Transcript The Battle of Berlin

• Date: January 16, 1945
• Location: Berlin
• Forces Involved:
• Mainly: Soviet Union, Poland, Germany.
• USA, British, French came in with air support.
• Soviet Union & Poland
2,500,000 Soldiers
6,250 Tanks
7,500 Aircraft
41,600 Artillery Peices
- German
766,750 Soldiers
1,519 Armored Fighting Vhicles
2,224 Aircraft
9,303 Artillery Peices
Hilter Youth and Police forces dragged into the army out of
desperation.
- By 1944 the Germans found themselves on the defensive due to the
success of the d-day landings and repeated losses in operation
Barbarossa.
- By 1945, the British, Americans, and Russians were all closing in on
Germany.
- Within the first months of the year, the Russian military was within
100 miles of Berlin.
- In April, Russian forces were closing in on the German capital. With
no where to go, Hitler designated Berlin as a fortress to be
defended.
The Soviets along with Polish allies integrated into their
army, initiated the attack on Berlin. The Soviets set up two fronts
to attack Berlin, one from the East, and one from the South.
- Force Strength:
- 1 million Russian troops and 20,000 + tanks broke through the final
defenses of the Germans, defended by 100,000 Nazis with 1,200 tanks.
- Loses:
- Nazis: 12,000 Men
- Russians: 30,000
- The Soviet Union claimed victory in this Battle.
• Soviets split the Nazi forces in two and began to surround them.
German forces attempted to break out, but failed. However,
the Soviets took heavy casualties losing over 2,807 tanks in 17
days.
• Major Bombing dates (1945):
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•
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April 15 (105 bombers)
April 17 (61 bombers)
April 18 (57 bombers)
April 19 (79 bombers)
April 20 (78 bombers)
- By April 27th the government sector of Berlin was the greatest extent of
Hitler’s rule
- Hitler, 55 feet below the city, thought there was a possibility of Berlin being
saved by the 12th army
- No thought of surrender whatsoever
- On the night of the 29th the fighting was less than ¼ mile from Hitler’s bunker
- Hitler ready to die, determined not to be taken alive
- Hitler commits suicide
- Goebbels wanted to discuss
terms of surrender
- Pockets of resistance still
scattered throughout the
government district
- Russian guns fall silent on
May 2, 1945
• Russia and Poland
81,116 Missing or Dead
280,251 Sick or Wounded
Total Casualties: 361,367 Men
10,097 Tanks
2,108 Artillery Pieces
917 Aircraft
- German
Exact Losses unkown: EST. 92,000-100,000 KIA.
220,000 Wounded
480,000 Prisoners of War
Inside Berlin: 22,000 Soldiers dead, 22,000 civilians dead.
-
Entire city of Berlin reduced to rubble
Staggering loss of life
Many civilians wounded, raped, and went insane
May 8, 1945 – Germany formally surrendered, putting an end
to the Third Reich
- Stalin’s primary mission of securing nuclear research center was
accomplished
• Allies Claim victory over Germany
• Berlin divided into sections rules by different countries (cue the
cold war…)
• Allies raise their flags over many German buildings as a symbol
of Victory.