The fifth year of the war was a decisive one for the Allies. It began positively with the German surrender at Stalingrad in February, and the Russians making significant progress in liberating Nazi-held cities. The middle of the year saw the launch of Operation Chastise, better known as the Dambusters Raid. From 16 to 17 May, an RAF squadron used the bouncing bomb to attack dams in the Ruhr Valley, causing substantial flooding. The largest tank battle in history, the Battle of Kursk, took place throughout July and August, and resulted in a significant victory for the Russians, who liberated over 1,000 miles of territory. Towards the end of the year, in September, the Allied Invasion of Italy began, following the success of the Allies’ landings in Palermo. This is the fifth in a series of year-by-year books looking at the significant events of the Second World War on land, in the air and at sea.