January 5th
The start of a major Russian offensive into the Ukraine
January 20th
Novgorod was recaptured by the Russians.
January 29th
The Leningrad-Moscow rail line was re-opened effectively ending the siege of Leningrad.
March 7th
Japan started ‘Operation U-Go’ – an attempt to push the Allies back to India by destroying the Allied bases at Imphal and Kohima.
March 15th
The Allies dropped 1,250 tons of bombs on Cassino, Italy, at the start of a major offensive.
March 24th
Orde Wingate, head of the Chindits, was killed in a plane crash.
March 26th
The Russian Army moves onto Rumanian soil for the first time.
April 8th
The Russians launched their final attack on German forces in the Crimea.
May 9th
The Crimea was cleared of German resistance; Sebastopol was retaken.
May 11th
The Allies started their effort to outflank the monastery at Cassino.
May 17th
Kesselring ordered the German evacuation of Cassino; Monte Cassino evacuated.
May 23rd
The Americans started their break-out from Anzio beach.
May 25th
The Americans started their drive to Rome.
June 3rd
Hitler ordered Kesselring to withdraw from Rome.
June 4th
Allied troops entered Rome.
June 6th
D-Day. Allied forces landed in Normandy.
June 13th
First V1 landed in Britain.
June 18th
US forces trapped the German garrison at Cherbourg.
June 19th
‘The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot in the Far East.
July 9th
Effective end of Japanese resistance on Saipan in the Marianas Islands.
July 17th
First Russian units get to Poland.
July 18th
Japan ended its attempt to destroy Kohima and Imphal when the Japanese High Command called off the offensive.
‘Operation Goodwood’ launched by British and Canadian forces to drive towards Caen.
July 20th
‘The July Bomb Plot – the failed attempted to kill Hitler.
July 27th
Lvov was liberated by the Russian Army.
August 1st
Effective end of Japanese resistance on Tinian, Marianas Islands.
August 10th
Japanese resistance in Guam ended.
August 15th
The Russians announced that the new Polish Committee of National Liberation is, in the Russians view, the new representative government of Poland.
August 25th
Paris liberated by the Allies.
Rumania declared war on Germany.
September 2nd
Russian troops reached the border of Bulgaria.
September 3rd
Brussels liberated by the British 2nd Army.
September 4th
Antwerp liberated by the British 2nd Army.
September 5th
Rundstedt appointed commander-in-chief of the German Army in the west; he was ordered by Hitler to attack the advancing Allies.
Ghent liberated by the Allies.
September 8th
First V2 landed in Britain.
Russian troops crossed into Bulgaria.
September 10th
Eisenhower agreed to Montgomery’s plan that led to the Arnhem raid.
September 17th
Start of ‘Operation Market Garden’ – the attack on Arnhem.
September 21st
British troops at Arnhem bridge were overwhelmed by SS IX and X Divisions.
September 22nd
German troops in Boulogne surrendered.
September 30th
German troops in Calais surrendered.
September 25th
Evacuation of surviving paratroopers from Arnhem began.
November 12th
The ‘Tirpitz’ was sunk by British bombers.
December 16th
Start of the Battle of the Bulge.
December 25th
Japanese resistance on Leyte ended.
The US 2nd Armoured Division stopped the II Panzer Division reaching the River Meuse.
December 26th
Hitler was informed that Antwerp cannot be retaken.