Which battle is considered pivotal due to the US breaking Japanese codes and ambushing their forces?

The Battle of Midway is considered pivotal primarily because it marked a significant turning point in the Pacific Theater during World War II. This battle, fought between June 4 and June 7, 1942, saw the United States successfully defend Midway Atoll against an overwhelming force of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The success was largely due to American cryptographers who had broken Japanese naval codes, allowing the U.S. military to anticipate the Japanese attack and position its forces strategically.

By understanding the Japanese plans, the U.S. was able to execute an ambush that resulted in the sinking of four Japanese aircraft carriers, thus inflicting irreparable damage on Japan's naval capabilities. This victory shifted the balance of power in the Pacific and provided the United States with the momentum to take the offensive against Japan for the remainder of the war.

In contrast, while battles such as Iwo Jima, the Bulge, and Normandy were indeed significant, they do not share the same context of intelligence success through code-breaking that characterized Midway. Iwo Jima was crucial for securing airfields, the Battle of the Bulge was Germany's last major offensive in Europe, and Normandy marked the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi occupation. Each of