The battleline opened against Germany on 6
June 1944 by the Allies (Britain and the
USA). Following Germany's invasion of Russia
in June 1941 (the `first front'), Russian
leader Joseph Stalin asked Britain to invade
the European mainland, to relieve pressure on
the Red Army. An Anglo-American invasion
fleet landed on the Normandy beaches and,
after overcoming fierce German resistance,
Paris was liberated by the Allied forces 25
Aug 1944.