Dateline WWII

The Allies are stopped at Cassino and land at Anzio, and the Americans win a big victory in the Marshalls.

Allied landings at Anzio in Italy initially successful but slow movement allows for major German counterattack stalling drive to Rome. Monte Cassino: The Aftermath: The ancient abbey established by St. Benedict was completely destroyed by bombing and artillery barrages during the fighting. American forces roll across the Pacific through the Marianas and into the Philippine Sea.

Japanese move out of Burma and invade India in 1944. Allied resistance forces Japanese retreat and by July the invading divisions were all but destroyed. Russian forces retake Crimea in southern Ukraine in May 1944. MacArthur's forces take Hollandia on New Guinea and key airfields. Overlord preparations moving fast as Allies prepare for Normandy invasion.

The Allies finally break stalemate in Italy and move towards Rome. Hitler makes changes to command structure in Western Europe with Rommel now a key commander. A look at 'The Court of Neptune' and other naval traditions and customs for sailors' first crossing of the Equator. Eisenhower's big decision: Go or No Go for operation Overlord has worldwide implications for the future of the war.

D-Day Special: Paratroopers airborne assault to secure key roads and bridges begin the invasion of Europe. Allies assault the Germans' Atlantic Wall: The Battle for The Beaches: Allies land at Normandy. German forces throughout France react to Allied landings. The sun sets on the Longest Day with Allies holding the beachheads.

Allies moving in Europe: General Clark takes Rome and D-Day beachheads expanded as Allied troops moving inland. In the Pacific, U.S. forces invade and take Saipan in the Mariana Islands putting the Japanese Home Islands within reach of U.S. B-29 bombers making this an important strategic victory. Hitler unleashes the V-1 rocket attacks on London bringing a new dimension to the war in Europe.

Patton's Third Army becomes operational and leads breakout from the Normandy hedge row fields turning American armor loose across France. In the Pacific the Battle of the Philippine Sea becomes known as the Marianas Turkey Shoot as U.S. naval aviators shoot down over 600 Japanese aircraft virtually ending the Japanese capability to mount carrier borne air strikes for the balance of the war.

As Allies move from beachheads German high command changes as overall commander Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt replaced. U.S. 1st Army advances on St. Lo a critical objective of the Normandy invasion. All fighting ends on Saipan. With Rome taken the Italian campaign slows and Italy a forgotten war theater as Germans retreat north.

Allied forces take Pisa a key position in the last German Army defensive line in Italy. In France U.S. forces take St. Lo and British move on Caen, a critical road hub in the Normandy region. In the Pacific, U.S. forces land on Guam and Tinian in the Marianas. Japanese war leader Tojo resigns. A plot by German politicians and military leaders to assassinate Hitler on July 20, 1944 fails.

Russians halt advance outside Warsaw and Germans crush resistance in Polish capital. The Patton-Montgomery rivalry, started in North Africa, renews on the Western front in Europe. British forces take Florence as Allies continue push in Northern Italy. Allied forces force breakout from St. Lo in Normandy.

U.S. forces move in Brittany to take key ports needed to supply Allied forces in France. Allies make new landings in Southern France, Operation Anvil & Dragoon, and take key ports at Toulon and Marseille and control of railroad hubs. A look at Photo Recon and Mapping.

Allied forces liberate Paris with German commander surrendering to French forces on August 25th 1944. The Russians open a new offensive against German forces in the Baltics. Allied leaders debate the approach to the next phases of the war. B-29s arrive at Saipan with reach to Japanese Home Islands and the Philippines and Marines land on Peleliu in the Palau Islands.

Operation Market Garden in September 1944 was the largest airborne force used to that time. While initially successful the operation stalled at Arnhem with significant loss of the paratroop forces. In the Pacific, Allies increase bombing campaign against the Philippines. In Europe, Allies besiege Metz and cross the Siegfried Line.

Peleliu falls to the Marines in the Pacific while British forces take key port of Antwerp in Belgium opening new supply lines for Allied forces in Europe. British Prime Minister Churchill visits Moscow to confer with Russian leadership. Russian forces sweep through the Balkans pushing German forces into retreat.

Allies in Europe push into Germany with capture of Aachen. MacArthur fulfills his promise and returns to the Philippines as Allies invade to retake islands in October 1944. The Battle of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines is the world's greatest sea battle. The battle is a decisive Allied victory that cripples the Japanese fleet that will never sail again as a major offensive force.

Allies take the Dutch island of Walcheren taking out German forces in a position to block Allied forces getting to key port of Antwerp for resupply. Japan reinforces its land forces on Leyte. Patton drives to German border and 3rd Army crosses Moselle River near Metz. German battleship Tirpitz, sister ship to the Bismarck, sunk by RAF. FDR elected for an unprecedented third term in November 1944.

First Allied convoy reaches Antwerp shortening supply lines for Allied forces in Europe. Vicious land battle in the Philippines continues. A look at U.S. submarines in the war in the Pacific. Metz falls to the Allies but buys time for retreating German Army. Britain stands down the Home Guard in December 1944.

U.S. forces land at Mindoro as part of battle of Luzon in the Philippines. A look at the bombing campaign in Europe. Hitler's last gamble: Hitler throws last reserves into the Battle of the Bulge with a major offensive through the Ardennes in December 1944 catching the Allied forces completely by surprise. It became the largest and bloodiest battle fought by U.S. forces in World War II.

U.S. forces in Luzon drive towards Manila. Battle of the Bulge continues on the Western Front. U.S. forces secure Leyte. Russian forces begin drive to the Oder River after debacle in Poland that sees the destruction of Polish resistance by Germans.

Allies contain Bulge breach ending German Army offense in the West and Allied forces go back on the offensive and drive toward Germany. Allies take Clark Field in Philippines. In Poland, Warsaw falls to Russians. An update on the Burma Theater in Southeast Asia.

St. Vith falls to Allies ending all German offensive operations in the Ardennes. The Burma Road is completed opening vital supply lines between Burma and Allied forces engaged in Southwest China against Japanese forces. A look at the service by Military Nurses. Russian forces under Marshal Zhukov reach the Oder River on the Polish-German border.