April May 1945 Berlin Offensive (1945)

“On the night of April 22, the remnants of our 12th company gathered in Brizen. Here we could rest. When morning came, the news suddenly swept through the village: “The Russians are coming!” The streets immediately became empty. I ran along with others to the west.
We passed the artillery position. The gunners swore desperately: they could not fire, since 105-mm shells were sent to them for 150-mm guns. Two hours later, passing by another battery, where there were 105-mm guns, we heard that 150-mm shells had been sent to them. What is it - an accident or malicious intent?
To the west, bypassing the main roads, stretched a stream of army columns and an occasion with refugees. We joined them and continued on our way through the Brandenburg fields and pine forests. Stopping in the forestry, we ate there everything that was edible, so as not to leave anything to the Russians. So we fled west in search of our regimental train, but he was elusive as a ghost and we never saw him again.

In Koenigs-Wusterhausen, white flags were hung everywhere. Not a single German soldier was in sight. The staff of the infirmary fled. The helpless wounded were left to fend for themselves. We turned towards Spreenhausen. We walked until we heard the sounds of battle in the north.
Already with caution, we moved forward and saw a comical picture - a crowd of boys in SS field jackets and short shorts or ski pants. Among them were several officers and junior commanders of the SS troops. It turned out that they had recently been drafted into the SS troops and sent to Spreenhausen. They had not yet received full uniforms when the Russians swooped in here.

We, that is, those who survived from the Falke so far, were gratefully accepted into the detachment. We had to defend the Oder-Spree canal, the northern bank of which was already occupied by the Russians. Other recruits and soldiers who fought off the units stationed in Spreenhagen, who participated in the unsuccessful attack from the Hartmansdorf bridgehead, should have been located there.
So, we lay on the banks of the canal for several hours. I dozed off, and when I woke up, I found that we were four; we were left here alone. Our commander was one Unterscharführer. We moved south, and after a few kilometers we came to a busy road, where we joined those who were walking and driving in a westerly direction ...
On the eastern outskirts of Wolzig, an open Volkswagen pulled up next to us, from which some Obersturmbannfuehrer in camouflage leaned out and asked which unit we were from. When he learned that we were from the Falke SS regiment, he introduced himself as Obersturmbannführer Junghas and said that he was in command of a regiment of foreigners.
He invited us to join him. So we again found a soldier's homeland and met the commander. Now a battalion of Hungarians became my part, which, however, I hardly distinguished from Russians ...

I was on guard. Anxiety did not allow me to sit still, and I delved into the transverse wing of the vast house, reaching the glazed veranda. What I saw in the yard made me freeze in place with horror - there was a T-34 tank, and its crew nearby was urinating.
I rushed to warn my comrades. But as soon as he opened the back door, he saw an approaching chain of Russian soldiers. In the blink of an eye, I threw up to my shoulder and released the entire magazine into them. The Russians were as surprised as I was and ran for cover. I rushed to the basement and yelled: "Russians are here!"
In a hurry, everyone rushed through the garden, jumping over the beds of asparagus, to the gap in the fence. I had an eerie feeling that now the gunner of a Russian tank was looking at me through the scope. We rushed through the forest at a run, and the Russians sent bullets after us. There were wounded and dead. Then Russian tanks opened fire. The explosion of a shell tore off one of our arm to the elbow ....

There were no more military units as such. The officers tore off their shoulder straps, exchanging them for a backpack and a staff, so that they would not have to answer for anything or anyone else. Only we, the young ones, who would later be called fanatics, continued to trudge with weapons and ammunition, breaking down the barriers so that the stream of unarmed soldiers could rush on.
How many small "cauldrons", how many lagging behind their units and surrounded by groups of soldiers perished in that confusion, no one will ever know. Again and again we were told: SS troops forward! And we went forward, breaking through to the west ... "- from the memoirs of the grenadier Musa, the SS grenadier regiment "Falke" from the SS division "January 30".

The final battle in the Great Patriotic War was the battle for Berlin, or the Berlin strategic offensive operation, which was carried out from April 16 to May 8, 1945.

On April 16, at 03:00 local time, aviation and artillery preparation began on the sector of the 1st Belorussian and 1st Ukrainian fronts. After its completion, 143 searchlights were turned on to blind the enemy, and the infantry, supported by tanks, went on the attack. Encountering no strong resistance, she advanced 1.5-2 kilometers. However, the further our troops advanced, the stronger the resistance of the enemy grew.

The troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front carried out a swift maneuver to reach Berlin from the south and west. On April 25, the troops of the 1st Ukrainian and 1st Belorussian fronts joined up west of Berlin, completing the encirclement of the entire enemy Berlin grouping.

Before the assault on the Reichstag, the Military Council of the 3rd Shock Army presented its divisions with nine Red Banners, specially made according to the type of the State Flag of the USSR. One of these Red Banners, known under No. 5 as the Banner of Victory, was transferred to the 150th Rifle Division. Similar self-made red banners, flags and flags were in all advanced units, formations and subunits. They, as a rule, were handed over to assault groups, which were recruited from among volunteers and went into battle with the main task - to break into the Reichstag and install the Banner of Victory on it. The first - at 22:30 Moscow time on April 30, 1945, hoisted an assault red banner on the roof of the Reichstag on the sculptural figure "Goddess of Victory" - reconnaissance artillerymen of the 136th Army Cannon Artillery Brigade, senior sergeants G.K. Zagitov, A.F. Lisimenko, A.P. Bobrov and Sergeant A.P. Minin from the assault group of the 79th Rifle Corps, commanded by Captain V.N. Makov, the assault group of artillerymen acted jointly with the battalion of captain S.A. Neustroeva. Two or three hours later, also on the roof of the Reichstag, on the sculpture of an equestrian knight - Kaiser Wilhelm - by order of the commander of the 756th Infantry Regiment of the 150th Infantry Division, Colonel F.M. Zinchenko, the Red Banner No. 5 was installed, which then became famous as the Banner of Victory. Red Banner No. 5 was hoisted by scouts Sergeant M.A. Egorov and junior sergeant M.V. Kantaria, who were accompanied by Lieutenant A.P. Berest and machine gunners from the company of senior sergeant I.Ya. Syanov.

The fighting for the Reichstag continued until the morning of May 1. At 6:30 am on May 2, the head of the defense of Berlin, General of Artillery G. Weidling, surrendered and ordered the remnants of the troops of the Berlin garrison to cease resistance. In the middle of the day, the resistance of the Nazis in the city ceased. On the same day, the encircled groupings of German troops southeast of Berlin were liquidated.

On May 9, at 0:43 Moscow time, Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, as well as representatives of the German Navy, who had the appropriate authority from Doenitz, in the presence of Marshal G.K. Zhukov from the Soviet side signed the Act of unconditional surrender of Germany. A brilliant operation, coupled with the courage of Soviet soldiers and officers who fought to end the four-year nightmare of war, led to a logical outcome: Victory.

Capture of Berlin. 1945 Documentary

PROGRESS OF THE BATTLE

The Berlin operation of the Soviet troops began. Goal: complete the defeat of Germany, capture Berlin, connect with the allies

The infantry and tanks of the 1st Belorussian Front launched an attack before dawn under the illumination of anti-aircraft searchlights and advanced 1.5-2 km

With the onset of dawn on the Seelow Heights, the Germans came to their senses and fight with bitterness. Zhukov introduces tank armies into battle

16 Apr. 45g. The troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front of Konev meet less resistance on the way of their offensive and immediately force the Neisse

Commander of the 1st Ukrainian Front Konev orders the commanders of his tank armies Rybalko and Lelyushenko to advance on Berlin

Konev demands from Rybalko and Lelyushenko not to get involved in protracted and head-on battles, to boldly move forward towards Berlin

In the battles for Berlin, twice a Hero of the Soviet Union, commander of a tank battalion of Guards. Mr. S.Khokhryakov

The 2nd Belorussian Front of Rokossovsky joined the Berlin operation, covering the right flank.

By the end of the day, Konev's front had completed the breakthrough of the Neissen line of defense, crossed the river. Spree and provided the conditions for the encirclement of Berlin from the south

Troops of the 1st Belorussian Front Zhukov break the 3rd enemy defense line on the Oderen-on the Seelow Heights all day

By the end of the day, Zhukov's troops completed the breakthrough of the 3rd lane of the Oder line at the Seelow Heights

On the left wing of Zhukov's front, conditions were created for cutting off the Frankfurt-Guben group of the enemy from the area on Berlin

Directive of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command to the commanders of the 1st Belorussian and 1st Ukrainian fronts: "It is better to treat the Germans." , Antonov

Another directive of the Headquarters: on identification marks and signals at the meeting of Soviet armies and allied forces

At 13.50, long-range artillery of the 79th Rifle Corps of the 3rd Shock Army was the first to open fire on Berlin - the beginning of the assault on the city itself

20 Apr. 45g. Konev and Zhukov send almost identical orders to the troops of their fronts: “Be the first to break into Berlin!”

By evening, formations of the 2nd Guards Tank, 3rd and 5th Shock Armies of the 1st Belorussian Front reached the northeastern outskirts of Berlin

The 8th Guards and 1st Guards Tank Armies wedged into the city defensive bypass of Berlin in the districts of Petershagen and Erkner

Hitler ordered the 12th Army, previously targeted against the Americans, to be turned against the 1st Ukrainian Front. She now has the goal of linking up with the remnants of the 9th and 4th Panzer Armies, making their way south of Berlin to the west.

Rybalko's 3rd Guards Tank Army broke into the southern part of Berlin and is fighting for Teltow by 17.30 - Konev's telegram to Stalin

Hitler refused to leave Berlin for the last time while there was such an opportunity. Goebbels and his family moved to a bunker under the Reich Chancellery ("Fuhrer's bunker")

Assault flags were presented by the Military Council of the 3rd Shock Army to the divisions storming Berlin. Among them is the flag that became the banner of victory - the assault flag of the 150th Infantry Division.

In the district of Spremberg, Soviet troops liquidated the encircled group of Germans. Among the destroyed units is the tank division "Protection of the Fuhrer"

Troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front are fighting in the south of Berlin. At the same time, they reached the Elbe River northwest of Dresden

Goering, who had left Berlin, turned to Hitler on the radio, asking him to approve him at the head of the government. Received an order from Hitler removing him from the government. Bormann ordered Goering's arrest for treason

Himmler unsuccessfully tries through the Swedish diplomat Bernadotte to offer the Allies surrender on the Western Front.

Shock formations of the 1st Belorussian and 1st Ukrainian fronts in the Brandenburg region closed the encirclement of German troops in Berlin

Forces of the German 9th and 4th tanks. armies are surrounded in the forests southeast of Berlin. Parts of the 1st Ukrainian Front reflect the counterattack of the 12th German Army

Report: “In the suburbs of Berlin, Ransdorf, there are restaurants where they “willingly sell” beer to our fighters for occupation marks.” The head of the political department of the 28th Guards Rifle Regiment, Borodin, ordered the owners of Ransdorf's restaurants to close them for a while until the battle was over.

In the area of Torgau on the Elbe, Soviet troops of the 1st Ukrainian fr. met with the troops of the 12th American Army Group General Bradley

Having crossed the Spree, the troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front of Konev and the troops of the 1st Belorussian Front of Zhukov are rushing towards the center of Berlin. The rush of Soviet soldiers in Berlin can no longer be stopped

The troops of the 1st Belorussian Front in Berlin occupied Gartenstadt and Gerlitsky Station, the troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front - the district of Dahlem

Konev turned to Zhukov with a proposal to change the demarcation line between their fronts in Berlin - the city center to transfer it to the front

Zhukov asks Stalin to salute the capture of the center of Berlin to the troops of his front, replacing Konev's troops in the south of the city

The General Staff orders Konev's troops, who have already reached the Tiergarten, to transfer their offensive zone to Zhukov's troops

Order No. 1 of the military commandant of Berlin, Hero of the Soviet Union, Colonel-General Berzarin, on the transfer of all power in Berlin into the hands of the Soviet military commandant's office. It was announced to the population of the city that the National Socialist Party of Germany and its organizations were disbanding and their activities were prohibited. The order established the order of behavior of the population and determined the main provisions necessary for the normalization of life in the city.

The battles for the Reichstag began, the mastery of which was entrusted to the 79th rifle corps of the 3rd shock army of the 1st Belorussian Front

When breaking through the barriers on the Berlin Kaiserallee, the tank of N. Shendrikov received 2 holes, caught fire, the crew failed. The mortally wounded commander, having gathered his last strength, sat down at the controls and threw the flaming tank at the enemy cannon

Hitler's marriage to Eva Braun in a bunker under the Reich Chancellery. Witness - Goebbels. In his political testament, Hitler expelled Goering from the NSDAP and officially named Grand Admiral Dönitz as his successor.

Soviet units are fighting for the Berlin metro

The Soviet command rejected attempts by the German command to start negotiations on the time. ceasefire. There is only one demand - surrender!

The assault on the Reichstag building itself began, which was defended by more than 1000 Germans and SS men from different countries

In different places of the Reichstag, several red banners were fixed - from regimental and divisional to self-made

Scouts of the 150th division Egorov and Kantaria were ordered to hoist the Red Banner over the Reichstag around midnight

Lieutenant Berest from the Neustroev battalion led the combat mission of installing the Banner over the Reichstag. Established around 3.00, May 1

Hitler committed suicide in the Reich Chancellery bunker by taking poison and shooting him in the temple with a pistol. Hitler's corpse is burned in the courtyard of the Reich Chancellery

At the post of Chancellor, Hitler leaves Goebbels, who will commit suicide the next day. Before his death, Hitler appointed Bormann Reich Minister for Party Affairs (previously such a post did not exist)

The troops of the 1st Belorussian Front captured Bandenburg, cleared the areas of Charlottenburg, Schöneberg and 100 quarters in Berlin

In Berlin, Goebbels and his wife Magda committed suicide, after killing their 6 children

Beg. German General Staff Krebs, announced the suicide of Hitler, offered to conclude a truce. Stalin confirmed the categorical demand for unconditional surrender in Berlin. At 18 o'clock the Germans rejected him

At 18.30, in connection with the rejection of the surrender, the Berlin garrison received a fire attack. The mass surrender of the Germans began

At 01.00, the radios of the 1st Belorussian Front received a message in Russian: “Please cease fire. We are sending parliamentarians to the Potsdam Bridge"

A German officer, on behalf of the commander of the defense of Berlin Weidling, announced the readiness of the Berlin garrison to stop resistance

At 0600, General Weidling surrendered and an hour later signed the surrender order for the Berlin garrison.

Enemy resistance in Berlin has completely ceased. The remnants of the garrison surrender en masse

In Berlin, Goebbels's deputy for propaganda and press, Dr. Fritsche, was taken prisoner. Fritsche testified during interrogation that Hitler, Goebbels and Chief of the General Staff General Krebs committed suicide

Stalin's order on the contribution of the Zhukov and Konev fronts to the defeat of the Berlin group. By 21.00, 70 thousand Germans had already surrendered

The irretrievable losses of the Red Army in the Berlin operation - 78 thousand people. Enemy losses - 1 million, incl. 150 thousand killed

Everywhere in Berlin, Soviet field kitchens are deployed, where "wild barbarians" feed hungry Berliners.

In the Berlin direction, the troops of the Vistula Army Group under the command of Colonel General G. Heinrici, and the Center Army Group under the command of Field Marshal F. Scherner took up the defense. In total, Berlin was defended by 48 infantry, 6 tank and 9 motorized divisions, 37 separate infantry regiments, 98 separate infantry battalions, as well as a large number of separate artillery and special units and formations, numbering about 1 million people, 10,400 guns and mortars, 1,500 tanks and assault guns and 3,300 combat aircraft. The High Command of the Wehrmacht wanted to keep the defense in the east at all costs, to hold back the offensive of the Red Army, at the same time to try to conclude a separate peace with Great Britain and the USA.

To carry out the Berlin operation, the troops of the 2nd Belorussian Front under the command of Marshal K.K. Rokossovsky, troops of the 1st Belorussian Front under the command of Marshal G.K. Zhukov and the troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front under the command of Marshal I.S. Konev. The Dnieper military flotilla, part of the forces of the Baltic Fleet, the 1st and 2nd armies of the Polish Army took part in the operation. In total, the Red Army troops advancing on Berlin numbered 2.5 million people, 41,600 guns and mortars, 6,250 tanks and self-propelled artillery mounts, and 7,500 aircraft.

On April 16, the troops of the 1st Belorussian and 1st Ukrainian fronts went on the offensive. To speed up the advance of the troops, the command of the 1st Belorussian Front on the very first day brought tank and mechanized corps into battle. However, they were drawn into stubborn battles and could not break away from the infantry. The Soviet troops had to successively break through several lines of defense. In the main areas near the Seelow Heights, it was possible to break through the defenses only on April 17th. The troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front crossed the Neisse River and on the first day of the offensive broke through the enemy's main line of defense.

On April 20, long-range artillery of the Red Army opened fire on Berlin. On April 21, tankers of the 3rd Guards Army of the 1st Belorussian Front were the first to break into the northeastern outskirts of Berlin. The troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front carried out a swift maneuver to reach Berlin from the south and west. On April 25, the troops of the 1st Ukrainian and 1st Belorussian fronts joined up west of Berlin, completing the encirclement of the entire enemy Berlin grouping. On April 25, 1945, in the Torgau area on the Elbe River, the troops of the 5th Guards Army of the 1st Ukrainian Front met with units of the 1st American Army advancing from the west.

The liquidation of the Berlin enemy grouping directly in the city continued until May 2. The assault had to take every street and house. On April 29, fighting began for the Reichstag, the possession of which was entrusted to the 79th Rifle Corps of the 3rd Shock Army of the 1st Belorussian Front. Before the assault on the Reichstag, the Military Council of the 3rd Shock Army presented its divisions with nine Red Banners, specially made according to the type of the State Flag of the USSR. One of these Red Banners, known under No. 5 as the Banner of Victory, was transferred to the 150th Infantry Division. Similar self-made red banners, flags and flags were in all advanced units, formations and subunits. They, as a rule, were handed over to assault groups, which were recruited from among volunteers and went into battle with the main task - to break into the Reichstag and install the Banner of Victory on it. The first - at 10:30 pm Moscow time on April 30, 1945, hoisted an assault red banner on the roof of the Reichstag on the sculptural figure "Goddess of Victory" reconnaissance artillerymen of the 136th Army Cannon Artillery Brigade, senior sergeants G.K. Zagitov, A.F. Lisimenko, A.P. Bobrov and Sergeant A.P. Minin from the assault group of the 79th Rifle Corps, commanded by Captain V.N. Makov, the assault group of artillerymen acted jointly with the battalion of captain S.A. Neustroeva. Two or three hours later, also on the roof of the Reichstag, on the sculpture of an equestrian knight - Kaiser Wilhelm - by order of the commander of the 756th Infantry Regiment of the 150th Infantry Division, Colonel F.M. Zinchenko, the Red Banner No. 5 was installed, which then became famous as the Banner of Victory. Red Banner No. 5 was hoisted by scouts Sergeant M.A. Egorov and junior sergeant M.V. Kantaria, who were accompanied by Lieutenant A.P. Berest and machine gunners from the company of senior sergeant I.Ya. Syanov. On May 2, this banner was transferred to the dome of the Reichstag as the Banner of Victory. In total, during the assault and up to the transfer of the Reichstag to the Allied forces, up to 40 red banners, flags and flags were installed on it in different places. On May 9, the Victory Banner was removed from the Reichstag and another red banner was put in its place.

On May 2, 1945, Moscow twice saluted the victors: at 21:00 with volleys from 222 guns, and at 23:00 - from 324 guns.

During the Berlin strategic offensive operation, 70 German infantry divisions, 23 tank and motorized divisions, most of the Wehrmacht aviation were defeated. About 500,000 soldiers and officers were taken prisoner, more than 11,000 guns and mortars, over 1,500 tanks and assault guns, 4,500 aircraft were captured.

During the 23 days of continuous offensive battles, the Red Army and the Polish Army during the Berlin operation lost 81,116 people killed, 280,000 people wounded and sick. The losses of military equipment and weapons amounted to: 1,997 tanks and self-propelled artillery installations, 2,108 guns and mortars, 917 combat aircraft, 216,000 small arms.

The government of the USSR and the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR established the medal "For the Capture of Berlin", which was awarded to more than 1 million 82 thousand soldiers and officers. 187 units and formations of the Red Army, which distinguished themselves most during the assault on the enemy capital, were given the honorary name "Berlin". More than 600 participants in the Berlin operation were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. 13 people were awarded the second Gold Star medal of the Hero of the Soviet Union.

Comments:

Together with Soviet poets

Leads a soldier to the west.

Let him find a soldier everywhere!

And your smile and look...

Sabir Kinyakai (1919-1945)

During East Prussian operations in the morning 14th of April

14th of April

April 14-15

From the Soviet Information Bureau: During 14th of April

April 15

From the Soviet Information Bureau: During April 15

Mikhail Lvov

April 16 started April 16 to May 8.

By the evening April 16

On the 1st Ukrainian Front April 16

April 16

I was a long time ago, I forgot everything.

And those forced rivers.
I am an unidentified soldier.

I am an ordinary, I am a name.
V.Vysotsky

From the Soviet Information Bureau: During April 16

And foreheads are knocked against iron.

M. Lvov

We have survived so many persistent

We've seen so much...

Nothing is scary anymore.

M. Lvov

April 17

I.S. Konev 1st Ukrainian Front towards Berlin from the south.

From the Soviet Information Bureau: During April 17

April 17

By the end April 18th

From the Soviet Information Bureau: During April 18th

From the Soviet Information Bureau:

During April 19

...on narrow roads,

So that the Mitl group (2) smash to dust!

Alexander Pomorsky

East Prussian operation

20 April

Berlin offensive operation

20 April

From the Soviet Information Bureau:

Order

"Breaking into Berlin!

Do you understand the command?

Report performance!

“The order is clear!

The guards are ready.

Let's break in at any cost!"

The troops will pass the same day.

Our soldiers will learn:

Vriesen, Bad Freien-Walde,

Mokre Lazze, Alt Heflein,

...«

(My verse .... 04/12/2014)

(1)

(2)

Registration number 0208776 issued for the work:

Calendar of events of the Great Patriotic War

Together with Soviet poets

The road of war is deadly and harsh,

Leads a soldier to the west.

And your tear-consecrated word

Let him find a soldier everywhere!

Let the letters bring your tears to us,

And your smile and look...

Sabir Kinyakai (1919-1945)

During East Prussian operations in the morning 14th of April troops of the 3rd Belorussian Front resumed the offensive and broke through the enemy defenses on the flanks. By the end of the day, the 2nd and 43rd Guards armies advanced 15-10 km.

The retreat of the fascist troops began to acquire a panic character. The German command ordered 14th of April start retreat in a southwesterly direction towards Pillau.

Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov issues an order to conduct April 14-15 troops of the 1st Belorussian front of reconnaissance in force.

From the Soviet Information Bureau: During 14th of April on the Zemland Peninsula northwest and west of Königsberg, the troops of the 3rd BYELORUSSIAN Front occupied more than 60 settlements with battles.

On the territory of Czechoslovakia, east and south-west of the city of GODONIN, the troops of the 2nd UKRAINIAN Front, continuing the offensive, occupied the settlements of MA-ZUR, KUZHELOV, SMALL VRBKA.

To the north and northeast of VIENNA, the troops of the front occupied the settlements of HOHENAU and GROSS INZERSDORF on the territory of Austria.

West of VIENNA, troops of the 3rd UKRAINIAN Front, continuing their offensive, crossed the TRAISEN River and occupied the city of HERZOGENBURG.

Moravian-Ostrava offensive operation.

April 15 troops of the 4th Ukrainian Front began to break through the enemy defenses on a 12-kilometer section northwest of Moravsk-Ostrava. The Nazis, using a wide network of engineering structures, fortified stone buildings in settlements, put up strong resistance.

During the day, Soviet troops were able to advance only 2-7 kilometers.

The troops of the 3rd and left wing of the 2nd Ukrainian Fronts, together with the Bulgarian army, defeated the main forces of the German Army Group South and completely liberated Hungary, the southern regions of Czechoslovakia and the eastern part of Austria with its capital Vienna.

The duration of the operation is 31 days. The width of the combat front is 230 km. The depth of advance of the Soviet troops is 150-250 km. The average daily advance rate is 5-8 km. The number of troops at the beginning of the operation was 920,500 people, irretrievable losses - 38,661 (6.0%), sanitary losses - 129,279, total - 167,940, average daily - 5417.

"Soldiers of the Eastern Front! For the last time, with mortal hatred, Bolshevism launched an offensive. He is trying to destroy Germany and exterminate our people. Bolshevism this time will meet the old fate, they will be drained of blood. Whoever does not fulfill his duty at this moment will be a traitor to his people. Berlin was German and will be German, but Europe will never become Russian ... "

From the Soviet Information Bureau: During April 15 on the Zemland Peninsula northwest and west of Königsberg, the troops of the 3rd BELARUSIAN Front, continuing the offensive, occupied more than 60 settlements with battles.

The troops of the 2nd UKRAINIAN Front, with the assistance of the troops of the 3rd UKRAINIAN Front, surrounded and defeated a group of German troops who were trying to retreat from VIENNA to the north, and at the same time captured the cities of KORNEIBURG and FLORIDSDORF.

Troops of the 3rd UKRAINIAN Front, continuing the offensive, on April 15 captured the city of SAINT-PELTEN in Austria.

Soviet artillery on the outskirts of Berlin, April 1945.

Hurry to the Berlin motorway,

And we write letters without leaving the armor.

Mikhail Lvov

April 16 started Berlin strategic offensive operation 2nd Belorussian Front K.K. Rokossovsky, 1st Belorussian Front G.K. Zhukov and 1st Ukrainian Front I.S. Konev, which lasted from April 16 to May 8.

As part of this operation, the Stettin-Rostock, Zelow-Berlin, Cottbus-Potsdam, Stremberg-Torgau and Brandenburg-Rathen front-line offensive operations were carried out.

The offensive of the shock group of the 1st Belorussian Front began two hours before dawn at 5 o'clock Moscow time with powerful artillery preparation. Three minutes before the end of artillery preparation, on a special signal (vertical searchlight beam), 143 anti-aircraft searchlights were turned on in the bands of the 3rd and 5th shock, 8th Guards and 69th armies, in the light of which the infantry with tanks of direct support crossed attack.

The 5th shock army entered the line 3 km west of the Lechin - Zeelov railway. In the afternoon, in the zone of the 5th Shock Army, the 2nd Guards Tank Army of S.I. Bogdanov was put into battle, which continued the offensive during the night and part of the forces went to the Freelandershtrom River.

By the middle of the day, the 8th Guards Army of V.I. By 18.00 artillery units were brought up here, which overcame the Haupt Graben line.

By the evening April 16 The 8th Guards Army reached the foot of the Seelow Heights. In the zone of the 8th Guards Army in the afternoon, the 1st Guards Tank Army of M.E. Katukov was put into battle. By evening, the advanced units of the army approached the line of the Seelow Heights.

The Polish 1st Army crossed the Oder and Alte Oder on the right flank and captured a large bridgehead. The 61st Army of P. A. Belov conducted reconnaissance in force on the first day of the offensive.

The 47th Army broke through the first position of the enemy's main line of defense and reached the second position. The 3rd shock army crossed the Posedin Graben canal and advanced 8 km.

On the left flank, the 69th army of V. Ya. Kolpakchi overcame the first defensive line of the enemy. With the approach to the second defensive line, the troops of the army met with strong fire resistance.

The 33rd army of V.D. Tsvetaev advanced 5-7 km during the day of the battle.

On the 1st Ukrainian Front April 16 At 6:15 a.m., a powerful artillery preparation began. Under the cover of a smoke screen, powerful artillery fire and with the support of aviation, infantrymen and artillerymen crossed the Neisse and captured a number of strongholds. At the same time, engineering and sapper and pontoon bridge units began to build bridges across the Neisse River.

At 9 o'clock the crossing of the second echelons of rifle troops and artillery began. By noon April 16 Several bridges with a carrying capacity of 60 tons were built across the Neisse, which made it possible to bring forward detachments of tank armies into battle and transport heavy artillery.

Well, since I was there.

I was a long time ago, I forgot everything.
I don't remember days, I don't remember dates.

And those forced rivers.
I am an unidentified soldier.

I am an ordinary, I am a name.
V.Vysotsky

By the end of the day, the strike force of the 1st Ukrainian Front approached the second enemy defense line, which ran along the line east of Cottbus - Weiswasser - Niski.

From the Soviet Information Bureau: During April 16 on the Zemland Peninsula northwest and west of Königsberg, the troops of the 3rd BELARUSIAN Front, continuing the offensive, occupied more than 40 settlements with battles.

On the territory of Czechoslovakia, the troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front, overcoming enemy resistance, captured the city of BRZHESLAV with a fight. To the north of VIENNA, the troops of the front on the territory of Austria with battles occupied the settlements of GAWAIN-STEEL, TRAUNFELD, SCHLEINBACH.

West of VIENNA, the troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, advancing along the southern bank of the Danube, occupied more than 30 settlements in Austria.

Germany, as in a train, shakes,

And foreheads are knocked against iron.

M. Lvov

East Prussian operation (1945)

The troops of the 3rd Belorussian captured a powerful enemy resistance center on the Zemland Peninsula, the city of Fischhausen. The remnants of the German group numbering 15-20 thousand people withdrew to the Pillau region and entrenched themselves on a defensive line prepared in advance. The offensive of the Soviet troops stopped.

We put so many in the ground

We have survived so many persistent

We've seen so much...

Nothing is scary anymore.

M. Lvov

Berlin offensive operation.

On the right flank, the 61st Army of the 1st Belorussian Front began forcing the Oder River. The 47th Army approached the second defensive line of the enemy. The 3rd shock army moved forward 8 km and wedged into the second line of defense.

In the center, the 5th Shock Army and the 2nd Guards Tank Army reached the line of the Alte Oder River on the entire front of the offensive, crossed it and approached the foot of the Seelow Heights. The 8th Guards Army, in cooperation with the 1st Guards Tank Army, fought hard during the day on the Seelow Heights. By 15:00, the 8th Guards Army surrounded and captured Zeelov.

On the left flank, the 69th Army advanced 1-2 km. The 33rd Army crossed the Oder-Spree canal.

By the end of the day, on the sector of the 13th Army of Pukhov of the 1st Ukrainian Front and on the right flank of the 5th Guards Army of Zhadov, the second German defense line was broken through, passing along the line east of Cottbus - Weiswasser - Niski. Soviet troops rushed to the third line of defense, to the Spree, and in the evening they forded across the river.

April 17 I.V. Stalin, in connection with the slow advance of the troops of the 1st Belorussian Front, G.K. Zhukov issues an order:

I.S. Konevrotate 3rd and 4th Guards Tank Armies 1st Ukrainian Front towards Berlin from the south.

Moravian-Ostrava offensive operation.

38th Army and 60th Army of the 4th Ukrainian Front crossed Opava and captured a bridgehead north of Stitina up to 15 km along the front and 5 km in depth. Its further expansion was hampered by a long line of defense that ran along the northern heights of the mountain range, along the former border between Czechoslovakia and Germany.

From the Soviet Information Bureau: During April 17 on the Zemland Peninsula west of Königsberg, the troops of the 3rd BYELORUSSIAN Front, continuing the offensive, occupied the city and port of FISHHAUSEN with battles.

Troops of the 2nd UKRAINIAN Front, continuing the offensive, April 17 captured the center of the oil-bearing region of Austria - the city of ZISTERSDORF.

The troops of the 3rd UKRAINIAN Front on the territory of Austria north and west of the city of SAINT-PELTEN occupied the settlements of OBER-WELBLING, AM-BACH, HAUSGEIM with battles.

Berlin offensive. On the right flank, the 61st Army of the 1st Belorussian Front was expanding its bridgehead on the Oder, the 47th Army was advancing south of Vritsen and reached the Vritzen-Schulzdorf highway.

In the middle of the day, the 3rd shock attack reached Meglin, and by the evening it overcame the enemy's defenses at the Schulzedorf-Meglin line.

In the center, the 5th Shock Army and the 2nd Guards Tank Army advanced in the conditions of a forest and a chain of lakes, advanced 4 km and reached the Rigenwalde area on the outskirts of Batslov.

The 1st Guards Tank Army, advancing in a southwestern direction, occupied Marksdorf and deeply engulfed the German troops defending in front of the front of the 8th Guards Army and the 69th Army.

The 8th Guards Army reached Trebnitsa by the end of the day.

On the left flank, the 63rd Army and the 33rd Army bypassed the Frankfurt fortified area and threatened its encirclement. The German command decided to evacuate the garrison from Frankfurt an der Oder and reinforce it with defense units on the west bank.

By the end April 18th The 3rd Guards Tank Army of the 1st Ukrainian Front passed 30 kilometers behind the Spree, and the 4th Guards Tank Army advanced 45 kilometers.

The 13th Army crossed the Spree and began to advance in a northwestern direction. The 3rd Guards Army and the 5th Guards Army fought fierce battles on the flanks of the breakthrough.

North of Görlitz, the 2nd Army of the Polish Army and the 52nd Army crossed the Neisse River, broke through the tactical zone of the German defense.

From the Soviet Information Bureau: During April 18th troops of the 3rd Belorussian Front continued to fight to destroy the remnants of German troops thrown back to the area of the port of PILLAU.

South-west and south of the city of RATIBOR, the troops of the 4th Ukrainian Front occupied more than 30 settlements with battles.

On the territory of Czechoslovakia, the troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front captured the city of IVANCHICE. To the north of VIENNA, the troops of the front occupied the city of MI-STELBACH on the territory of Austria.

Berlin offensive operation

On the right flank, the 61st Army of the 1st Belorussian Front continued fighting to expand the bridgehead on the western bank of the Oder and advanced 1 km in a day.

The 47th Army, the 3rd Shock Army and the 2nd Guards Tank Army were advancing on Berlin from the northeast.

The 2nd Guards Tank Army, having broken the enemy's resistance at the "Wotan position", successfully advanced to the west, fighting up to 30 km.

The 5th shock army was moving towards the German capital along Reichsstrasse No. 1.

and the 8th Guards Army and the 1st Guards Tank Army broke through the enemy defenses in the Müncheberg area.

On the left flank, the 69th Army and the 33rd Army occupied the bridgehead left by the enemy on the eastern bank of the Oder near Frankfurt and advanced 3-4 km in a day.

The 3rd Guards Tank Army of P.S. Rybalko, the army of the 1st Ukrainian Front, continued its offensive against Berlin.

The 4th Guards Tank Army advanced 50 km by evening.

The 13th Army followed the tank armies to the west. The 3rd Guards Army and the 5th Guards Army expanded the breakthrough towards the flanks in the area of Cottbus and Spremberg.

From the Soviet Information Bureau: Over the past three days, power reconnaissance has been carried out in the area of the Central Group of our Forces, which has developed into battles to seize and expand bridgeheads on the Oder River and the Neisse River. As a result of these battles, our troops crossed the Neisse River in the Dresden direction and captured the cities of FORST, MUSKAU, WEISWASSER. Troops of the 2nd Polish Army occupied the city of ROTHENBURG. On the Oder, our troops captured and expanded the bridgehead west of Kustrin.

To the north of VIENNA, the troops of the front occupied the settlements of BERNGARDSTAL, ALT LICHTENNWART, WILFERSDORF on the territory of Austria with battles.

During April 19 On the territory of Czechoslovakia, northeast and north of the city of GODONIN, troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front fought offensive battles and occupied the settlements of KOZOYIDKI, LIDEROVICE, ZARAZITSE.

The path to the Czech Republic is steep, wooded.

...on narrow roads,

Winding, laid in the mountains,

You can’t collect so many cars in a fist,

So that the Mitl group (2) smash to dust!

Alexander Pomorsky

East Prussian operation

20 April the command of the 3rd Belorussian Front to capture the port of Pillau brought into battle the 11th Guards Army of K. N. Galitsky. At 11 o'clock the divisions of the 16th and 36th Guards Rifle Corps stormed the first defensive position.

Berlin offensive operation

20 April troops of the 2nd Belorussian Front K.K. Rokossovsky went on the offensive in the Berlin direction. At 0630 hours, the 65th Army of P. I. Batov, under the cover of smoke screens, crossed the West Oder River, broke through the first position of the main line of defense and created a small bridgehead.

The 70th army of V. S. Popov occupied a bridgehead on the western bank of the West Oder and advanced slightly. All attempts to overcome the West-Oder by the 49th army of I. T. Grishin were repelled by the enemy.

The 61st Army of the 1st Belorussian Front crossed the Alte Oder.

The 2nd Guards Tank Army, breaking out of the Pretzeler Forst forest, occupied Bernau. At 21.50 20 April G.K. Zhukov demanded from the commander of the 2nd Guards Tank Army S.I. Bogdanov to go to Berlin as soon as possible:

“The 2nd Guards Tank Army is entrusted with a historic task: to be the first to break into Berlin and hoist the Banner of Victory. I personally instruct you to organize the execution. Send one of the best brigades from each corps to Berlin and set them the task: no later than 4 o’clock in the morning on April 21, 1945, at any cost, break through to the outskirts of Berlin and immediately report to Comrade Stalin and announcements in the press "

The 47th Army, advancing in the space between Reichsstrasse No. 2 and Reichsstrasse No. 158, advanced 15-22 km and by the end of the day reached the Albertshof, Schönfelde, Vezov line.

From 16.00 the artillery of the 47th Army fired on Berlin.

The 3rd shock army fought through the Pretzeler Forst forest and captured the city of Werneuchen.

The 5th Shock Army captured Strausberg by storm.

The 8th Guards Army and the 1st Guards Tank Army fought to break through the enemy's third line of defense. The 1st Guards Tank Army broke deep to the southeast and began forcing the Leknitz River.

The 69th Army turned to the southwest and advanced 10 km in a day. The 33rd Army was advancing around Frankfurt an der Oder, trying to encircle its garrison.

3rd Guards Tank Army of the 1st Ukrainian Front captured the city of Barut, fought around Zossen and at the same time, with its advanced units, went north to Berlin. In a day, she moved 60 km.

The 4th Panzer Army met strong enemy resistance in the Luckenwalde area and advanced 45 km.

On the Dresden direction, the enemy managed to stop the advance of the 52nd Army, to slightly push parts of the 2nd Army of the Polish Army to the north.

From the Soviet Information Bureau: The central group of our troops waged offensive battles west of the ODER and NEISSE rivers. As a result of these battles, our troops occupied the cities of BAD-FREIEN-WALDE, WRITZEN, SEELOV.

South-west and south of RATIBOR, the troops of the 4th UKRAINIAN Front, overcoming enemy resistance, occupied the settlements of KOMAROV, MOKRE LAZTSE.

On the territory of Austria north of VIENNA, the troops of the 2nd UKRAINIAN Front, continuing the offensive, with battles occupied the settlements of ALT HEFLINE, GINTZERSDORF, ERDBERG.

Order

"Breaking into Berlin!

Do you understand the command?

Report performance!

So that the banner of Victory by the end of April

They were able to hoist it on the Reichstag!

“The order is clear!

The guards are ready.

Let's break in at any cost!"

... To the Oder, the Neisse near Seelow

The troops will pass the same day.

How many complex non-Russian names

Our soldiers will learn:

Vriesen, Bad Freien-Walde,

Mokre Lazze, Alt Heflein,

Schönfelde, Vezov, Albertshof,

Altlichtenwart, Wilfersdorf.

...« Ausruen (rest) we will later!

(1) SabirKinyakai (Kinyakaev Sabir Mukminovich) (1919-1945) - poet, member of the CPSU since 1942. He began to print in 1936. During the Great Patriotic War, he participated in the battles for the liberation of Ukraine. In April 1945, he died during the defeat of the unfinished Nazis.

(2) A large group of German troops, the so-called "Mitl-group", led by Field Marshal Scherner near Prague

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April May 1945 Berlin Offensive (1945)

PROGRESS OF THE BATTLE

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