After spreading throughout Europe, Celts had been threatening Macedon and northern Greek states for years when a Celtic leader decided to invade. And just as the Spartans had done in 480 BC, a coalition of Greeks marched to meet them at Thermopylae. The ancient pass would once again be the site of a battle for the future of Greece.
By September of 1944, the Western Allies had broken out of the Normandy beachehead, and suddenly and quickly moved across northern France . By September 7th, the 90th division was stretched across the northern sector on Patton’s Third Army’s left, advancing slowly northeast. As they did so the German defenders made a risky attack in an effort to spoil the allied advance, cutting through Allied lines in a surprise action at the small town of Mairy-Mannville.