Kurowski, F. 1944 - So war der 2. Weltkrieg

The retreats to the Reich border. After initial defensive successes in the east, 1944 brought the collapse of Army Group Centre in the summer of 1944. In the autumn of 1944, the Soviet Army advanced into German territory for the first time and took cruel revenge on the civilian population. Romania, Bulgaria and Finland fell away from the Alliance and changed sides. Hungary was occupied. The Balkans had to be cleared step by step. In Italy, weak German forces managed to temporarily halt the Allied advance at Monte Cassino. Rome was not lost until June 1944. With the invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944, the Allies returned to the Western European theatre of war. Their advance through France and Belgium led to the fall of the first German city in the west: Aachen. One German city after another fell victim to Allied bombing. The use of the "wonder weapons" V1 and V2 did not bring the hoped-for success. After initial successes, the Ardennes offensive had to be abandoned. Germany prepared for the final battle. With approx. 420 illustrations. Approx. 432 pages.