Events in 1944

January 22, 1944

Battle of Anzio

Operation Shingle began on January 22, 1944, when Allied forces launched an amphibious assault on Anzio, Italy. The operation involved 40,000 American and British troops under Major General John P. Lucas, aiming to outflank German defenses and create a pathway to Rome.

February 20, 1944

Defense of the Reich Peak Campaign

The Defense of the Reich reached its climax in 1944 when the Luftwaffe engaged in desperate battles against Allied bomber formations and their P-51 Mustang escorts, marking a crucial turning point in the air war over Europe.

March 4, 1944

First US Berlin Daylight Raid

The United States Army Air Forces conducted their first daylight bombing raid on Berlin on March 4, 1944, deploying 701 heavy bombers and 832 escort fighters in a strategic mission that demonstrated American air superiority over Nazi Germany.

March 25, 1944

Allied Bombing of Paris

The Allied bombing of Paris during World War II was a precise military operation that began in March 1944, targeting German military installations while carefully preserving the city's historic architecture and minimizing civilian casualties. The campaign played a crucial role in weakening Nazi defenses before Paris's liberation in August 1944.

May 11, 1944

Breaking the Gustav Line

Operation Diadem successfully breached the formidable Gustav Line, a major German defensive system stretching across Italy. This decisive victory led to the capture of Rome and marked a turning point in the Italian Campaign of World War II.

May 18, 1944

Battle of Monte Cassino

A decisive World War II battle in Italy where Allied forces launched four major assaults against German positions at Monte Cassino monastery between January and May 1944, ending with a Polish victory that opened the way to Rome.

June 4, 1944

Capture of Rome

Allied forces captured Rome on June 4, 1944, marking the first Axis capital to fall during World War II. Led by General Mark Clark's Fifth Army, the operation successfully preserved the city's historical treasures while achieving crucial military objectives.

June 6, 1944

D-Day Invasion

On June 6, 1944, Allied forces launched Operation Overlord, the largest amphibious invasion in military history, storming five beaches in Normandy, France. This massive operation involved over 156,000 troops, 5,000 ships, and 11,000 aircraft, marking a crucial turning point in World War II.

June 6, 1944

D-Day Invasion

The D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944, was the largest amphibious military operation in history, where 156,000 Allied troops stormed five beaches in Normandy, France, marking the beginning of Western Europe's liberation from Nazi control during World War II.

June 15, 1944

Battle of Saipan

A crucial World War II battle fought from June 15 to July 9, 1944, where U.S. Marines and Army forces captured the strategic island of Saipan from Japanese defenders, establishing a vital base for B-29 bomber operations against mainland Japan.

June 19, 1944

Great Marianas Turkey Shoot

A decisive World War II naval air battle where US forces destroyed 346 Japanese aircraft while losing only 30 of their own, effectively ending Japan's carrier-based air power in the Pacific.

July 21, 1944

Liberation of Guam

U.S. forces launched Operation Forager to reclaim Guam from Japanese control, marking a crucial victory in the Pacific theater of World War II. The three-week battle involved over 36,000 American troops against 19,000 Japanese defenders.

July 25, 1944

Operation Cobra

Operation Cobra was a decisive World War II offensive launched by Allied forces on July 25, 1944, to break through German defenses in Normandy. Led by General Omar Bradley, this massive operation combined aerial bombardment with ground forces to create a breakthrough near Saint-Lô.

August 1, 1944

Erich Hartmann's Record-Breaking Achievement

Erich Hartmann, known as the 'Black Devil,' achieved the milestone of becoming history's highest-scoring fighter ace with 352 confirmed aerial victories while flying for the Luftwaffe during World War II on the Eastern Front.

August 19, 1944

Paris Uprising

The Paris insurrection began on August 19, 1944, when French resistance fighters and civilians rose against Nazi occupation. Led by the French Forces of the Interior (FFI), the uprising transformed Paris into a battlefield and ended with the city's liberation on August 25, 1944.

August 21, 1944

Eisenhower Approves Paris Liberation Plan

President Eisenhower made a crucial decision to approve the liberation of Paris on August 21, 1944, leading to the successful freeing of the French capital from Nazi control and marking a pivotal moment in World War II.

August 24, 1944

Liberation of Paris

On August 24, 1944, the French 2nd Armored Division, led by General Philippe Leclerc, entered Paris to liberate it from Nazi occupation. After intense street fighting and coordination with resistance fighters, the Germans surrendered on August 25, marking a pivotal moment in World War II and French history.

August 25, 1944

German Surrender of Paris

On August 25, 1944, German forces officially surrendered Paris to Allied forces, ending four years of Nazi occupation. The surrender was signed by German commander Dietrich von Choltitz at the Police Prefecture, defying Hitler's orders to destroy the city.

August 25, 1944

Gothic Line Offensive

Operation Olive, launched on August 25, 1944, was a major Allied offensive against the German Gothic Line defenses in northern Italy. The operation involved British, American, and other Allied forces attacking heavily fortified German positions stretching 170 miles across the Apennine Mountains.

August 25, 1944

Liberation of Paris

The Liberation of Paris marked the end of four years of Nazi occupation when Allied forces and French Resistance fighters freed the French capital in August 1944. The battle culminated in German surrender and Charles de Gaulle's historic march down the Champs-Élysées.

August 25, 1944

De Gaulle Returns to Liberated Paris

General Charles de Gaulle made his historic return to Paris on August 25, 1944, following the city's liberation from Nazi occupation. His triumphant march down the Champs-Élysées drew over one million Parisians and symbolized France's restoration of independence after four years of German control.

August 25, 1944

Liberation of Hôtel de Ville

On August 25, 1944, French Resistance fighters successfully liberated Paris's historic city hall, Hôtel de Ville, from Nazi occupation. This pivotal event marked a crucial turning point in the Liberation of Paris during World War II.

September 15, 1944

Battle of Peleliu

A 73-day World War II battle between US forces and Japanese defenders on Peleliu island, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides. What was planned as a four-day operation became one of the bloodiest campaigns in the Pacific Theater.

September 17, 1944

Operation Market Garden

Operation Market Garden was the largest Allied airborne operation of World War II, launched on September 17, 1944. The operation aimed to secure strategic bridges across the Netherlands to create a pathway into Nazi Germany's industrial Ruhr Valley.

September 27, 1944

RAF Ace Johnnie Johnson's Final Victory

Air Vice Marshal James 'Johnnie' Johnson, RAF's top-scoring Western Allied fighter ace of World War II, achieved his 38th and final aerial victory by shooting down a Focke-Wulf Fw 190 over Nijmegen, Netherlands, while leading the Canadian 144 Wing.

October 2, 1944

Battle of Aachen

The Battle of Aachen was a major urban battle of World War II, fought from October 2-21, 1944, marking the first capture of a major German city by American forces. The battle resulted in an American victory despite Hitler's order to defend the city to the last man.

October 20, 1944

Battle of Leyte Gulf

The Battle of Leyte Gulf marked one of World War II's largest naval operations when U.S. forces under General MacArthur launched a massive amphibious invasion of Leyte Island, Philippines, involving over 200,000 troops and 700 ships.

December 12, 1944

Richard Bong Becomes America's Top Ace Pilot

Major Richard Bong achieves his 40th aerial victory, becoming America's highest-scoring fighter ace of World War II while flying the P-38 Lightning in the Pacific Theater. He surpassed Eddie Rickenbacker's World War I record and was awarded the Medal of Honor by General Douglas MacArthur.

December 16, 1944

Battle of the Bulge

The Battle of the Bulge (December 16, 1944 - January 25, 1945) was the largest battle ever fought by U.S. Army, involving 600,000 American troops against Nazi Germany's last major offensive on the Western Front. The surprise attack through the Ardennes region created a distinctive bulge in Allied lines.

December 24, 1944

Major Preddy's Last Victories

Major George Preddy, America's top P-51 Mustang ace, achieved his final two aerial victories on Christmas Eve 1944, before tragically losing his life to friendly fire the next day. His total of 27 confirmed kills made him the highest-scoring P-51 Mustang pilot in the European Theater.