On 6 June 1944 the Allied troops landed on the beeches of Normandy. This landing was the start of the liberation of Europe. Around 29 August 1944, when there was a large-scale withdrawal of German troops east of the Seine, the Allied campaign to the north of France in the direction of Belgium finally started.

On 1 September 1944 the Allied troops crossed the Belgian border in several places. The 2nd British Army of General Sir Miles Dempsey played an important role in this campaign.