The Japanese victories were stopped in 1942, and in that same year, the Soviets won the huge Battle of Stalingrad. After that, the Allies started to fight back from all sides. The Axis were forced back into the Soviet Union, lost North Africa, and, starting in 1943, were forced to defend Italy. In 1944, the Allies invaded France, and came into Germany from the west, while the Soviets came in from the east. Germany surrendered on 8 May 1945. Japan formally surrendered on September 2, 1945. The war ended with an Allied victory.