The Western Front of the Second World War was the theatre of fighting in Western Europe between Germany and the Allies. After the German invasion of Poland, a quiet period called the Phoney War followed until Germany attacked Denmark and Norway and then the Low Countries and France in 1940, defeating France within weeks. Britain held out in the air war known as the Battle of Britain, and the front reopened with the Allied landings in Normandy in June 1944. The Allies liberated France and Belgium, struggled through the Ardennes counteroffensive known as the Battle of the Bulge, and crossed the Rhine in the early months of 1945. The campaign ended with the German surrender in May 1945.
Before and after
- from 1939 to 1946Manhattan Project
- from 1939 to 1941Aktion T4
- 1939Founding of Marvel Comics
- 1939Publication of Thai National Anthem
- from 1939 to 1945Western Front
- 1939Construction of Toronto Pearson International Airport
- 1939Discovery of francium
- from 1939 to 1944World War II in Albania
- 1939Construction of Berlin-Tegel Airport
More in Wars, politics & history
- 1919Paris Peace Conference
- 3 March 1923Time
- from 1 August 1927 to 1 May 1950Chinese Civil War
- from 7 July 1937 to 9 September 1945Second Sino-Japanese War
- from 1 September 1939 to 6 October 19391939 Invasion of Poland
- 1944Golden Globes
The era
This moment belongs to the Modern era (1914 CE to 1945 CE), world wars and a changing world. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.