1940 – Germany Adopts the Ardennes Plan
At a high-level military conference in Berlin, Adolf Hitler approves a dramatic revision to Germany’s strategy for the invasion of Western Europe. The new operational plan, largely developed by General Erich von Manstein and supported by Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt, becomes known as Fall Sichelschnitt—the “Sickle Cut.”
Instead of launching the main German attack through Belgium as originally planned, the revised strategy calls for a bold armored thrust through the heavily forested Ardennes, terrain the Allies consider unsuitable for large mechanized forces.
Under the plan, German forces would still invade the Low Countries, but primarily as a diversion to draw Allied armies northward. Meanwhile, the main German armored spearhead would break through the Ardennes, cross the Meuse River, and drive rapidly toward the English Channel—cutting off Allied forces advancing into Belgium.
The daring concept will ultimately lead to the stunning German victory in the Battle of France just two months later.
1941 – The Suez Canal Under Attack
German aircraft lay naval mines in the Suez Canal, one of the most critical strategic waterways of the British Empire. The mining operation forces the canal to close temporarily, blocking shipping for nearly three weeks and disrupting Allied supply routes between the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean.
1942 – The Tirpitz Sortie and Crisis in Burma
After receiving authorization from Hitler, the powerful German battleship Tirpitz, accompanied by three destroyers, sails from Trondheim, Norway in an attempt to intercept the Arctic convoy PQ-12 bound for the Soviet Union.
A British submarine spots the task force and immediately reports the sighting to the British Admiralty. Poor weather conditions prevent Tirpitz from locating the convoy, and the German fleet eventually turns back toward Norway.
During the return voyage, aircraft launched from the British carrier HMS Victorious attack Tirpitz. Despite the effort, the massive battleship escapes without damage.
Meanwhile in Southeast Asia, Japanese forces cut all major roads north of Rangoon, trapping British troops near Pegu.
At the same time, Japanese armies complete their occupation of Batavia (modern-day Jakarta) on the island of Java, securing another major strategic position in the Dutch East Indies.
1944 – Bombing Germany and Preparing for D-Day
As Allied planners prepare for the invasion of Normandy, Britain’s RAF Bomber Command begins a large-scale bombing offensive against targets in northern France. The attacks are designed to destroy rail lines, bridges, and infrastructure that German forces would rely upon to reinforce their coastal defenses once the invasion begins.
On the same day, the U.S. Army Air Forces launch a massive raid against Berlin. A total of 730 bombers, escorted by 796 fighter aircraft, attack the German capital.
German air defenses respond fiercely. During the mission, 69 American bombers and 11 escort fighters are shot down, illustrating the high cost of the daylight strategic bombing campaign.
In Burma, British long-range penetration forces known as the Chindits establish another jungle stronghold south of the Irrawaddy River, continuing their daring operations deep behind Japanese lines.
In the Pacific theater, U.S. Marines land at Talasea on the island of New Britain, part of the broader Allied campaign to isolate the major Japanese base at Rabaul.
1945 – The Rhine Reached and Fighting Across Europe and Asia
In western Germany, the U.S. Third Army reaches the Rhine River northwest of Koblenz.
At the same time, the U.S. First Army captures the heavily damaged city of Cologne, bringing Allied forces to the western bank of Germany’s last major defensive barrier.
On the Eastern Front, German armored forces launch a major counteroffensive near Lake Balaton in Hungary. The attack, involving the 2nd Panzer Army and the elite 6th SS Panzer Army, attempts to relieve pressure on Budapest and secure vital oil fields in the region.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Eighth Air Force conducts a heavy bombing raid against the industrial city of Chemnitz in Saxony, further weakening Germany’s war production capabilities.
In Southeast Asia, the newly organized Chinese First Army captures the strategic town of Lashio in northeastern Burma, reopening key supply routes and strengthening Allied positions in the region.