Between 1944 until the end of World War 2 in 1945, the European theater took center stage in the war. Axis powers, led by Germany and Japan were trying all they could to defeat the Allied forces. The entry of the American forces into the war proved decisive at that point. In June 1944, the American forces took part in the Normandy invasion to defend the French territory. The American troops landed in France before the D-Day. Led by Eisenhower, the forces held aerial and naval attacks, but they were faced by strong German opposition until they captured the city in July.
The Forces also bombarded a file mile stretch in northern France and broke through to the interior of France. They cornered German forces in Falaise forcing the enemy to retreat. By September, France was liberated. The Allied forces wanted to contain the Germans hence; they continued bombing them. They launched airborne attacks in the Rhineland of Holland. However, this operation was unsuccessful, giving the Germans a chance to strengthen their defence in Holland and Switzerland. There was little action on the ground, but aerial bombardments continued.
In their defence, German forces moved to Ardennes in offense. They occupied Luxembourg and Belgium as they retreated. Allied forces continued their land and air attacks. This tact paid off because they managed to regain Alsace and defeat the last German offensive at the battle of Bulge. From that point, the Allied forces cruised through Holland, Czechoslovakia, Austria and into Germany. The Germans were helpless and surrendered on May 7 1945.
References
Buell, T. B., & Bradley, J. N. (2002). The Second World War: Europe and the Mediterranean (illustrated, reprint ed.). New York: Square One Publishers, Inc.
Imperial War Museum (Great Britain). (1969). History of the Second World War. New York: Purnell and Sons Limited.
