On April 9, 1940, Germany invaded Denmark and Norway. This was a surprise attack, as both countries were neutral and had not been involved in the war. Germany quickly occupied both countries, and they remained under German control for the rest of the war.
2. The Battle of France.
On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded France. The French were quickly defeated, and Paris fell on June 14. The French government surrendered on June 22.
3. The Battle of Britain.
After the fall of France, Germany turned its attention to Britain. The Battle of Britain began on July 10, 1940, and lasted until October 31. It was the first major battle of the war to be fought entirely in the air. The Germans were unable to defeat the British Royal Air Force, and the battle ended in a British victory.
4. The invasion of the Soviet Union.
On June 22, 1941, Germany invaded the Soviet Union. This was the largest land invasion in history, and it involved millions of troops. The Germans initially made rapid progress, but they were eventually stopped by the Soviet Red Army. The Battle of Stalingrad, which lasted from July 1942 to February 1943, was a major turning point in the war. The Soviets won the battle, and it marked the beginning of the end for Germany.
5. The D-Day landings.
On June 6, 1944, the Allied forces landed in Normandy, France. This was the largest seaborne invasion in history, and it involved over 150,000 troops. The Allies quickly secured a foothold in France, and they began to push back the German forces.
6. The Battle of the Bulge.
The Battle of the Bulge was the last major German offensive of the war. It began on December 16, 1944, and lasted until January 25, 1945. The Germans were initially successful, but they were eventually stopped by the Allied forces. The battle ended in a defeat for Germany.
7. The surrender of Germany.
On May 8, 1945, Germany surrendered to the Allied forces. This marked the end of the war in Europe.