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History and facts of the biggest battlefields of world war 2

Battles of World War II

Historical overviews and battlefield research from the Second World War

Explore the major battles and turning points of World War II through detailed historical overviews and battlefield research.

Battles of World War II

The epic battles of WWII

Major battles and military campaigns of World War II

Which battles shaped the course of World War II? Where did D-Day take place? Why was the Battle of Stalingrad considered a turning point in the war? This section presents concise historical overviews of some of the most important battles, invasions, and military campaigns of the Second World War.

The articles on this page are intended to provide a clear introduction to the battles that defined the conflict, including campaigns fought in Europe, North Africa, the Pacific, and on the Eastern Front. Additional battles, campaigns and historical content will continue to be added over time.

Last updated: May 2026

Battle of Normandy

Battle of Normandy

Date of the battle: 6 June 1944

What is the Battle of Normandy? The Battle of Normandy (6 June – 25 August 1944) was the decisive Allied campaign to liberate France from German occupation during the Second World War. The offensive began with Operation Neptune, the naval and amphibious assault phase of the broader Operation Overlord, launched on D-Day, 6 June 1944. The invasion armada involved 6.939 vessels, including 1.213 war…

Battle of Texel

Battle of Texel

Date of the battle: 5 April 1945

What Was the Battle for Texel? The Battle for Texel, also known as the Georgian Revolt on Texel, was one of the final battles fought in Europe during the Second World War. The fighting took place on the Dutch island of Texel during the last weeks of the German occupation of the Netherlands. The uprising began during the night of 5 - 6 April 1945, when Georgian soldiers serving in the German army…

Battle of Iwo Jima

Battle of Iwo Jima

Date of the battle: 19 February 1945

What was the Battle of Iwo Jima? The Battle of Iwo Jima (19 February - 26 March 1945), codenamed Operation Detachment, was one of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific War during the Second World War. The battle was fought between the United States Marine Corps, supported by the United States Navy and the defending forces of the Empire of Japan on the volcanic island of Iwo Jima. The American ob…

Battle of Stalingrad

Battle of Stalingrad

Date of the battle: 17 July 1942

What was the Battle of Stalingrad? The Battle of Stalingrad (17 July 1942 - 2 February 1943) was one of the most decisive and bloodiest battles of the Second World War. The battle was fought between the forces of Nazi Germany and its Axis allies against the Soviet Union for control of the strategically important city of Stalingrad, now known as Volgograd. The battle became infamous for its bruta…

Battle of Kursk

Battle of Kursk

Date of the battle: 5 July 1943

The Battle of Kursk or Operation Citadel was a large and decisive tank battle on the Eastern Front in World War II. It marked the end of the German offensive capability on the Eastern Front and cleared the way for the great Soviet offensives of 1944–45. This battle also saw the day with the greatest losses in the history of the air war. The battle took place in July and August 1943 between Nazi G…

Battle of Berlin

Battle of Berlin

Date of the battle: 16 April 1945

What was the Battle for Berlin? The Battle for Berlin was the final major battle in Europe during the Second World War. It took place from 16 April to 2 May 1945 and ended with the capture of the German capital by the Soviet Red Army. The battle led directly to the collapse of Adolf Hitler’s regime and the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany a few days later. The fighting was brutal and des…

Battle of the Ardennes

Battle of the Ardennes

Date of the battle: 16 december 1944

The Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Battle of the Bulge, was the last major offensive by the German Wehrmacht on the Western Front in World War II. The battle took place in the Ardennes, from December 16, 1944 to January 25, 1945, and was won by the Allies. In the English-speaking world, this battle is known as the Battle of the Bulge, because the front line was shaped like a bulge or pock…

Attack on Pearl Harbor

Attack on Pearl Harbor

Date of the battle: 7 December 1941

What was the Attack on Pearl Harbor? The Attack on Pearl Harbor took place on the morning of 7 December 1941, when the Imperial Japanese Navy launched a surprise military strike against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. The attack was designed to cripple the American Pacific Fleet and prevent American interference with Japanese military operations planne…

Operation Market Garden

Operation Market Garden

Date of the battle: 17 September 1944

What was Operation Market Garden? Operation Market Garden (17 - 25 September 1944) was a major Allied military operation in the Netherlands during the Second World War. The operation combined one of the largest airborne operations of the Second World War with a large-scale ground offensive designed to create a direct route into northern Germany. The plan was developed primarily by Field Marshal…

The Battle of Britain

The Battle of Britain

Date of the battle: 10 July October 1940

The Battle of Britain is the name given to the Second World War air campaign waged by the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940. The name is derived from a famous speech delivered by Prime Minister Winston Churchill in the House of Commons: " The Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin." The Battle of…