Atlas of Battles

war, 31 engagements

Battles of the Western Front

The atlas places 31 engagements of the Western Front (1939 to 1945): 24 battles, 6 sieges and 1 naval action across 6 present-day countries, most in Belgium (10), France (10), Netherlands (4). The most widely documented: Battle of France, Dunkirk evacuation, Battle of Dunkirk, German invasion of Belgium, Operation Nordwind.

See them on the globe

Battle of MaastrichtBattle of SedanBattle of BoulogneBattle of the Ypres-Comines CanalSiege of LilleBattle of Pont-de-l'ArcheBattle of Lanzerath RidgeBattle of MoerbruggeSiege of DunkirkBattle of MetzBattle of OpheusdenBattle of ViandenBattle of BroekhuizenLosheim GapBattle of ClervauxSiege of BastogneBattle of St. VithBattle of BureBattle for the Kapelsche VeerOperation BlockbusterBattle of WürzburgRuhr PocketBattle of HamburgBattle of FranceGerman invasion of BelgiumBattle of DunkirkDunkirk evacuationOperation NordwindOperation BodenplatteBattle of FranceGerman invasion of BelgiumBattle of DunkirkDunkirk evacuationOperation NordwindOperation BodenplatteAmsterdamFrankfurtHamburgMunichThe HagueLe HavreStuttgartCologneNürnbergBremen200 km51.025N, 5.806E
31 placed engagements, coloured by era. Present-day coastlines; ringed marks are the most widely documented.

Engagements by year

1940: 11 engagements1944: 13 engagements13 in 19441945: 7 engagements19401945
31 dated engagements, one bar per year, coloured by era.

The war in time order

Siege of Fort Hegra, 1940Battle of France, 1940German invasion of Belgium, 1940Battle of Maastricht, 1940Battle of Sedan, 1940Battle of Boulogne, 1940Battle of Dunkirk, 1940Battle of the Ypres-Comines Canal, 1940Siege of Lille, 1940Dunkirk evacuation, 1940Battle of Pont-de-l'Arche, 1940Battle of Lanzerath Ridge, 1944Operation Madelaine, 1944Battle of Moerbrugge, 1944Siege of Dunkirk, 1944Battle of Metz, 1944Battle of Opheusden, 1944Battle of Vianden, 1944Battle of Broekhuizen, 1944Losheim Gap, 1944Battle of Clervaux, 1944Siege of Bastogne, 1944Battle of St. Vith, 1944Operation Nordwind, 1944Operation Bodenplatte, 1945Battle of Bure, 1945Battle for the Kapelsche Veer, 1945Operation Blockbuster, 1945Battle of Würzburg, 1945Ruhr Pocket, 1945Battle of Hamburg, 194519401945
One tick per dated engagement; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Commanders 18 with pages

Engagements by date

DateEngagementPlaceResult
1940Siege of Fort HegraNorway
1940Battle of FranceFrance, BelgiumAxis victory
1940German invasion of BelgiumBelgiumGerman victory
10 May 1940Battle of MaastrichtMaastricht, NetherlandsGerman victory
13 May 1940Battle of SedanSedan, FranceGerman victory
22 May 1940Battle of BoulogneBoulogne-sur-Mer, FranceGerman victory
26 May 1940Battle of DunkirkDunkirk, FranceSee aftermath
1940Battle of the Ypres-Comines CanalYpres, BelgiumSuccessful British delaying action; Withdrawal of the BEF to Dunkirk
28 May 1940Siege of LilleLille, FranceSee Aftermath section
4 June 1940Dunkirk evacuationEnglish Channel, FranceSuccessful retreat
1940Battle of Pont-de-l'ArcheFrance
1944Battle of Lanzerath RidgeBelgiumGerman victory
1944Operation MadelaineTornac, France
1944Battle of MoerbruggeMoerbrugge, BelgiumAllied victory
15 September 1944Siege of DunkirkDunkirk, FranceSee § End of war
27 September 1944Battle of MetzMetz, FranceAmerican victory
4 October 1944Battle of OpheusdenOpheusden, Netherlands
15 November 1944Battle of ViandenVianden, LuxembourgLuxembourgish victory; Germany fails to capture Vianden; Waffen SS...
27 November 1944Battle of BroekhuizenBroekhuizen, NetherlandsBritish victory
17 December 1944Losheim GapBüllingen, BelgiumGerman victory
18 December 1944Battle of ClervauxClervaux, LuxembourgGerman victory
20 December 1944Siege of BastogneBastogne, BelgiumAmerican victory
21 December 1944Battle of St. VithSankt Vith, BelgiumGerman victory
1944Operation NordwindAlsace, FranceAllied victory
1945Operation BodenplatteBelgiumSee Aftermath and casualties
3 January 1945Battle of BureRochefort, BelgiumAllied victory
26 January 1945Battle for the Kapelsche VeerNetherlandsAllied victory
1945Operation BlockbusterGermanyAllied victory
31 March 1945Battle of WürzburgWürzburg, GermanyAmerican victory
18 April 1945Ruhr PocketRuhr Region, GermanyAllied victory; Capitulation of the German Army Group B
1945Battle of HamburgHamburg, GermanyBritish victory

Engagements are the Wikidata records placed within the Western Front (or a campaign of it) that carry coordinates; actions without coordinates are not shown.