The Battle of The Battle of BerlinBerlin

The Fall of Hitler and the The Fall of Hitler and the Third ReichThird Reich

Final Offensive from the Final Offensive from the WestWest

After Battle of the Bulge, the Allies paused only briefly After Battle of the Bulge, the Allies paused only briefly before resuming the offensive. Eisenhower had already before resuming the offensive. Eisenhower had already decided that his forces should advance to the Rhine and decided that his forces should advance to the Rhine and cover its length before crossing; he wanted to shorten cover its length before crossing; he wanted to shorten Allied lines, provide a defensible position to counter Allied lines, provide a defensible position to counter further German counterattacks, and free troops to build further German counterattacks, and free troops to build up strong reserves. up strong reserves.

The Western Allies found a great deal of success in their The Western Allies found a great deal of success in their engagements with the Germans.engagements with the Germans.

Nevertheless, Eisenhower resisted British pressure to Nevertheless, Eisenhower resisted British pressure to drive on to Berlin. He saw no point in taking casualties to drive on to Berlin. He saw no point in taking casualties to capture ground that, in line with earlier agreements capture ground that, in line with earlier agreements between Allied leaders, would have to be relinquished to between Allied leaders, would have to be relinquished to the Soviets once hostilities ceased. His objective the Soviets once hostilities ceased. His objective remained to capture or destroy the remnants of the remained to capture or destroy the remnants of the German armed forces. German armed forces.

Offensive from the West Offensive from the West continued…continued…

No offensive was planned to take the city. The No offensive was planned to take the city. The major Western Allied contribution to the battle for major Western Allied contribution to the battle for Berlin was a strategic bombing of it. During 1945 Berlin was a strategic bombing of it. During 1945 the West launched a number of very large daytime the West launched a number of very large daytime raids on Berlin and for 36 consecutive nights, raids on Berlin and for 36 consecutive nights, bombers raided the German capital, ending on the bombers raided the German capital, ending on the night of 20/21 April 1945, just before the Soviets night of 20/21 April 1945, just before the Soviets entered the city. entered the city.

As the battles raged, British, American, and Soviet As the battles raged, British, American, and Soviet forces neared previously negotiated stop lines forces neared previously negotiated stop lines along the Elbe and Mulde Rivers. along the Elbe and Mulde Rivers.

German forces in Italy surrendered effective May German forces in Italy surrendered effective May 2 and those in the Netherlands, northwestern 2 and those in the Netherlands, northwestern Germany, and Denmark on May 4. Germany, and Denmark on May 4.

Final Offensive from the Final Offensive from the EastEast

On 20 April, Hitler's birthday, Soviet artillery On 20 April, Hitler's birthday, Soviet artillery began to shell the centre of Berlin and did not began to shell the centre of Berlin and did not stop until the city surrendered.stop until the city surrendered.

Outside his bunker, Hitler awards the Iron Cross to Hitler Youth on his 56th Birthday.

Russian Encirclement of Russian Encirclement of BerlinBerlin

On 23 April, the Soviet 1st Belorussian Front and 1st On 23 April, the Soviet 1st Belorussian Front and 1st Ukrainian Front continued to tighten the encirclement. Ukrainian Front continued to tighten the encirclement. This included cutting off the last link that the German IX This included cutting off the last link that the German IX Army had with the city. Elements of 1st Ukrainian Front Army had with the city. Elements of 1st Ukrainian Front continued to move westward and started to engage the continued to move westward and started to engage the German XII Army, moving towards BerlinGerman XII Army, moving towards Berlin

By April 24 elements of 1st Belorussian Front and 1st By April 24 elements of 1st Belorussian Front and 1st Ukrainian Front had completed the encirclement of the city.Ukrainian Front had completed the encirclement of the city.

The next day, 25 April, the Soviet attack on Berlin was The next day, 25 April, the Soviet attack on Berlin was consolidated by leading Soviet troops to probe and consolidated by leading Soviet troops to probe and penetrate the German defensive ring. By the end of the 25 penetrate the German defensive ring. By the end of the 25 April it became obvious that the German defence of Berlin April it became obvious that the German defence of Berlin could not stop the Russian onslaught, but only temporally could not stop the Russian onslaught, but only temporally delay it. delay it.

Russians Advance to Russians Advance to ReichstagReichstag

Battle for the ReichstagBattle for the Reichstag The Reichstag was one of the places where the The Reichstag was one of the places where the

fighting was heaviest, with house-to-house and fighting was heaviest, with house-to-house and hand-to-hand combat. German SS soldiers fought hand-to-hand combat. German SS soldiers fought especially hard, as they were ideologically especially hard, as they were ideologically motivated and they believed that they would not live motivated and they believed that they would not live if captured.if captured.

In the early hours of the 29 April the Soviet 3rd In the early hours of the 29 April the Soviet 3rd Shock Army crossed the Moltke bridge and began to Shock Army crossed the Moltke bridge and began to spread out into the surrounding area. spread out into the surrounding area.

At 04:00 hours, in the Führerbunker, Hitler signed At 04:00 hours, in the Führerbunker, Hitler signed his last will and testament and, shortly afterwards, his last will and testament and, shortly afterwards, married Eva Braun. At dawn the Soviets pressed on married Eva Braun. At dawn the Soviets pressed on with their assault in the south east. After very heavy with their assault in the south east. After very heavy fighting they managed to capture the Gestapo fighting they managed to capture the Gestapo headquarters.headquarters.

Hitler Commits SuicideHitler Commits Suicide Just days before his death Hitler married Just days before his death Hitler married

Eva Braun. That same night he tested out a Eva Braun. That same night he tested out a cyanide pill on his German Shepherd dog, cyanide pill on his German Shepherd dog, Blondi. Braun agreed to commit suicide Blondi. Braun agreed to commit suicide with him.with him.

The Soviet troops were now only 300 yards The Soviet troops were now only 300 yards away from Hitler's underground bunker. away from Hitler's underground bunker. Although defeat was assured, Hitler Although defeat was assured, Hitler demanded his troops fight to the death. demanded his troops fight to the death. Instructions were constantly being sent out Instructions were constantly being sent out giving orders that the Germans execute giving orders that the Germans execute any military commanders who retreated.any military commanders who retreated.

On 30th April, 1945, after saying their On 30th April, 1945, after saying their farewells, Hitler and Eva Braun went into a farewells, Hitler and Eva Braun went into a private room and took cyanide tablets. private room and took cyanide tablets. Hitler also shot himself in the head. There Hitler also shot himself in the head. There are some discrepancies over what was are some discrepancies over what was done with their bodies.done with their bodies.

Time Magazine - May 7, Time Magazine - May 7, 19451945

Soviets Capture the Soviets Capture the ReichstagReichstag

By the next day, 30 April, the Soviets had gained By the next day, 30 April, the Soviets had gained artillery support and at 06:00 they launched an artillery support and at 06:00 they launched an attack on the Reichstag.attack on the Reichstag.

Soviet troops fought their way to the top of the Soviet troops fought their way to the top of the building and hoisted the red flag on the top of building and hoisted the red flag on the top of the Reichstag at 22:50 the Reichstag at 22:50

Soviets Capture Soviets Capture ReichstagReichstag

German SurrenderGerman Surrender

On the night of the 2/3 May General Hasso von On the night of the 2/3 May General Hasso von Manteuffel, commander of the III Panzer Army Manteuffel, commander of the III Panzer Army and Kurt von Tippelskirch commander of the and Kurt von Tippelskirch commander of the XXI Army surrendered to the Americans. XXI Army surrendered to the Americans.

On the morning of 7 May the perimeter of On the morning of 7 May the perimeter of Wenck's XII army's bridgehead was Wenck's XII army's bridgehead was compromised. Wenck crossed the Elbe under compromised. Wenck crossed the Elbe under small arms fire that afternoon and surrendered small arms fire that afternoon and surrendered to the Americans. Those who did not succeed to the Americans. Those who did not succeed in crossing the Elbe surrendered to the in crossing the Elbe surrendered to the Soviets.Soviets.