein, the fascist unit lost 55 thousand people, 320 tanks and about 1 thousand tools, then under the Stalingrad loss of Germany and its satellites were 10-15 times more. About 144 thousand people were taken captive. A 330 thousandth group of troops destroyed. Very bigger were the loss of Soviet troops - irretrievable losses amounted to 478,741 people. Many of the soldiers could be saved. But still our victims were not in vain.

Unauthorized military-political importance of events. Stalingrad battle occurred at the main European Theater of Military Activities, where the fate of the war was solved. Operation under El Alamein took place in North Africa at the Secondary Theater of Military Action; Its influence on the course of events could be indirect. The attention of the whole world was then riveted not to El Alamene, but to Stalingrad.

The victory under Stalingrad had a huge impact on the liberation movement of the peoples of the whole world. A mighty wave of the national liberation movement covered all countries that fell under the yoke of Nazism.

In turn, major defeats and huge losses of the Wehrmacht under Stalingrad sharply worsened the military-political and economic situation of Germany, put it before the deepest crisis. The damage of enemy tanks and cars in the Stalingrad battle was equal, for example, the six-monthly productions of Germany plants, tools - four months, and mortars and small arms - two months. And in order to fill so large losses, the German military industry was forced to work with extremely high voltage. The crisis of human reserves sharply aggravated.

The catastrophe on the Volga put his noticeable imprint on the moral state of the Wehrmacht. In the German army, the number of cases of desertion and disobedience of commander has increased, military crimes increased. After Stalingrad, the number of death sentences endowed by the Hitler's Justice by the German servicemen increased significantly. German soldiers have become with less perseverance to conduct fighting, began to be afraid of blows from flanks and surroundings. Among the parts of politicians and representatives of the highest officers, opposition Hitler of the mood was manifested.

The victory of the Red Army under Stalingrad shook the fascist military unit, oppressively affected the satellites of Germany, caused panic in their camp and insoluble contradictions. The ruling figures of Italy, Romania, Hungary and Finland, to escape from the impending catastrophe, began to look for prepositions to exit the war, ignored the orders of Hitler about the direction of troops on the Soviet-German Front. Since 1943, not only individual soldiers and officers, but also entire units and part of the Romanian, Hungarian and Italian armies, have surrendered to the Red Army. The relationship between servicemen of the Wehrmacht and the Allied armies aggravated.

The crushing defeat of the fascist enhancement under Stalingrad sobfully affected the ruling circles of Japan and Turkey. They refused their intentions to speak to the war against the USSR.

Under the influence of the success achieved by the Red Army under Stalingrad and in the following operations of the winter campaign of 1942-1943, the insulation of Germany in the international arena increased and at the same time the international authority of the USSR increased. In 1942-1943, the Soviet government established diplomatic relations with Austria, Canada, Holland, Cuba, Egypt, Colombia, Ethiopia, and with Luxembourg, Mexico and Uruguay resumed previously interrupted diplomatic communications. The relationship with the governments of Czechoslovakia and Poland have improved in London. On the territory of the USSR, the formation of military units and compounds of a number of anti-Hitler coalition countries - the French Aviation Squadron "Normandy", the 1st Czechoslovak infantry brigade, the 1st Polish division named after Tadeusch Kostyshko. All of them later included in the fight against the German fascist troops on the Soviet-German front.

All this suggests that it was the battle near Stalingrad, and not the operation near El-Alamein bated the Ridge by the Wehrmacht and marked the beginning of a fundamental flight in World War II in favor of the anti-Hitler coalition. More precisely, Stalingrad predetermined this indigenous fracture.

Battle for Stalingrad Six months of continuous bloody slaughter in the huge city. All Stalingrad turned into ruins. The USSR put out seven terrestrial and one air army against the Hitler's invaders ....

Battle for Stalingrad

Six months of continuous bloody slaughter on the territory of a huge city. All Stalingrad turned into ruins. The USSR put seven terrestrial and one air army against the Hitler invaders. Volga flotilla Bila enemy from water expansion.

Hitlermen with allies suffered defeat. Here Hitler felt sober. After this battle, the fascists could no longer recover. Soviet troops exhausted the enemy at the cost of their own lives of many soldiers, officers and civilians.

Protecting Stalingrad died 1,330,000 people. Germany and countries drawn into conflict on the side of the fascists lost 1,500,000. The battle of six months has completely ended with the defeat of the fascist armies trying to go to the Caucasian oil fields.

Battle for Moscow

The defeat of the fascist troops near Moscow was a real victory for the entire people. The country perceived these events, as the eve of the ambulance, universal victory. The troops of Hitler's Germany were broken morally. Fell the spirit of the offensive movement. Guderian highly appreciated the will to the victory of Soviet people.

He later spoke that all the victims were in vain. Moscow resisted, destroying the victorious spirit of the Germans. Stubborn reluctance to understand the situation at the front led to huge losses from all sides. The crisis in German troops undermined the faith in Hitler and his unsurpassed military genius.

Under Moscow, the USSR lost 926,200 fighters. Civil losses were not assessed. Germany and ally countries 581,900 people. Military actions continued for more than six months, from September 30, 1941 to April 20, 1942.

Battle for Kiev

Soviet military leaders received a heavy lesson, passing the Kiev to the enemy to the confusion. Wehrmacht felt weak preparation of the Armed Forces of the USSR. The troops of the Nazis began intensive movement to the Azov and Donbass. Untime Kiev was delivered, the fighters of the Red Army, completely demoralized, began to give up massively.

In the battles for Kiev, the loss of the Red Army amounted to 627,800 people. The civilian population was not taken into account. How much did Germany lost, remained unknown, since at the beginning of the war the German did not lead a loss record, hoping for Blitzkrieg. The battles lasted two and a half months.

Battle for Dnipro

The liberation of Kiev was worth large losses. In the battles for the Dnieper, almost four million people took part on both sides. The front extended 1400 kilometers. The surviving participants of the forcing of the Dnieper recalled - 25,000 people enters the water, 3-5 thousand selected ashore.

All others remained in water to emerge in a few days. Terrible picture of the war. When forceing the Dnieper, 417,000 fighters of the Red Army died, Germany lost from 400,000 to a million (by different sources). Scary figures. Fight for the Dnieper lasted four months.

Kursk battle

Although the most terrible tank battles walked in the village of Prokhorovka, the battle is called Kursk. It is terrible to see even on the cinema screen of the Battle of Iron Monsters. What was the participants of the battle?

Incredible battle of the tank armies of opponents. The "Center" and "South" grouping was destroyed. The battle lasted for almost two months in the 43rd year. USSR was not paid 254,000 people, Germany lost 500,000 of their warriors. What for?

Operation "Bagration"

We can argue that the Bagration Operation was the bloody in the history of mankind itself. The result of the operation is the complete liberation of Belarus from the Hitler's invaders. 50,000 prisoners of war after the completion of the operation were carried out through the streets of Moscow.

In that battle, the loss of the Soviet Union amounted to 178,500 people, Germany lost 255,400 soldiers of the Wehrmacht. The battle lasted two months without breaks.

Fold-Oder Operation

Bloody battles for Poland entered the story as the rapid advancement of the troops of the Soviet Union. Daily troops moved deep into the country for twenty-thirty kilometers. Fights went only twenty days.

In the battles for Poland losses amounted to 43,200 people. Civil losses were not taken into account. Nazis lost 480,000 people.

Battle for Berlin

This battle had the defining Victory value. Soviet troops approached the lair of fascism. The assault of Berlin lasted only 22 days. The Soviet Union and the Allied Troops lost 81,000 people. Fallen Germany, protecting his city, lost 400,000. The 1st Ukrainian, the 1st and 2nd Belarusian front begged for victory. Divisions of the troops of Polish, and the sailors-Baltetsy.

Battle under Monte Casino

Soviet troops did not participate in the liberation of Rome. The United States and England managed to break through the Gustav Line, and fully release the eternal city.

The attackers have lost 100,000 people in that fighting, Germany is only 20,000. The fight was four months.

Battle for Ivodzim

The brutal battle of the military USA against Japan. The little Island of Izodzima, where the Japanese had a resistance. It was here that the American command decided to the country's atomic bombing.

The fight was 40 days. Japan lost 22,300 people, America has undermined 6,800 fighters.

The Second World War was carried out in the territory of 40 countries, 72 states took part in it. In 1941, Germany had a strongest army in the world, but several turning battles led the third Reich to defeat.

BATTLE FOR MOSCOW

The battle for Moscow showed: German blitzkrieg failed. In this battle, more than 7 million people participated in this battle. This is more than in the Berlin operation included in the Guinness Book as the largest battle of the Second World War, and more than the forces of opponents in the western section of the front after landing in Normandy.

The battle for Moscow became the only major battle of the Second World War, which was played by the Wehrmacht with its overall numerical superiority over the enemy.

As a result of counter-offering near Moscow and the overall offensive, German parts were discarded at 100-250 km. Tula, Ryazan and Moscow region, many areas of Kalininskaya, Smolensk and Oryol regions were fully released.

General Günther Blumenitrite wrote: "Now it was important to politically managers in Germany that Blitzkrieg's days were rushed into the past. We were opposed by the army, in their martial qualities, far exceeding all other army, with whom we had ever had to meet on the battlefield. But it should be said that the German army demonstrated high moral persistence in overcoming all disasters and the dangers that fell on it. "

Stalingrad battle

Stalingrad Battle was the main turning battle of World War II. The Soviet military command clearly gave it to understand: there is no land for the Volga. Interesting estimates of foreign historians of this battle and those losses that Stalingrad suffered.

In the book "Operation Survive", seen the light in 1949 and written by the famous American publicist Hessler, which is difficult to suspect in a barrier position, indicated: "According to a very realistic scientist Dr. Philip Morrison, it would be necessary at least 1000 atomic bombs to cause Russia damage applied only during one Stalingrad campaign ... This is a much greater than the number of bombs that we have accumulated after four-year tireless efforts."

Stalingrad battle was a struggle for survival.

The beginning was made on August 23, 1942, when German aviation produced a massive bombing of the city. Killed 40,000 people. It surpasses the official digits of the allies of the Allies on Dresden in February 1945 (25,000 victims).

In Stalingrad, the Red Army applied revolutionary innovations of psychological pressure on the enemy. From the loudspeakers installed at the front hand, the favorite Hangors of German music, which were interrupted about the victories of the Red Army in the stations of the Stalingrad Front. The most effective means of psychological press was a monotonous knock of the metronome, which was interrupted after 7 strikes in German: "One German soldier dies on the front every 7 seconds." Upon completion of the series of 10-20 "Timer Reports" from the loudspeakers rushing tango.

During the Stalingrad operation of the Red Army, it was possible to create the so-called "Stalingrad boiler". On November 23, 1942, the troops of the South-Western and Stalingrad fronts closed the ring of the environment, in which there was almost a 300 thousand enemy grouping.

In Stalingrad, he was captured by one of the "pets" Hitler Marshal Paulus, who in the days of Stalingrad battle became Field Marshal. By the beginning of 1943, the 6th Army Paulus was a pathetic sight. On January 8, the Soviet military command appealed to the German commandar with an ultimatum: if he does not surrender to the 10th hour of the next day, the Germans are destroyed in the "boiler". Paulus on ultimatum did not respond. January 31, he was captured. Subsequently, he became one of the Allies of the USSR in the propaganda of the War of the Cold War.

In the first days of February 1943, the parts and compounds of the 4th air fleet of Luftwaffe received the "Orlog" password. He meant that the 6th Army no longer exists, and the Stalingrad battle ended with the defeat of Germany.

Battle on Kursk Arc

The victory in battles on the Kursk arc had a cardinal significance due to a number of factors. After Stalingrad, the Wehrmacht had one more chance to change the situation on the Eastern Front in his favor, Hitler had a big hope for the operation "Citadel" and stated that "victory under Kurk should serve as a torch for the whole world."

The importance of these fights understood the Soviet command. The Red Army was important to prove that she could win victories not only during winter campaigns, but in the summer, therefore, the forces not only were inserted into the Kursk arc. In record deadlines, for 32 days, the railway was built, which connected Rzhava and Stary Oskol, called "dear courage." Thousands of people worked on its construction and at night.

The fracture stage of the Kursk battle was the battle under Prokhorovka. One of the largest tank battles in history, more than 1,500 tanks.

The commander of the Tank Brigade Grigory Peng, who received the hero of the Soviet Union for this battle, recalls: "We lost a sense of time, did not feel either thirst, nor heat, nor even blows in a tight cockpit. One thought, one desire - while alive, Bay enemy. Our tankers who choose from their broken cars were looking for enemy crews on the field, also remaining without equipment, and beat them out of pistols, collapsed in hand.

After "Prokhorovka", our troops went to a decisive offensive. Operations of "Kutuzov" and "Rumyantsev" allowed to free Belgorod and Eagle, August 23, Kharkov was liberated.

Battle for Caucasus

Oil is called the "blood of war". From the very beginning of the war, one of the general ways of German offensive was directed towards the Baku oil fields. Control over them was a priority for the Third Reich. The battle for the Caucasus was marked by air battles in the sky over Kuban, which became one of the largest air battles of the Second World War. For the first time in all the time the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet pilots imposed their will of his will and actively prevented and counteracted by the Germans of their combat missions. From May 26 to June 7, the Airmed Assess of the Red Army held 845 aircraft-flights on the airfields of Nazis in Anapa, Kerch, Saki, Sarabuses and Tamani. In total, during the battles in the sky of Kuban, Soviet aviation produced about 35 thousand flights-departures.

It was for the fights for the Kuban of the first star Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded Alexander Pokshkinin, the future three times the hero of the Soviet Union and the Marshal of Aviation.

On September 9, 1943, the last operation was started for the Caucasus - Novorossiysk-Taman. During the month, German troops on the Taman Peninsula were broken. As a result of the offensive, the cities of Novorossiysk and Anapa were liberated, prerequisites for carrying out an intent operation in the Crimea. In honor of the liberation of the Taman Peninsula on October 9, 1943, there was a 20 volley from 224 guns in Moscow.

Ardenne operation

The battle in Ardennes is called the "last blitzkrieg of the Wehrmacht". It was the last attempt of the Third Reich turn the situation on the West Front. He commanded the operation of Field Marshal V. Model, who ordered it in the morning of December 16, 1944, by December 25, the Germans advanced to 90 km deep in the opponent's defense.

However, the Germans did not know that the defense of the Allies was deliberately weakened in order for when the Germans break to the west at 100 kilometers, surround them and hit the flanks. Wehrmacht of this maneuver did not provide. The allies knew about the Ardennes operation in advance, as they could read the German ciphers of the Ultra system. In addition, air reconnaissance reported on the movements of the German troops.

In American historiography, the battle in Ardennes is called Battle Of The Bulge - Battle for the ledge. By January 29, the Allies completed the operation and began the invasion of Germany.

Wehrmacht lost in battles more than a third of his armored vehicles and almost all aircraft (including reactive), who participated in the operation, spent fuel and ammunition. The only "profit" for Germany from the Ardennes operation was that she detained the offensive of the Allies on the Rhine for six weeks: he had to be postponed on January 29, 1945.

Since its appearance, the tank was and remains the main threat on the battlefield. Tanks have become a blitzkrieg tool and victory weapons in World War II, decisive viscos in the Iran-Iraq war; Even equipped with the most modern means of destroying the live strength of the enemy, the American army cannot do without the support of tanks. The site chose the seven largest tank battles since the first appearance of these armored machines on the battlefield until today.

Battle of Cambrea

It was the first successful episode of the massive application of tanks: more than 476 tanks were involved in the battle of Cambra, combined in 4 tank brigades. There were high hopes for armored cars: with their help, the British intended to break through the strongly fortified line of Siegfried. Tanks, mostly the latest MK IV with reinforced to 12 mm on-board armor, were equipped with the latest know-how of that time - fascins (75 ligaments of twigs, bonded by chains), thanks to them the tank could overcome wide trenches and pivans.
On the very first day, the fighting was achieved by a deafening success: the British managed to embry on the defense of the enemy by 13 km, capture 8,000 German soldiers and 160 officers, as well as a hundred guns. However, it was not possible to develop success and did not succeed, and the previously followed counteroffensive of German troops carried out actually no effort to allies.

Irrevocable losses in the tanks at allies amounted to 179 cars, even more tanks failed for technical reasons.

Battle of Ann

Some historians consider the battle at Anne the first tank battle of World War II. It began on May 13, 1940, when the 16th Göpner Tank Corps (623 tank, while 125 were the latest 73 PZ-III and 52 PZ-IV, capable of fighting French armored vehicles on equal), which occurred in the first echelon of the 6th German The army, tied the battles with the advanced French tank parts of the body of General R. Prio (415 tanks - 239 "Gelki" and 176 Somua).

During the two-day battle, the 3rd french light mechanized division lost 105 tanks, the losses of the Germans were 164 cars. At the same time, German aviation had complete domination in the air.

Redeynyai tank battle

According to data from open sources, about 749 Soviet tanks and 245 German machines took part in the Rasynyai battle. On the side of the Germans there was superiority in the air, good connection and organization. The Soviet command threw their units into battle in parts, without artillery and aviation cover. The result was predictable - the operational and tactical victory of the Germans, despite the courage and the heroism of the Soviet fighters.

One of the episodes of this battle became the legendary - the Soviet tank KV was able to 48 hours to keep the offensive of the whole tank group. The Germans could not cope with a single tank for a long time, tried to shoot him from an anti-aircraft gun, which was soon destroyed, to undermine the tank, but everything was in vain. As a result, I had to apply tactical trick: kV surrounded 50 German tanks and began to fill out from three directions to distract his attention. At this time, 88-mm anti-aircraft gun was secretly installed in the rear of sq. She fell 12 times in the tank, and three shells struck armor, destroying it.

Battle of Frands

The largest tank battle at the initial stage of the Second World War, in which 800 German tanks opposed 2500 Soviet cars (the numbers differ greatly from the source to the source). Soviet troops occurred in the most difficult conditions: Tankists entered into battle after a long march (300-400 km), and the fragmented units, without waiting for the approach of the general support compounds of support. The technique on the march failed, and there was no normal connection, and the Luftwaffe dominated in the sky, the supply of flammable and ammunition was disgusting.

Therefore, in the battle for Dubno - Lutsk - Brody Soviet troops suffered defeat, losing more than 800 tanks. Germans did not make up about 200 tanks.

Battle in the Valley of Tears

The battle of the day that occurred during the war in the Valley of Tears visually showed that the victory was not at the number, but the ability. In this battle, the numerical and high-quality superiority was on the side of the Syrians who prepared for the assault of the Golan heights of more than 1260 tanks, among which the newest T-55 and T-62 at that time.

All that was Israel is a couple of hundreds of tanks and excellent preparation, as well as courage and high resistance in battle, the latter has never been from Arabs. Milnographed fighters could leave the tank even after the projectile hit it without breaking the armor, and it was even very difficult to cope with the Soviet sights of the Arabs.

The most grandiose was the battle in the Valley of Tears, when, according to data from open sources, more than 500 Syrian tanks attacked 90 Israeli cars. In this battle, the Israelites desperately lacked ammunition, it reached the fact that the dilution jeeps moved from the tank to the tank with 105-mm ammunition extracted from the charged "Centurions". As a result, 500 Syrians tanks and a large number of other techniques were destroyed, the losses of the Israelis were about 70-80 cars.

Battle of the valley of the Harhi

One of the largest battles of the Iran-Iraq war occurred in the valley of the Harhi, not far from the town of Sussengerda in January 1981. Then the 16th Iranian Tank Division, which is in service with the latest English tanks "Chifen" and American M60, faced in a counter-fight with the Iraqi Tank Division - 300 Soviet T-62.

The battle continued on the order of two days from January 6 to January 8, during which time the battlefield turned into a real bog, and the opponents became so closely that the use of aviation became risky. The result of the battle was the victory of Iraq, whose troops were destroyed or seized 214 Iranian tanks.

Also during the battle was buried the myth about the invulnerability of the chipten tanks, having a powerful frontal armor. It turned out that the 115-mm armor-piercing podkalibal shell of the T-62 gun breaks through the powerful armor of the "Chiflente" tower. Since then, Iranian tankers feared to go to the frontal attack on Soviet tanks.

Battle under Prokhorovka

The most famous tank battle in history in which about 800 Soviet tanks in the oncoming battle collided with 400 Germans. Most of the Soviet tanks were T-34, armed with a 76-mm gun, which did not pierce the newest German "tigers" and "Panthers". Soviet tankers had to use suicide tactics: to close with German machines at maximum speed and beat them aboard.
In this battle, the losses of the Red Army amounted to about 500 tanks, or 60%, German losses - 300 cars, or 75% of the initial amount. The most powerful impact group was buried. The Inspector General of the Tank Troops of the Wehrmacht General G. Guderian stated the defeat: "Armored troops, replenished with such great difficulty, because of large losses in people and technique for a long time there were fail ... and there was no longer calm on the Eastern Front days. "