World War II was a vast, brutal conflict that stretched across continents, but for Europe, the turning point came gradually—not with one single battle, but through a series of decisive events. While Operation Overlord (the D-Day landings in Normandy on June 6, 1944) was a major psychological and military shift, most of Europe didn’t immediately accept that the war was lost or won at that point. Instead, the recognition came more clearly in the months that followed, as the Allies relentlessly advanced from both east and west.
D-Day: The Beginning of the End
Operation Overlord marked the return of Allied forces to Western Europe. The success of the Normandy invasion proved that Hitler’s once-formidable Atlantic Wall was not impenetrable, and that the Allies could now wage war on German soil. While D-Day gave hope to occupied nations and resistance movements, it didn’t yet signal an immediate collapse of Nazi Germany.
In fact, Germany still had millions of troops, powerful defenses, and deadly resolve. Hitler ordered counterattacks and still believed he could negotiate a favorable peace—especially if he could hold off the Soviets or drive the Allies back.
The Turning Tide: Summer to Autumn 1944
After D-Day, the Allies liberated Paris by August 1944, and advanced rapidly through France and Belgium. Simultaneously, the Soviet Red Army was crushing German forces on the Eastern Front, recapturing cities like Minsk, Warsaw, and eventually crossing into German territory.
By late summer 1944, the strategic picture had changed drastically. Italy was falling. Romania and Bulgaria switched sides. Even many within Germany began to realize that defeat was inevitable—though Hitler refused to surrender.
The Battle of the Bulge: Last German Hope
In December 1944, Hitler launched a desperate counteroffensive in the Ardennes—the Battle of the Bulge. While it shocked the Allies and caused high casualties, the failure of this offensive destroyed any remaining German reserves. From this point onward, it became increasingly obvious that Germany no longer had the capacity to win.
Early 1945: Acceptance Sets In
By early 1945, German cities were being bombed relentlessly, the Soviets were approaching Berlin, and Allied forces had crossed the Rhine. Resistance in occupied countries was surging. Civilians across Europe—especially in France, the Netherlands, and Poland—realized that liberation was no longer a distant hope but an approaching reality.
Within Germany, morale collapsed. Desertions increased. Even some Nazi officials began preparing for the regime’s fall. The death camps were being uncovered. The illusion of victory, or even survival, was gone.