Opening of the second front

The political and strategic situation during the Second World War changed significantly due to the events in the second half of 1944. The union of states and peoples, which rallied in opposition to the common enemy, continued to strengthen.

The leading role in the anti-Hitler coalition belonged to the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union made a decisive contribution to the confrontation of the Hitlerite troops.

The government of the Soviet Union hoped for the opening of a second front of the VOv. But the Allied armies limited their actions to aerial rear attacks, offensive operations in Italy. The countries participating in the anti-Hitler coalition, of course, understood that a second front in the West would soon be needed. In this regard, the United Kingdom and the United States soon launched large-scale preparations for this.

The Teheran conference had a big impact on the accelerated opening of the second front . The heads of the United States, Great Britain and the USSR reviewed the main political and strategic issues of the continuation of Union actions. The problem of opening a second front was also decided.

The successful offensive operations of the Soviet army, the landing of Allied forces in Europe, contributed to the deterioration of the situation of fascist Germany. The opening of the second front was the main event of the summer of 1944. Since that moment, Germany had to wage war in two directions. Moreover, according to a number of historians, the opening of the second front (in connection with its belatedness) had, to some extent, limited significance in the issue of the outcome of the war as a whole. The United States and Britain, according to researchers, pursued mostly political goals - to strengthen their positions.

Nevertheless, on June 6, the Anglo-American forces began landing from the British Isles to Northern France. Operation carried the conventional name "Overlord" (its naval part was called "Neptune").

The expeditionary forces of the allied armies, having landed on the Norman coast, had to seize the bridgehead, after which, having accumulated material resources and the necessary forces, move further eastward, occupying the north-eastern territory of France.

Simultaneously with the movement of the sea assault, Allied aviation began bombarding artillery batteries, separate resistance units, enemy rear, staffs, and clusters of troops. Strikes were strong enough in the areas of Boulogne and Calais. Thus, the enemy's attention was diverted from the actual landing area.

As a result, by the 24th of July the expeditionary forces of the Allies, having landed in Normandy, occupied almost a hundred-kilometer bridgehead on the front. However, the plan of the operation provided for a size two times larger. The complete dominance of the Allied forces at sea and in the air ensured a high concentration of resources and forces.

The landing of the Allies on the Norman coast was the largest amphibious landing operation, which had a strategic purpose. In the process of preparation, the Allied forces were able to solve many tasks. As a result, the surprise of the offensive, the clarity of interaction between aviation and ground forces, the Navy and the Airborne Forces were ensured.

Sufficiently successful implementation of the operation contributed to the summer military actions of the Soviet troops. The offensive of the Red Army forced the German command to transfer the main reserves to the eastern part of the front.

In the second half of 1944, the military cooperation of the allied states markedly increased, and the strategic interaction between Soviet and Anglo-American troops in Europe expanded.

As a result of joint action towards the end of 1944, the German army was completely expelled from Belgium, France, Luxembourg, from certain Italian regions and areas of Holland. Thus, the actions of the combined forces made it possible to clear the area of about 600,000 kilometers from the occupants.