World War II's longest continuous campaign takes place with the Allies striking a naval blockade against Germany and igniting a struggle for control of the Atlantic Ocean's sea routes. The Axis, with its U-boats, responds with a counter-blockade that is at first successful, but the Allies' use of convoys, aircraft and technology eventually turns the tide. Over five years, thousands of ships engage in 100-plus battles in the Atlantic Ocean with approximately 100,000 lives lost.

A German invasion around France's coastal town of Dunkirk separates the French and British armies, marooning Allied forces. But after Adolf Hitler halts Germany's advance in the area, the Allies are able to perform a daring—and successful—evacuation with the code name "Operation Dynamo." Germany claimed the victory since the remaining Allied troops surrendered. However, the evacuation served to boost British morale, and is still referred to as the "Dunkirk spirit."

A German invasion around the French coastal town of Dunkirk separates the French and British armies, marooning Allied forces. But with Adolf Hitler halting Germany's advance there, the Allies are able to perform a daring—and successful—evacuation, called Operation Dynamo. Germany claims victory with remaining Allied troops surrendering, but the evacuation serves to boost British morale, still referred to as the "Dunkirk spirit."

In a counter-offensive after Germany's attack on Moscow, the Soviet's Red Army attacks Kharkov, Ukraine with the aid of 1,500 tanks and 1,000 aircrafts, but German intelligence alerts the Axis to the campaign. Facing nearly 300,000 casualties and gaining little traction, the Soviets are forced to concede.

Military history's largest tank battle takes place on the Eastern Front involving an estimated 6,000 tanks, 4,000 aircraft and 2 million soldiers. In its last blitzkrieg offensive, Germany attacks the Red Army near Kursk, Russia, but due to delays and the cracking of the German Wehrmacht code, the Soviets are prepared and keep Hitler from conquering Russia.

Fought in brutal, frigid winter conditions, Hitler's forces launch a surprise, last-ditch counter-attack in an attempt to split the line of the Allies on the Western Front at the forested region of Ardennes in Belgium and Luxembourg. The battle becomes known as the Battle of the Bulge, because the Germans created a “bulge” around the area of the Ardennes forest while pushing through the American defensive line.

After early German success, the Allies regain their positions thanks to reinforcements and an eventual Christmas Day airstrike once the weather clears. The Allies win (German casualties number 100,000-plus and American casualties are estimated to be 81,000) and continue their advance toward Berlin.

The Soviet forces, with support from American and British aircraft, launch an offensive against the German capital of Berlin in a major one of World War II's final battles. As the Red Army encircles the city and captures Gestapo headquarters, Hitler commits suicide on April 30 in the Führerbunker and Germany surrenders a few days later, essentially ending the war.