The Recapture of north-east Beleriand

[Anguirel]

Originally Posted by Macalaure

Morgoth was strong, and maybe would have won even without their help.

Blaaasphemy! Tolkien is quite clear on this point:

"Yet neither by Wolf, nor by Balrog, nor by Dragon, would Morgoth have achieved his end, but for the treachery of Men"

The "his end" in question being the victory of the Nirnaeth.

Think about it. It was the most catastrophic defeat in the history of Arda and yet there are still so many moments associated with it of pride, valour and resistance. And in the end such things would be enough of a victory, insubstantial though it appeared at the time.

Had Ulfang's and Uldor's men been as steadfast as the loyal Easterlings under the sons of Bor, in my opinion Morgoth's army would have been destroyed and the Siege of Angband renewed, as before the Bragollach.