Western Front List of military operations in the West European Theater during World War II by year

1 western front

1.1 1935 — 1938
1.2 1939
1.3 1940
1.4 1941
1.5 1942
1.6 1943
1.7 1944
1.8 1945

western front

includes land , sea operations relating north-west europe, excludes:

purely naval operations in adjoining waters (see: list of world war ii military operations - atlantic ocean)
operations in scandinavia (denmark, finland, norway , sweden), iceland , greenland (see: military operations in scandinavia , iceland during world war ii)
operations in mediterranean , italy (see: world war ii operations in mediterranean region).

1935 — 1938

fall rot ( case red ) (1935) — overview of defense planning in tandem fall blau. rot covered defense in west in event of military action in east (fall blau).
fall blau ( case blue ) (1935) — overview of defense planning in tandem fall rot.
fall otto ( case otto ) (1937) — plan occupy austria.
fall richard ( case richard ) (1937) — contingency planning soviet/communist takeover in spain.
fall grün ( case green ) (1938) — plan invasion of czechoslovakia.

1939

fall weiss ( case white ) (1939) — invasion of poland

1940

ariel (1940) — allied retreat france using ports between cherbourg , spanish frontier.
ambassador (1940) — commando raid on guernsey
attila (1940) — german seizure , occupation of vichy france, without italian support. see fall anton ( case anton ) , lila.
cycle (1940) — british , allied evacuation le havre
dynamo (1940) — british & allied evacuation dunkirk.
fall gelb ( case yellow ) (1939–40) — offensive against netherlands, belgium , luxembourg.
fall rot ( case red ) (1939–40) — invasion of france , rout of british expeditionary force
grunpfeil (1940) — invasion of british held channel islands.
granit (granite) (1940) — fallschirmjäger capture of fort eben-emael
mondscheinsonate ( moonlight sonata ) (1940) — luftwaffe raid on coventry
royal marine (1940) — dropping of naval mines rhine (originally operation marine)
seelöwe ( sealion ) (1940) — planned invasion of britain

adlerangriff ( eagle attack ) — axis effort destroy raf prior invasion. preceded attacks on shipping known kanalkampf (channel battle). aerial battles during period later dubbed battle of britain.
fall grün ( case green ) (1940) — planned invasion of ireland part of seelöwe
herbstreise ( autumn journey ) — planned/diversionary invasion of scotland part of seelöwe.


tannenbaum ( christmas tree ) (1940) — planned invasion of switzerland.
xd (1940) — series of demolition operations prevent capture of oil installations , stocks germans

1941

chess (1941) — commando raid on ambleteuse, pas-de-calais, france
colossus (1941) — feb. 10, commando raid on tragino aqueduct near calitri, italy.


operation barbarossa

1942

aflame (1942) — commando raid on berck in france
aquatint (1942) — commando raid on normandy in france
barricade (1942) — commando raid on pointe de saire south of barfleur in france
basalt (1942) — commando raid on sark in 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 forces , matériel roundup. later utilized during torch , overlord.
branford (1942) — commando raid on burhou in channel islands
zerberus — ( cerberus ) (1942) — break-out of german capital ships brest later dubbed channel dash .
chariot (1942) — british raid on saint nazaire.
clawhammer (1942) — planned commando raid on radar site in france.
dryad (1942) — commando raid on casquets lighthouse in channel islands
fahrenheit (1942) — commando raid @ pointe de plouezec on north brittany coast
fall anton (1942) — german occupation of vichy france: attila renamed, italian support.
frankton (1942) — commando raid on shipping in bordeaux.
jubilee (1942) — repelled raid on dieppe. see operation rutter.

abercrombie (1942) — raid on hardelot in preparation jubilee.
cauldron (1942) — raid on varengeville in support of jubilee.


lila (1942) — plan capture french fleet @ toulon.
millennium (1942) — british 1000 bomber raid on cologne.
plan w (1942) — planning between allies , neutral Éire (ireland) deal fall grün.
roundup (1942) — plan invade europe in event of german or soviet collapse. later abandoned in favor of torch landings. planning roundup included;

sledgehammer (1942) — establishment of beachhead in cherbourg or brest.
roundhammer — revised planning roundup.


sickle (1942) — build-up of air forces in uk

1943

bellicose (1943) — british bombing mission against friedrichshafen , la spezia.
bolero (1943/1944) — build-up of forces , matériel in preparation allied invasion of france.
chastise (1943) — bombing of ruhr area dams popularly known dambuster raid.
corona (1943) — bombing raid on kassel, germany.
constellation (1943) — 1 of several proposals retake channel islands;

condor (1943) — proposal retake jersey
concertina (1943) — proposal retake alderney
coverlet (1943) — proposal retake guernsey


crossbow (1943/1944) — plan destroy rocket production , launch sites. see pointblank.

hydra (1943) — bombing of peenemünde rocket research center.


double strike (1943) — bombing of regensburg , schweinfurt.
operation huckaback (1943) — commando raid on herm in channel islands
project habakkuk (1943) — project construct aircraft carrier ice.
pointblank (1943) — umbrella bombing offensive usaaf , raf in preparation overlord.

gomorrah (1943) — sequence of air raids on hamburg.


rankin (1943) — planned liberation of channel islands

1944

abel (1944) — harassment of german retreat in france
astonia (1944) — assault on le havre
axehead (1944) — proposed assault crossing of lower seine , capture of le havre , rouen (superseded astonia)
benson (1944) — reconnaissance mission belgian sas near amiens
bergbang (1944) — unsuccessful mission belgian sas east of river meuse
brutus (1944) — mission belgian sas in ardennes arm local resistance , reinforce sas forces
bulbasket (1944) — sas operation prevent german reinforcements moving southern france normandy
bunyan (1944) — disruption mission belgian sas in chartres area
caliban (1944) — mission belgian sas near leopoldsburg disrupt german communications
chaucer (1944) — belgian sas operation near le mans harry german retreat
clipper (1944) — allied assault on siegfried line @ geilenkirchen.
constellation (1944) — occupation of venray , venlo british viii corps.

aintree (1944) — occupation of overloon , venray british 3rd infantry division.


cooney (1944) — french sas operation in brittany cut railway lines
derry (1944) — sas operation near le mans disrupt german retreat brest
diver (1944) — defence of london against v-1 attack.
fabian (1944) — belgian sas reconnaissance operation around arnhem (also involved in recovery of british paratroops after operation market garden
franklin (1944) — french sas operation in ardennes in support of viii corps
fusilade (1944) — capture of dieppe
gaff (1944) — sas operation near rambouillet kill or capture field marshal erwin rommel, instead destroyed trains , attacked german headquarters
gain (1944) — sas successful sas operation southwest of paris disrupt enemy communications
gatwick (1944) — precursor of operation veritable
gobbo (1944) — belgian sas intelligence gathering operation in northern holland, near drente
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
harrod (1944) — french sas operation in saone et loire in support of 3rd army
houndsmith (1944) — special air service (sas) action near dijon.
houndsworth (1944) — special air service (sas) campaign in , around morvan.
hurricane (1944) — bombing of ruhr. see chastise.
independence (1944) — clearance of german garrisons on gironde estuary (postponed, later revived operation venerable)
infatuate (1944) capture of walcheren island — final phase of battle of scheldt.
jedburgh (1944) — airdrop of operatives france, belgium , netherlands conduct sabotage , guerrilla warfare, , lead local resistance forces in actions against germans.
jericho (1944) — air-raid on amiens prison release french resistance prisoners
jockworth (1944) — french sas operation near lyons impede german movements , bolster local resistance; became active in fighting in lyons
kipling (1944) — british sas action near auxerre aid allied airborne landings in orleans gap; these cancelled , sas harassed enemy in support of allied ground advance
loyton (1944) — unsuccessful large sas action in vosges mountains.
lüttich (1944) — german counter-offensive @ mortain.
marine (1944) — dropping of naval mines rhine
market garden (1944) — allied land , airborne attempt cross lower rhine.

comet (1944) — draft of market garden
berlin (1944) — withdrawal of british 1st airborne.


marshall (1944) — french sas mission harass enemy , stiffen local resistance around correze
moses (1944) — free french sas action around poitiers
newton (1944) — free french sas action in burgundy, france
noah (1944) — response blowing of river dykes near nijmegen , consequential flooding
olive (1944) — offensive against gothic line.
overlord (1944) — invasion of normandy, france. see pointblank.

aberlour (1944) — cancelled follow-up mitten.
astonia (1944) — assault on le havre
bluecoat (1944) — launched support operation cobra
bodyguard — deception plan, including:

fortitude (1944) —

skye


fortitude (1944) — 2 deception operations mislead on location of landings
glimmer (1944) — feint towards pas-de-calais
hambone (1944) — known copperhead
jael
quicksilver
zeppelin (1944) — deception plan depict amphibious landing on crete, western greece, or romanian black sea coast


charnwood (1944) — assault on caen.
chicago — allied airdrop
cobra (1944) — breakout normandy.

dunhill (1944) — sas reconnaissance action in support of cobra.


cooney (1944) — free french sas action in st malo area.
dauntless (1944) — see operation martlet
defoe (1944) — ineffective sas reconnaissance around argentan in normandy
detroit (1944) — american airdrop in normandy
dingson (1944) — free french sas operation around vannes disrupt communications , arm local resistance

lost (1944) — french sas team in brittany link dingson


epsom (1944) — british assault west of caen, normandy, aimed @ capturing city

martlet (1944) — supporting operation launched day before operation epsom


goodwood (1944) — british armoured assault capture bourguébus ridge, destroy german armoured reserves , support operation atlantic

atlantic (1944) — operation capture remaining sections of german-occupied city of caen. launched side side operation goodwood
greenline (1944) — diversionary attack xii corps designed draw german attention away upcoming assault, out of orne bridgehead, codenamed goodwood.
pomegranate (1944) — diversionary attack xxx corps designed draw german attention away upcoming assault, out of orne bridgehead, codenamed goodwood.


grouse (1944) — advance towards tinchebray (also called wallop).
jupiter — british attack occupy , hold hill 112, near caen
kitten (1944) — british , canadian advance seine.
mulberry (1944) — creation of safe anchorages using block ships
neptune — landing phase of overlord

accumulator (1944) — diversionary naval operation near channel islands
bravado (1944) — mine-laying around kiel canal inhibit german naval reaction
gambit (1944) — use of x-craft midget submarines navigation beacons off sword , juno beaches
maple — allied naval minelaying operations inhibit german naval reaction


mitten (1944) — elimination of german position @ chateau de la ronde
paddle (1944) — canadian pursuit of german forces
pirate (1944) — anglo-canadian training exercise prior d-day, @ studland bay, england
pluto (1944) — construction of undersea oil pipelines between england , france
postage able (1944) — landing beach surveys using x-craft , divers
smash (1944) — british training exercise prior d-day, @ studland bay, dorset, england
spring — canadian attack on high ground, south of caen
sussex — insertion of french oss operatives france report german troop movements
tiger (1944) — allied training exercise prior d-day, near slapton, england
tonga — british airdrop in normandy, east of orne river
totalize (1944) — allied advance capture highground north of city of falaise
tractable (1944) — attack capture city of falaise, , close falaise pocket
trousers (1944) — anglo-canadian training exercise prior d-day, near slapton, england
walter (1944) — tidy-up operation, using 2 brigades.
wallop (1944) — advance towards tinchebray (also called grouse).
windsor (1944) — capture of carpiquet.


pegasus (1944) — allied rescue of troops after failure of market garden
queen (1944) — aerial close-support operation in hurtgen forest, east of aachen
switchback (1944) taking of breskens pocket, first phase of battle of scheldt.
totter (1944) combined roc , raf anti v-1 efforts
undergo (1944) — assault on calais
vitality (1944) taking of south beveland, second phase of battle of scheldt.
wacht rhein ( watch on rhine ) (1944) — counteroffensive in ardennes

greif ( griffin ) (1944) — infiltration using troops disguised in allied uniforms.
stösser (1944) — airborne drop in support of wacht rhein.
bodenplatte ( baseplate ) (1945) — luftwaffe support raids on allied airbases. rescheduled 1 january 1945.


wellhit (1944) — assault on boulogne

1945

amherst (1945) — french airborne sas raid in north-east netherlands
anger (1945) — cross neder rijn , capture arnhem
barker (1944) — french sas operation protect exposed right flank of 3rd army
blackcock (1945) — clearance of roer triangle british 2nd army
bremen (1945) — occupation of bremen
cannonshot (1945) — crossing ijssel
cleanser (1945) — advance ijsselmeer
crosskeys (1945) — establishment of allied coastal , minesweeping forces in danish waters
destroyer (1945) — clearing island
dickens (1944) — highly successful french sas operation around nantes disrupt rail lines, gather intelligence , support local resistance
eclipse (1945) — occupation of north german ports
exodus (1945) — repatriation of pows
goldflake (1945) — canadian 1st corps moves italy northwest europe under command of canadian first army
grenade (1945) — ninth army advance roer (see veritable)
howard (1945) — special air service reconnaissance operation ahead of canadian 4th armoured division advance towards oldenburg
keystone (1945) — special air service mission capture bridges on apeldoorn canal , harass enemy south of ijsselmeer
larkswood (1945) — belgian sas reconnaissance operation ahead of canadian , polish units in holland , germany
manna , chowhound — food droppings in holland relieve dutch famine.
nestegg (1945) — reoccupation of channel islands
nordwind ( north wind ) (1945) — attempt open second front in alsace
placket (1945) — delivery sea of essential supplies dutch civilians
plunder (1945) — 21st army group crossing of rhine

archway (1945) — sas operation support plunder , subsequent advance kiel
varsity — airborne crossing in conjunction plunder


schneeman (1945) — german attempt open second front in netherlands.
valediction (1945) — original plan canadian first army s advance through klever reichswald xanten, delayed renamed veritable
venerable (1945) — clearance of german garrisons on gironde estuary (operation independence, revived)

jupiter (1945) — assault on Île d oléron


veritable (1945) — canadian first army s advance through klever reichswald xanten co-ordinated grenade (formerly valediction)

blockbuster (1945) — final phases of veritable
heather (1945) — reinforcement of xxx corps british 3rd infantry division
ventilate (1945) — cancelled assault crossing of maas british 3rd infantry division