World War II: The Battle for Western Europe

Our overview of World War II continues with a look at the battle for Western Europe in 1944 and 1945. Beginning with the landings in Normandy on D-Day (left), the Allies fought a long campaign that included both brutal, close-quarters combat and rapid advances. Breaking out of their beachhead, the Allies swept across France rapidly liberating Paris and pressing towards the German border. In an attempt to end the war early, a daring attempt was made to capture bridges leading over the Rhine. Following the failure of this this plan, the Germans launched a major winter offensive hoping to force the Allies to negotiate. This assault was beaten back and Allied forces attacked into Germany, ultimately forcing its surrender on May 7, 1945.

Photograph Courtesy of the US Naval Historical Center