1944 in History

Tibbets begins organising the 509th Composite Group at Wendover Field for the eventual combat delivery of atomic bombs.

Presents the coalition White Paper on a national health service.

Members of Hirohitos family secretly agree he should abdicate in favour of Akihito

Promises to retire when the Allies enter Rome

Signs a decree making Umberto "Lieutenant of the Realm"

Agrees with Roosevelt that Stalin's proposed Black Sea area can serve as the conference location.

Bierut accepts the Curzon Line as the proper basis for the Soviet-Polish frontier and seeks Allied support for Polish gains in the west.

Toyoda activates the Sho-1 plan as Japanese naval forces prepare to contest the Allied landing at Leyte.

Coulet established his administration in Bayeux while Paris remained under German occupation.

Adopts Richard Horatio Blair with Eileen.

Foster's brigade pushed inland from Juno Beach toward the western approaches to Caen.

Sato's Thirty-First Division reaches the Kohima area and begins operations against the Allied position.

Churchill tells Polish ministers that Britain considers the Curzon Line a realistic basis for negotiations linked to territorial compensation in the north and west.

At Churchills request Stalin agrees to a Russian offensive during D-Day

Ath Churchills request Stalin agrees to an offensive during the Normandy landings

Onishi sends land-based naval aircraft against American carriers operating east of Luzon during the Leyte operations.

Kenney directs Fifth Air Force operations supporting the Allied return to the Philippines and the ground campaign on Leyte.

Fukudome directs Second Air Fleet operations intended to support the Japanese Sho-1 naval counteroffensive.

Romanian Prime Minister Ion Antonescu is dismissed by King Michael, paving the way for Romania to abandon the Axis in favor of the Allies

Romanian Prime Minister Ion Antonescu is dismissed by King Michael, paving the way for Romania to abandon the Axis in favor of the Allies

Romanian Prime Minister Ion Antonescu is dismissed by King Michael, paving the way for Romania to abandon the Axis in favor of the Allies

Commands all Allied ground forces during the initial phase of the Normandy invasion.

Bayeux became a strategic transit and support centre for Eisenhower's Allied armies.

Appointed Member of ANC Youth League

Completes the political fable Animal Farm.

Troops of 21st Army Group capture Antwerp and its docks largely intact during the rapid advance through Belgium.

Mikolajczyk appeals to Roosevelt as pressure grows for the Polish Government to accept the Curzon Line without reservations before the war ends.

Nishimura continues toward Surigao Strait after American carrier aircraft attack his Southern Force in the Sulu Sea.

Jodl evaluates the deteriorating situation as the Ardennes offensive fails to achieve its strategic objectives.

Jodl's OKW staff monitors the opening of the German offensive in the Ardennes.

Jodl participates in high-level planning for Hitler's offensive through the Ardennes.

Founds the Peoples Army in Poland, a rival Polish Army to fight the Germans

The Finns announce an armistice with Russia & will break off relations with Germany

Appointed Commander of the Army Group North by Hitler

Konev begins to attack Army Group North Ukraine

Dismissed as Commander of the Army Group North by Hitler

Appointed Commander of the Army Group North, Jan-March

Appointed Commander of the Army Group North, Jan-March

Appointed Commander of the Army Group South Ukraine

Appointed Commander of the Army Group South Ukraine

Appointed Supreme of Commander Army Group South in the Ukraine

Serves on a headquarters committee considering the reorganisation of the Army in India as the war moves toward its final phase.

Accepts withdrawal of the surviving British airborne force after the Arnhem bridge cannot be held.

Rescued by daring German parachute jump from his place of internment in the Apennines

Werner von Braun is soon released following the intervention of Albert Speer

Arrested for corruption, along with other members of the Fascist Grand Council

Witzleben is arrested after the failure of the July Plot

Arrested by order of Heinrich Himmler

After the failure of the attempt on Hitler's life on 20 July 1944, arrested and charged with high treason

Arrested for corruption, along with other members of the Fascist Grand Council

Antonescu is arrested during King Michael's coup.

Expelled by the Spanish. flees to Austria & arrested by US troops for treason

Werner von Braun is soon released following the intervention of Albert Speer. Arrested by Himmler on trumped up charges

Schumann arrived in liberated Bayeux and linked Free French representatives with local residents.

Arrives in Budapest after Germany occupies Hungary.

De Gaulle entered Bayeux during his first return to French soil since 1940.

Arrested for corruption, along with other members of the Fascist Grand Council

The Gestapo give Rommel the choice of a trial or suicide disguised as a heart attack. Rommel decides to poison himself

Assassinated by Polish partisans

Killed while trying to assassinate Hitler

A senior official in Palestine is gunned down by Jewish terrorists in Cairo

Becomes a full colonel and Assistant Director of Military Intelligence in India, supporting operations connected with the Burma campaign.

Yamashita assumes command of the Fourteenth Area Army and responsibility for the defence of the Philippines.

The number of mines along the French coast increases to 4 million. Completes the construction of "Rommels asparagus", mines set on poles. Adds a 3rd belt of mines 8,000 yds deep

Jodl reports serious weaknesses after inspecting Atlantic Wall defences along the Channel coast.

Jodl reports that major sections of the Atlantic Wall remain incomplete and inadequately prepared.

Attempts to persuade Stalin to travel to a Mediterranean location rather than remain on the Soviet Black Sea coast.

Fermi supervises startup work as loading of uranium into Hanford's first full-scale plutonium-production reactor is completed.

Ugaki commands Battleship Division One, including Yamato and Nagato, during the Battle off Samar.

Suzuki commands Battleship Division Three, including Kongo and Haruna, during the Battle off Samar.

Dempsey's logistical system used the bypass to move supplies and vehicles toward the front.

British engineers built a bypass so military traffic could avoid Bayeux's narrow medieval streets.

Mercader accompanied Free French representatives and assisted restoration of public authority in Bayeux.

De Gaulle called for continued resistance and asserted French sovereignty over liberated territory.

US D-Day beach landing training exercise (Operation Beaver) at Slapton Sands, Devon, demonstrate a dangerous lack of coordination between units

Bergen-Belsen becomes a full-scale concentration camp

Bergen-Belsen becomes a full-scale concentration camp

Quirnheim remains at the Bendlerblock as the conspirators attempt to use the replacement army to seize control

Witzleben appears at the Bendlerblock during the attempted seizure of power

Witzleben leaves the Bendlerblock as the coup attempt collapses

Supports Bradleys left flank & engages the Germans south of Caen

The Canadians & British move into Vire & force a German rereat

Uses British operations toward Vire to maintain pressure and support the left flank of the American breakout.

Railway yards are bombed in Bangkok

The RAF drops 2,300 tons of bombs on Berlin

The RAF drops 2,300 tons of bombs on Berlin

Germany fires the first V2 rockets at Britain

1st day of the bombing of Caen

Caen is bombed to obliterate enemy defences but only the southern suburbs are taken

V-1 missiles 1st land on London

London is hit by V-2 rockets for first time, missiles falling on Epping and Chiswick

Marshalling yards are bombed to disrupt German suppllies to Normandy. 717 French are killed

The highest tonnage of bombs in one night during the war is dropped by Britain

Nearly 17 sqr miles of Tokyo are raised to the ground

Nearly 19 sqr miles of Tokyo are raised to the ground

Leads the 73rd Wing against the Musashimo engine plant at Tokyo

The marshalling yards of Trappes are bombed to disrupt German suppllies to Normandy

The 1st B-29 raid on the Japanese mainland

Turkey breaks off diplomatic relations with Germany

Morgenthau chairs negotiations creating the IMF and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Dempsey's Second Army used undamaged Bayeux as a supply, communications, and transit centre.

Maintains his broad-front approach for the continuing Allied advance.

Mass deportations from Hungary are halted by Regent Horthy.

British forces establish a strong beachhead but do not seize the planned D-Day objective of Caen.

Supports renewed Canadian operations intended to narrow the escape route for German forces.

The US 1st & 30th divisions of infantry capture Aachen

The Allies liberate Aachen

Avranches is captured by Patton

Arrives at Avranches

Patton captures Avranches

The Cotentin Peninsular is sealed isolating 4 German Divisions & the port of Cherbourg. The Americans capture Barneville

The Germans abandon Bayeux

Belgrade is liberated

British troops occupy Brussels

Russian forces enter Bucharest

The Soviet Army enters Bucharest capital of Romania

Dempsey's troops entered northern Caen after German forces withdrew across the Orne.

A massive air bombardment commences on Caen which devastates the city

Montgomery's forces occupied northern Caen while German troops retained the southern suburbs.

The Allies capture Caen

Calais is liberated by the Canadian 3rd Division

Carentan is captured, uniting all the American forces

Leads an Allied force which captures Cassino

The US forces arrive at the hills overlooking Cherbourg

The US Army captures the Fort du Roule, the key to the defences of Cherbourg

Cherbourg falls to the Allies

Captures Coutance

Russia recaptures Crimea by taking Sevastopol

The Allies capture Falaise & advance towards the Seine

Mussolini begs Hitler not to withdraw from Rome without a fight but is ignored

Captures Granville

Announces the Allied liberation of Rome in the Commons

Captures Grodno from the Germans

The attackers pour out of their battered gliders, completely surprising the German defenders, and take Horsa & Pegasus bridges within 10 minutes. A force of 181 men, led by Major John Howard, take off from RAF Tarrant Rushton in Dorset, southern England in six Horsa gliders to capture Pegasus Bridge, and also "Horsa Bridge", a few hundred yards to the east, over the Orne River

Mussolini begs Hitler not to withdraw from Rome without a fight but is ignored

Captures Kaunas from the Germans

Captures La-Haye-du-Puits

Captures Lublin from the Germans

1st Belorussian front enters Lublin

Captures Lwow

Mantes is captured & the Seine crossed, Patton hopes to head directly for Germany

Captures Metz

Army Group Centre loses 28 Divisions, the way to Poland is open to the Red Army

Army Group Centre loses 28 Divisions, the way to Poland is open to the Red Army

The way to Poland is open to the Red Army

Captures Narva from the Germans

Ordered to enter Paris via the Port dItalie & head for the Ile de Cite

Enters Paris after its surrender by the Germans

Paris "should not fall into the hands of the enemy except as a field of ruins"

Delivers Leclercs ultimatum to the German Commander Cholitz who agrees to surrender

Crosses the Seine at the Pont de Sevres to enter Paris through the Porte de St Cloud. Captures Paris & arrives at the Arc de Triomphe

Ordered to advance on Paris at the head of the 2nd French Armoured Division

Begins his attack on Paris. A plane drops a message from Leclerc over saying "Tenez bon, nous arrivons"

Secures a surrender from the German Commander Cholitz. Enters Paris after breaking down German resistance

After the capture of Paris Woodrun estimates that the war will be over by October

Lieutenant Brotheridge is killed crossing the bridge in the first minutes of the assault and thus becomes the first member of the invading Allied armies to die in combat on D-Day. Leads the infantry capture of 2 bridges codenamed Pegasus & Horsa. 1st Allied death in Normandy

Parachutes behind enemy lines & captures Benouville, including Pegasus Bridge

Commands infantryman who land by glider & capture 2 bridges codenamed Pegasus & Horsa

Parachutes behind enemy lines & helps secure Pegasus Bridge

One of the members of the 7th Battalion reinforcements is young actor Richard Todd who would, nearly two decades later, play Major Howard in the film The Longest Day

Patton captures Rennes

Malinovsky links up with General Tolbukhins Army in the Danube Delta

The British establish a bridge-head on the River Odon

The Allies advance as far as the Seine, Hitler orders a retreat across the Seine

Announces the Allied liberation of Rome in the Commons

Mussolini begs Hitler not to withdraw from Rome without a fight but is ignored

Mussolini begs Hitler not to withdraw from Rome without a fight but is ignored

The USA captures Saipan & can bomb Japanese cities

Launches an offensive for the Schmidt Dam to stop the Germans flooding the Roer Valley

An attack of St Lo is launched but is slowed down by the Normandy countryside, bocage

The US advances across St Lo to Periers Road

Captures the Islands of St Marcouf off Utah beach

The Allies capture Strasburg

Captures Versailles en-route to Paris

Captures Vilna from the Germans

Captures Vitebsk from the Germans

The German 15th army is encircled in the Beveland peninsula. Liberated by the Canadian 2nd Division

Begins offensive toward Slovakia through the Carpathians.

Matsuda commands Carrier Division Four, built around the hybrid battleships Ise and Hyuga, in Ozawa's decoy force.

Greek armed formations are placed under a unified command before liberation.

A ceasefire is agreed between the Finns & the Soviet Forces on the Finnish front

Jodl's inspection identifies shortages and weaknesses in German defensive preparations in the Channel Islands.

Churchill presses Mikolajczyk at Chequers to recognize that the Riga frontier must change and that the Curzon Line should guide negotiations.

Appointed Chief of General Staff

Appointed Chief of General Staff

Appointed Chief-of General Staff

Appointed Chief-of General Staff

Guillou coordinated assistance for refugees arriving from towns damaged during the Normandy battles.

Molotov claims the Curzon Line had support from all three major Allies at Tehran, prompting concern about Roosevelt's actual position.

Laval leaves Paris with the Germans, he joins the other Vichy exiles in Belfort and later in Sigmaringen, Germany

Appointed Colonel

Appointed Colonel

The Army Air Forces begins modifying seventeen B-29 aircraft at Omaha for combat delivery of atomic weapons.

Kuribayashi takes command of the Iwo Jima garrison and develops a defense based on caves, tunnels, and mutually supporting positions.

Appointed Commander in Chief, West, replaces von Rundstedt

Appointed Commander in Chief, West

Appointed Commander of the German forces in Normandy, replaces Rundstredt

Appointed Commander of the German forces in Normandy, replaces Rundstredt

Appointed Air Commander in Chief of South East Asia Command (SEAC)

Appointed Air Commander in Chief of South East Asia Command (SEAC)

The conspirators intend Witzleben to act as Commander in Chief of the armed forces after the coup succeeds

Meyer assumed divisional command after Fritz Witt was killed near Caen.

Appointed Commander of the 34th Army

Appointed Commander of the 34th Army

Appointed Commander of the 3rd Army

Appointed Commander of the 3rd Army

Appointed Commander of the 4th Panzer Army

Appointed Commander of the 4th Panzer Army

Appointed Commander of 6th Corps

Appointed Commander of 6th Corps

Appointed Commander of the 7th Army

Appointed Commander of the 7th Army

Appointed Commander of the 91st Air Landing Division

Appointed Commander of Army Group B

Appointed Commander of Army Group B

Reverts to just Commanding Army Group B

Reverts to just Commanding Army Group B

Appointed Commander of Army Group B

Appointed Commander of Army Group B to defend France from Allied invasion

Appointed Commander of the Army Group Centre

Appointed Commander of the Army Group Centre

Appointed Commander of the Army Group North

Appointed Commander of the Army Group North by Hitler

Appointed Commander of the Army Group North, Jan-March

Appointed Commander of the Army Group North, Jan-March

Appointed Commander of the Army Group North

Appointed Commander of Army Group North

Appointed Supreme Commander Army Group North

Appointed Supreme of Commander Army Group South in the Ukraine

Appointed Supreme Commander of Army Group South

Appointed Commander of the Army Group South Ukraine

Appointed Commander of the Army Group South Ukraine

Appointed Commander of the Army Group Ukraine

Appointed Commander of the Army Group Ukraine

Reaches his new HQ with orders to hold the Carpathian Mountains

Reaches his new HQ with orders to hold the Carpathian Mountains

Appointed Commander of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, the "Beast of Belsen"

Appointed Commander of the Eastern Front

Appointed Commander of the Eighth Corps

Appointed Commander of the Eighth Corps

Appointed Commander of the First Army

Appointed Commander of the US First Army

Appointed Commander of the LXXXIV Corps

Appointed Commander of XII Corps

Appointed Commander of XII Corps

Appointed Commander of the Twentieth US Air Force

Appointed Commander of the Twentieth US Air Force

Appointed Commander of the 21st Bomber Command

Appointed Commander of the 21st Bomber Command to launch raids on Japan

Appointed Commander of the 4th Ukranian Front

Appointed Commander of the 4th Ukranian Front

Resumes command of the XXIV Panzer Corps

Resumes command of the XXIV Panzer Corps

Jodl initials an OKW memorandum reaffirming the Commando Order after the Normandy landings.

De Gaulle appointed Coulet commissioner responsible for restoring republican administration in liberated Normandy.

The Algiers Committee declares itself the Provisional Government of France

The Lublin Committee to set up a communist infrastructure in Poland meets Stalin. The committee subordinate the Poles fighting with the Russians to Russia

The town of Falaise becomes a major objective of Commonwealth forces, since its capture would cut off virtually all of Generalfeldmarschall Gunther von Kluges Army Group B

The town of Falaise becomes a major objective of Commonwealth forces, since its capture would cut off virtually all of Generalfeldmarschall Gunther von Kluges Army Group B

The town of Falaise becomes a major objective of Commonwealth forces, since its capture would cut off virtually all of Generalfeldmarschall Gunther von Kluges Army Group B

The US, Britain, Russia and China open the Dumbarton Oaks Conference in Washington, DC, laying the foundation for the establishment of the UN

Chinese representatives join the Dumbarton Oaks discussions on plans for the future United Nations organization.

The US, Britain, Russia and China open the Dumbarton Oaks Conference in Washington, DC, laying the foundation for the establishment of the UN

The US, Britain, Russia and China open the Dumbarton Oaks Conference in Washington, DC, laying the foundation for the establishment of the UN

Insists that the advance into the Rhine be on a broad front

Decrees males 16 to 60 & females 18 to 45 are liable for labour conscription

The Algiers Committee declares itself the Provisional Government of France

Announces the Government will run centrally. Announces resistance organisations & Liberation Committee's will have advisery roles

Iceland declaresfull independence from Denmark and becomes a republic

Discusses a democratic post-war China & to reconcile the Communists & Kuomingtang

Seeks British coordination before asking Stalin to delay action on recognition of the Lublin Committee.

Feuchtinger's division launched the only major German armoured counterattack against the Allied bridgehead on D-Day.

Meyer directed counterattacks against Canadian forces north-west of Caen.

Rommel agrees to support the plot to overthrow Hitler but not to assassinate him

In the plans for the overthrow, Friedrich-Werner von der Schulenburg was tentatively foreseen as the new Foreign Minister

Witzleben travels to Berlin as the coup attempt begins to unfold

The coup collapses after news spreads that Hitler survived the assassination attempt

Hashimoto commands Cruiser Division Five, including Haguro, during the Center Force attack off Samar.

Shiraishi commands Cruiser Division Seven as its cruisers engage American forces off Samar.

Churchill tells Stalin that Poland could accept administration west of a Curzon-based demarcation line while reserving formal rights pending final negotiations.

Stalin tells Mikolajczyk that acceptance of the Curzon Line as the Soviet-Polish boundary is essential before a broader political settlement can proceed.

Crosses over to Normandy in the Arethusa & attends a conference at Montogomerys HQ

Writes a brief statement accepting personal responsibility in case the Normandy landings fail.

Issues his Order of the Day to Allied soldiers, sailors and airmen as the Normandy invasion begins.

While serving with General Thrasher, Shaw helped support organizational and supply work connected with the D-Day invasion.

Romania declares war on Germany after German troops are defeated in Bucharest

Russia declares war on Bulgaria. Bulgaria declares war on Germany then declares an armistice with Russia

Explains that the military situation prevents him from leaving the Soviet Union for a distant conference.

Dietrich's corps reinforced German positions around Caen during Operation Epsom.

Dollmann coordinated Seventh Army's response to the Allied invasion, including resistance around Caen.

Richter's coastal division defended the Caen sector and suffered heavy losses during the Allied landings.

Suzuki directs the Thirty-Fifth Army's effort to reinforce and defend Leyte after the American landings.

Takashina commands Japanese forces on Guam as American troops land on the island.

Yamashita organizes a prolonged defense of Luzon after concluding that the main American invasion will strike the island.

Saito commands the Japanese army garrison as American forces land on Saipan.

Kurita leads the Center Force from Brunei toward the central Philippines and Leyte Gulf.

De Gaulle left Bayeux for Isigny after establishing visible French political authority.

Witt moved the 12th SS Panzer Division toward Caen to oppose the British and Canadian advance.

Leads a task force which deports 437,000 Jews to Auschwitz from Hungary

Jewish communities are concentrated in ghettos and transit sites.

Menendez is overthrown by Osmín Aguirre y Salinas

Takahashi commands Destroyer Division Four within Nishimura's Southern Force during the advance through Surigao Strait.

Amano commands Destroyer Division Sixty-One in the screen of Ozawa's Northern Force during the Cape Engano battle.

Kimura commands Destroyer Squadron One within Shima's Second Striking Force during the Surigao operation.

Kimura commands Destroyer Squadron Ten during the late Japanese destroyer attack against Taffy 3 off Samar.

Hayakawa commands Destroyer Squadron Two during the Center Force action against American escort carriers off Samar.

Assumes direct operational command of Allied ground forces in northwest Europe as the campaign advances beyond Normandy.

Disagrees with Churchill about de Gaulles policy for avoiding creating a western bloc

Romanian Prime Minister Ion Antonescu is dismissed by King Michael, paving the way for Romania to abandon the Axis in favor of the Allies

Dismissed as Commander of the Army Group Centre by Hitler

Dismissed after asking the OKW for a free hand in Normandy, a challenge to Hitler

Dismisses von Kluge

Relieved of his command in March 1944 for ordering the Eighth Army to retreat when it was in danger of destruction by the Soviet Red Army, in explicit violation of Adolf Hitler's orders

Dismissed after the loss of Avranches & replaced by Model

Dismissed by Hitler for withdrawing from Leningrad, replaced by Model

Dismissed as Commander of the Army Group North by Hitler

Dismissed after asking the OKW for a free hand in Normandy, a challenge to Hitler

Dismissed by Hitler for suggesting the High Command make peace

The French Resistance is dissolved

Soviet and Czechoslovak forces cross the Dukla Pass into Slovakia.

A Wehrmacht attempt on the Eastern Front of World War II to evade encirclement by the Red Army

Wins 21.9 million to Roosevelts 25.6 million votes & loses his own state of New York

The Government commits itself to maintaining a high and stable level of employment.

The Bjorn Thordarson Government ends, concluding this term as Prime Minister of Iceland.

Mutaguchi's failed offensive is called off after severe losses, disease, hunger, and collapsing supply lines.

Leads the first U.S. boarding party onto U-505 and secures sensitive cipher material, including Enigma equipment.

Supports D-Day intelligence planning that directs 30 Assault Unit to seize German Enigma machines, codebooks and cipher material.

Commands the hunter-killer group that captures U-505 with Enigma machines and current codebooks intact.

Leads the salvage effort that keeps U-505 afloat, preserving captured Enigma machines and codebooks for intelligence exploitation.

Sees Oracle, the third specialised Twinn-type Bombe for Abwehr Enigma, installed in May.

Serves as Assistant Director of Machines and Mechanical Devices while Bombe operations continue supporting Enigma exploitation.

Shima enters Surigao Strait behind Nishimura, encounters wreckage and resistance, and withdraws his surviving force.

Shima enters Surigao Strait after Nishimura's force has already been shattered and soon orders a withdrawal.

Continues wartime service as Allied forces advance through Western Europe.

Approves a plan to shoot Nazi leaders without trial

Executed with those who betrayed Mussolini at the Grand Council meeting 25 July 43

Orders the public execution of 33 Polish partisans

Has Ciano & 4 others executed who betrayed him at the Grand Council of 25th July 1943

Quirnheim is arrested with Olbricht Stauffenberg and Haeften and is executed by firing squad in the courtyard of the Bendlerblock

Hanged at Plotzensee Prison in Berlin

Executed by the Germans during a raid on Greek parisans

Witzleben is executed at Plotzensee Prison after conviction by the People's Court

Orders mass deportation of Caucasian Muslim nations, Chechens & Ingush to Kazakhstan are deported for resisting Soviet rule and abetting the Germans, 475,000 persons are evicted

Orders mass deportation of Caucasian Muslim nations, Chechens & Ingush to Kazakhstan are deported for resisting Soviet rule and abetting the Germans, 475,000 persons are evicted

Stalin deports 250,000 Tatars from Crimea to Uzbekistan, they do not return home until the fall of the Soviet Union leading supporters, from Kamenev down, were expelled in December 1927 by the XVth Party Congress, which paved the way for mass expulsio

Expelled by the Spanish. flees to Austria & arrested by US troops for treason

Laval leaves Paris with the Germans, he joins the other Vichy exiles in Belfort and later in Sigmaringen, Germany

Returns from Washington where he had served under Quezon in the Government in exile

A successful test of the exploding-bridgewire detonator demonstrates a way to fire many implosion detonators with the required simultaneity.

Tuck proposes using explosive lenses to shape detonation waves into the spherical convergence required for implosion.

The conspiracy weakens as reports confirm that Hitler survived the bomb attack

Presses Allied armies to close around German forces retreating from the Normandy battlefield.

Surrender and capture of the remaining units of the German 7th Army which were trapped in the Falaise Pocket. Elements of the First Canadian Army relieved the Polish Armys survivors of this Battle and the Canadian Army was finally able to close the Falaise Pocket by linking up with the troops of the American 3rd Army on the other side

Novel tactics by Polish 1st Armoured Division, under the command of Stanislaw Maczek during the drive for Chambois, enabled the Falaise Gap to be partially closed by August 19, 1944, trapping about 150,000 German soldiers in the Falaise Pocket

Coordinates British, Canadian, Polish and American pressure as the Falaise pocket is closed.

Arrested for corruption, along with other members of the Fascist Grand Council

Successful test of explosive lens for Fat Man

Successful test of explosive lens for Fat Man

Saito orders a final mass attack as organized Japanese resistance on Saipan nears collapse.

Presents the final ground plan to senior commanders and political leaders before D-Day.

The Finns ask for peace but Stalins terms are unacceptable

The Finns give Germany 14 days to evacuate an army of 250,000

Lieutenant General Courtney Hodges assumed command of the First Army and Bradley was promoted to overall command of both armies, named Twelfth Army Group

Pattons 3rd Army is given the task of occupying the French region of Lorraine, General Hodgess First Army is ordered to breakthrough the front near the German city of Aachen

After the United States First and Third Armies broke out from the Normandy beachhead during Operation Cobra on 25 July 1944, Hitler ordered Operation Luttich.

Following breakout by the American First Army and American 3rd Army from the beachhead during the Battle of Normandy during Operation Cobra Adolf Hitler ordered an immediate counterattack against Allied forces in the form of Operation Luttich.

The operation was intended as an immediate counterattack against Allied forces.

Lieutenant General Courtney Hodges assumed command of the First Army and Bradley was promoted to overall command of both armies, named Twelfth Army Group

Commander of First US Army, succeeds Bradley

General Hodgess First Army is ordered to breakthrough the front near the German city of Aachen

The US First Army enters the outskirts of Aachen

Hodges First Army captures Aachen, the 1st breach of the Siegfried Line

Following breakout by the American First Army and American 3rd Army from the beachhead during the Battle of Normandy during Operation Cobra Adolf Hitler ordered an immediate counterattack against Allied forces in the form of Operation Luttich

By 31 July, XIX Corps had destroyed the last forces opposing the First Army, and Bradleys troops were finally freed from the bocage

Lieutenant General Courtney Hodges assumed command of the First Army and Bradley was promoted to overall command of both armies, named Twelfth Army Group

Crerar's First Canadian Army became operational and assumed responsibility for the Allied sector around Caen.

Kataoka commands the First Division after it is committed as a major reinforcement to the Japanese defence of Leyte.

The first full Fat Man bomb assembly is completed for handling and airdrop practice, before nuclear material and final explosive lenses are available.

Onishi's special-attack units carry out the first successful organized kamikaze strikes against American naval forces during the Leyte campaign.

Fermi at Los Alamos tests the world's third reactor, LOPO, the first aqueous homogeneous reactor, and the first fueled by enriched uranium

Tamai helps organize the first special-attack unit at Mabalacat and selects Seki to lead the Shikishima squadron.

France & Russia agree to a Franco-Soviet Pact

Operation Anvil, which is renamed Operation Dragoon, the liberation of south east France by US, Free French and British troops

Turns the 5th & Free French 2nd northward to Le Mans

Supports treatment without charge as a planning principle.

Partisans consolidate power after German withdrawal from Albania

Founds the French Forces of the Interior to control the activities of the Resistance

About 60,000 German troops are encircled

Konev begins to attack Army Group North Ukraine

Creates a pocket, 25,000 Germans had been killed & 17,000 captured

Yeremenko strikes at Hansens 16th German Army

Yeremenko strikes at Hansens 16th German Army

The Russians reach the 1939 Polish border, west of Kovel

Attacks the Minsk highway

Reaches the River Bug, west of Kovel, 1939 Polish border

The Russians reach the 1939 Polish border, west of Kovel

Attacks the Finns between Lake Ladoga & Lake Onega

Appoints Friesner Commander of Army Group North

Appoints Model Commander of the West at the height of the crisis on the Eastern Front

Appointed General Feldmarschall, the youngest in German military history

Appointed General Feldmarschall, the youngest in German military history

Keeps strong British and Canadian pressure around Caen, drawing major German armoured forces into the eastern sector.

German forces occupy Slovakia during the uprising.

Quirnheim dies as one of the army officers executed for his part in the 20 July plot against Hitler

Witzleben is identified as one of the senior military figures connected to the failed conspiracy

The GI Bill provides education, housing and unemployment benefits to returning veterans.

Commands the British 30th Corps on Gold beach

Launches a major armoured offensive east of Caen to gain ground and hold German armour in the British sector.

The Algiers Committee declares itself the Provisional Government of France

Forms a Provisional Government based at Debrecen

His government ends in Helsinki, concluding this term as Prime Minister of Finland.

His government ends in Helsinki, concluding this term as Prime Minister of Finland.

His government ends in Helsinki, concluding this term as Prime Minister of Finland.

Hoxha's government takes control after liberation from German occupation

Papandreou forms a government intended to unite resistance and exile political forces.

Papandreou and the national government return after German withdrawal.

Hanford's D Reactor reaches criticality with sufficient excess reactivity to overcome fission-product poisoning.

Nonami leads the Hatsuzakura squadron on a special-attack mission from the Manila area during the continuing Leyte campaign.

Appointed of the Provisional Government

Montgomery established his headquarters near Bayeux while directing the Battle of Normandy.

Collapses & enters hospital suffering from exhaustion, depression & an inflamed knee

Operates on Hitler to remove a vocal chord. Discovers Hitler's eardrums were ruptured by the bomb blast of 20 July

Rommels staff car is attacked by fighter bombers & he is seriously injured

Treats Hitler after Stauffenbergs bomb explodes at Rastenburg

Criticises cautious coalition health service proposals.

Eichmann's deportation operation loses its main transport programme.

Guillou's administration helped organize Bayeux as a hospital and refugee centre during the Normandy fighting.

Moves to his HQ in Rastenburg concerned by events in the Eastern Front

Most deportees are sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau.

His unit helps deport roughly 440,000 Hungarian Jews.

Personally directs the SS deportation team assigned to Hungarian Jewry.

Coordinates German planning with Hungarian authorities before mass deportations.

Oversees the start of systematic deportations from Hungary.

Churchill and Roosevelt sign the Hyde Park aide-memoire pledging continued Anglo-American cooperation on atomic technology.

Work begins on a precisely timed neutron initiator for the solid-core implosion weapon.

Taylor joins Los Alamos and highlights hydrodynamic instability problems that influence the move toward a more conservative implosion design.

Kistiakowsky becomes a full-time Los Alamos staff member and takes leadership of the rapidly expanding implosion effort from Neddermeyer.

An implosion theory group is established at Los Alamos with Teller as its first head.

Shaukat Malik's INA unit reaches Moirang, where the INA flag is raised on Indian soil during the Imphal campaign.

Icelandic voters sever all ties with Denmark

Iceland declaresfull independence from Denmark and becomes a republic

Talks break down with Jinnah over a Hindu-Moslem settlement

Meets Churchill & agrees to the partition of Palestine & support a Jewish State

Jodl suffers minor injuries in the bomb explosion during the attempt to kill Hitler.

States that a location on the Soviet Black Sea coast would be the most suitable conference site.

Asks Stalin to leave the question of recognizing the Lublin Committee unresolved until the tripartite meeting.

Takes command of the insurgent army.

At a press conference criticizes the Allies for failing to supply France with arms

Russia invades Bulgaria

On a signal from Mountbatten attacks the Japanese & helps the British advance

Soviet troops invade Czechoslovakia during World War II

Commands an invasion of Southern France reaching the Vosges within 4 weeks

Responsible for defending occupied France from Allied invasion

Pattons 3rd Army is given the task of occupying the French region of Lorraine, General Hodgess First Army is ordered to breakthrough the front near the German city of Aachen. Decides the next target would be the occupation of the Ruhr, the heartland of Germany's industrial capabilities

Orders destruction of German forces west of the Rhine to establish bridgeheads

The Western Allies reach the German border, which is protected by the extensive Siegfried Line

General Hodgess First Army is ordered to breakthrough the front near the German city of Aachen

Pattons 3rd Army is given the task of occupying the French region of Lorraine

Hitler forces Horthy to agree to German occupation & rule in Hungary

German troops enter Hungary unopposed

Hitler forces Horthy to agree to German occupation & rule in Hungary

The Germans march into Hungary unnoposed

The Soviet army invades Hungary

Commands an invasion of Italy to divert the Axis powers from the D-Day landings

The Allied landings in Anzio begin

36,000 Allied roops sucessfuly land with the loss of only 13 lives

The Allies land in Anzio

The Allies reach Rome

The Red Army crosses into Poland

Russia rejects a Polish proposal to negotiate a boundary dispute

The Ukranian Front advances into Romania

Leads the Russian movement into Ruthenia

As agreed at Tehran Stalin launches an offensive from Leningrad to the Ukraine

Nakase commands the hybrid battleship Ise, which survives repeated American air attacks during the Cape Engano action.

Meets Churchill & agrees to the partition of Palestine & support a Jewish State

Quirnheim supports the conspiracy to overthrow Hitler after the bomb attack at the Wolfs Lair

The bomb placed by Stauffenberg fails to kill Hitler

Groves and Oppenheimer decide to plan a full-scale fission-bomb test, and Groves authorises construction of the massive steel vessel called Jumbo.

Groves orders a change in the gaseous-diffusion barrier approach after continuing failures to produce a suitable barrier for K-25.

Seki leads a special-attack flight against American escort carriers and is killed during the mission.

Leads attack on Khai Phat soon after forming the armed propaganda unit

Miyagawa flies with a special-attack unit during the opening wave of organized kamikaze operations in the Philippines.

Overthrows Antonescu and switches sides against Germany.

Hashimoto commands Hatsuzuki during her final action against American surface ships while covering the retreat of Ozawa's force.

Greek political and resistance representatives agree to participate in a national government.

Makino prepares the Sixteenth Division's defensive positions on Leyte before the American landings.

Krueger commands the Sixth Army as American ground forces land on Leyte and begin the campaign to retake the central Philippines.

Reoccupies all the Albanian towns after the German withdrawal

Partisan forces enter Tirana and complete liberation of Albania

Christopherson's Sherwood Rangers supported the infantry entering Bayeux with armoured vehicles.

Dempsey's Second Army secured Bayeux during the expansion from Gold Beach.

Graham's 50th Division provided formations that entered and secured Bayeux.

Guillou resumed municipal responsibilities as British troops secured the town.

Montgomery's forces made Bayeux the first mainland French town liberated after D-Day.

Bayeux becomes the first major mainland French town liberated after D-Day.

Allied forces liberate Bruges from German occupation.

Guillou remained associated with the municipal administration as Allied troops entered the devastated northern city.

Commands the division that liberates Maastricht from German occupation.

Walks in triumph down the Champs Elysees

Appointed Lieutenant, 1st, on board HMS Whelp

Appointed Lieutenant, 1st, on board the Whelp

Churchill links acceptance of the Curzon Line to Allied support for Polish territorial gains in East Prussia and toward the Oder.

Tests an enriched-uranium aqueous homogeneous reactor.

Ogata commands Akizuki when the destroyer is sunk during American attacks on Ozawa's Northern Force.

Kurita survives the sinking of his flagship Atago by an American submarine while approaching the Philippines.

Kishi commands the light carrier Chitose when American carrier aircraft sink her off Cape Engano.

Jyo commands the light carrier Chiyoda, which is crippled by air attack and later sunk by American surface ships.

Inoguchi commands Musashi through repeated bomb and torpedo attacks and goes down with the battleship after ordering the crew to abandon ship.

Ozawa loses fleet carriers Taiho and Shokaku to American submarines during the first day of the Philippine Sea battle.

Sugiura commands the light carrier Zuiho when she is sunk by American carrier aircraft during the battle off Cape Engano.

Kaizuka commands the carrier Zuikaku when American carrier aircraft sink her during the battle off Cape Engano.

Ozawa loses his flagship Zuikaku and other carriers to American air attacks off Cape Engano.

Witzleben is connected with Beck in the planned replacement leadership after Hitler is removed

Represents the principal American army group during the strategy meeting.

Reports on Allied operations advancing from southern France toward Germany.

Meets senior Allied commanders to review operations toward the Rhine.

Presents his assessment of the northern Allied front at Maastricht.

Appointed Major General

Appointed Major General

Fermi at Los Alamos tests the world's third reactor, LOPO, the first aqueous homogeneous reactor, and the first fueled by enriched uranium

Fermi at Los Alamos tests the world's third reactor, LOPO, the first aqueous homogeneous reactor, and the first fueled by enriched uranium

Successful test of explosive lens for Fat Man

Successful test of explosive lens for Fat Man

Successful test of explosive lens for Fat Man

Successful test of explosive lens for Fat Man

Rotblat leaves the Manhattan Project after concluding that Germany is no longer developing an atomic bomb threat requiring his participation.

At the Battle of Arnhem makes the comment "I think we might be going a bridge too far"

Leads an attack whih takes the Nijmegen Bridge

Airborne divisions land along the route to Arnhem as XXX Corps begins the ground advance.

Secures approval for the airborne and ground operation intended to cross major Dutch rivers rapidly.

Eva meets Colonel Juan Peron in Buenos Aires during a charity event at the Luna Park Stadium to benefit the victims of an earthquake in San Juan, the two are married the following year

The killing of 80 US GIs by the SS leads Roosevelt to demand an international trial

Awarded Diamonds to the Knights Cross

Awarded the Oak Leaf to the Knights Cross for sealing Battle lines around the Dneiper

Services on the Parisian metro are resumed

His death marks the destruction of a senior military branch of the anti Hitler resistance

Directs Ministry of Fear.

Stalin says the Curzon Line must remain the basis of settlement but allows that final demarcation could shift seven or eight kilometres in places.

Visits Moscow to raise arms for the French Army

Directs the Eastern front

Leads attack on Na Ngan as the new Viet Minh force wins early victories

National Velvet, which costarred fellow young actor Mickey Rooney and English newcomer Angela Lansbury, became a great success upon its release. First film appearance in Gaslight as a conniving maid, for which she received an Academy Award nomination

National Velvet, which costarred fellow young actor Mickey Rooney and English newcomer Angela Lansbury, became a great success upon its release

The capture of Nijmegen bridges allows the ground advance to continue toward Arnhem.

Launched in support of the offensive in the Ardennes, the Battle of the Bulge

Commands First Canadian Army during the Normandy campaign.

Oversees the transition from the Normandy battle to the rapid Allied pursuit across France.

Secures Allied approval for his revised ground plan for the Normandy invasion.

Jodl briefs Hitler and helps coordinate OKW decisions after Allied forces land in Normandy.

Eisenhower's command relied on Bayeux as an undamaged link between the beaches and the fighting front.

Jodl's operations staff coordinates reinforcement and withdrawal decisions during the Normandy campaign.

Reorganises the northern shoulder of the Allied line and prepares forces for renewed offensive action.

British and Canadian troops secure northern Caen after Operation Charnwood.

Ozawa leads the carrier force intended to draw the American Third Fleet north and away from Leyte Gulf.

Edo commands the screening force protecting elements of Ozawa's Northern Force during the battle off Cape Engano.

Jodl transmits an order for evacuation and destruction in northern Norway as German forces withdraw.

Argues for concentrating resources on a powerful northern offensive.

Orders destruction of German forces west of the Rhine to establish bridgeheads

Russia demands German withdrawal from Finland

Kerensky develops his views through october crisis after 1917.

Supports the British advance across the Odon as Operation Epsom forces Germany to commit additional armoured reserves.

Orders the November Offensive which destroys all German forces west of the River Rhine

Commands the 4th Panzers after the Red Army had surrounded the 1st Panzer Army

Suggests Malta, Athens or Cyprus as alternatives to a meeting on the Soviet Black Sea coast.

Jodl continues directing the OKW Operations Staff after his promotion to Generaloberst.

Directs Old Hickory troops advancing across the southern Netherlands.

A seabourne assault on southern France at the same time as Overlord

Operation Anvil, which is renamed Operation Dragoon, the liberation of south east France by US, Free French and British troops

Foulkes led his division across the Orne through Caen and toward the high ground south of the city.

Keller's division advanced through eastern Caen during the Canadian portion of Goodwood.

Kitching prepared armoured forces to exploit beyond Caen as Canadian troops moved toward Verrieres Ridge.

Simonds directed the Canadian attack through southern Caen toward Verrieres Ridge.

From July 1943 to May 1944 the Germans lose 41 Divisions in the East

1st day of the operation launched by Montgomery to capture Caen

Crocker's I Corps coordinated three divisions in the direct assault on Caen.

Dempsey directed the British and Canadian corps attacking into northern Caen.

Eberbach organized German armoured reserves south of Caen after the northern city was lost.

Foster's brigade fought through the western approaches during the capture of northern Caen.

Keller's division advanced from the west toward the centre of Caen.

Meyer defended the north-western approaches before withdrawing surviving forces across the Orne.

Asks for heavy bomber support from Leigh-Mallory

Montgomery launched Charnwood to capture northern Caen and force German troops behind the Orne.

1st day of the operation launched by Montgomery to capture Caen

Rennie's division advanced into the eastern districts of Caen during Charnwood.

Omar Bradleys intention was to take advantage of the German preoccupation with British and Canadian activity around the town of Caen, and punch through the German defenses penning in his troops while his opponent was distracted and unbalanced

To gain good terrain for Operation Cobra, Bradley and Collins conceived a plan to push forward to the Saint-L“-Periers road, along which VII and VIII Corps were securing jumping-off positions. The American 29th and 35th Infantry Divisions managed to gain the vital heights of Saint-Lo, driving back General der Fallschirmtruppen Eugen Meindls II Parachute Corps

Forced to postpone Operation Cobra due to heavy rainfall

Operation Cobra is postponed for a 2nd time

Gives the go ahead for Operation Cobra

After the one-day postponement, Cobra got underway at 09:38 on 25 July, when around 600 Allied fighter-bombers attacked strongpoints and enemy artillery along a 300 yd (270 m)-wide strip of ground located in the St. Lo area

2,500 bombers from the Eighth & 9th Air Forces open a gap west of St Lo

Pushes Patton through a gap in the German defence toward Avranches

By 28 July, the German defenses across the US front had largely collapsed under the full weight of VII and VIII Corps advance, and resistance was disorganised and patchy

Authorizes Patton to outflank the Germans at Caen

Authorizes Patton to turn into the Orleans gap toward the Seine & Paris

Troops of the newly activated 3rd United States Army captured the city of Le Mans, formerly the German 7th Armys headquarters

Operation Cobra, together with concurrent offensives by the Second British and First Canadian Armies, was decisive in securing an Allied victory in the Normandy Campaign

Approves a limited withdrawal of the 7th Army

Reinforcements were moved west by Marshal Gunther von Kluge and employed in various counterattacks, the largest of which (codenamed Operation Luttich) was launched on 7 August between Mortain and Avranches

Operation Cobra commenced on 25 July with a concentrated aerial bombardment from thousands of Allied aircraft

To help Patton to break out of Avranches & drive into Brittany. Clearing ports such as Lorient & Brest

Clearing ports such as Lorient & Brest

By 27 July most organized resistance had been overcome, and VII and VIII Corps were advancing rapidly, isolating the Cotentin peninsula

By 31 July, XIX Corps had destroyed the last forces opposing the First Army, and Bradleys troops were finally freed from the bocage

An attempt to outflank the Germans at Caen

Authorised by Bradley to turn into the Orleans gap toward the Seine & Paris

Proposes a bold plan to head north through the Dutch Gelderland, bypassing the German Siegfried Line defences and opening a route into the German industrial heartland of the Ruhr. Initially proposed as a British and Polish operation codenamed Operation Comet, the plan was soon expanded to involve most of the First Allied Airborne Army and a set piece ground advance into The Netherlands, codenamed Market Garden

Churchill asks Eisenhower to cancel Dragoon in order to break the deadllock at Caen

130,000 men and 18,000 vehicles had landed

Toulon and Marseille are liberated during Operation Dragoon

Churchill asks Eisenhower to cancel Dragoon in order to break the deadllock at Caen

Adair's Guards Armoured Division reinforced the British advance during the fighting west of Caen.

Bittrich's newly arrived corps counterattacked the British bridgehead across the Odon.

Dempsey supervised the Second Army offensive across the Odon west of Caen.

Dietrich coordinated German resistance and counterattacks against the Epsom offensive.

Feuchtinger's division held positions south-east of the British Epsom attack and protected approaches to Caen.

Funck directed German armoured formations committed against the Epsom penetration near Caen.

Meyer's division resisted British and Canadian pressure north and west of Caen during Epsom.

Montgomery launched Operation Epsom to draw German armour into battle west of Caen.

Montgomery launches Operation Epsom west of Caen to gain ground and draw German armour into battle.

O'Connor commanded VIII Corps in the offensive intended to cross the Odon and outflank Caen.

Adair's division advanced through the narrow armoured corridor east of Caen.

Dempsey directed Goodwood as the principal Second Army offensive east of Caen.

Dietrich coordinated German armoured resistance against the British attack east of Caen.

Eberbach organized reserves and counterattacks against the Goodwood penetration south-east of Caen.

Hobart's specialized armoured vehicles supported the crossing and attack east of Caen.

Montgomery intended Goodwood to hold German armour around Caen and gain ground south-east of the city.

Launched in order to clear Caen but the British lose 5,537 casualties & 400 tanks. Caen is bombed to obliterate enemy defences but only the southern suburbs are taken. 7 out of 8 Panzers in Normandy are engaged in battle

The British VIII and I Corps, to the east of Caen, launch Operation Goodwood. The British lose 450 tanks, the Sherman displays serious weaknesses. Launches 3 Divisions east of Caen to gain the Bourguebus Ridge on the road to Falaise.

The offensive began with the largest air bombardment in support of ground forces yet, with more than a thousand aircraft dropping 6,000 short tons (5,400 t) of high explosive and fragmentation bombs from low altitude.

O'Connor commanded the massed armoured assault east of Caen toward Bourguebus Ridge.

Roberts led the 11th Armoured Division toward Cagny and Bourguebus Ridge south-east of Caen.

Von Luck helped organize the defence near Cagny against British armour advancing from Caen.

Wunsche's panzer regiment reinforced German positions south of Caen during Goodwood.

Notified of the counterattack in advance through signals intercepted via Ultra radio intercepts and deciphering and thus prepared his troops and their commanders to defeat this counteroffensive and to encircle as much of the Wehrmacht force as possible

Operation Luttich had been defeated by concerted, large-scale fighter-bomber air strikes against the German Panzers and trucks & in the process, forces of the German 7th Army became further enveloped by the Allied advance out of Normandy

The town of Falaise becomes a major objective of Commonwealth forces, since its capture would cut off virtually all of Generalfeldmarschall Gunther von Kluges Army Group B

Following breakout by the US First Army and American 3rd Army from the beachhead during the Battle of Normandy during Operation Cobra on July 25, 1944, Adolf Hitler ordered an immediate counterattack against Allied forces in the form of Operation Luttich

The town of Falaise becomes a major objective of Commonwealth forces, since its capture would cut off virtually all of Generalfeldmarschall Gunther von Kluges Army Group B

The town of Falaise becomes a major objective of Commonwealth forces, since its capture would cut off virtually all of Generalfeldmarschall Gunther von Kluges Army Group B

Following breakout by the American First Army and American 3rd Army from the beachhead during the Battle of Normandy during Operation Cobra Adolf Hitler ordered an immediate counterattack against Allied forces in the form of Operation Luttich

Operation Luttich had been defeated by concerted, large-scale fighter-bomber air strikes against the German Panzers and trucks

Following breakout by the American First Army and American 3rd Army from the beachhead during the Battle of Normandy during Operation Cobra Adolf Hitler ordered an immediate counterattack against Allied forces in the form of Operation Luttich

Reinforcements were moved west by Marshal Gunther von Kluge and employed in various counterattacks, the largest of which (codenamed Operation Luttich) was launched on 7 August between Mortain and Avranches. Operation Luttich had been defeated by concerted, large-scale fighter-bomber air strikes against the German Panzers and trucks

In a bid to open the Belgian port of Antwerp to facilitate the shipment of supplies to Allied armies in France and cross the Lower Rhine river, American, British and Polish forces launch Operation Market Garden

The failure of Operation Market Garden and an acute supply problem brought about by the long distances involved in the quick Allied advance through France brought to an end the advance towards the city of Berlin

Model moved his headquarters to Arnhem and was re-establishing defences in the area and co-ordinating the reorganisation of the scattered units so that by the time the Allies launched Market Garden there would be several units opposing them

In a bid to open the Belgian port of Antwerp to facilitate the shipment of supplies to Allied armies in France and cross the Lower Rhine river, American, British and Polish forces launch Operation Market Garden

Airborne troops were dropped in The Netherlands to secure key bridges and towns along the Allied axis of advance.

Farthest north, the British 1st Airborne Division, supported by men of the Glider Pilot Regiment and the 1st Polish Parachute Brigade, landed at Arnhem to secure bridges across the Nederrijn.

Initially expecting a walkover, British XXX Corps planned to reach the British airborne forces within two to three days. After sweeping through France and Belgium in the summer of 1944, the Allies were poised to enter The Netherlands.

Montgomery favoured a single thrust north over the Lower Rhine River, allowing the British Second Army to bypass the Siegfried Line and attack the Ruhr. To this end, the Allies launched Operation Market Garden

The failure of Operation Market Garden and an acute supply problem brought about by the long distances involved in the quick Allied advance through France brought to an end the advance towards the city of Berlin

Proposes a bold plan to head north through the Dutch Gelderland, bypassing the German Siegfried Line defences and opening a route into the German industrial heartland of the Ruhr. Initially proposed as a British and Polish operation codenamed Operation Comet, the plan was soon expanded to involve most of the First Allied Airborne Army and a set piece ground advance into The Netherlands, codenamed Market Garden

Barker's division attacked toward Rauray to protect the Epsom flank near Caen.

Ritchie's corps launched Operation Martlet to secure the flank of the forthcoming Epsom offensive west of Caen.

Preparations included armoured vehicles specially adapted for the assault, developed under the leadership of Maj. Gen. Percy Hobart (Montgomerys brother-in-law, and an armoured warfare specialist)

A total of 12,000 aircraft under Air Marshal Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory were to support the landings, including 1,000 transports to fly in the parachute troops; 10,000 tons of bombs would be dropped against the German defenses, and 14,000 attack sorties

Commander of Army units in South France

3 Airbourne Divisions land behind enemy lines at St Mere-Eglise & Caen

Lands the 2nd British Army from the river Orme to St-Vaast-La-Hogue

The US Army succesfully captrures Omah & Utah beaches

Commands paratroopers who land on the eastern side of the Cotentin Peninsular only

The US 5th Corps capture Isigny on the way to uniting the Utah & Omaha

Orders Patton to clear Brittany with a "minimum forces"

Orders Patton to create a "short hook" from Le Mans to Falaise to trap the Germans

Arrives in England to organize a US tactical air force in the United Kingdom

Leads the infantry capture of 2 bridges codenamed Pegasus & Horsa. 1st Allied death in Normandy

Commands the 1st Airbourne Division during the Normandy landings

Commands the British 30th Corps on Gold beach

Montgomerry presents Overlord plans to senior commanders, the King, Smuts & Churchill

Subordinate commanders are informed D-Day will be 5th June

Announces an imminent Allied assault on the coast of France in the Commons

The highest tonnage of bombs in one night during the war is dropped by Britain. Dummy parachutists are dropped just east of the intended landing area. 176,000 men & 20,000 vehicles are to be landed in 2 days. 1,000 British bombers strike 10 German gun batteries, 5,000 tons of bombs are dropped

1st day of the bombing of Caen

To the east, Rommels nightmare had been realised, a continuous British-Canadian beachhead, 20km (12 miles) across and up to 10km (six miles) deep. By midnight neither Bayeux nor Port-en-Bessin had been taken, the depleted American force was several kilometres short of Port-en-Bessin but the French Resistance had taken over Bayeux

Wants Eisenhower to transfer "D-Day" from Marsailles to Brest, Eisenhower refuses

Fails to persuade Eisenhower to transfer D-Day from Marsailles to Brest

Watches the D-Day landings & wires Eisenhower saying how succesful they are

Commands the US 7th Army Corps on Utah beach

Crocker's I Corps directed the British and Canadian assault formations advancing toward Caen.

Dempsey commanded the British Second Army landing east of Bayeux and advancing toward Caen.

Captures the Islands of St Marcouf off Utah beach

The Allies agree the plans for D-Day

The directive appointing Eisenhower Supreme Allied Commander for Overlord is issued

Arrives in England to assume duties as Supreme Allied Commander of Operation Overlord

US D-Day beach landing training exercise (Operation Beaver) at Slapton Sands, Devon, demonstrate a dangerous lack of coordination between units

Montgomery presents his strategy for the invasion at St Pauls School, a ninety day battle, ending when all the forces reach the Seine, pivoting on an Allied-held Caen, with British and Canadian armies forming a shoulder & US armies wheeling right

German torpedo boats nearly discover a mock landing but all 600 soldiers are drowned

The Allied invasion force of 150,000 departs from England on 5,300 ships

The weather in the Channel deteriorates & the Allied invasion force is recalled

Postpones Operation Overlord, due 5th June, because of bad weather

176,000 men & 20,000 vehicles are to be landed in 2 days

Gives the go ahead for Operation Overlord for 6th June

The Allies land 130,000 men & 22,000 parachutists & lose 9,500 killed or wounded. The Allied landings take place with 487,653 men & 89,728 making it ashore. Plans & commands the Allied capture of Germany from D-Day

Parachutes behind enemy lines & captures Benouville, including Pegasus Bridge

At about 9:30 Hermanville is captured

Sets up an HQ at Ranville

Commands the US 5th Army Corps on Omaha beach

Instructions to construct bogus airfields to be bombed by the Allies are decrypted

Parachutes behind enemy lines & helps disable gun emplacements at Merville

Rundstedt & Rommel meet Hitler, wanting withdrawal from Normandy but are turned down

Turns down Rundstedt & Rommels request to withdraw from Normandy. Orders defence of Normandy to the last man

Rundstedt is dismissed by Hitler for suggesting that the High Command make peace

The High Command keep forces in Calais beleiving there will be a larger invasion there

The Allies begin their breakout from Normandy

Orders von Kluge to assemble 8 panzer Divisions to cut Pattons lines of communication

During Operation Overlord, subordinate to Bradley as Deputy Commander of the First Army

Commander of First US Army, succeeds Bradley

Commands infantryman who land by glider & capture 2 bridges codenamed Pegasus & Horsa

Major General Rod Keller, the Canadian commander at Juno Beach, reports to General Crerar in England at 10:30, "Beach-head gained. Well on our way to our immediate objectives"

Keller commanded the Canadian division landing on Juno Beach and advancing toward the Caen-Bayeux road.

Commands the ships of the Western Task force which lands forces on Utah & Omaha

The Germans attack Avranches & gain 20km but are driven back by fighter-bombers. Hitler orders von Kluge to assemble 8 panzer Divisions to cut off Patton. Can only assemble 4 Divisions with a total of 250 tanks to defend Avranches

Leads the 9th Div ashore at Utah Beach

Marcks corps stands in the middle of the Allied Normandy landings. Commands the 21st Panzer Division

Provides panzer support saying the British are "little fish" to be thrown back

Prevents the Canadian 9th Brigade from advancing on Le Carpiquet airfield

Montgomerys plans for D-Day are approved by the Allies

Succesfully argues the case for more troops & a broader landing area

Montgomery presents his strategy for the invasion at St Pauls School, a ninety day battle, ending when all the forces reach the Seine, pivoting on an Allied-held Caen, with British and Canadian armies forming a shoulder & US armies wheeling right

The Americans are assigned Utah and Omaha, the British Gold and Sword, and the Canadians Juno Beach.

Presents the final plan to senior commanders, the King, Smuts & Churchill at St Pauls. Expresses his belief that that Allied tanks will reach Falaise on D-Day

Final conference at Montgomerys HQ in St Pauls School

Montgomery directed the Allied ground campaign and treated Caen as the principal objective of the British Second Army.

Royal Marine Commandos land on Gold Beach & capture Arromanches

The British capture Bayeaux

The British 3rd Division fails to capture Caen

A major objective, was still in German hands by the end of D-Day, and would remain so until the battle for Caen, 8 August

Caen. Commander of all ground forces for Operation Overlord. By the end of the day the Allies land 130,000 men & 22,000 parachutists.

On Sword Beach the regular British infantry came ashore with light casualties they advance about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) by the end of the day but failed to make some of the deliberately ambitious targets set by Montgomery in particular

The Allies lose 9,500 killed or wounded.

Manages to land 16 Divisions ashore facing 14 enemy Divisions

The Allies gain a bridgehead over the River Odon near Caen

The Allies capture Hill 112 but Dempsey withdraws & the Germans recapture it

Endorses Bradleys order for Patton to clear Brittany with "minimum forces"

Parachutes behind enemy lines disabling gun emplacements threatening Sword Beach

Patton arrives in Normandy

Ordered by Bradley to create a "short hook" from Le Mans to Falaise

Turns the 5th & Free French 2nd northward to Le Mans

The "Falaise Pocket" forms as a French patrol enters Argentan

Parachutes behind enemy lines & helps secure Pegasus Bridge

Commands 137 warships, 4,000 landing craft & 2,000 support ships

Rennie's division landed on Sword Beach with orders to advance rapidly toward Caen.

Juno is the second most heavily defended of the five landing sites chosen by the Allies, General Wilhelm Richter is in charge of the 716th Division guarding the beach, with 11 heavy batteries of 155 mm guns and 9 medium batteries of 75 mm guns

Commands a landing of paratroopers to capture a bridgehead on the Merderet

Arrives home hoping to convince Hitler to defend the Cotentin coast

Leaves his HQ & returns to Germany, convinced the Allies are not about to invade

Correcttly predicts the Allies will land near Cherbourg, Hitler does not agree

Stays in Herrlingen to celebrate his wifes 50th birthday. Rommel is informed by General Spiedel 7.30AM that Allied paratroopers have landed. Rommel cancels his meeting with Hitler & returns to France

Learns of the invasion & returns to his HQ after celebrating his wifes birthday

To the east, Rommels nightmare had been realised, a continuous British-Canadian beachhead, 20km (12 miles) across and up to 10km (six miles) deep

Arrives at the front in Caen

Withdrawal from Normandy is turned down by Hitler. Hitler orders a counterattack from Bayeux

Lands on Omaha Beach, grandson of the late President

Son of the late President, the only General to land with the 1st wave. Leads the 1st assault, Eighth Regimental Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division

Cables OKW saying the Allies cannot attack without 4 days good weather

Keeps most of his forces at Calais

Diverts the 12th SS & Panzer Lehr to meet the invasion. Believes, like Hitler, the landings are a feint for Allied landings at Pas de Calais

Commander of Panzer Group West

Montgomerry presents the Overlord plan to Commanders, the King, Smuts & Churchill

Rommel is informed by General Spiedel 7.30AM that Allied paratroopers have landed

Ath Churchills request Stalin agrees to an offensive during the Normandy landings

Commands a landing of paratroopers to capture a bridgehead on the Merderet

Bayerlein deployed Panzer Lehr Division to block the British advance west of Caen.

Bucknall directed XXX Corps in the western attempt to outflank Caen.

Dempsey ordered the attempt to encircle Caen from the west through the Villers-Bocage sector.

Erskine led the 7th Armoured Division through the western bridgehead during the attempt to envelop Caen.

In 2000 it is revealed that the operation had been supervised by Edwin Hardy Amies, at the time head of SOEs Belgian Section. Assassination offensive against Nazi security forces in Occupied Europe by the SOE, to create confusion and trepidation at the same time as the Allies increase preparations for the Resistances contribution to the Normandy Landings

In 2000 it is revealed that the operation had been supervised by Edwin Hardy Amies, at the time head of SOEs Belgian Section

Assassination offensive against Nazi security forces in Occupied Europe by the SOE, to create confusion and trepidation at the same time as the Allies increase preparations for the Resistances contribution to the Normandy Landings

RAF & Yugoslav partisans attack roads & railways to prevent Germans escape Yugoslavia. A series of coordinated attacks launched on by Yugoslav partisans and the Balkan Air Force against German forces retreating from the Soviets

Tito & his Partisans pour into Serbia & attack the Chetniks. RAF & Yugoslav partisans attack roads & railways to prevent Germans escaping. A series of coordinated attacks launched on by Yugoslav partisans and the Balkan Air Force against German forces retreating from the Soviets

Foulkes commanded the Canadian division making costly attacks south of Caen toward Verrieres Ridge.

Meyer's forces defended Verrieres Ridge against Canadian attacks south of Caen.

Simonds planned Spring to seize Verrieres Ridge and open the route south from Caen.

Gale's airborne division secured bridges and high ground east of Caen to protect the invasion flank.

Orders Patton to Le Mans & the British to Falaise. Launched by Bradley to totally defeat the Germans in Normandy

Poles & Americans seal the Falaise pocket officially ending the Normandy Campaign

Commands an encirclement of the German Army Group B in the Caen sector

Operation Totalize is abandoned after failure to advance along the Caen-Falaise Road

General Harry Crerar, commanding the newly formed First Canadian Army and Lieutenant General Guy Simonds of the II Canadian Corps, planned an Anglo-Canadian offensive with the code name of Operation Totalize

Eberbach attempted to contain the Allied breakthrough south of Caen.

Foster commanded Canadian infantry during the first phases of the attack south of Caen.

Reaches Argentan where US & Anglo-Canadians are supposed to meet but are 25 miles away

Helps setup a "pocket" to capture Germans escaping from Normandy. Diverted by Patton to link up with the Anglo-Canadians at Argentan

Kitching led his armoured division in the offensive south from Caen.

Maczek's division joined the armoured exploitation from the Caen sector toward Falaise.

Meyer directed German resistance against the Canadian-led offensive from Caen toward Falaise.

Defends the Caen-Falaise road forcing the abandonment of Operation Totalize

Orders an airborne division to Gace to close the ring around the main German forces

Orders the Canadians to close the gap between the 1st Canadian & 3rd US Army

The Poles & Americans meet & seal the Falaise pocket, ends the Normandy Campaign

Launches the II Canadian Corps on a renewed offensive towards Falaise

The Canadian Armys offensive stalled on August 9, with strong Wehrmacht counterattacks resulting in heavy casualties for the Canadian and Polish armoured and infantry divisions

Operation Tractable incorporated lessons learned from Operation Totalize, notably the effectiveness of mechanized infantry units and tactical bombing raids by heavy bombers. By August 10, Canadian troops had reached Hill 195, north of Falaise, they are unable to advance farther immediately and they had been unable to capture Falaise

General Harry Crerar, commanding the newly formed First Canadian Army and Lieutenant General Guy Simonds of the II Canadian Corps, planned an Anglo-Canadian offensive with the code name of Operation Totalize

Simonds planned the night attack using armoured columns and heavy bombing south of Caen.

Germany's greatest tank ace of the war is killed in action

By August 10, Canadian troops had reached Hill 195, north of Falaise

Many of the bombers mistakenly dropped short of their targets, causing 400 Polish and Canadian casualties.

Operation Tractable began at 12:00 on August 14 when 800 Lancaster and Halifax bombers struck German positions along the front.

The Canadians attempt to encircle the 5th Panzer, 7th Army & Panzer Gruppe Eberbach.

Throughout the day, continual attacks by the 4th Canadian and Polish 1st Armoured Divisions managed to force a crossing of the Laison River.

Crerar's army continued the advance from the Caen sector toward Falaise and Trun.

Although the first days progress was slower than expected, Operation Tractable resumed on August 15; both armoured divisions pushed southeast towards Falaise

The drive for Trun by Polish and Canadian Armoured Divisions began on August 16, with preliminary attacks in preparation for an assault against Trun and Chambois. The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division break into Falaise, encountering minor opposition from Waffen SS units and scattered pockets of German infantry

Novel tactics by Polish 1st Armoured Division, under the command of Stanislaw Maczek during the drive for Chambois, enabled the Falaise Gap to be partially closed by August 19, 1944, trapping about 150,000 German soldiers in the Falaise Pocket

Surrender and capture of the remaining units of the German 7th Army which were trapped in the Falaise Pocket. Elements of the First Canadian Army relieved the Polish Armys survivors of this Battle and the Canadian Army was finally able to close the Falaise Pocket by linking up with the troops of the American 3rd Army on the other side

This record states: And it was a part of the largest encirclement on the German Western Front during World War II.

This record states: Operation Tractable is the final offensive conducted by Canadian Army and Polish Army troops as part of the Battle of Normandy.

This record states: The goal of operation Totalize is to capture the strategically important French town of Falaise, and following that, the smaller towns of Trun and Chambois.

This record states: This operation was undertaken by the Polish 1st Armoured Division and the First Canadian Army against the Wehrmachts Army Group B.

Authorizes a retreat

Surrender and capture of the remaining units of the German 7th Army which were trapped in the Falaise Pocket. Elements of the First Canadian Army relieved the Polish Armys survivors of this Battle and the Canadian Army was finally able to close the Falaise Pocket by linking up with the troops of the American 3rd Army on the other side

Refuses to carry out an order from the OKW to counter-attack

The drive for Trun by Polish and Canadian Armoured Divisions began on August 16, with preliminary attacks in preparation for an assault against Trun and Chambois. Stanislaw Maczek, the Polish divisional commander, split his forces into three battlegroups each of an armoured regiment and an infantry battalion

Maczeks second armoured battlegroup manoeuvred southeast, capturing Champeaux and anchoring future attacks against Chambois across a six-mile front

Trun is liberated on the morning of August 18. The Polish 1st Armoured Division had outflanked the 12th SS Panzer Division, enabling several Polish formations to both reach the 4th Armoured Divisions objectives and significantly expand the bridgehead northwest of Trun

Novel tactics by Polish 1st Armoured Division, under the command of Stanislaw Maczek during the drive for Chambois, enabled the Falaise Gap to be partially closed by August 19, 1944, trapping about 150,000 German soldiers in the Falaise Pocket

Elements of the First Canadian Army relieved the Polish Armys survivors of this Battle and the Canadian Army was finally able to close the Falaise Pocket by linking up with the troops of the American 3rd Army on the other side

Launches another operation against Falaise

By August 10, Canadian troops had reached Hill 195, north of Falaise

Operation Tractable began at 12:00 on August 14 when 800 Lancaster and Halifax bombers struck German positions along the front. Many of the bombers mistakenly dropped short of their targets, causing 400 Polish and Canadian casualties

The drive for Trun by Polish and Canadian Armoured Divisions began on August 16, with preliminary attacks in preparation for an assault against Trun and Chambois. The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division break into Falaise, encountering minor opposition from Waffen SS units and scattered pockets of German infantry

Simonds launched Tractable as the next armoured drive from the Caen-Falaise axis.

Mutaguchi launches Operation U-Go, sending the Fifteenth Army across the frontier toward Imphal and Kohima.

In the Spring 1944, Churchill had commissioned a contingency military enforcement operation plan (war on the Soviet Union) to obtain "square deal for Poland" (Operation Unthinkable), which resulted in a May 22 report stating unfavorable success odds. The reports arguments included geostrategic issues (possible Soviet-Japanese alliance resulting in moving of Japanese troops from continent to Home Islands, threat to Iran/Iraq) and uncertainties concerning land battles in Europe

The refusal of Colonel General Friedrich Fromm, Chief of Reserve Army and the only person who could initiate Operation Valkyrie besides Hitler, to cooperate was a serious obstacle to the conspirators. After he had discovered that the bomb had not killed Hitler, Fromm ordered the executions of General Olbricht, his Chief of Staff Colonel Albrecht Ritter Mertz von Quirnheim, Colonel von Stauffenberg, and his adjutant Lieutenant Werner von Haeften

After he had discovered that the bomb had not killed Hitler, Fromm ordered the executions of General Olbricht, his Chief of Staff Colonel Albrecht Ritter Mertz von Quirnheim, Colonel von Stauffenberg, and his adjutant Lieutenant Werner von Haeften

Has troops ready to march on Berlin after Stauffenbergs attempt to blow up Hitler

An operation by Hitler's assassins to sieze Berlin

After he had discovered that the bomb had not killed Hitler, Fromm ordered the executions of General Olbricht, his Chief of Staff Colonel Albrecht Ritter Mertz von Quirnheim, Colonel von Stauffenberg, and his adjutant Lieutenant Werner von Haeften

After two abortive attempts, Stauffenberg placed the bomb on July 20 and hurried back to Berlin to assume his pivotal role.

German Army officers General Friedrich Olbricht and Major General Henning von Tresckow modified the plan with the intention of using it to take control of German cities, disarm the SS, and arrest the Nazi leadership once Hitler had been assassinated.

Stauffenberg decided to carry out both the assassination attempt and the Valkyrie operation, which greatly reduced the chance of success. Has troops ready to march on Berlin after Stauffenbergs attempt to blow up Hitler.

The original plan, designed to deal with internal disturbances in emergency situations, was designed by General Friedrich Olbrichts staff in his capacity as head of General Army Office and was approved by Hitler.

After he had discovered that the bomb had not killed Hitler, Fromm ordered the executions of General Olbricht, his Chief of Staff Colonel Albrecht Ritter Mertz von Quirnheim, Colonel von Stauffenberg, and his adjutant Lieutenant Werner von Haeften

After the bomb explodes Quirnheim urges General Olbricht to activate Operation Walkure even though Hitlers death is not confirmed

After he had discovered that the bomb had not killed Hitler, Fromm ordered the executions of General Olbricht, his Chief of Staff Colonel Albrecht Ritter Mertz von Quirnheim, Colonel von Stauffenberg, and his adjutant Lieutenant Werner von Haeften.

Demands Operation Walkure to sieze Berlin believing Hitler had been blown up.

Stauffenbergs position as Chief of Staff of Reserve Army gave him access to Hitler for reports and at the same time required his presence at headquarters for implementation of Valkyrie.

German Army officers General Friedrich Olbricht and Major General Henning von Tresckow modified the plan with the intention of using it to take control of German cities, disarm the SS, and arrest the Nazi leadership once Hitler had been assassinated

After the bombing the conspirators attempt to activate Operation Walkure in Berlin

Montgomery considered an airborne and armoured encirclement intended to isolate Caen.

Foster's brigade captured Carpiquet village during the battle west of Caen.

Keller directed the Canadian assault on Carpiquet village and airfield west of Caen.

Meyer committed troops to defend Carpiquet airfield against the Canadian attack.

Simonds oversaw the Canadian effort to capture Carpiquet and improve the approach to Caen.

Mikolajczyk refuses authority to cede eastern territories on the Curzon basis and argues that any territorial concession must be decided by the Polish people.

Opposes postponing recognition of the Soviet-backed Lublin Committee until the Big Three conference.

Expands the planned Normandy assault from three to five seaborne divisions with stronger airborne support.

Mutaguchi commands the light cruiser Oyodo as it operates with Ozawa's Northern Force off Cape Engano.

France & Russia agree to a Franco-Soviet Pact

Geyr prepared a concentrated armoured counterattack, but Allied air attacks disrupted his headquarters and planning.

Asks Russia for peace terms

The Russian offensive on the Karelian Front stops. Mannerheim negotiates Finlands withdrawal from the war

Organizes a truce in Paris between the Germans & the Resistance

Finland asks Russia for peace terms

A ceasefire is agreed between the Finns & the Soviet Forces on the Finnish front

Bulgaria decides to agree an armistice with Russia & declare war on Germany

Discusses a democratic post-war China & to reconcile the Communists & Kuomingtang

Finalizes Plan Z using Hollandia in New Guinea to launch an attack on the US forces

Appointed Plenipotentiary for the Mobilization of Total War

Appointed Plenipotentiary for the Mobilization of Total War, after the July plot

Generals Gunther Korten, Rudolf Schmundt & Colonel Heinz Brandt are killed

Participates in the Staufenburg plot to assassinate Hitler

Made aware of the July conspiracy

Participates in the Staufenburg plot to assassinate Hitler

Hitler escapes with minor injuries. Generals Gunther Korten, Rudolf Schmundt & Colonel Heinz Brandt are killed. After the plots says "More proof that Fate has selected me for my mission". A bomb is planted in Hitler's HQ conference room in the Wolfs Lair, East Prussia

Becomes involved in the conspiracy to assassinate Hitler

Generals Gunther Korten, Rudolf Schmundt & Colonel Heinz Brandt are killed

Takes part in the unsuccesful plot against Hitler

Rommel agrees to support the plot to overthrow Hitler but not to assassinate him

Under interrogation a suspect mentions Rommels name with the attempt on Hitler's life

Generals Gunther Korten, Rudolf Schmundt & Colonel Heinz Brandt are killed

In the plans for the overthrow, Friedrich-Werner von der Schulenburg was tentatively foreseen as the new Foreign Minister. After the failure of the attempt on Hitler's life on 20 July 1944, arrested and charged with high treason

Witzleben dies at Plotzensee as one of the first senior officers executed after the July Plot

An oil pipeline is laid beneath the English Channel from Britain toward Normandy as part of Operation PLUTO.

Oppenheimer informs the Los Alamos staff that reactor plutonium's neutron background makes the plutonium gun design impractical and implosion must become the priority.

Poles & Americans seal the Falaise pocket officially ending the Normandy Campaign

The "Falaise Pocket" forms as a French patrol enters Argentan

Pattons 3rd Army was at Falaise & Montgomerys 2First Army Group at Argentan. Patton is ordered to halt, Montgomery takes 2 weeks to close the gap

Founds the Polish National Council to establish communist rule in Poland

Mikolajczyk's government issues a moderated reply to the Soviet declaration but does not accept the Curzon Line as Poland's future eastern frontier.

Supports Russias border at the Oder-Niesse for the left bank of the Rhine

Monsanto's Dayton project begins supplying polonium for neutron-initiator research at Los Alamos.

Eden explains Soviet assurances that Poles east of the proposed frontier and Ukrainians west of it could transfer across a Curzon-based settlement.

Jodl resumes operational duties after receiving minor injuries in the 20 July bomb attack.

D'Argenlieu went ahead to Bayeux to prepare residents for de Gaulle's arrival.

Hettier de Boislambert helped organize de Gaulle's reception and contact with local authorities.

Appointed de facto President of Argentina

Appointed President of Ecuador

Appointed President of Ecuador, 2nd term

Appointed President of Finland

Appointed President of the 4th Republic of France

Takes office on the death of Quezon

Takes office on the death of Quezon

Begins a one-year term as President of the Swiss Confederation.

Tells Stalin he hopes the three Allied leaders can meet as early as possible.

Takes office as Prime Minister of Finland and forms a government in Helsinki.

Takes office as Prime Minister of Finland and forms a government in Helsinki.

Takes office as Prime Minister of Finland and forms a government in Helsinki.

Communist-led provisional government appoints Hoxha Prime Minister

Appointed Prime Minister of Albania

Is appointed Prime Minister of Egypt after Nahas Pasha's dismissal.

Forms a government after King Farouk dismisses Mostafa el-Nahas.

Appointed Prime Minister of Hungary

Appointed Prime Minister of Japan

Appointed Prime Minister of Poland

De Gaulle walked through Bayeux as growing crowds joined his procession toward the town centre.

Is promoted field marshal as Eisenhower assumes direct command of Allied ground operations.

Promoted to the five-star rank of General of the Army.

Jodl is promoted to Generaloberst while continuing as chief of the OKW Operations Staff.

Offers Piraeus, Salonica or Constantinople as alternatives to the difficult Black Sea conference route.

Suggests postponing the Big Three meeting until after his January presidential inauguration.

Proposes meeting Stalin and Churchill in Scotland to coordinate the next stage of Allied strategy.

The Algiers Committee declares itself the Provisional Government of France

Appointed of the Provisional Government

Communist partisans establish a provisional government under Hoxha

Forms a Provisional Government based at Debrecen

Menendez returns as provisional President after Martinez resigns

Osmín Aguirre becomes provisional President after removing Menendez

Churchill publicly defends the Curzon Line as the basis for Poland's eastern frontier while arguing that Poland should receive substantial compensation from Germany.

Has Ciano & 4 others executed who betrayed him at the Grand Council of 25th July 1943

Mikolajczyk protests Molotov's assertion that Roosevelt had accepted the Curzon Line at Tehran and seeks clarification of the American position.

Warns Roosevelt that Black Sea ports may be unsuitable for a major conference during winter.

Radescu becomes prime minister and resists expanding communist control.

Identifies Batum or Yalta as possible locations for the forthcoming meeting with Churchill and Stalin.

The assassination attempt against Hitler takes place at the Wolfs Lair near Rastenburg

Measurements of reactor-produced plutonium show a spontaneous-fission rate far above expectations because of plutonium-240 contamination, threatening the gun method.

The Home Armys rebellion in Warsaw is crushed by an SS massacre of the insurgents. Captured by the Germans

The XV Gebirg Corps attack Tito at his HQ in Bosnia & destroys the Yugoslav Army, YANL

The Germans launch an attack on Tito at his HQ on his birthday, the attempt fails

Moves his HQ to Drvar

The Germans launch an offensive against Titos partisans & drive them out of their HQ

Frank & Himmler are given the responsibility for suppressing the Warsaw insurgents

Responds to Russian requests & orders the Home Army to capture Warsaw

Responds to Russian requests & orders the Home Army to capture Warsaw

Captured by the Germans

Warsaw rebels against the Germans, Stalin encourages it but does not provide support

Warsaw rebels against the Germans, Stalin encourages it but does not provide support

The enthusiastic Bayeux reception strengthened de Gaulle's claim to represent liberated France.

The Red Army begins its offensive against Army Group Centre

Following an operational switching movement, five Red Army tank Corps of the 1st Tank Army, 3rd Guards Tank Army and the 4th Tank Army penetrated the extreme northern flank of Hubes position east of Ternopol

Hubes southern advanced guard turned and halted the Red Army assault, severing its supply lines and rendering the T-34s of the 4th Tank Army immobile

Relieved of his command in March 1944 for ordering the Eighth Army to retreat when it was in danger of destruction by the Soviet Red Army, in explicit violation of Adolf Hitler's orders

The Red Army begins its offensive against Army Group Centre

Commands the 4th Panzers after the Red Army had surrounded the 1st Panzer Army

The Red Army crosses into Poland

Icelandic voters sever all ties with Denmark

Mikolajczyk argues that Poland cannot immediately accept the Curzon Line and proposes postponing the final frontier until after hostilities.

Stalin tells Churchill that final demarcation may allow small local changes but not a major alteration transferring Lwow west of the Curzon-based frontier.

Rejects part of the American formula for Security Council voting before the Yalta negotiations.

Churchill informs Roosevelt that he has advised the Polish Government to examine the Curzon Line as part of a wider territorial settlement.

Again asks that the conference be held in one of the Soviet Union's Black Sea port cities.

The coup depends on issuing Reserve Army orders to arrest Nazi officials and secure command centres

Tojo is forced to resign by Hirohito who makes him a scapegoat for the war

Tojo resigna after Hirohito withdraws support from him

Martinez resigns after strikes and military pressure end his rule

Resigns as President of Finland

Mikolajczyk resigns after failing to win cabinet support for a territorial compromise with the Soviet Union involving the Curzon Line.

Antoine Mercader supported local Resistance intelligence and liaison work around Bayeux.

Mercader's local Resistance organization helped inform Allied troops that German forces had left Bayeux.

Triboulet helped replace Vichy structures with the legal authority of the provisional French government.

Restores Greek confidence in Britain after demonstrations by the Nat Libreration Front

German control of Paris ends and the French capital returns to Allied and French authority.

Hungary accepts an armistice with the Allies, weakening the remaining Axis position in eastern Europe.

Hitler's refusal to permit an orderly surrender leaves Paris exposed to further destruction before liberation.

Ozawa withdraws after devastating aircraft losses and further carrier damage during the Battle of the Philippine Sea.

MacArthur lands on Leyte after the initial assault and publicly marks the return of Allied forces to the Philippines.

Churchill reports that the Polish Government is prepared to acknowledge that the 1921 Riga frontier no longer corresponds to wartime realities.

Michael removes Antonescu and announces Romania's break with the Axis.

Stalin deports 250,000 Tatars from Crimea to Uzbekistan, they do not return home until the fall of the Soviet Union

Hitler forces Horthy to agree to German occupation & rule in Hungary

Meets Churchill & agrees to the partition of Palestine & support a Jewish State

Despite appeals from Churchill the Rhine becomes a French sphre of interest

Groves orders rapid construction of the S-50 thermal-diffusion plant at Oak Ridge on an exceptionally compressed schedule.

Sanatescu forms a government after the removal of Antonescu.

The order transmitted by Jodl directs destruction intended to deny shelter and resources to advancing Soviet forces.

Fukudome's Second Air Fleet joins the expanding special-attack effort after the opening kamikaze operations around Leyte.

Orders the Second Army to hold the line between Villers-Bocage & Caen

After sweeping through France and Belgium in the summer of 1944, the Allies were poised to enter The Netherlands. Montgomery favoured a single thrust north over the Lower Rhine River, allowing the British Second Army to bypass the Siegfried Line and attack the Ruhr. To this end, the Allies launched Operation Market Garden

Orders are given to join up with the Second Army on the south bank of the Rhine

General Harry Crerar, commanding the newly formed First Canadian Army and Lieutenant General Guy Simonds of the II Canadian Corps, planned an Anglo-Canadian offensive with the code name of Operation Totalize

Begins the Second Olafur Thors Government and serves as Prime Minister of Iceland.

Shima leads the Second Striking Force from the Pescadores toward the southern approaches to Leyte Gulf.

Surrender and capture of the remaining units of the German 7th Army which were trapped in the Falaise Pocket

Surrender and capture of the remaining units of the German 7th Army which were trapped in the Falaise Pocket

Kinkaid commands the Seventh Fleet as its forces fight at Surigao Strait and off Samar while protecting the Leyte landings.

Seki leads the Shikishima unit in the first successful organized kamikaze attack against American escort carriers.

Decides to attack through Cisterna & Camoleone but is pushed back

The Germans drive a wedge between the British & American sectors, Lucas is dismissed

The forces at Anzio break out & link up with the US 5th Army

Hirohito receives reports as Imperial General Headquarters commits major Japanese naval forces to the Sho-1 operation around Leyte.

The closest the Germans get to Antwerp is Dinant, well to the east of the Maas

The "Falaise Pocket" forms as a French patrol enters Argentan

The Germans attack Avranches & gain 20km but are driven back by fighter-bombers

By midnight neither Bayeux nor Port-en-Bessin had been taken, the depleted American force was several kilometres short of Port-en-Bessin but the French Resistance had taken over Bayeux

Parachutes behind enemy lines & captures Benouville, including Pegasus Bridge

Seals the German 15th army in the Beveland Peninsula

Advancing Soviet troops surround Budapest

Before the Normandy landings it is planned to take Caen within 24 hrs

Churchill asks Eisenhower to cancel Dragoon in order to break the deadllock at Caen

Churchill criticizes Montgomery at a Chiefs of Staffs meeting for being too catious

1st day of the operation launched by Montgomery to capture Caen

Churchill asks Eisenhower to cancel Dragoon in order to break the deadllock at Caen

Fights around Caen during the Normandy invasion where most of his Div is destroyed

Orders the Second Army to hold the line between Villers-Bocage & Caen

Launches an attack on Caen, operation Epson

The press refer to attempts at capturing Caen a "stalemate"

1st day of the operation launched by Montgomery to capture Caen

The southern suburbs of Caen are captured. Caen is bombed in to obliterate enemy defences but only the southern suburbs are taken

Supports Bradleys left flank & engages the Germans south of Caen

Cannot stop the Americans from capturing Caumont

The goal of operation Totalize is to capture the strategically important French town of Falaise, and following that, the smaller towns of Trun and Chambois

The drive for Trun by Polish and Canadian Armoured Divisions began on August 16, with preliminary attacks in preparation for an assault against Trun and Chambois

Maczeks second armoured battlegroup manoeuvred southeast, capturing Champeaux and anchoring future attacks against Chambois across a six-mile front

Maczeks second armoured battlegroup manoeuvred southeast, capturing Champeaux and anchoring future attacks against Chambois across a six-mile front

Leads the 9th Div towards Cherbourg

Launches an attack on Cherbourg

The goal of operation Totalize is to capture the strategically important French town of Falaise, and following that, the smaller towns of Trun and Chambois

The town of Falaise becomes a major objective of Commonwealth forces, since its capture would cut off virtually all of Generalfeldmarschall Gunther von Kluges Army Group B

The 1st & 2nd Ukranian Fronts attempt to cut off the Germans

The Korsun pocket is closed

Begins the offensive to recapture Leningrad

The Germans officially lift the siege of Leningrad

Requests permission from Hitler to withdraw to the Panther Line, permission refused

The siege of Leningrad is officially lifted

The Soviet Union announces the end of the deadly German siege of Leningrad, which had lasted 880 days with 600,000 killed. 633,000 civilians had died from starvation & a 200,000 from German military action

The Germans fall back to the River Luga

Luga is liberated by the Russians after the Battle of Riga

Toulon and Marseille are liberated during Operation Dragoon

Parachutes behind enemy lines & helps disable gun emplacements at Merville

Parachutes behind enemy lines disabling gun emplacements threatening Sword Beach

Closes in on Metz

An air attack & military bombardment destroys the town of Monte Cassino

In order to try & break the deadlock the area is swamped with Allied troops

The British X Corps establish bridgeheads across the River Garigliano

The Germans begin their withdrawal from the Gustav Line. The French achieve a breakthrough in the Aurunci Mountains

Polish troops capture the monastery of Monte Cassino

Soviet forces liberate Odessa from Nazis

Orders the Allied attack on Paris

The Paris police force goes on strike & joins force with the Resistance

The FFI occupy the Hotel de Ville, Paris town hall & at noon a truce is agreed

The German Commander of the Paris garrison surrenders

Choltiz disobeys Hitler's orders & refuses to burn Paris

The Germans begin their withdrawal from Paris

Paris "should not fall into the hands of the enemy except as a field of ruins"

Choltiz disobeys Hitler's orders & refuses to burn Paris

The Germans withdraw into Sevastopol. The Germans withdraw from Sevastopol with 80.000 lost during the siege

Russia recaptures Crimea by taking Sevastopol

Orders the XV Gebirg Corps to attack Tito in Bosnia & destroy the Yugoslav Army, YANL

The attack on Tito fails due to partisan intelligence

The XV Gebirg Corps attack Tito at his HQ in Bosnia & destroys the Yugoslav Army, YANL

Toulon and Marseille are liberated during Operation Dragoon

The goal of operation Totalize is to capture the strategically important French town of Falaise, and following that, the smaller towns of Trun and Chambois

The drive for Trun by Polish and Canadian Armoured Divisions began on August 16, with preliminary attacks in preparation for an assault against Trun and Chambois

The Polish 1st Armoured Division had outflanked the 12th SS Panzer Division, enabling several Polish formations to both reach the 4th Armoured Divisions objectives and significantly expand the bridgehead northwest of Trun

Trun is liberated on the morning of August 18

The Western Allies reach the German border, which is protected by the extensive Siegfried Line

German defenses along the Siegfried Line continued to increase, and were able to establish a defensive depth of an average of 4.8 kilometers (3.0 miles). During September, Wehrmacht high command reinforced the Siegfried Line and brought total troop strength to an estimated 230,000 soldiers, including 100,000 fresh personnel

Breaches the Siegfred Line

Advocates concentrating Allied supplies on a northern thrust through the Netherlands toward the Ruhr.

Orders the Slovak National Uprising to begin.

Von Neumann provides an important design insight for the slower explosive component used to focus an implosion lens.

Christy proposes a solid plutonium core compressed to supercritical density, simplifying the implosion concept and reducing instability problems.

Appointed Air Commander in Chief of South East Asia Command (SEAC)

Kusaka recommends detaching part of Kurita's force to approach Leyte Gulf through Surigao Strait.

Coordinates the southern army group's role in the wider Allied strategy.

The Soviet Government publicly proposes that a future Polish-Soviet boundary follow approximately the Curzon Line with possible adjustments favourable to Poland.

Inoguchi serves on Onishi's staff during the organization of the first naval special-attack units in the Philippines.

Explains the intended Normandy battle to senior commanders at his headquarters in St Paul's School.

Beck advocates an attempt on Hitler's life by Stauffenberg which takes place Twentieth July

A conspirator in the Stauffenberg plot to assassinate Hitler & sieze Berlin

Moves the Stauffenberg briefcase bomb aside & unwittingly saves Hitler

The refusal of Colonel General Friedrich Fromm, Chief of Reserve Army and the only person who could initiate Operation Valkyrie besides Hitler, to cooperate was a serious obstacle to the conspirators. After he had discovered that the bomb had not killed Hitler, Fromm ordered the executions of General Olbricht, his Chief of Staff Colonel Albrecht Ritter Mertz von Quirnheim, Colonel von Stauffenberg, and his adjutant Lieutenant Werner von Haeften

Arrests the Stauffenberg conspriators after he learns of the failure of the plot

Orders the arrest & court-martial of von Stauffenberg to cover his own involvement

After he had discovered that the bomb had not killed Hitler, Fromm ordered the executions of General Olbricht, his Chief of Staff Colonel Albrecht Ritter Mertz von Quirnheim, Colonel von Stauffenberg, and his adjutant Lieutenant Werner von Haeften

Has troops ready to march on Berlin after Stauffenbergs attempt to blow up Hitler

Treats Hitler after Stauffenbergs bomb explodes at Rastenburg

Treats Hitler after Stauffenbergs bomb explodes at Rastenburg

Treats Hitler after Stauffenbergs bomb explodes at Rastenburg

After he had discovered that the bomb had not killed Hitler, Fromm ordered the executions of General Olbricht, his Chief of Staff Colonel Albrecht Ritter Mertz von Quirnheim, Colonel von Stauffenberg, and his adjutant Lieutenant Werner von Haeften

After two abortive attempts, Stauffenberg placed the bomb on July 20 and hurried back to Berlin to assume his pivotal role.

German Army officers General Friedrich Olbricht and Major General Henning von Tresckow modified the plan with the intention of using it to take control of German cities, disarm the SS, and arrest the Nazi leadership once Hitler had been assassinated.

Stauffenberg decided to carry out both the assassination attempt and the Valkyrie operation, which greatly reduced the chance of success. Has troops ready to march on Berlin after Stauffenbergs attempt to blow up Hitler.

The original plan, designed to deal with internal disturbances in emergency situations, was designed by General Friedrich Olbrichts staff in his capacity as head of General Army Office and was approved by Hitler.

After he had discovered that the bomb had not killed Hitler, Fromm ordered the executions of General Olbricht, his Chief of Staff Colonel Albrecht Ritter Mertz von Quirnheim, Colonel von Stauffenberg, and his adjutant Lieutenant Werner von Haeften

A plot to kill Hitler when Stauffenberg goes to Obersalzberg & report to the Fuhrer

Summoned by Hitler to report on the Volksgrenadier Divisions in the Eastern Front

Conspirators broadcast Hitler's death & order the arrest of leading Nazis

Plants a bomb in Hitler's HQ conference room in the Wolfs Lair, East Prussia. Hitler escapes with an injured right arm & some deafness

After he had discovered that the bomb had not killed Hitler, Fromm ordered the executions of General Olbricht, his Chief of Staff Colonel Albrecht Ritter Mertz von Quirnheim, Colonel von Stauffenberg, and his adjutant Lieutenant Werner von Haeften.

Demands Operation Walkure to sieze Berlin believing Hitler had been blown up.

Stauffenbergs position as Chief of Staff of Reserve Army gave him access to Hitler for reports and at the same time required his presence at headquarters for implementation of Valkyrie.

A conspirator in the Stauffenberg plot to assassinate Hitler & sieze Berlin

A conspirator in the Stauffenberg plot to assassinate Hitler and seize Berlin for the resistance

Witzleben is executed for his part in the Stauffenberg plot and the attempted overthrow of Hitler

Formally insists that President Roosevelt replace General Joseph Stilwell after their command relationship deteriorates beyond repair.

Secures the recall of General Joseph Stilwell from his China commands after prolonged disputes over strategy, authority and military reform.

Triboulet became the first sub-prefect serving the restored authority of Free France.

Shah Nawaz Khan commands INA troops operating toward India during the Imphal campaign alongside Japanese forces.

Relies on secured Middle Eastern routes, including the Suez Canal, for Allied logistics and communications.

Suggests that the next Big Three meeting take place in the Black Sea area.

Suggests Jerusalem or Alexandria after raising objections to several other possible conference sites.

Proposes a late January or early February meeting while continuing to prefer a Mediterranean location.

Kills himself while on his way back to Germany to explain himself to Hitler. Death of Kluge, suicide

Committs suicide by poison at Metz

Committs suicide during the defence of Saipan

The Gestapo give Rommel the choice of a trial or suicide disguised as a heart attack

Churchill unequivocally supports using the Curzon Line as the basis of the Polish-Soviet territorial settlement during talks with Stalin and Mikolajczyk.

Supports Roosevelt's proposal that Stalin postpone a decision on Poland until the three leaders meet.

Churchill confirms with Stalin that they will support Polish claims to compensating territory in the north and west if the eastern frontier follows the Curzon basis.

The directive appointing Eisenhower Supreme Allied Commander for Overlord is issued. Appointed Supreme Allied Commander

The directive appointing Eisenhower Supreme Allied Commander for Overlord is issued. Appointed Supreme Allied Commander

Appointed Supreme Commander of the West

Appointed Supreme Commander of the West

Recieves the formal surrender of Paris

Signs the Armistice with Hungary for the Allies

Paris "should not fall into the hands of the enemy except as a field of ruins"

Sprague commands Taffy 1, one of the Seventh Fleet escort-carrier groups supporting the Leyte operation.

Stump commands Taffy 2, whose aircraft repeatedly attack Kurita's Center Force during the Battle off Samar.

Mitscher directs Task Force Thirty-Eight's carrier attacks against Ozawa's Northern Force off Cape Engano.

Directs The Woman in the Window.

Troops of the newly activated 3rd United States Army captured the city of Le Mans, formerly the German 7th Armys headquarters

Elements of the First Canadian Army relieved the Polish Armys survivors of this Battle and the Canadian Army was finally able to close the Falaise Pocket by linking up with the troops of the American 3rd Army on the other side

Pattons 3rd Army is given the task of occupying the French region of Lorraine, General Hodgess First Army is ordered to breakthrough the front near the German city of Aachen

After the United States First and Third Armies broke out from the Normandy beachhead during Operation Cobra on 25 July 1944, Hitler ordered Operation Luttich.

Following breakout by the American First Army and American 3rd Army from the beachhead during the Battle of Normandy during Operation Cobra Adolf Hitler ordered an immediate counterattack against Allied forces in the form of Operation Luttich.

The operation was intended as an immediate counterattack against Allied forces.

Elements of the First Canadian Army relieved the Polish Armys survivors of this Battle and the Canadian Army was finally able to close the Falaise Pocket by linking up with the troops of the American 3rd Army on the other side

Following breakout by the American First Army and American 3rd Army from the beachhead during the Battle of Normandy during Operation Cobra Adolf Hitler ordered an immediate counterattack against Allied forces in the form of Operation Luttich

Elements of the First Canadian Army relieved the Polish Armys survivors of this Battle and the Canadian Army was finally able to close the Falaise Pocket by linking up with the troops of the American 3rd Army on the other side

Pattons 3rd Army was at Falaise & Montgomerys 2First Army Group at Argentan

Pattons 3rd Army is given the task of occupying the French region of Lorraine

16 Dec-28 Jan, leads the 3rd Army across France & into Germany

The 3rd Army break through Manteufells troops & reach Baston