List of military operations in the West European Theater during World War II by year
Western Front
Includes land and sea operations relating to north-west Europe, but excludes:
- purely naval operations in the adjoining waters (see: List of World War II military operations - Atlantic Ocean)
- operations in Scandinavia (Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden), Iceland and Greenland (see: Military operations in Scandinavia and Iceland during World War II)
- operations in the Mediterranean and Italy (see: World War II operations in the Mediterranean region).
1935–1938
- Fall Rot ("Case Red") (1935)
— overview of defense planning in tandem with Fall Blau. Rot covered defence in the west in the event of military action in the east (Fall Blau). - Fall Blau ("Case Blue") (1935) — overview of defense planning in tandem with Fall Rot.
- Fall Otto ("Case Otto") (1937)— plan to occupy Austria.
- Fall Richard ("Case Richard") (1937) — Contingency planning for Soviet/communist takeover in Spain.
- Fall Grün ("Case Green") (1938) — plan for invasion of Czechoslovakia.
1939
- Fall Weiss ("Case White") (1939) — invasion of Poland
1940
- Aerial (1940)
— Allied retreat from France using ports between Cherbourg and the Spanish frontier. - Ambassador (1940) — commando raid on Guernsey
- Lila.
- Cycle (1940)
— British and Allied evacuation from Le Havre - .
- .
- Fall Rot ("Case Red") (1939–40) — an invasion of France and rout of British Expeditionary Force
- invasion of British held Channel Islands(1940)
- Fort Eben-Emaelin Belgium
- Mondscheinsonate ("Moonlight Sonata") (1940) — Luftwaffe raid on Coventry
- Royal Marine (1940) — Dropping of naval mines into the Rhine (originally Operation Marine)
- Seelöwe ("Sealion") (1940) — planned invasion of Britain
- Adlerangriff ("Eagle Attack").
— Axis effort to destroy the RAF prior to invasion. Preceded by attacks on shipping known as "Kanalkampf" (Channel Battle). Aerial battles during the period were later dubbed the Battle of Britain - Fall Grün ("Case Green") (1940)— planned invasion of Ireland as part of Seelöwe
- Herbstreise ("Autumn Journey") — planned/diversionary invasion of Scotland as part of Seelöwe.
- Tannenbaum ("Christmas Tree") (1940) — planned invasion of Switzerland.
- XD (1940)— a series of demolition operations to prevent the capture of oil installations and stocks by the Germans
1941
- Chess (1941) — commando raid on Ambleteuse, Pas-de-Calais, France
- Colossus (1941) — Feb. 10, commando raid on Tragino aqueduct near Calitri, Italy.
1942
- Aflame (1942) — commando raid on Berck in France
- Aquatint (1942) — commando raid on Normandy in France
- Channel islands
- Batman (1942) — commando raid near Cherbourg in France
- Biting (1942) — commando raid on Bruneval radar site in France
- Bolero (1942)
— build-up of US forces and matériel for Roundup. Later utilized during Torch and Overlord. - Channel islands
- later dubbed the "Channel Dash".
- Saint Nazaire.
- Channel islands
- Pointe de Plouezec on the north Brittanycoast
- Fall Anton (1942) — German occupation of Vichy France: Attila renamed, with Italian support.
- Frankton (1942) — commando raid on shipping in Bordeaux.
- Dieppe. See Also Operation Rutter.
- Hardelotin preparation for Jubilee.
- Varengevillein support of Jubilee.
- Lila (1942)— plan to capture French fleet at Toulon.
- Millennium (1942). — British 1000 bomber raid on Cologne
- Outward (1942–44) ; free balloon attacks on Germany.
- Roundup (1942) — plan to invade Europe in the event of German or Soviet collapse. Later abandoned in favour of Torch landings. Planning for Roundup included;
- Sledgehammer (1942) — establishment of beachhead in Cherbourg or Brest.
- Roundhammer — revised planning for Roundup.
- Sickle (1942) — build-up of US air forces in UK
- Torch (1942 — Allied invasion of North Africa.
- Plan W (1942)
— planning between Allies and neutral Éire (Ireland) to deal with Fall Grün.
1943
- Bellicose (1943) — British bombing mission against Friedrichshafen and La Spezia.
- Allied invasion of France.
- Ruhr area damspopularly known as the "Dambusters" raid.
- Corona (1943) — bombing raid on Kassel, Germany.
- Constellation (1943) — one of several proposals to retake the Channel Islands;
- Crossbow (1943–1944) — plan to destroy rocket production and launch sites. See Also Pointblank.
- Hydra (1943) — bombing of Peenemünde rocket research center.
- Hydra (1943)
- Double Strike (1943) — bombing of Regensburg and Schweinfurt.
- Huckaback (1943) — commando raid on Herm in the Channel Islands
- Husky (1943 — Allied invasion of Sicily.
- Project Habakkuk (1943) — project to construct an aircraft carrier from ice.
- USAAFand RAF in preparation for Overlord.
- Rankin (1943) — planned liberation of the Channel Islands
1944
- Abel (1944)
— harassment of German retreat in France - Astonia (1944) — assault on Le Havre
- (superseded by Astonia)
- Benson (1944)
— reconnaissance mission by Belgian SAS near Amiens - River Meuse
- Brutus (1944)— mission by Belgian SAS in Ardennes to arm local resistance and reinforce SAS forces
- Bulbasket (1944) — SAS operation to prevent German reinforcements moving from southern France to Normandy
- Bunyan (1944) — disruption mission by Belgian SAS in Chartres area
- Caliban (1944) — mission by Belgian SAS near Leopoldsburg to disrupt German communications
- Chaucer (1944) — Belgian SAS operation near Le Mans to harry German retreat
- Clipper (1944) — Allied assault on Siegfried Line at Geilenkirchen.
- Constellation (1944) — occupation of Venray and Venlo by British VIII Corps.
- British 3rd Infantry Division.
- Cooney (1944) — French SAS operation in Brittany to cut railway lines
- Derry (1944) — SAS operation near Le Mans to disrupt German retreat to Brest
- V-1attack.
- Fabian (1944) — Belgian SAS reconnaissance operation around Arnhem (also involved in the recovery of British paratroops after Operation Market Garden)
- US VIII Corps
- Dieppe
- Gaff (1944) — SAS operation near Rambouillet to kill or capture Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, but which instead destroyed trains and attacked a German headquarters
- Gain (1944) — SAS successful SAS operation southwest of Paris to disrupt enemy communications
- Gatwick (1944) — precursor of Operation Veritable
- Drente
- Guildford — 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division capture of Blerick[1]
- Haft (1944) — Special Air Service (SAS) intelligence gathering mission near Le Mans.
- Haggard (1944) — SAS operation near Bourges
- Hardy (1944) — SAS information gathering operation near Dijon
- US 3rd Army
- Houndsmith (1944) — Special Air Service (SAS) action near Dijon.
- Houndsworth (1944) — Special Air Service (SAS) campaign in and around Morvan.
- Hurricane (1944) — Bombing of Ruhr. See Also Chastise.
- Independence (1944) — clearance of German garrisons on the Gironde estuary (postponed, later revived as Operation Venerable)
- Infatuate (1944) capture of Walcheren Island — final phase of the Battle of the Scheldt.
- Jedburgh (1944)
— Airdrop of operatives into France, Belgium and the Netherlands to conduct sabotage and guerrilla warfare, and to lead the local resistance forces in actions against the Germans. - Jericho (1944) — air-raid on Amiens prison to release French Resistance prisoners
- Lyonsto impede German movements and bolster local Resistance; became active in the fighting in Lyons
- Kipling (1944) — British SAS action near Auxerre to aid Allied airborne landings in Orleans Gap; these were cancelled and the SAS harassed the enemy in support of allied ground advance
- Loyton (1944) — unsuccessful large SAS action in Vosges mountains.
- Lüttich (1944) — German counter-offensive at Mortain.
- Mallard (Maas) — British XII Corps' advance to the Maas[1]
- Market Garden (1944) — Allied land and airborne attempt to cross the lower Rhine.
- Comet (1944) — early draft of Market Garden
- British 1st Airborne.
- Comet (1944)
- Correze
- Free French SAS action around Poitiers
- Burgundy, France
- and consequential flooding
- Nutcracker — British VIII Corps' advance to the Maas[1]
- .
- Overlord (1944) — invasion of Normandy, France. See also Pointblank.
- Aberlour (1944) — cancelled follow-up to Mitten.
- Astonia (1944) — assault on Le Havre
- Bluecoat (1944) — Launched to support Operation Cobra
- Bodyguard — deception plan, including:
- Fortitude (1944) —
- Skye
- Fortitude (1944) — two deception operations to mislead over the location of landings
- Glimmer (1944) — feint towards Pas-de-Calais
- Hambone(1944) — also known as Copperhead
- Jael
- Quicksilver
- coast
- Fortitude (1944) —
- Charnwood (1944) — assault on Caen.
- Chicago— Allied airdrop
- Cobra (1944) — breakout from Normandy.
- Dunhill (1944) — SAS reconnaissance action in support of Cobra.
- Dunhill (1944)
- St Maloarea.
- Dauntless (1944) — See Operation Martlet
- Defoe (1944) — ineffective SAS reconnaissance around Argentan in Normandy
- Detroit (1944)— American airdrop in Normandy
- Free French SAS operation around Vannesto disrupt communications and arm local Resistance
- Lost (1944) — French SAS team in Brittany to link with Dingson
- Lost (1944)
- Epsom (1944) — British assault west of Caen, Normandy, aimed at capturing the city
- Martlet (1944) — Supporting operation launched the day before Operation Epsom
- Martlet (1944)
- Goodwood (1944) — British armoured assault to capture the Bourguébus Ridge, destroy German armoured reserves and support Operation Atlantic
- Atlantic (1944) — Operation to capture the remaining sections of the German-occupied city of Caen. Launched side by side with Operation Goodwood
- Greenline (1944) — diversionary attack by XII Corps designed to draw German attention away from the upcoming assault, out of the Orne bridgehead, codenamed Goodwood.
- Pomegranate (1944) — diversionary attack by XXX Corps designed to draw German attention away from the upcoming assault, out of the Orne bridgehead, codenamed Goodwood.
- Atlantic (1944)
- Grouse (1944)(also called Wallop). — advance towards Tinchebray
- Jupiter — British attack to occupy and hold Hill 112, near Caen
- Kitten (1944) — British and Canadian advance to the Seine.
- Mulberry(1944) — the creation of safe anchorages using block ships
- Mitten (1944) — elimination of German position at Chateau de la Ronde
- Neptune— landing phase of Overlord
- Accumulator (1944) — diversionary naval operation near to the Channel Islands
- Bravado (1944) — mine-laying around Kiel Canal to inhibit German naval reaction
- X-Craftmidget submarines as navigation beacons off Sword and Juno beaches
- Maple — Allied naval minelaying operations to inhibit German naval reaction
- Accumulator (1944)
- Neptune (Seine) 43rd (Wessex) Division's assault crossing of Seine[2]
- Paddle (1944)— Canadian pursuit of German forces
- Peppermint (1944) — Precautions against German spreading of radioactive poison materials
- D-Day, at Studland Bay, England
- Pluto (1944) — construction of undersea oil pipelines between England and France
- X-Craftand divers
- D-Day, at Studland Bay, Dorset, England
- Spring — Canadian attack on high ground, south of Caen
- Sussex — insertion of French OSS operatives into France to report German troop movements
- D-Day, near Slapton, England
- Orne River
- Totalize (1944) — Allied advance to capture high ground north of the city of Falaise
- Tractable (1944) — Attack to capture the city of Falaise, and to help close the Falaise pocket
- D-Day, near Slapton, England
- Walter (1944) — tidy-up operation, using two brigades.
- Wallop (1944) — advance towards Tinchebray (also called Grouse).
- Windsor (1944) — capture of Carpiquet.
- Aberlour (1944)
- Dickens (1944) — highly successful French SAS operation around Nantes to disrupt rail lines, gather intelligence and support local Resistance
- Pegasus (1944) — Allied rescue of troops after the failure of Market Garden
- Hurtgen Forest, east of Aachen
- Breskens pocket, first phase of the Battle of the Scheldt.
- Thunderbolt (1944) , the battle for Fort Driant, near Metz
- V-1efforts
- Undergo (1944) — assault on Calais
- South Beveland, second phase of the Battle of the Scheldt.
- Wacht am Rhein ("Watch on the Rhine") (1944) — counteroffensive in the Ardennes
- Greif ("Griffin") (1944) — infiltration using troops disguised in Allied uniforms.
- Stösser (1944) — airborne drop in support of the Wacht am Rhein.
- Bodenplatte ("Baseplate") (1944) — Luftwaffe support raids on Allied airbases. Rescheduled to 1 January 1945.
- Greif ("Griffin") (1944)
- Boulogne
1945
- Amherst (1945) — French airborne SAS raid in north-east Netherlands
- US 3rd Army
- British 2nd Army
- Bremen (1945) — occupation of Bremen
- Cannonshot (1945) — crossing the IJssel
- Cleanser (1945) — advance to the IJsselmeer
- Crosskeys (1945) — the establishment of allied coastal and minesweeping forces in Danish waters
- Destroyer (1945) — clearing the "Island"
- Eclipse (1945) — occupation of north German ports
- Exodus (1945) — repatriation of POWs
- Canadian First Army
- Roer (see also Veritable)
- Canadian 4th Armoured Division advance towards Oldenburg
- Keystone (1945) — Special Air Service mission to capture bridges over Apeldoorn canal and harass the enemy south of IJsselmeer
- Larkswood (1945) — Belgian SAS reconnaissance operation ahead of Canadian and Polish units in Holland and Germany
- Dutch famine.
- Nestegg (1945) — reoccupation of the Channel Islands
- Nordwind ("North Wind") (1945) — attempt to open a second front in Alsace
- Placket (1945) — delivery by sea of essential supplies to Dutch civilians
- Plunder (1945) — 21st Army Group crossing of the Rhine[3]
- Archway (1945) — SAS operation to support Plunder and the subsequent advance to Kiel
- Torchlight – British XII Corps element of Plunder[3]
- Turnscrew – British XXX Corps element of Plunder[3]
- Widgeon – British 1st Commando Brigade element of Plunder[3]
- Widgeon
- Varsity — airborne element of Plunder[3]
- Archway (1945)
- Schneeman (1945) — German attempt to open a second front in Netherlands.
- Valediction (1945), delayed then renamed Veritable — original plan for Canadian First Army's advance through the Klever Reichswald to Xanten
- estuary (Operation Independence, revived)
- Île d'Oléron
- Veritable (1945)(formerly Valediction) — Canadian First Army's advance through the Klever Reichswald to Xanten co-ordinated with Grenade
- Blockbuster (1945) — final phases of Veritable
- British 3rd Infantry Division
- British 3rd Infantry Division
- Blockbuster (1945)
See also
List of World War II military operations
References
- ^ a b c John Buckley, Monty's Men: The British Army and the Liberation of Europe, London: Yale University Press, 2013, ISBN 978-0-300-13449-0.
- ^ Anon, British Army of the Rhine Battlefield Tour: Operation Neptune, Germany: BAOR, 1947/Uckfield: Naval and Military Press, 2022, ISBN 978-1-4745-3529-8.
- ^ a b c d e f Anon, British Army of the Rhine Battlefield Tour: Operation Plunder, Germany: BAOR, 1947/Uckfield: Naval and Military Press, 2022, ISBN 978-1-4745-3532-8.