srb7677

What do you regard as the most significant battle of the 20th century, in terms of its' military and political impact?

kbear

definitely WW II..

Rongo

First battle to pop to mind before I saw the list of choices was Normandy 1944. So I went with Other. But there are a few good choices on the list.

halomanuk

Battle of Britain for me,if we had lost this then it would have been the end of us,except for guerilla warfare and it would have changed history for ever.
It also would have left Europe high and dry and made it almost impossible for the US to enter Europe with GB under German control.

tjadams

Battle of Sharpsburg, 17 September 1862

*I know it isn't 20th century, but this is a biggie.


I vote other.

Spatar

Hard to chose. I cannot decide between the Battle of Marne (which marks the end of the German plan for a quick victory on the Western Front) and Stalingrad (the beginning of the end for Hitler).

diddyriddick

Stalingrad for a land battle.

Tsushima for a sea battle.

srb7677

And Battle of Britain for an air battle?

vans

The battle of Marne in September 1914

If the Germans had won, Paris would have been threatened and that would have raised the possibility of a French surrender. This would have avoided the slaughter of the next 4 years, avoided the Treaty of Versailles and WW2.

Kevinmeath

Two good choices but what about Midway as a sea battle, important and Planes destroyed a fleet rather than Battleships?

Would agree. An invasion was stopped without a ship sailing or a single soldier landing all because a 'positive air environment' (I believe thats the modern term) could not be established.

(I accept that it is far from certain that Sealion was ever or could ever take place but after defeat in the B of B the debate was academic-- bit like Trafalgar)

Interesting choice.

but what would Britain have done?