D-Day to Berlin

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From June 1944 to May 1945, US, British, and Canadian troops engaged in a fierce campaign against the battle-hardened German Wehrmacht, ultimately achieving victory as German forces in northern Europe surrendered. The Allies' first challenge was landing on the hostile shores of Normandy, where Erwin Rommel's German defenses posed significant obstacles. Successfully getting troops ashore on D-Day was a monumental feat, but advancing from the beachheads against the experienced Panzer formations of the German Army Group West proved even more daunting. Omar Bradley's First Army eventually broke out in Operation Cobra, paving the way for George Patton's Third Army to advance toward the Seine and recapture Paris, while British forces under Bernard Montgomery moved up the Channel coast. However, the Allied advance stalled in autumn 1944 due to logistical issues and the formidable fighting capabilities of the German Army, as demonstrated at Arnhem. In December 1944, the Germans launched a massive counterattack in the Ardennes, temporarily threatening to divide the Allies. Following the defeat of this offensive, the Allies focused on crossing the Rhine, executing a series of well-planned maneuvers in early 1945. This set the stage for a general push into Germany, leading to mass German surrender as the western Allies linked up with Soviet forces advancing from the east.