Top Ten Greatest Russian Military Victories

Germany began its global conquest in 1939, starting WW2 by invading Poland. In 1941, more than 4 million German troops invaded one of the Allies, Russia, devastating everything in their path. By 1942, the war's course would be determined at the Russian city of Stalingrad. Two million Russians and Germans fought the battle until 1943. The battle was won in a decisive victory, effectively turning the course of the war to the Allied side. If Germany had won the war, we would probably be speaking German, or Japanese if you were in Asia.

After the German invasion of Poland in 1939, the Germans attacked Russia in 1941 and approached the outskirts of Moscow, Russia's capital. However, thanks to the winter, the German advance failed. After Moscow, the Germans attacked the city of Stalingrad, which resulted in the decline of German power in Europe. If Germany had taken over Moscow, it might have taken over all of Russia.

During the 240 years of Mongol rule of the Kievan Rus' (Russia), Moscow was a thriving Russian city that eventually grew into an independent nation. After one of Russia's greatest victories against the Mongols in 1380, Moscow gathered parts of the Kievan Rus' states and met up with the Mongols in 1480 at the Ugra River. The battle was won by the Russians, ending Mongol rule of the Kievan Rus'. Soon, Moscow established its Tsardom of Russia.

During the Mongol Yoke of Russia, the northern part of the Kievan Rus', the Novgorod Republic, was spared from Mongol destruction but forced to be part of Mongol rule. However, in 1242, German Crusaders (Teutonic Knights) sought to capture the republic. The Teutonic Knights captured Pskov, a city part of the republic, and then met up with Novgorod at Lake Peipus. The Teutonic Knights were outnumbered 2-1 and eventually defeated. As a result, the crusaders dropped all claims on Novgorod.

Swedish Emperor Charles XII invaded Russia to destroy the Anti-Swedish Coalition led by Russia during the Great Northern War. Despite most of the battles ending in Swedish victory, Russia met the Swedish at Poltava for a decisive battle. The Swedish lost and retreated from Russia. After the war, Sweden lost its European power to Russia.

Best Sabaton song. Also confirmed Russia as a European power.

Shortly after the decisive battle at Stalingrad, Russia advanced through occupied German territory, causing one of the greatest tank battles in history, Kursk. More than 8,000 tanks were involved in the battle until the Germans once again lost to the Russians.

They only won because they outnumbered the Germans largely.

At the start of the German invasion of Russia during WW2, Germany, Finland, and Italy laid siege to the Russian city of Leningrad for two years until it was lifted after the Battle of Stalingrad.

The Battle of Berlin marked the end of the Eastern Front of WW2 when Russia advanced through Germany and made it to the German capital of Berlin in 1945. At the end of the battle, Russia took control of all of Eastern Europe and Berlin.

Although the battle fought in Stalingrad was bigger, this battle was the one that ended WW2. It was the battle in which the Soviet flag rose over Berlin and marked Germany's defeat in the war.

Shortly after the establishment of the Tsardom of Russia, Russia expanded its territory through the Urals and Siberia. However, a Mongol successor state, the Khanate of Kazan, was left, and Russia sought to capture it after what the Mongols did to Russia. After years of fighting, Russia took over the capital of Kazan and continued to expand.

Kulikovo would be one of the greatest Russian victories over the Mongols. After 140 years of Mongol rule of the Kievan Rus', Moscow set up an army to battle the Mongols. Despite being outnumbered 3-1, the Russians managed to destroy almost the entire army and win.

Although technically a loss, Napoleon gained a pyrrhic victory which ended in a rout as he led the Grande Armée back to Western Europe with huge losses of men from which he never recovered, much like Hitler.