660. Turning Point

1. Alamogordo site of first A-bomb explosion; heralded atomic age (1945). [Am. Hist.: Flexner, 11]
2. Barbarossa disastrous invasion of Russia; sealed Nazi fate (1941–1943). [Eur. Hist.: Hitler, 888–921, 922–955]
3. Caesar crosses Rubicon defying Roman law, Caesar moves to consolidate power (49 B.C.). [Rom. Hist.: EB, 3: 575–580]
4. Cannonade of Valmy dawn of modern warfare (1792). [Eur. Hist.: Fuller, II, 346–369]
5. Crécy first European use of gunpowder (by British) in battle (1346). [Eur. Hist.: Bishop, 382–385]
6. D-Day Allied invasion of France during WWII (June 6, 1944). [Eur. Hist.: Fuller, III, 562–567]
7. El Alamein “Desert Fox” outfoxed; Allies gained upper hand (1943). [Eur. Hist.: Fuller, III, 494–502]
8. Fall of Constantinople associated with end of Middle Ages (1453). [Eur. Hist.: Bishop, 398]
9. Gettysburg, Battle of the deathblow of the Confederacy (1863). [Am. Hist.: Jameson, 199]
10. Golden Spurs, Battle of early victory of infantry over mounted knights (1302). [Eur. Hist.: EB, IV: 608]
11. Hastings, Battle of Norman conquest; last successful invasion of Britain (1066). [Br. Hist.: Harbottle, 107]
12. Khe Sanh savage siege marks turning point in Vietnam (1968). [Am. Hist.: Van Doren, 620]
13. Magna Charta beginning of British democratic system (1215). [Br. Hist.: Bishop, 49–52, 213]
14. Marston Moor deciding battle of British Civil War (1644). [Br. Hist.: Harbottle, 154]
15. Midway decisive American victory over Japanese in WWII (1942). [Am. Hist.: Fuller, III, 470–477]
16. Moon Landing astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin make history (1969). [Am. Hist.: NCE, 2579–2581]
17. 95 Theses Martin Luther presented his theses at Wittenberg (1517). [Eur. Hist.: EB, 11: 188–196]
18. Origin of Species Darwin’s revolutionary theory of human evolution (1859). [Science: NCE, 721–722]
19. Spanish Armada Britain supplanted Spain as master of the sea. [Br. Hist.: Harbottle, 19]
20. Tours Arab onslaught halted by Franks under Charles Martel (732). [Eur. Hist.: Bishop, 19]
21. theory of relativity Einstein’s contribution to the space-time relationship. [Science: NCE, 843–844]