Why was Operation Barbarossa a turning point of World War II?

It was the greatest turning point of the war...or rather the outcome of Operation Barbarossa decided the fate of the second world war. Not only did it open up a major front (since a second front wasn't established until D-Day in 1944), but it was the largest land battle in history. On the German side, as mentioned above, 3 million Axis troop struck on a wide front.

The Russians possessed the best tanks and artillery of its time and both were of superior quality and quantity. At the time the Red Army was the only army in the world to be equipped with heavy tanks (KV-1) and superior medium tanks (T-34). The Soviets had at the time of the invasion 4,700,000 troops, that lacked good leadership, tactics and more importantly experienced officers.

Stalin's purges and outdated tactical know how was a key factor in the opening days of Barbarossa. The goal of the Hitlerites was to capture the oil fields in Caucasiaus, something vital to carry-on an effective war. Moscow was politically important, but not necessary, nor was Stalingrad (even more so).

The oil fields were the prime target and without that, Operation Barbarossa, and indeed the second world war, was a foregone conclusion. Also, it was a turning point based on the scale of the armies involved and the consequences of not achieving the needed oil fields. _____________________________________________ Altenatively it was not a turning point in the war: There were events such as the Bombing of Pearl Harbor and Hitler's declaration of war against the US which were more important.

Or defeat in North Africa and the failure to take Malta without which Hitler would have had full control of the region and never had to worry about oil. Or the loss of the Battle of Britain, which allowed the US a foot hold in Europe. It was however the event that started the Holocaust.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.