The Battle of STALINGRAD was the most important battle of WWII.

"My opponent does not seem to understand the difference between [cause] and [effect]." I understand the difference between cause and effect perfectly well. I won't bother defining the words though. I will simply give an example: cause-German defeat at Stalingrad; effect-Germany losses the war. "Yes, in 1942 the Japanese were expanding in South East Asia." Err...no... Japan was advancing through Dutch, British, French, and American colonies in the Pacific islands, not only in South East Asia. Japanese forces were also pushing further into China. "Yes, the Germans were still advancing in some sections of the Eastern Front and yes, the British were still heavily engaged in North Africa. But the simple fact remains, that even though their advances continued, even with brilliant strategic maneuvers, they would never win the war; the window of opportunity had simply closed by December 1941." The "window of opportunity" actually came when Hitler first gave the order to attack the USSR instead of finishing off Britain. Hitler believed Britain was already defeated so he sent his entire army (3.8 million men) to the east. Now Britain would no longer be alone, they would have an ally. Con still does not seem to understand that Hitler could still win the war in after the Battle of Moscow. After the Battle of Stalingrad this was different. "The winter of '41 did not 'catch the Germans by surprise', they simply had not expected to still be fighting at that point. " I never said that the winter caught Germany by surprise, as a matter of fact I didn't mention the winter at all. "The Battle of Moscow warded off the German offensive; that is to say, the first and largest blow. It was a boon for Soviet (and British) morale. German battles would now all be pyrrhic victories, with Stalingrad being perhaps the most obvious of these." The escape at Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain, Operation Compass, the Battle of Smolensk were also boons for the British and Soviet forces. The Battle of Moscow was not the first time that the axis were held off/pushed back. So why not just say that the Battle of Britain was the most important battle? "The German declaration of war against the USA (and the USA's 'Germany First' policy that followed, secured the deal for the Allies. The full (not limited as previously) industrial might of the USA meant that the Axis were totally out produced by the Allies." Germany and Japan both had a series of staggering victories behind them. The USA had yet to fight a battle. The axis were out produced even without the USA entering the war. "You cannot and must not underestimate the industrial might of the USA, even though they first landed troops in Europe in 1942." I never underestimated the industrial might of the USA. I was just saying that even with America in the war, the axis were not losing in 1941. "World War II was not a Napoleonic War in which strategy in pitched battles is the main deciding factor for a wars outcome." I never said that. "World War II was a total war, and in a total war the nations which can produce the most tanks, aircraft, ships and men ... wins." OH REALLY? Well the allies had more men in France, but they still won. Russia had way more men and tanks and planes than all the other countries in the world and still, almost lost. WWII was not about numbers, it was about who could use the latest technology, strategy, and tactics most to their advantage. "In 1941, that balance of men and arms shifted in the Allied favor and never shifted back. That's why this moment is the deciding moment of World War II." The French/British outnumbered the German army in 1940. The Soviets outnumbered the German army in June 1941. For the majority of the war, Germany was outnumbered. The allies did not start outnumbering the axis once the USA entered the war. Conclusion: clearly Con lost this debate. He has no sources to back up his claims. He tried to give the false impression that after December 1941, the axis could not win WWII. Yet this is not true since in December 1941, the axis were winning on all fronts. The Soviet counterattack at Moscow had finally come to a halt in early 1942 and Russia had lost hundreds of thousands of men. Rommel was pushing in Africa. The Japanese were winning battle after battle in the Pacific. In 1942 and early 1943 however, the tide began to turn. The Japanese lost at Midway and Guadalcanal. The axis were defeated at the Second Battle of El Alamein and completely pushed out of Africa. And most importantly, Germany suffered its biggest defeat at the Battle of Stalingrad. The Battle of Stalingrad was the beginning of the end for Germany. Importance of the Battle of Stalingrad: -Saved Stalingrad (the second most important city in the USSR) -Saved the valuable oil-fields at the Caucuses (Grozny, Baku, Maykop, etc) which provided some 95% of Soviet oil. -Saved the British Empire (stopped Germany from breaking into the middle-east which was lightly defended from where they could reach India and Egypt) -Germany suffered a staggering 850,000 casualties -This was the largest defeat for Germany -The entire coarse of the war in Europe changed (in other words this was the most important turning point of the war) -The Germans were in retreat on a scale never seen before shortly following the end of the Battle of Stalingrad -Ensured that Turkey would not join the axis Importance of the Battle of Moscow: -Saved Moscow (the center of all Soviet rail-roads and the most important city in the USSR) -Germany suffered between 174,000 and 400,000 casualties -This battle was the first real defeat for Germany. Importance of Pearl Harbor: -America had finally entered the war. -The American fleet was in ruins. It is obvious in which of these three there was most at steak. VOTE PRO!!!