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Nazi Germany launched a brutal Blitzkrieg ("lightning war") against Poland, utilizing overwhelming air and ground forces to rapidly dismantle its defenses. Following a secret pact with Germany, the Soviet Union invaded from the east on September 17, resulting in the country's swift capitulation and division between the two totalitarian powers.
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Trapped by the rapid German advance, over 338,000 Allied soldiers were miraculously evacuated from the beaches of France to Britain in Operation Dynamo. Although the troops lost almost all their heavy equipment, their escape saved the British Army to fight another day and served as a major boost to national morale.
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After failing to achieve air superiority, Germany launched a sustained bombing campaign against British cities, starting with 57 consecutive nights of attacks on London. While the Blitz killed over 40,000 civilians, it failed to break British morale or cripple war production, becoming a symbol of national resilience.
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Often cited as the war's decisive turning point in the East, Soviet forces trapped and forced the surrender of the German 6th Army in a brutal, months-long urban battle. The massive loss of life and equipment at Stalingrad broke the myth of German invincibility and began the long retreat of the Wehrmacht towards Berlin.
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Bypassing the heavily defended Maginot Line by attacking through the Ardennes forest, German armored divisions overwhelmed Allied forces in just six weeks. France surrendered on June 22, 1940, leading to a German occupation of the north and a collaborative puppet regime in the south.
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This ambitious, mostly airborne operation aimed to secure key bridges in the Netherlands to create a direct path for the Allies into Germany. Ultimately, the plan failed to achieve its main objective of capturing the final bridge at Arnhem, resulting in heavy casualties for the airborne troops.
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Following the suicide of Adolf Hitler and the fall of Berlin to the Soviet Red Army, Germany surrendered unconditionally. This day marked the official end of World War II in Europe, ending six years of devastating conflict across the continent.
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Following the fall of Mussolini and the Italian surrender, Allied forces invaded the Italian mainland to tie down German divisions and open a new front. The campaign was long and grueling, involving major battles like Monte Cassino before final victory in Italy was achieved in 1945.
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Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy, France, in the largest amphibious invasion in history to open the Second Front in Western Europe. This massive, coordinated operation allowed the Allies to break through German lines, leading to the liberation of Paris and the eventual push into Germany.
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This was Germany’s last-ditch, massive offensive in the Ardennes forest aimed at splitting the Allied forces and forcing a negotiated peace. Despite early,, surprising success, the Allied line held, and the counter-offensive severely depleted Germany's remaining armored and air strength