Battle of Berlin in World War II

Battle of Berlin in World War II The Battle of Berlin was a sustained and ultimately successful attack on the German city by the Allied forces in the Soviet Union from April 16–May 2, 1945, during World War II (1939–1945). Armies Commanders Allies: Soviet Union Marshal Georgy ZhukovMarshal Konstantin RokossovskyMarshal Ivan KonevGeneral Vasily Chuikovapprox. 2,500,000 men Axis: Germany General Gotthard HeinriciGeneral Kurt von TippelskirchField Marshal Ferdinand Schà ¶rnerLieutenant General Hellmuth ReymannGeneral Helmuth WeidlingMajor General Erich Brenfngerapprox. 766,750 men Background Having driven across Poland and into Germany, Soviet forces began planning for an offensive against Berlin. Though supported by American and British aircraft, the campaign would be entirely conducted by the Red Army on the ground. General Dwight D. Eisenhower saw no reason to sustain losses for an objective that would ultimately fall into the Soviet occupation zone after the war. For the offensive, the Red Army massed Marshal Georgy Zhukovs 1st Belorussian Front to the east of Berlin with Marshal Konstantin Rokossovkys 2nd Belorussian Front to the north and Marshal Ivan Konevs 1st Ukrainian Front to the south. Opposing the Soviets was General Gotthard Heinricis Army Group Vistula supported by Army Group Centre to the south. One of Germanys premier defensive generals, Heinrici elected not to defend along the Oder River and instead heavily fortified the Seelow Heights east of Berlin. This position was supported by successive lines of defenses extending back to the city as well as by inundating the Oders floodplain by opening reservoirs. Defense of the capital proper was tasked to Lieutenant General Helmuth Reymann. Though their forces looked strong on paper, Heinrici and Reymanns divisions were badly depleted. The Attack Begins Moving forward on April 16, Zhukovs men assaulted the Seelow Heights. In one of the last major pitched battles of World War II in Europe, the Soviets captured the position after four days of fighting but sustained over 30,000 killed. To the south, Konevs command captured Forst and broke into open country south of Berlin. While part of Konevs forces swung north towards Berlin, another pressed west to unite with advancing American troops. These breakthroughs saw Soviet troops nearly envelop the German 9th Army. Pushing westward, 1st Belorussian Front approached Berlin from the east and northeast. On April 21, its artillery began shelling the city. Encircling the City As Zhukov drove on the city, the 1st Ukrainian Front continued to make gains to the south. Driving back the northern part of Army Group Center, Konev compelled that command to retreat towards Czechoslovakia. Pushing forward north of Juterbog on April 21, his troops passed south of Berlin. Both of these advances were supported by Rokossovsky to the north who was advancing against the northern part of Army Group Vistula. In Berlin, Adolf Hitler began to despair and concluded that the war was lost. In an effort to rescue the situation, the 12th Army was ordered east on April 22 in the hope it could unite with 9th Army. The Germans then intended for the combined force to aid in defending the city. The next day, Konevs front completed the encirclement of the 9th Army while also engaging the lead elements of the 12th. Unhappy with Reymanns performance, Hitler replaced him with General Helmuth Weidling. On April 24, elements of Zhukov and Konevs fronts met west of Berlin completing the encirclement of the city. Consolidating this position, they began probing the citys defenses. While Rokossovsky continued to advance in the north, part of Konevs front met the American 1st Army at Torgau on April 25. Outside of the City With Army Group Centre disengaging, Konev faced two separate German forces in the form of the 9th Army which was trapped around Halbe and the 12th Army which was attempting to break into Berlin. As the battle progressed, 9th Army attempted to break out and was partially successful with around 25,000 men reaching 12th Armys lines. On April 28/29, Heinrici was to be replaced by General Kurt Student.  Until Student could arrive (he never did), command was given to General Kurt von Tippelskirch. Attacking northeast, General Walther Wencks 12th Army had some success before being halted 20 miles from the city at Lake Schwielow. Unable to advance and coming under attack, Wenck retreated towards the Elbe and U.S. forces. The Final Battle Within Berlin, Weidling possessed around 45,000 men composed of Wehrmacht, SS, Hitler Youth, and Volkssturm militia. Initial Soviet assaults on Berlin began on April 23, a day before the city was encircled. Striking from the southeast, they met heavy resistance but reached the Berlin S-Bahn railway near Teltow Canal by the following evening. On April 26, Lieutenant General Vasily Chuikovs 8th Guards Army advanced from the south and attacked Tempelhof Airport. By the next day, Soviet forces were pushing into the city along multiple lines from the south, southeast, and north. Early on April 29, Soviet troops crossed Moltke Bridge and began attacks on the Interior Ministry. These were slowed by a lack of artillery support. After capturing Gestapo headquarters later that day, the Soviets pressed on to the Reichstag. Assaulting the iconic building the next day, they succeeded in famously hoisting a flag over it after hours of brutal fighting. A further two days were needed to completely clear the Germans from the building. Meeting with Hitler early on April 30, Weidling informed him that the defenders would soon run out of ammunition. Seeing no other option, Hitler authorized Weidling to attempt a breakout. Unwilling to leave the city and with the Soviets nearing, Hitler and Eva Braun, who were married on April 29, remained in the Fà ¼hrerbunker and then committed suicide later in the day. With Hitlers death, Grand Admiral Karl Doenitz became president while Joseph Goebbels, who was in Berlin, became chancellor. On May 1, the citys remaining 10,000 defenders were forced into a shrinking area in the city center. Though General Hans Krebs, Chief of the General Staff, opened surrender talks with Chuikov, he was prevented from coming to terms by Goebbels who wished to continue the fight. This ceased to be an issue later in the day when Goebbels committed suicide.? Though the way was clear to surrender, Krebs elected to wait until the following morning so that a breakout could be attempted that night. Moving forward, the Germans sought to escape along three different routes. Only those who passed through the Tiergarten had success penetrating the Soviet lines, though few successfully reached American lines. Early on May 2, Soviet forces captured the Reich Chancellery. At 6:00 am, Weidling surrendered with his staff. Taken to Chuikov, he promptly ordered all remaining German forces in Berlin to surrender. Battle of Berlin Aftermath The Battle of Berlin effectively ended fighting on the Eastern Front and in Europe as a whole. With Hitlers death and complete military defeat, Germany unconditionally surrendered on May 7. Taking possession of Berlin, the Soviets worked to restore services and distribute food to the citys inhabitants. These efforts at humanitarian aid were somewhat marred by some Soviet units which plundered the city and assaulted the populace. In the fighting for Berlin, the Soviets lost 81,116 killed/missing and 280,251 wounded. German casualties are a matter of debate with early Soviet estimates being as high as 458,080 killed and 479,298 captured. Civilian losses may have been as high as 125,000.