There were a few significant allied victories that were vital in the allies progress to an eventual victory, chiefly the Pearl Harbour attack and the Battle of Stalingrad. Pearl harbour was not only an important even in it's immediate damage to the American naval forces, but also in that it dragged into the war the most powerful nation, in both military and industrial capacity, into the war. The US would eventually become a key force in fighting not only in the pacific but European theatre as well. However, I believe that Pearl Harbour in itself was not as momentous a turning point because Roosevelt truly wanted to enter the war and the US had already taken a side as showed by their lend lease policy with Britain. Thus, the US would have eventually joined the allied war effort; Pearl Harbour was just the catalyst. Stalingrad, in contrast, was a battle that it appeared the allies would lose initially. Germany had advanced east rapidly and for the first few months in Stalingrad, German forces were relatively successful. However, the Russian winter would mark the beginning of their end. As the sixth army advanced further into the city, Soviet forces were able to break the flanks of the less competent Romanian and Hungarian forces so the Germans within the city were consequently surrounded. With the cold of the winter and dwindling resources, the remaining 90,000 German soldiers were forced to surrender. This marked not only the Soviet victory but the changing momentum of the global conflict. Not only was Stalingrad a devastating blow to German forces, but to their morale as well. Stalingrad would be the furthest east point the Nazis would ever reach; the soviet army would push them back all the way to Berlin.
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The evacuation of Dunkirk beach was a significant success for the British; had it not taken place, the ensuing events could have beet detrimental to British forces and consequently hindered their defensive capabilities in the conflict to come. 340,000 British troops were brought from the french beaches in close proximity with German belligerent to safety across the English channel. Although a success, this couldn't be defined as a victory. German forces were strong as they had stampeded through Europe while the British army and all of the other nations' forces had been rendered essentially useless. Winston Churchill's statement implies that regardless of their good fortunes at Dunkirk, Europe was still in the grip of a fascist, totalitarian dictatorship. The British should neither be contented with this victory or underestimate the daunting and massive task ahead of them: defeating the ever-powerful Nazi empire.
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