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Liberation of Paris
The Liberation of Paris took place from August 19 to August 25, 1944, when French Resistance forces, supported by the Allied army, rose against the German occupation. After days of fighting, the German garrison surrendered, and General Charles de Gaulle led a triumphant parade down the Champs-Élysées. The victory marked a key turning point in World War II, restoring French sovereignty and boosting Allied momentum in Europe. -
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Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge, fought from December 16, 1944, to January 25, 1945, was Nazi Germany’s last major offensive on the Western Front during World War II. German forces launched a surprise attack through the Ardennes Forest, creating a "bulge" in Allied lines, but fierce resistance—especially at Bastogne—and reinforcements ultimately turned the tide. The hard-fought Allied victory depleted German resources and hastened the end of the war in Europe. -
D-Day
D-Day, June 6, 1944, was the Allied invasion of Normandy during World War II, marking the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control. Over 156,000 Allied troops, supported by extensive naval and air forces, stormed five beachheads—Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword—against heavily fortified German positions. Despite heavy casualties, especially at Omaha Beach, the operation was a strategic success and paved the way for the eventual defeat of Nazi Germany. -
Yalta Conference
The Yalta Conference, held in February 1945, brought together Allied leaders Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin to plan post-war Europe. They agreed on the division of Germany, the formation of the United Nations, and Soviet involvement in the war against Japan, but tensions over Eastern Europe foreshadowed the Cold War. While the agreements shaped the post-war world, disputes over their implementation led to lasting East-West divisions. -
Firebombing of Dresden
The firebombing of Dresden, from February 13 to 15, 1945, was a massive Allied air raid that devastated the German city, killing tens of thousands of civilians. Waves of British and American bombers dropped incendiary bombs, creating a firestorm that destroyed much of the historic city center. The attack remains controversial, with debates over its military necessity versus the immense civilian suffering it caused. -
Soviet Invasion of Berlin
The Soviet invasion of Berlin, from April 16 to May 2, 1945, was the final major offensive of World War II in Europe. Soviet forces encircled and assaulted the city, facing fierce German resistance before capturing the Reichstag and forcing Hitler’s suicide. The battle ended with Germany’s surrender on May 8, marking the fall of the Third Reich and the war’s conclusion in Europe. -
Hitler's Suicide
On April 30, 1945, as Soviet forces closed in
on Berlin, Adolf Hitler committed suicide in
his bunker beneath the Reich Chancellery
He took a cyanide capsule and shot himself
while his wife, Eva Braun, also took cyanide
Their bodies were later burned by loyal
aïdes, marking the collapse of Nazi
Germany and the impending end of World
War ll in Europe. -
Germany's Surrender (V-E Day)
On May 8, 1945, known as Victory in Europe (V-E) Day, Nazi Germany officially surrendered to the Allies, marking the end of World War II in Europe. Following Hitler’s suicide, German leaders signed unconditional surrender documents on May 7 in Reims and again on May 8 in Berlin. The surrender sparked celebrations across Allied nations, though the war continued in the Pacific until Japan’s defeat in September.