From D-Day to VE-Day

These maps—prepared by the Twelfth Army Group Engineer Section —trace the progress of the Allied liberation of Europe during the final year of the Second World War.

Each map identifies the estimated position of Allied and German forces for each day, starting with D-Day on June 6, 1944 and ending with VE-Day on May 8, 1945.

Originally classified as Secret, the maps were declassified on June 18, 1979.

The maps show how the gains made after the D-Day landing stalled until the breakout made possible by Operation Cobra. You can see how Operation Market Garden runs off the northern edge of the map and ultimately fizzles out. The most dramatic change in the front line is the creation of the bulge that marked the Battle of the Bulge. You can see how quickly the Germans dented Allied lines and how long it took to grind down German forces and restore the front as it existed in mid-December.

Click and drag on a map to move the map. Use the number pad keys to move the view relative to the map in the eight cardinal directions. Click on the plus or minus signs to zoom in or out. Alternatively, use the plus and minus keys on the number pad. Click on the left or right double-arrows to go backward or forward one day. Click on the major events or months listed above and below the map display to jump to a specific date.

The maps are provided courtesy of the U.S. Army and the Library of Congress Geography and Map Division.