Battle of Berlin

Questions and Answers

To lure Hitler into moving his vital armored reserves away from Poland

Heavy resistance in East Prussia

750,000 German soldiers Signup and view all the answers

Low Signup and view all the answers

Weidling Signup and view all the answers

The capture of the Reichstag by Soviet troops Signup and view all the answers

It collapsed Signup and view all the answers

Army Detachment Steiner Signup and view all the answers

78,000 killed in action and 274,000 wounded Signup and view all the answers

90,000 to 100,000 killed in action and 200,000 wounded Signup and view all the answers

World War II in Europe Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

In February 1945, the Soviet eighth guards Army stood at the bank of the final river before Berlin.
Hitler's Third Reich was on its last legs, and the Red Army was advancing towards the German border at lightning speed.
Stalin aimed to lure Hitler into moving his vital armored reserves away from Poland, while Soviet armies made a dash across the Vistula river around Warsaw and drove straight toward Berlin.
The Red Army broke out of their bridgeheads on January 12th and quickly advanced towards Berlin.
Heavy resistance in East Prussia left Marshall Georgie Zhukov's flank dangerously exposed to counter-attack from German troops massing in Pomerania, causing the final assault on Berlin to be halted until the flanks were secured.
The final plan called for a three-pronged attack on the Berlin axis to encircle and capture the city within 12 to 15 days.
The Red Army had to find a way to move 29 armies over hundreds of kilometers to create shock groups capable of penetrating the German line in areas only 2.5 to 10 kilometers or 1.5 to 6 miles in width.
The Vermacht constructed a series of well-entrenched defensive lines which barricaded the way into Berlin.
The defenders of Berlin consisted of 750,000 German soldiers supported by 1,519 tanks and assault guns, 9,303 guns and mortars, and 2,200 aircraft.
Morale was at an all-time low, and most suffered from malnutrition and a lack of hygiene.

Zhukov's front opened fire on the first German defensive line.
German intelligence had prior knowledge of the coming offensive.
Soviet forces faced severe terrain problems due to the destruction caused by shelling.
German defenders were caught in the preceding onslaught and many were killed.
Soviet tank armies became stuck in an endless traffic jam.
German morale visibly began to collapse.
Hitler remained confident in a massive counter-stroke by the newly created Army Detachment Steiner.
Weidling was appointed commander of the Berlin defense area.
Soviet troops captured the Reichstag, marking the symbolic end of Hitler's Third Reich.
Hitler knew he had reached the end of the line and gave Weidling the go-ahead to attempt a belated breakout.

Battle of Berlin was a major conflict in World War II
Red Army captured Berlin after a long and costly battle
Hitler committed suicide along with his newly wedded bride
General Weidling ordered remaining German soldiers to surrender
Red Army suffered an estimated 78,000 killed in action and 274,000 wounded
Germans lost an estimated 90,000 to 100,000 killed in action and 200,000 wounded
Red Army left a trail of pillage and destruction, with many women in Berlin sexually assaulted
The conflict marked the end of World War II in Europe
Allied and Soviet occupation began, bringing some normalcy to the region
The Cold War soon followed, leading to new crises in the city.