European Theater Battles

Battle of Britain

Jul 10, 1940

July 10, 1940-October 31, 1940. The Nazi attack on Great Britain through Air Force strikes. The Nazis hoped to force Great Britain to surrender in peace by attacking them directly, but they were not successful.

Operation Barbarossa

Jun 22, 1941

June 22, 1941-December 5, 1941. Code name for the German invasion of the Soviet Union. This attack on the Soviet Union by the Axis Powers marked the breaking of the Nazi-Soviet Nan-Aggression Pact.

Attack on Pearl Harbor

Dec 7, 1941

Although not a European Theater battle, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was the tipping point that brought the US into WWII after years of “neutrality”. After being brought into the war, the US, along with the other Allies focused their attack on Germany in Western Europe.

Operation Torch

Nov 8, 1942

November 8, 1942-November 16, 1942. Allied Invasion of French-governed Northern Africa. It was the first major joint mission between the US and Great Britain against the Nazis. It allowed for the allies to have a opening on southern front to attack in Europe. It also broke some of the Nazi hold on France.

Operation Overlord

Jun 6, 1944

June 6, 1944-August 30, 1944. Codename for the Allied invasion of Normandy. Also known as D-Day, it was the successful invasion of Western Europe against Hitler by the Allied Forces.

Yalta Conference

Feb 4, 1945

February 4, 1945-February 11, 1945. Held in Yalta in the Soviet Crimea, it was a conference held by the leaders of the Big Three (US, Great Britain, and Soviet Union) to discuss and shape post-war peace and the reorganization of Germany and Europe.