This article describes a brief battle for Berlin - the decisive and final operation of the Soviet troops in the Great Patriotic War. She consisted in the final destruction of the fascist army and the capture of the capital of Germany. Successful completion of the operation marked the victory of the Soviet Union and the whole world over fascism.
Plans of the parties before the operation
By April 1945, as a result of a successful offensive, the Soviet troops were in the immediate vicinity of the capital of Germany. The battle for Berlin was important not only in militarily, but also in ideological. The Soviet Union sought, ahead of allies, to master the capital of Germany in a short time. Soviet troops should have completed the bloodshed of a bloody war, watersing their banner over Reichstag. The desired date of completion of the war was April 22 (Lenin's birthday).
Hitler, realizing that the war in any case was played, wanted to resist to the end. It is not known, in which mental state, Hitler was by the end of the war, but his actions and statements look crazy. Berlin, according to him, becomes the last bastion, the Citadel of the German nation. It should defend each German who can wear weapons. The battle for Berlin should become a triumph of fascism, on this the offensive of the Soviet Union will be stopped. On the other hand, the Fuhrer argued that the best Germans were killed in previous battles, and the German people did not fulfill their world mission. Anyway, the fascist propaganda brought its fruits until the very end of the war. The Germans showed exceptional perseverance and courage in final battles. An important role was played by the fear of the expected revenge of Soviet soldiers for the atrocities of the fascists. Even understanding that the victory is no longer possible, the Germans had resisted, hoping for passing by the Western troops.
The ratio of power
Soviet troops, approaching Berlin at a distance of about 50 km, were an impressive offensive group. The total number was about 2.5 million people. The operation participated: 1st Belorussky (Zhukov), 2nd Belorussky (Rokossovsky) and 1st Ukrainian (Konev) fronts. Berlin's defenders focused 3-4-fold superiority in military equipment. The Soviet Army has accumulated extensive experience in conducting hostilities, including storming fortified cities. Among the soldier was a huge motivation in the victorious ending of the war
German troops (Army Groups "Vistula" and "Center") numbered about 1 million people. Berlin glanced three well-fortified defense rings. The most protected was a plot in the area of \u200b\u200bZeelovsky heights. Directly Berlin Garrison (Commander - General Vaidling) had 50 thousand people in its composition. The city was divided into eight sectors of defense (around the circumference), plus - the central fortified sector. After the surroundings of Berlin by Soviet troops, the number of defendants, according to different estimates, ranged from 100 to 300 thousand people. In their composition, the most combed to be the remnants of the broken troops, defeated the suburbs of Berlin, and also the blood garrison of the city. The rest of the defenders were scored from the residents of Berlin, making the folk militia detachments (Volkssturm), mostly old men and children from 14 years, which simply did not have time to go through any military training. The situation was complicated by the fact that the sharpness of the lack in arms and ammunition was felt. There are information that one rifle accounted for by the beginning of the immediate battle for Berlin for every three defenders. Just enough only Faustpatron, which really became a serious problem for Soviet tanks.
The construction of urban defensive structures began late and was not fully completed. Nevertheless, the storming of a large city is always big difficulty, since it does not allow to fully use heavy equipment. Houses turned into peculiar fortresses, many bridges, an extensive metro network - these are factors that helped to keep the onslaught of Soviet troops.
I Stage (Start Operation)
The main role in the operation was assigned to the commander of the 1st Belarusian Front of Marshal Zhukov, whose task was the assault on the most fortified Zeelian heights and accession to the capital of Germany. Battle for Berlin began on April 16 with powerful artillery training. The Soviet command was first applied to the use of powerful spotlights for blinding and disorganizing the enemy. This, however, did not bring the desired results and had only a certain psychological factor. The German troops had stubborn resistance, and the pace of the offensive was lower than the expected. The opposing parties carried huge losses. However, it began to start the superiority of the Soviet forces and by April 19 at the main shock direction of the troops broke the resistance of the Third Ring of Defense. There were conditions for the environment of Berlin from the north.
In the southern direction they acted for the troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front. The offensive began on April 16 and immediately allowed far to move deep into German defense. April 18, the tank armies were forced by r. Spree and started an offensive on Berlin from the south.
The troops of the 2nd Belarusian front should have forced p. Oder and his actions provide support for Marshal Zhukov to cover Berlin from the north. April 18-19, the front began an offensive and achieved significant success.
By April 19, the joint efforts of the three fronts, the main resistance of the enemy was broken, the opportunity appeared for the full environment of Berlin and the defeat of the remaining groups.
Stage II (County of Berlin)
From April 19, the 1st Ukrainian and 1st Belarusian fronts develop an offensive. Already on April 20, artillery applies first blows on Berlin. The next day, the troops enter the northern and southeastern regions of the city. On April 25, the tank armies of two fronts are connected, thereby making the environment of Berlin. On the same day, there is a meeting of Soviet troops with allies on r. Elbe. This meeting was of great importance as a symbol of the joint struggle against the fascist threat. The garrison of the capital turns out to be completely cut off from other German groups. The remnants of the Army Groups "Center" and "Vistula", which made up the external borders of defense turn out to be in the boilers and partially destroyed, they are paid to or attempts to break through the West.
The troops of the 2nd Belarusian front roll up the 3rd tank army and thus deprive her possibility of applying counterdard.
III Stage (completion of the operation)
Before the Soviet troops there was a challenge for the surroundings and the destruction of the remaining German forces. The decisive was the victory over the largest - Frankfurt-Gubnaya grouping. The operation passed from April 26 to May 1 and ended with almost complete destruction of the grouping.
About 460 thousand Soviet soldiers took part in the battle of Berlin. By April 30, the forces of the defendants were dissected into four parts. The defense of Reichstag was a fierce character, battles were literally for each room. Finally, in the morning of May 2, the Commander of the garrison General Vaidling signed an act of unconditional surrender. This was announced through the loudspeakers throughout the city.
Soviet troops on a wide front came to p. Elbe, as well as to the coast of the Baltic Sea. The rearrangement of forces began for the final liberation of Czechoslovakia.
On the night of May 9, 1945, representatives of Germany, the USSR and the Allies were signed an act of full and unconditional surrender of Germany. Humanity celebrated victory over the greatest threat to the whole world - fascism.
Evaluation and value of the battle for Berlin
Berlin's capture is ambiguously estimated in historical science. Soviet historians spoke about the genius of the Berlin operation, its careful development. In the post-pre-trial time, they pointed to unjustified losses, on the meaninglessness of the assault, on the fact that the defending practically did not remain. Truth is also contained in those and in other statements. Berlin's recent defenders have been significantly inferior to the attackers, but do not forget about the strength of the impact of Hitler's propaganda, forcing people to give their lives for the Fuhrera. This explains the exceptional perseverance in defense. Soviet troops really suffered large losses, but the battle for Berlin and the flag waters on the Reichstag were needed by the people as a regular one of their incredible suffering during the war years.
The Berlin Operation was the final stage of the struggle of the world's leading powers against the fascist regime of Germany. The main culprit of the decoupling of the bloody war was defeated. The chief ideologist - Hitler committed suicide, the highest leaders of the Nazi state were captured or killed. Victory in World War II was not far off. For a while (before the beginning of the Cold War), humanity felt its unity and the possibility of joint actions in the face of serious danger.
Vadim Ninov
Parade staircase in Reichstag. On the trunk of a broken anti-lawyer 15 winning rings. In 1954, the damaged dome of the Reichstag was demolished because he could spontaneously collapse. In 1995, work began on the construction of a new dome. Today, to take a walk in the new glass dome, tourists are lined up at no less, the one that was once the Mausoleum of Lenin.
In February 1945, Hitler declared Berlin a fortress, and in April Nazi propaganda stated that Festung Berlin was the culmination of the battle on the Eastern Front and should become a powerful bastion, which will break the fierce wave of Soviet troops. This statement about the "Fortress Berlin" so liked the Soviet historiography, that she enthusiastically picked him up, imagined and laid the official version of the storm of the capital of the Third Reich. But it is propaganda and pathos, and the real picture looked somewhat different.
Theoretically storming Berlin could occur from two opposite directions: from the West - the forces of the Allies and from the East - the Red Army. This option was the most inconvenient for the Germans, because it would require spray troops to different directions. However, in the hands of the German leadership, there was a completely secret plan of allies - "Eclipse" ("Iclipse" - Eclipse). According to this plan, all Germany was already drawn by the leadership of the USSR, England and the United States to the occupation zones. Clear borders on the map indicated that Berlin went to the Soviet zone and that the Americans had to stay on the Elbe. Based on the captured plan, the German command could strengthen its position on Oder at the expense of the troops from the West, but this was not done in due measure. Contrary to the popular version of the troops of the 12th and wreath did not really turn his back to the Americans and did not bargain her defense in the West, right up to the order of the Fuhrera of April 22, 1945. Kaitel recalled: "For several days in a row, Heinriti persistently demanded to subjugate to him the tank group of SS Staliner and especially the holly housing for the cover of the southern flank. Yodl was categorically opposed, rightly objection by Heinrice, which could not ensure the hiking of his flanks due to the rear cover of the wreath." But it is particular, and the most flagrant example of the tactical recklessness of Hitler is the transfer of the majority of troops from Ardenn not to Oder, where the fate of Berlin and Germany was solved, and the secondary plot in Hungary. The impending threat of Berlin was simply ignored.
The total area of \u200b\u200bBerlin was 88,000 hectares. The length of the west to the east is up to 45 km, from north to south - more than 38 km. Only 15 percent were built up, the rest of the space was occupied by parks and gardens. The city was divided into 20 districts, of which 14 were external. The inner part of the capital was most tight. The areas were divided among themselves to large parks (Tirgar'an, Jungfernheide, Treptov Park and others) with a total area of \u200b\u200b131.2 hectares. Through Berlin flows the spree from the south-east to the north-west. There was a developed network of channels, especially in the northwestern and southern parts of the city, often with stone shores.
The overall layout of the city was distinguished by straight lines. Streets, crossing at right angles, formed many areas. The average width of the streets of 20-30 m. Stone and concrete buildings, the average height of 4-5 floors. By the beginning of Shtrma, a significant process of buildings was destroyed by bombardments. The city had up to 30 stations and dozens of plants. The largest industrial enterprises were in external areas. District Railway took place within the city.
The length of the metro lines is up to 80 km. The metro lines climbed a shallow, often come out and walked around the overpass. At the beginning of the war, 4.5 million people lived in Berlin, but massive bombings conducted by allies in 1943 were forced to evacuate, reducing the population to 2.5 million. The exact amount of civilian population in the capital to the beginning of urban battles is impossible to determine. Many Berliners escaped east from the city returned home with the approach of the Soviet Army, in addition, there were many refugees in the capital. On the eve of the battle for Berlin, the authorities did not call the local population to be evacuated, because the country was so crowded with millions of refugees. Nevertheless, everyone who does not occupy in production or in the Volkssturma could go free. The number of civilians in different sources varies from 1.2 million to 3.5 million people. Probably the most accurate is the figure of about 3 million.
Berlin Defense Commander Lieutenant-General Helmut Reiman (Trank)
In winter, 1945, the tasks of the Defense Headquarters of Berlin was part-time WEHRKEIS III headquarters - the 3rd Cabinet District and only in March, Berlin, finally, appeared his defense headquarters. At the post of commander of the defenses of the capital of General Bruno Ritter von Khaonshild replaced Lieutenant-General Helmut Reiman, his headquarters headquartered Hans Refira, Head of the Operational Department - Major Sprott, Head of Supplies - Major Weiss, Head of Artillery - Oberstonanate Plateau, Head of Communication - Oberstvenate Eric, Head of Engineering Support - Oberst Lobek. Minister of Propaganda Göbbels received the position of the Imperial Commissioner of the Defense of Berlin. Between Göbbels and Reiman immediately developed a stretched relationship, because Dr. Joseph would unsuccessfully tried to dive to himself a military command. General Reiman reflected the aggregation of the Civic Minister to command, but has acquired an influential enemy. March 9, 1945 Finally, the Plan of Defense Berlin appeared. The author of a very foggy 35-page plan was Major Sprott. It was envisaged that the city will be divided into 9 sectors of the named from "A" to "h" and diverged clockingly sheds from the ninth, central sector "Citadel", where government buildings were located. The citadel should have been hidden by two areas of defense "OST" - around AlexanderPalatz and "West" - around the so-called KNC (Ernst-Royter-Platz area). On the lobek wrestling (LOBECK) laid a difficult task to carry out engineering defensive work under the leadership of the Reich Defense Commissioner. Quickly realizing that one engineering battalion would not build a lot, the command held consultations with Göbbels and received 2 folksturma battalions specially prepared for construction work, and most importantly, workers from the civil construction organization "Todt" and ReichSarneitsdienst (Labor Service). The latter turned out to be the most valuable help, because they were the only one who had the required equipment. Military engineers and engineering units were sent to the commander of the sectors for specific works.
Fortification work on the Berlin direction began in February 1945, when the Soviet breakthrough was paid to the capital. However, contrary to all logic, fortification activities were soon turned out! Hitler decided that since RKKA did not dare to go to the weakly excrepanted capital, the Soviet troops were finally exhaled and in the near future will not be able to conduct large-scale actions. While the tips intensively increased forces to strike, OKW and OKH leadership was in blissful inaction expressing solidarity of the Führera. Engineering and defensive works were re-started only at the very end of March, when the main human and material potential was already involved in the battle on Oder, where the German front finally collapsed in the east.
For the construction of a large-scale system of fortifications around and within one of the largest cities in Europe, a clear organization and an understanding of the construction, who is responsible for planning and who is building are required. There was a complete chaos on this issue. Formally, for the defense of Berlin, the Rye Defense Commissioner and part-time Commissioner of Defense of Berlin and at the same time the Minister of Information and Propaganda is a civilian doctor Dr. Göbbels, and it was not possible to defend the capital to the military, which was represented by the Military Commander Berlin General Reiman. The general rightly believed that since he would lead to defense, it was he who must be responsible for the construction of fortifications on which he would have to fight tomorrow. Göbbels was a different opinion. There was a dangerous dualism of influences. Ambitious Göbbels too zealously redeemed to his office and too actively tried to dive to himself army. The army team, seeing the complete incompetence of the Minister of Propaganda, was trying to protect their independence from civilian encroachments. They already had a gloomy example when Rykhsführer SS Himmler decided from January 24, 1945 to attend the group of Army "Vistula", and this is despite the fact that Reichsführer cannot be called civil. When the collapse is called, on March 20, 1945, Himmler has urgently handed over the brazers of the board of the Army Group by Colonel Gottard Heinrice and happily washed his hands. In Berlin rates were higher. A paradoxical situation was formed - 10 kilometers from Berlin, the military could build anything, but mostly on their own. And within a 10-kilometer zone and in the very capital itself, construction was subordinate to Göbbels. The irony is that the construction of Göbbels should have a spare position just for the military with whom he did not particularly want to consult. As a result, fortification structures around and in the very capital itself were built completely indisputable, without the slightest understanding of tactical requirements, and their miserable quality is worthy of special mention. Moreover, for useless construction, materials and personal composition of the system parts were taken, but the military was attracted as workers, and not as the main customer. For example, many anti-tank obstacles were erected around the city, which had little good or they generally interfered with the movement of their own troops, and therefore they needed to destroy them.
The Nazis was optimistic about defensive work, they were optimistic to attract up to 100,000 people, but a really daily number of barely reached up to 30,000 and only once reached 70,000. In Berlin, enterprises continued to operate until the last moment, where workers were also required. In addition, it was necessary to ensure daily transportation of tens of thousands of workers involved in the construction of defensive equipment. The railway around the capital was overloaded, exposed to powerful airlinals and worked with interruptions. When the place of work was away from the railway tracks, it was necessary to carry people by buses and trucks, but there were no gasoline. To get out of the situation to the construction of remote frontiers, local residents of nearby settlements were involved, but they could not always give the required number of workers' hands, for large-scale work. At the beginning, excavators were used on earthy work, but the fuel deficit quickly forced to abandon mechanized labor. Most workers should have come with their tool at all. The shortage of the Shant tool forced the authorities to print in the newspapers desperate appeals to the population to help shovels and krcs. And the population showed an amazing attachment to his shovels and they did not want to give them away. The desperate hurry and the shortage of building materials soon denounced the construction of reinforced concrete structures. Mines and barbed wire were in highly limited quantities. In any case, no strength remained on large-scale work.
With ammunition, the defenders of Berlin also did not work out. To the beginning of urban battles in Berlin, there were three large warehouses with ammunition - the warehouse of March in the People's Park Khasenheid (South Sextor Berlin), Mars Warehouse in Grunevald Park on Toyafelssee (Western Sector) and Warehouse Monica in the People's Park of Jungfernheide (North-West Sector. When the battles began these warehouses were filled with 80%. A small amount of ammunition was kept in a warehouse in the area of \u200b\u200bTiergarten Park. When the threat of the Soviet breakthrough from the north arose, the two third stocks of the Monica warehouse were transported by the Mars to the warehouse. However, on April 25, a disaster was happening - the warehouses of March and Mars went to the conscientious troops. With warehouses, the defendant's leadership initially arose confusion, for example, the head of artillery at the Rayman headquarters did not even hear about them. The main mistake of Reiman was that instead of a multitude of small warehouses in the city itself, organized three large warehouses in the external sectors, where they quickly got the enemy. Perhaps Reiman was afraid to the authorities did not take ammunition in favor of other troops and therefore did not advertise this issue even in his headquarters, preferring to make stocks outside the city, away from the head eye. Reiman was what to fear - it was so led by the troops and were offended as a sticky. Late warehouses were likely to get the 56th tank corps when he goes to the city. On April 22, 1945, Hitler removed Raiman from the post of commander of the Berlin defensive region, which added a common confusion. As a result, the entire defense of Berlin took place in the conditions of the most severe lack of ammunition at his defenders.
Food defenders also could not boast. In the Berlin district there were civilian food warehouses and warehouses of the Wehrmacht. However, to establish the correct distribution of stocks command could not in the current conditions. This once again confirms the very low level of the organization and defense planning of Berlin. For example, on the southern bank of the Teltov Channel there was a large food sling near Klein Makhnova, for an external defensive circuit. When the first Soviet tank broke through to the warehouse area and stopped literally a few hundred meters, folkssturms from the opposite northern coast were immediately guided. Even under the nose at the enemy, the warehouse security was vigilantly and fearlessly distilled the ever-hungry folksturimists, because they had no appropriate invoice. But the enemy did not get any crumbs - at the last moment the warehouse was set on fire.
A sufficient supply of food was accumulated on civil warehouses so that the population could eat autonomously for several months. However, the supply of the population was quickly violated, since most food warehouses were outside the city and quickly fell into the hands of Soviet troops. However, the distribution of poor nutrition remaining within the city, even during urban battles. It came to the point that in the last days of the Defense of Berlin defenders are starving.
On April 2, 1945, the head of Okh Yodl ordered General Max Pemzel to urgently fly to Berlin. However, due to bad weather, he arrived only on April 12 and found out that it turns out to be the day before, they wanted to appoint the commanders of the defense of Berlin, but he was late. And Pimzel was happy. In Normandy, he headed the headquarters of the 7th Army and well understood in fortification. Leaving the capital, the general appreciated the Berlin fortifications simply: "It is extremely useless and ridiculous!" The same is said in the report of General Serov dated April 23, 1945, prepared for Stalin. Soviet specialists stated that within a radius of 10-15 km from Berlin there are no serious fortifications, and in general, they are incomparably weaker than those who had to overcome the Red Army during the storming of other cities. It is in these conditions that the German garrison was required to reflect the attack of two Soviet fronts ...
However, what was the Berlin garrison, who was guarding the capital of Reich and Adolf Hitler personally? And he did not imagine anything. Before the departure of 56 TCs in Berlin from the Zeelian heights, the city's organized defense practically did not exist. Commander of the 56th TC Lieutenant General Helmut Vaidling saw the following: "Already on April 24, I was convinced that Berlin's defense is impossible and from a military point of view is meaningless, since for this the German command has not yet been sufficient forces, more than one of the German command, by April 24, there was not a single regular compound for April 24 in Berlin The exception of the security regiment "Gross Dachin" and the SS team, guarding the imperial office.
The whole defense was assigned to the division of the Volkssturma, the police, the personal composition of the fire department, the personnel of various rear divisions and official instances. "
Moreover, the defense was impossible not only numerically, but also organizationally: "It was clear to me that the current organization, i.e., the breakdown on 9 sites is unsuitable for a long period of time, since all nine communities of the plots (sectors) have not yet been equipped with equipped and incomplete headquarters" (Vadling).
Berlin Volksstruum learns to handle faastpatrones. Not every folksturmist has passed such training, and how this weapon shoots the majority saw only in battle with Soviet tanks.
In fact, the entire structure of defense more than two millionth Berlin was held on the pitiful residues of the 56th tank corps. April 16, 1945 On the eve of the Berlin operation, the entire corps consisted up to 50,000 people along with the rear. As a result of bloody battles on the country defensive strokes, the housing ended the huge losses and retreated to the capital heavily weakened.
By the beginning of the battle in the city of the 56th TC had:
18.PanzerGrenadier-Division - 4000 people
"Muncheberg" Panzer Division - up to 200 people, artillery and 4 tanks
9. Fallschimjager Division - 4000 people (entering Berlin, the division has about 500 people, and was replenished until 4000)
20. Panzergrenadier Divizion - 800-1200 human
11. SS "Nordland" Panzergrenadier Division - 3500-4000 people
Total: 13.000 - 15.000 people.
Armored Transporter SDKFZ 250/1 Commander of the Company Swedish Volunteers of the SS Division Nordland Hans Huptsturson Hans-Gosta Pehrsson (Hauptsturmfuhrehre Hans-Gosta Pehrsson). The car was shot at night from May 1 to May 2, 1945, when he participated in an attempt to escape from Berlin through the Vaidenadamers bridge and then on Friedrichstrasse, on which he fell into a frame. To the right of the car lies the killed driver - Untersmanfuer Ragnar Johansson (Ragnar Johansson). Hawpsturson himself was injured, but managed to leave and hide in a residential building, where he spent two days in the storage room. Then he went out into the street and met a woman who promised him to help with civilian clothes. However, instead of help, she led to the conscative soldiers and Pekhirson delight. Fortunately for Him, he has already managed to change his cuel of the SS to the vermh vehoche. Soon Pekherson fled from the Soviet captivity, she hid in a residential building and got civilian clothes. After some time, he met his Untersharfürer Eric Valina (Ss-Unterscharfuhre Erik Wallin) and, together with him, it snuck into the British occupation zone, from where they got home to Sweden. The Motherland, Hauptsturmführer Pekhrsson returned to the owner of the iron cross of the 1st and 2nd grade and 5 injuries.
untershruer SS Ragnar Johansson
Thus, at first glance, the capital defended 13.000-15.000 people of regular formations of the army. However, it is on paper, and in reality the picture has been depressing. For example, 20 Panzergrenadier Divizion has been consisting of 80% of Volkssturimists and only 20% of the military on April 24, 1945. Is it possible to call a division 800-1200? And if 80% of them are old men and children, what is the regular army formation? But in Berlin, such metamorphoses happened at every step: the division is formally fighting, and a really small group of military or gathering of unprepared children and old people. 20 Panzergrenadier Divizion due to its weakness was sent to the 5th sector on position along the channels-channel to meet 12 A wreath.
In 9. Fallschirmjager Division The situation was no better. All over the world, airborne troops have always been considered the elite. And on documents in Berlin fought the division of elite airborne troops. Frightening picture. And in reality, the 500 battles of parachutists were unsolved not difficult to guess who. Here is such an elite and this is such a division ...
The 11th Volunteer Division "Nordland" remained the most efficient formation. No matter how paradoxically, foreigners played a significant role in the protection of Berlin.
As part of the 56th TC in Berlin, the remains of 408. Volks-Artillerie-Korps (408th People's Artillery Corps), the numerical composition came exactly to the capital is definitely not known, but so small that Vaidling did not even mention him among his troops . 60% of the guns found themselves in Berlin almost did not have ammunition. It was originally 408. Volks-Artillerie-Korps consisted of 4-light artillery battalion, two heavy artillery battalions with trophy conscience 152mm tools and one grebeable battalion with four muscles.
In the foreground, the deceased Hauptsturmführer of the SS, next to him the landing rifle FG-42 Model II and a landing helmet. The snapshot was made at the crossroads of the Schestraße (ahead) and OrangnburgerStraße (right), near the metro station Oranienburger-Tor.
With the rest of the forces in the garrison, it is more difficult to decide. At the interrogation, Waidling showed that when his corps entered the city: "The whole defense was assigned to the division of the Volkssturma, the police, the personal composition of the fire department, the personnel of various rear divisions and official instances". Of the exact idea of \u200b\u200bthese unlikely, Waidling forces did not have: "I think that parts of the Volkssturma, police divisions, fire protection divisions, anti-aircraft divisions have numbered up to 90,000 people, except for the rear units serving them.
In addition, there were divisions of the folksturma of the second category, i.e. Such who poured into the ranks of the defending already during the battle and as those or other enterprises are closed ".
90,000 children's-elderly-fire-rear troops, not counting his rear, look just grotesque and do not fit with other sources. And it is against the background of just a meager number of troops of the 56th tank corps. Such a suspicious disorder with the rest of the estimates causes serious doubts about the reliability of Wadeling words, and more precisely those who amounted to the interrogation protocol. And the interrogation was led by a comrade of the panties, the head of Radototel headquarters of the 1st Belarusian Front. Of the very front who could not take Berlin for the promised 6 days; systematically broke the timing of the offensive; failed not that taking, but even entering the outskirts of Berlin on the birthday of Lenin, and after all, on April 22, the Red Flag had to develop over Berlin; I failed to crush the remnants of the garrison to the holiday on May 1st. With all this, the average daily losses of the Red Army in the Berlin Operations were the highest for the whole war, although Comrade of Courtes, said that the front command was in advance to have a complete picture of the opponent and its forces. On May 2, Soviet troops, in the end, mastered Berlin, but three times later than they promised. How to justify before Stalin? That's why it was probably born the idea to overstate the enemy forces. However, at the expense of whom? Regular formations are easy to take into account and check, but the folksturm leaves an unlimited field for the maneuver - here it is possible to attribute how much the soul you want and say that Civilenes simply felt, not wanting to experience the hospitality of the Soviet captivity. It is worth it to note that by that time in the Red Army there was a practice of a colossal overestimation of German losses, which sometimes became the cause of the corresponding proceedings. In the end, Vadling signs the interrogation protocol not with a lawyer if he signed it at all. And from the Soviet captivity Waidling did not come alive ... Helmut Wadling died in the second building of the Vladimir prison.
defenders of Berlin ...
Let's discern with a folksturm more. Before Vadling Defense Berlin commanded Lieutenant-General Helmut Reiman (not counting two rapid generals) and with it was completed by the militia. Reiman quite reasonably believed that that he would need 200,000 trained in the capital, but there were only 60,000 folksmists, from which 92 battalions were formed. Germans were joking that in the Volkssturm took those who already can walk and those who yet can walk. In this joke there is only a fraction of a joke (* Hitler's decree about VS). The combat value of this "military" was below any criticism. As the commander of the Infantry Division "Bergevalde", Lieutenant-General V.Maitel: "Volkssturm is great in its plan, but its military significance is very insignificant. The age of people play a role, their military training and almost complete absence of weapons."
Propaganda. In short pants against Soviet tanks, and the grandfather will cover if the glasses do not lose.
Formally, General Reiman had at its disposal of 42,095 rifles, 773 gun-gun gun, 1953 manual machine gun, 263 heavy machine guns, a slight amount of field guns and mortars. However, it was possible to use this pedestrous arsenal. Reiman stated the armedness of its militia as follows: "Their weapons were produced in all countries with whom Germany fought: in Italy, Russia, France, Czechoslovakia, Belgium, Holland, Norway and England. Find ammunition to at least fifteen different types of rifles and ten types of machine guns was practically hopeless business. " Those who had Italian rifles turned out to be the most lucky, because they received up to 20 ammunition per person. The lack of ammunition reached the fact that it was necessary to customize the Greek cartridges under the Italian rifles. And go into battle with non-standard, fitted cartridges against the regular Soviet army is not the best prospect for untrained old people and children. On the first day of the Soviet attack on each folksturist with a rifle accounted for an average of five rounds. Faustpatronus was enough, but they could not compensate for the lack of the rest of the weapons and the absence of military sweating. The combat value of the Volkssturma was so low that highly exhausted battles regular parts often simply disintegrates to be replenished by militias: "When the question arose to replenish my division at the expense of a folksturma, I refused it. Volkssturmists would reduce the combat capability of my division and would have made even more unpleasant diversity in her already quite different composition" (Lieutenant-General Rytel). But this is not all. Vadling showed at the interrogation that the Volkssturm was supposed to be replenished by people as various enterprises were closed. At the signal "ClauseWitz Muster" within 6 hours it was possible to call another 52.841 militia. But this is how to arm them and where to take cartridges to a rich collection of foreign weapons? As a result, the Volkssturm shared into two categories: those who had at least some weapons - Volkssturm I and those who did not have in general - Volkssturm II. Of the 60,000 of children-elderly militias, only one third was considered armed - about 20.000 . The remaining 40,000 unarmed militias could not fight and seriously replenish the loss. If the Soviet army had good reserves, and, in the extreme case, could throw into battle and loosal, then the militia could not afford it. They were so walked into battle with five cartridges, having 40,000 unarmed old men in the mighty reserve. Honestly shooting his scant "Boezapass" Volkssturmist could not borrow cartridges from his fellow soldier - they have different rifles.
The militia battalions were formed not by the military scheme, but according to party districts, therefore the quantitative composition of the variety of battalions could be very different. Battalions could share on companies. Commanders became the batisters or reservists or reservists. No battalion had his own headquarters. It is noteworthy that the Volkssturm did not even stand at satisfaction, did not have field kitchens and he had to find himself to be satisfying. Even during the battle, the folksturmists were fed that they will serve local residents. When the battles went away from the place of residence of folkssturists, they had to eat than God would send, that is, the injignment. They also did not have their own transport and means of communication. The situation was aggravated by the fact that the whole leadership of the Volksstur was in the hands of the party and only after the code signal "Clausevitz", which meant the beginning of the storming of the city of the militia should have begun to directly subordinate to General Reiman.
The deceased German soldier at the steps of Rykhskancelary. Please note that there are no shoes on it, and the feet are pulled out with a stick with a stick. On the steps scattered boxes with German awards. There are several different Soviet propaganda pictures at this place. It is possible that the deceased was put there for the sake of "successful" frame. There was practically no battle for the Ryakhskanceservation. In her basements there was a hospital with approximately 500 rigorous soldiers of the SS, as well as a bomb shelter with many civil women and children, which then underwent abuse of redarmeys. Soviet military payoffs soon demolished the building of the Richskancelary, and the stone blocks of decorative sheath used for the construction of a monument in Berlin itself.
All military training of folksturimists was in occupations on weekends approximately from 17.00 to 19.00. In class, Folkssturm got acquainted with the device of small arms and brucrofaists, but training shooting happened extremely rarely and not at all. Sometimes three-day courses in SA camps were practiced. In general, the preparation of the militia left much to be desired.
Initially, it was assumed to use the folksturm in the rear against small enemy breakthroughs or a small enemy, leaving through the defense, to localize parachutes, to protect the rear positions and protect the fortified buildings. There was nothing to do on the front line. When the battles moved to the territory of Raiha Volkssturm forced to begin to engage on the front first, as auxiliary units, and then in the role of defense of the front line clearly not inherent for him. In Berlin, unarmed Volkssturm II was supposed to be behind an advanced line engaged in the Predorate-free Volkssturm I and wait for someone to kill someone to take his weapon. Gloomy perspective for children and old people. However, in some sectors it was.
If the average militia will shoot 1 time per minute, the battle will last long. It is not difficult to imagine with whatever accuracy of their amaged children and old people. With the convenient possibility of these "soldiers for 5 minutes," just deserted or surrendered without a fight.
On April 25, 1945, providing Stalin Serov's report from April 23, 1945, Beria made an application that demonstrates the combat capability of the Volkssturma. Thus, the German defensive line in 8km from Berlin was held by the Volkssturm, scored in February 1945 of men from 45 years and older. For 2-3 people without military training there were one rifle and 75 ammunition. The Germans had dubious pleasure to observe one and a half hours as the divisions of 2 GW. That was preparing for an attack, but the militia did not make a single artillery or mortar shot. All that the folksturm opposed the Soviet tank army was a few single rifle shots and short queues from the machine gun.
In the Soviet 5th shock army after the battle, they appreciated their opponents as follows: "In the city of Berlin, the opponent had no field troops and all the more complete personnel divisions. The main mass of his troops was special battalions, schools, police troops and battalions of Volkssturma. This was reflected in the tactics of his action and significantly weakened the defense of Berlin..
Commander of the Army Group "Visla", the General Burst Heinrice and Arms Minister Speer perfectly understood all the drama and hopelessness of the situation. From a military point of view, defended in a large city with many channels and strong buildings it would be much easier than on country-line marks. However, this tactic would lead to the huge senseless suffering of residents of more than a two millionth capital. Based on this, Heinrice decided to bring out of Berlin to almost unprepared positions as many troops as possible, even before the battle began in the urban trait. This meant that the troops would have to sacrifice, but with the same outcome of the battle, the sufferings of millions of citizens could be avoided and minimizes the destruction. The leadership of the Army of Army Vistov believed that with such a game in the giveaway, the first Soviet tanks would be cheating against the Richskancelary by April 22. Heinrice even tried to prevent the deployment of the 9th Army of Theodore Bouss to the capital, and allegedly to save Lvi Panzer Corps prevented him to south. On April 22, 1945, the 56th TC received an order from the 9th Army to serve with her south of the capital. German generals clearly focused their troops from Berlin. Hitler ordered Weident to lead the body to Berlin, nevertheless Waidling wanted to go south. Only after the order of the Fuhrer was duplicated on April 23, the 56th TC began a departure to the capital. Soon, Feldmarshal Kaitel kept Hanritz for sabotage and suggested him as an honest general to shoot himself, but the traitor Heinrice safely met old age, and the winners hung the winners.
Radar Frey in Tirgar'an. In the background, the victory column is visible to the victory in the Franco-Prussian war 1871. There was an improvised runway between this column and the Brandenburg gate, the construction of which Steeper interpreted.
On April 18, General Reiman was shocked by an order from the Rykhskancelary to transfer the 9th Army Bouss All available troops to strengthen the second line of Defense Berlin. The order was duplicated by the telephone call Göbbels. As a result, 30 militia battalions and air defense unit took away from the city. Later, these formations were almost no longer going to Berlin. It was such a serious blow to the Volkssturma, which could somehow defend the capital that Lieutenant General Reiman said: "Pass Göbbels that all the possibilities of protecting the capital of the Reich are exhausted. Berliners defenseless". On April 19, 24,000 folsksturma remained in Berlin with a huge shortage of weapons. Although at the beginning of urban battles, the Volkssturm could normally replenish, the number of armed soldiers remained unchanged.
Given the acute shortage of weapons and ammunition in the capital, the Minister of Arms and Ammunition Steeper has tried to make his own contribution to the defense of the "Berlin Fortress". When Reiman tried to equip the runway in the city center, between the Brandenburg Gate and the victory, Speer began to give him every opposition. It is noteworthy that the Ministry of Arms and Ammunitions, as well as the Berlin Apartment of Shpera was in Parizerplatz immediately behind the Brandenburg Gate. The Minister of Arms summoned General Reiman and heroed him under a ridiculous pretext that during the construction of a runway at a distance of 30 meters on each side of the carriage part demolitions the bronze street poles and saw trees. The discouraged General tried to explain that this is necessary for planting transport aircraft. Nevertheless, Speer said that Reiman has no right to touch the pillars. The clarification of the relationship came to Hitler. Führer allowed to carry the pillars, but forbade the trees to cut, so as not to suffer the appearance of the center of the capital. But Speer did not leased his efforts of the pillars remained unshakable stand still. With the beginning of urban battles, the minister of weapons in the capital was no longer (like weapons from most militias) and pillars finally removed. It is on this strip in the midst of street battles, in the evening of April 27, the Fi-156 Khan Rich, who delivered the Ritter Grande-Giima, launched. The Fuhrer caused a grain background to appoint a Luftwaffe commander instead of Goering. At the same time, Grahim was wounded in his leg, and the plane is badly damaged. Soon, on a specially arrived by the Arado-96 "Rić and von Grahim-96" rich and von River flew out of Berlin right in front of the Red Army. For the same runway in the deposited Berlin came poor supply by air. In addition to epic with a runway, Architect Speer also interfered with bridges. Of the 248 bridges in Berlin, only 120 and 9 were damaged.
One of the latest photos of Hitler. To the left of the Fuhrer is the head of Hitlergenda Reichsugendführer Arthur Aksmann, who published an order to use children in battles for Berlin.
After the folksturma, the second largest category was firefighters, loopholes and all sorts of official instances and institutions. They account for about 18,000 people. On April 19, this category has numbered 1713 policemen, 1215 members of the Hitlergenda and the working RAD and TODT, about 15,000 people of military reversal instances. At the same time, the Hitlergendade was a separate story. On April 22, 1945, Göbbels stated in his last printed appeal to the people: "A fourteen-year-old boy, crawling with her grenade launcher for a destroyed wall on a scorched street means for the nation more than ten intellectuals trying to prove that our chances are zero." This phrase did not remain unnoticed by the head of Hitlergenda Artur Aksmann. Under its sensitive leadership, this national-socialist teenage organization was also preparing to pass through the born of battles. When Aksmann told Waidling, which gave the order to use children in battles, instead of gratitude, ran into obscene expressions, which contained the semantic promise to release children home. Ashamed Axmann promised to withdraw the order, but not all the children had already received it in position. Near the bridge in Pichelsdorf, Hitlergend has experienced all the power of the Soviet army.
One of these folksturist children in Berlin was the 15-linen Adolf Martin Bormann - Son Martin Bormann, Deputy Hitler in the Party and Personal Secretary. The first name is the boy in honor of his shaft - Adolf Hitler. It is noteworthy that Martin Adolf celebrated his fifteen years old before the battle for Berlin. When the battle for the city was suitable for the tragic end Borman Senior ordered Adutanant to kill his son, so that he did not capture and did not become the object of Decrement and bullying. Adutant hit his chief and after the war, Martin Adolf became a Catholic priest, and then a teacher of theology.
Berlin came to the garrion, as well as the security regiment of SS "Gross Doychland" (9 mouth). However, after the battle near Bloomberg, in the Highway area to the northeast of the capital, only 40 survived from the entire regiment returned to the city, that is, from about 1000 people.
Brigadefürer Wilhelm Monk, Commandant Citadel. April 6, 1941 On the first day, Yugoslav Kapania was injured at the airline and lost his feet, but remained in the service. Saved from strong pain in the leg added to Morphia. Frequent pain and morphineism affected the character. After one hot conversation with the head of the officer's department of the SS personnel service, he lost his position and was sent to the psychiatric department of the Military Hospital in Würzburg. Soon the Monkey returned to the service and made a career, having received 6 very honorary awards and stabbed January 30, 1945 by the Brigadefürer. In the Soviet captivity spent 10 years, until 1949 was in a single chamber. Released on October 10, 1955. He died aged 90 years on August 6, 2001 in the town of Dump, not far from Enekenförd, Schleswig-Holstein.
And finally, the central 9th \u200b\u200bsector "Citadel", defended SS KAMPFGRUPPE MOHNKE with a number of about 2,000 people. The defenses of the citadel was headed by the Colonel Zaft, but the Government region inside the Citadel was under the jurisdiction of the Wilhelm Monkey's brigadephuer, which Hitler personally appointed to this position. The government area included Reichskancelyarius, the furer bunker, Reichstag and adjacent buildings. Monkey was subordinate directly Hitler and Vaidling could not order him. KampfGroup Monk was urgently created on 04/26/1945 of the scattered divisions and rear instances of the SS:
remains of the Security Shelf of the Division of the Division of Division Laybstandart Adolf Hitler (Lssah Wach Regiment), Commander of the Shturbeanfuhrer Kaschula (Sturmbannfuhre Kaschula)
the educational battalion from the same division (Panzer-Grenadier-Ersatz- & Ausbildungs-Batailon 1 "Lssah" from Shpeenhagenna is 25 km south-east of Berlin), Commander ObersturMrmbannfuhreer Klingemeier. On the eve of the 12th mouth of the training base in Shrevenhagen, they left the "Falke" regiment in the 9th Army Bouss. The remnants of the personnel were sent to Berlin and included in the "Anhalt" regiment.
hitler's Guard Rota (Fuhrer-BEGLEIT-KOMPANIE), Commander Adjutant Hitler Nutrumbanfurer Otto Gynth (Sturmbannfuhreh Otto Gunsche)
gimmler Security Battalion (Reichsfuhrer SS BEGLEIT Battalion), Commander Schurmbanfürer Franz Shadle (Sturmbannfuhre Franz Schadle)
The scattered and small forces of the SS brigadefuer monkey bored in two shelves.
The 1st regiment of "Anhalt" Kampfgroups "Monkey", named by the name of the commander of Standardfürer Gunter Anhalt (SS-Standartenfuhre Gunther Anhalt). When Anhalt died, 30.04.45 The regiment was renamed by the name of the new commander - "Val" (SS-Sturmbannfuhre Kurt Wahl). The regiment consisted of two battalions, equipped with a personnel from Wachbatailon Reichskanzlei, Ersatz-und AusbildungsBataillon "Lssah", Fuhrerbegleit-Kompanie, BEGLEIT-KOMPANIE "RFSS".
The regiment fought in positions:
1st battalion - Zh.D. Station on Friedrichsstrasse, along the line spree, Reichstag, Zigesallee
2nd battalion - Moltkestraße, Tiergarten, Pottsdamer.
2nd regiment "Falke" Kampfgroup "Monk". Formed from scattered rear instances.
Fought in positions: Potsdamer Platz, Lypzigstrasse, Ministry of Air Force, Railway Station on Friedrichsstrasse.
Sometimes in Soviet and Western sources among the defenders of Berlin, the Division of Charleman is mentioned. The word "Division" sounds proudly and implies a lot of soldiers. You need to figure it out. After the bloody battle in Pomerania from about 7,500 people of the 33rd Grenador division of the French volunteers "Charleman" (33. Waffen-Grenadier-Division Der SS Charlemagne (Franzosisische Nr. 1) survived approximately 1100. They were collected in Mallenburg to replenish and re-form, but After brutal unsuccessful battles, many will to fight were so low that volunteers were freed from their oath. However, about 700 people decided to fight until the end. After re-formation, one regiment of a two-bed mill was left - Waffen-Grenadier-RGT. Der SS "Charlemagne ". 400 people who did not want to fight in BaubaTallon (Stroybat) and used on earthworks. On the night of April 23-24, 1945, Hitler's order was received from the Reichskancellery. A small weakened division, already in itself was a matter of extremely unusual. Division commander Brigadefürr SS Krokenberg urgently SFO Franzosisisces FreiwilliLigen-Sturmbataillon der SS "Charlemagne") from the combat-ready divisions of the 57th Grenador battalion and the 68th Grenador battalion, to them, added divisions of the Division School (Kampfschule). The battalion commander was Henri Feno. The stormback barned for 9 trucks and two lung cars. However, two trucks could not get to the destination, so only 300-330 people arrived in Berlin. It was the last replenishment that fell into the capital by the grounding way before the city was surrounded by Soviet troops. At the Olympic stadium, the stormback bar immediately reorganized in 4 small rods of 60-70 people in each and subordinate to the Nordland Grenado Division (11. SS-FRW.PANZER-GREN.DIVISION "NORDLAND"). Vadling immediately dismissed the commander of this division of the brigadefuer SS Tzigler, who was not rushing with his arrival at the disposal of Wadling and replaced him with decisive Kroschenberg. Highly motivated French volunteers made an invaluable contribution to the defense of the city - there were about 92 baked Soviet tanks from 108 destroyed at the Nordland division site. It can be said that these soldiers were at the right time in the right place, despite the fact that they suffered huge losses in the hopeless battle. On May 2, 1945, near Potsdam Station, about 30 surviving people from "Challelemani" fell into Soviet captivity.
After "Challelemani" the last scarce replenishment arrived at night on April 26. Transport aircraft in Berlin were transferred to the cadets of the marine school from Rostock, in the amount of one trotter battalion. The "GROSSADMIR DONITZ" battalion Commander Kulmann entered the Monkey's Brigadefürera. Sailors occupied defense in the park near the Midth Building at Wilhelmstrasse.
February 22, 1945 the formation began Panzer-Kompanie (Bodenstandig) "Berlin" (special tank company "Berlin"). The company consisted of damaged tanks, in which the engine or chassis cannot be repaired, but suitable for use as a bot. For two days, by February 24, 1945 Rota received 10 PZ V and 12 PZ IV. The crew in a fixed firepoint was reduced by two people, to the commander, anema and charged. Soon the company was strengthened with several dotes with towers from Panther tanks. It was the so-called Panther Turm, which already stood in service and was used in the West, in particular on the Gothic line. The dot consisted of a tower from the Panther (sometimes specially made for such a dot, and a subbone concrete or metal section covered in the ground. The dot was usually installed in large intersections and could be connected underground stroke with the basement of the neighboring building.
Flakturm. In front of the tower, two ravened Isa were surprisingly symmetrically froze. Three Berlin's anti-aircraft tower were powerful defense foci.
In Berlin, there was 1st air defense division "Berlin" (1. "Berlin" Flak Division), as well as the 17th and 23rd air defense divisions. In April 1945, the anti-aircraft parts had 24 guns by caliber 12,8-cm, 48 10,5-cm guns, 270 8.8 mm guns, 249 2-cm and 3.7-cm guns. Since November 1944, in the searchlights of all men, the ranks were replaced by women, and in supporting roles, prisoners of war, mostly Soviet were used as an ammunition pans and charging. In early April 1945, almost all the anti-aircraft artillery was reduced to the anti-aircraft strike groups and are removed from the city to the external defensive distribution, where it was transplanatory mainly to combat terrestrial targets. There are three anti-aircraft tower in the city - in Zoo, Humboldhene, Friedrichshein and two heavy anti-aircraft batteries in Temechof and Eberswaldstrasse. By the end of April 25, the Germans remained 17 partially combatable batteries along with the tower. On April 28, 6 anti-aircraft batteries survived on April 28, who ranked 18 guns and 3 more separate implements. By the end of April 30, there were 3 combosive heavy batteries in Berlin (13 guns).
At the same time, the anti-aircraft tower were bomb-making masses for thousands of civilians. There were also artistic values, in particular the gold of Schlaman from Troy and the famous statuette of Nefertiti.
The unexpected help of the defenders of Berlin was obtained during the storming of the city. April 24-25, 1945. Heeres-Sturmartillerie-Brigade 249 Under the command of Huptmann Herbert Jaschke, he received 31 new SAU from the Berlin Alkett plant in Spauau. On the same day, the brigade ordered to move to the West, to the area of \u200b\u200bCampnitz to participate in the attack against the Americans on the Elbe. However, Constridar on the Allies occurred before the arrival of Heeres-Sturmartillerie-Brigade 249, so the Brigade remained in Berlin, in the Brandenburg Gate area. In the capital, the Brigade fought in the area of \u200b\u200bFrankfurtell, Landsbergstrasse, AlexanderPltatz. On April 29, 1945, battles moved to the area of \u200b\u200bthe Higher Technical School, where the team point of the brigade was located. On April 30, only 9 Stug remained in the brigade, which moved to Berlinstrasse with battles. After the fall of Berlin, 3 surviving self-propelled shirts and several trucks managed to escape from the city and reach Shpandau, where the last SaU was shot down. The remnants of the brigade were divided into two groups. The group headed by the commander of Hauptmanne came out to the Americans and surrendered, and the second group was destroyed by Soviet troops.
The defenses of the city enhanced 6 anti-tank and 15 artillery divisions.
In the question of the number of Berlin garrison, the testimony of the head of the Operational Department of the 56th Tank Corps of the Tank Corps is plays a huge role - Siegfried Knappe: "In the reporting [...] it is said that other units in Berlin were equivalent to the two or three divisions and that Waffen SS were equivalent to half of the division. All together, according to the report, about four to five divisions that consisted of 60,000 people with 50-60 tanks. ".
In the early 50s, the American command in Europe asked former German military to make an analysis of the defense of Berlin. This document comes to the same digit - 60.000 people and 50-60 tanks.
In general, with all differences, the numbers from most independent sources converge to the overall indicator. In Berlin, there was definitely 200,000 defenders and especially 300,000.
Commander of the 3rd Guards Tank Army Marshal of Armored Troops P. Rybalko said: "If the Cottbus grouping [enemy] joined the Berlin, it would be the second Budapest. If in Berlin we had 80 thousand people [enemy], then this quantity would be replenished until 200,000 and we would not have solved the task of mastering Berlin,".
For comparison, the Soviet Army involved in the assault directly 464.000 people and 1500 tanks and sau.
footnotes and comments
1 Cornelius Ryan - Last Battle - M., Centerpolygraph, 2003
On April 3, 1945, Hitler removed Lieutenant General Reiman from the post of commander of Berlin's defense for the affected mood. It was rumored that the Höbbels hand attached to this, which, seeking to expand his influence, invited Reiman to move to him on the KP. Reiman rejected the Offer of the Reichs Minister under a clearly contrived pretext that if two head of the capital of the capital are on one KP, that is, the whole defense can be declined by a random explosion. As Reiman Zenit Tower in Zoosada, Reiman, noted, could actually withstand the direct hit of almost any bomb. Instead of Reiman Hitler appointed Colonel Kaiter (Ernst Kaeter), who immediately produced in Major General. Before that, Kiter was the head of the army political station headquarters and caused the confidence of the leader. However, in the evening, the Führer took the command of the Defense of Berlin on himself, in whom he had to help his adjutant Erich Berenfanger (Erich Barenfander), urgently increased to the title of major general. Finally, on April 23, Hitler entrusted the defense of the capital and practically his life with the commander of the 56th TC Lieutenant General Helmut Wadling.
4 Fisher D., Read A. - The Fall of Berlin. London - Hutchinson, 1992, p. 336.
5 http://www.antonybeevor.com/berlin/berlin-authorcuts.htm (Garf 9401/2/95 pp304-310)
6 Bivor E. - Drop Berlin. 1945.
7 Ilya Poleanna. Tankomaster, No. 5/2000
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GOTTFRIED TORNAU, FRANZ KUROWSKI - Sturmartillerie (Gebundene Ausgabe) - Maximilian-Verl., 1965
History of World War II 1939-1945 - M., Milivdat 1975
Anthony Bivor site (http://www.antonybeev.ru/berlin/berlin-authorcuts.htm)
Dr. S. HART & DR. R. HART - German Tanks of World War II -- ,1998
Fisher D., Read A. - The Fall of Berlin. London. - Hutchinson, 1992, p. 336.
de La Maziere, Christian - The Captive Dreamer.
Littlejohn, David - Foreign Legions of the Third Reich
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Robert Michulec - ARMOR BETTLES ON THE EASTERN FRONT - Concord, 1999
THE GERMAN DEFENSE OF BERLIN - U.S. Army european Command. Historical Division, 1953
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Reichsgesetztblatt 1944, I / Hans-Adolf Jacobsen. 1939-1945. Der Zweite Weltkrieg in Chronik und Documenten. 3.Durchgesehene und Erganzte auflage. Wehr-und-Wissen verlagsgesshelschaft. Darmstadt, 1959 / Second World War: Two glances. - M.: Thought, 1995
(http://militera.lib.ru/)
In November 1944, the General Staff began planning fighting on the approaches to Berlin. I had to defeat the German group of army "A" and complete the liberation of Poland.
At the end of December 1944, the German troops made an offensive in Ardennes and pushed allied troops by putting them on the edge of a complete defeat. The leadership of the United States and Great Britain appealed to the USSR asking for offensive operations to distract the enemy forces.
By fulfilling the allic debt, our parts moved to the offensive to eight days before the scheduled time and pulled out some of the German divisions. The offensive started ahead of time did not give the possibility of its full preparation, which led to unjustified losses.
As a result of a rapidly developing occurrence, in February, the units of the Red Army forced Oder - the last major barrier to the German capital - and approached Berlin at a distance of 70 km.
Fights on the seashedraidarms captured after the forceding were unusually fierce. Soviet troops led a continuous offensive and tested the enemy throughout the Vistula to Oder.
At the same time, an operation began in Eastern Prussia. Its main purpose was the capture of the Königsberg fortress. Beautifully protected and provided with everything necessary, having a selected garrison, the fortress seemed impregnable.
Before the assault, the strongest art print preparation was carried out. After taking the fortress, her commandant admitted that he did not expect such a rapid fall of Königsberg.
In April 1945, the Red Army began direct preparations for Berlin's storm. The leadership of the USSR believed that tightening the deadlines of the end of the war could lead to the discovery of the Germans in the West by the Germans. The danger of the delivery of Berlin Anglo-American parts was considered.
The Soviet attack on Berlin was carefully prepared. A huge amount of ammunition and military equipment was deployed to the city. In the Berlin operation, the troops of three fronts took part. The command was instructed by Marshamm G.K. Zhukov, KK Rokossovsky and I.S. Konon. On both sides, 3.5 million people participated in the battle.
The assault began on April 16, 1945 at 3 am on Berlinsky time at the light of 140 spotlights of tanks and infantry attacked the position of the Germans. After four days, the fronts were the fronts who were commanded by Zhukov and Konev, with the support of two armies of the Polish troops closed the ring around Berlin. The 93 enemy divisions were defeated, about 490 thousand people were captured, a huge number of trophy military equipment and weapons. On this day, a meeting of Soviet and American troops on the Elbe took place.
The Hitler's command stated: "Berlin will remain German." And for this was done all possible. Refused the surrender and threw olders and children into street fighting. He hoped for discord between allies. Tightening the war led to numerous victims.
On April 21, the first assault detachments took the outskirts of the German capital and tied out street battles. German soldiers have provided fierce resistance, passing out in captivity only in hopeless situations.
On May 1, at 3 o'clock on the command post of the 8th Guards Army, the head of the General Staff of the Ground Forces of Germany, General Krebs, was delivered. He stated that on April 30, Hitler committed suicide, and suggested starting negotiations about the truce.
The next day, the headquarters of Berlin defense gave an order to cease resistance. Berlin fell. With his tick, the Soviet troops lost 300 thousand killed and injured.
On the night of May 9, 1945, an act of unconditional surrender of Germany was signed. In Europe, ended, and with her and.
When the ring of Soviet troops closed around the capital of Germany, Marshal G. Zhukov ordered his fighters to be ready to fight in the afternoon and at night, without giving the Germans to the Germans for a second. The precipitated garrison received a chance to avoid excessive bloodshed: on April 23, 1945, the Soviet command transferred to Berlin an ultimatum about the surrender. The Germans did not answer. And then the blow to the city hit four Soviet general and the same number of tank armies.
The battle in the heart of the agonizing Reich was seven days and entered the story as one of the most ambitious and bloody. This material is devoted to interesting and little-known events of the main battle of 1945.
Berlin offensive operation began on April 16, 1945. At the same time, the battle plan meant that Berlin fell on the sixth day of operation. Another six days was assigned to the completion of the fighting. Thus, if the initial scenario was embodied, the Victory Day would have come on April 28.
In the book "The Fall of Berlin" historians Anthony Reed and David Fisher called the German capital "Fortress with paper walls." So they hinted on her weakness before the decisive blow of the Red Army. However, Berlin's garrison numbered about 100 thousand people, at least 800 guns, 60 tanks. The city was strongly reinforced, mined and overpoured by barricades. So the Soviet soldiers who passed through the hurricane of urban battles in Berlin, hardly agreed with historians.
The barricades, which the Germans blocked Berlin's street in many places, was constructed thoroughly. The thickness and height of these structures exceeded two meters. Brother, stone, sometimes rivers and metal beams were used as materials. Most barricades overlap the streets completely, but there were passages on the main urban highways in the barriers. In the event of a threat of breakthrough, they could quickly close the part of the barricade.
Although Berlin's garrison fought desperately, the fall in the moral spirit of German soldiers and militias was evident. In the documents recorded a lot of cases, when the Germans, a few days before the official surrender, massively surrendered. For example, April 25, 1945, the Soviet side sent her employee to the tobacco factory to the tobacco factory, so that he agreed to surrender her defenders. It was previously shown by German prisoners to make sure that they normally appeal with them. As a result, the worker was led from the factory (on different reports) 600-700 folk militia fighters, which voluntarily handed over the weapon.
The projectiles of the Katyusha installation M-31 were short-two-meters long and weighed almost 95 kg. During street battles in Berlin, the Soviet fighters were handed over to the houses, installed a launcher on the windowsill or just put a shell on the slate sheet and shot a straight tip on the enemy in the building across the street. The fighters of the 3rd Guards Army, which was first published to Reichstagu, more active than this non-standard reception.
During the storming of Berlin, many trophy German anti-tank grenades "Faustpatron" fell into the hands of Soviet fighters. It turned out that for the prolaming of the walls of houses during the assault, this weapon is no less efficient than against armored vehicles. And it is certainly more convenient than the work of pickler or undermining explosives by charge.
For the assault group, firepoints on the upper floors and attacks of houses were a huge danger. Among other things, they were difficult to hit fire guns and saau with fire: cars often could not raise the trunk at such an angle. Therefore, commander of the parts tried to include the Land-Lizovskiy armored vehicles with anti-aircraft carrier machine guns, who perfectly worked on the upper floors. Also actively for this purpose, the anti-aircraft gunners DSHK (in the photo) were used, which were installed on the IP tanks.
During the battle for Berlin, it turned out that in the conditions of urban development, ordinary guns put forward to the straight entry work better and carry less losses than tanks, because the latter "are bad". And gun calculations, as a rule, managed to notice the packages in time and destroy them.
An important nodes of the defense of Berlin were German anti-aircraft tower. One of them was in the Zoological Garden (see photo). She belonged to the first, most powerful generation of construction. A construction of a 39 meters high with a thick thickness of about 2.5 meters was built from such a durable concrete, which resulted under the focus of Soviet guns of high power by caliber from 152 to 203 mm. The defenders of the tower capitulated on May 2, along with the remains of the Berlin garrison.
In the Berlin Defense system, the church played an important role. They, as a rule, were located on the squares, which means they had an excellent circular review and wide shooting sectors. Fire from one church could prevent the promotion of Soviet troops at once in several streets. So, for example, the Soviet 248th Rifle Division for two days detained the church at the crossroads of Linden streets, Hochstraße and Orlamine. It was possible to take it only after a complete environment and blocking underground exits on April 30, 1945. In the photo - the memorial church of Kaiser Wilhelm, one of the reference points of defense.
For the Zoological Garden of Berlin (in the photo - the view of the garden and the anti-aircraft tower) were fierce battles. Despite this, some animals managed to survive. Among them was a mountain goat. Soviet fighters jokes for the sake of His German Iron Cross on the neck - for courage.
The risky, but successful enterprise of the Red Army was the use of a balloon (balloon) to adjust the artillery fire in the center of Berlin. Despite the powerful anti-aircraft fire, the device rose above the Park Kerner. Aerostat attacked enemy aviation, German anti-aircraft shootings, so that the device had to urgently plant to fix the shell brightly. Not counting this time, the balloon remained in the air all day. None of the adjustment officers who worked on it did not suffer.
The sole division of the Soviet fleet took part in the Berlin storming - Dniprovskaya Military Flotilla. A specially important role was played by a detachment of boats-semi-monglisers of Lieutenant Kalinin. Under the fire, these small seventener shells, armed with only a machine gun, repeatedly crossed the Sprey River. From 23 to 25 April, they managed to send about 16,000 people from the shore to the shore, 100 guns and mortars, many associated cargo.
With the assault of the Reichstag only for fire in German defense, the Red Army concentrated 89 guns, about 40 tanks and six sau. Even more guns and the Gaubitz shot with closed positions.
The pilots of the Soviet 2nd Air Army decided not to lag behind the infantry and decorate Reichstag with their signs. They prepared two red panels. One was written on one: "Long live on May 1!" Another inflicted "Victory!" And "Glory to Soviet soldiers, waking the banner of victory over Berlin"! " On May 1, when there were kids in the building, two groups of aircraft were over the Reichstag and dropped the name of parachutes. After that, the groups without loss returned to the base.
On May 2, 1945, on the day of the surrender of the Berlin garrison, the concert of the People's Artist of the USSR Lydia Ruslana, who lasted until late at night was held on the steps of Reichstag. After the concert, the Great singer signed at the Reichstag column.
Berlin, Germany |
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The Red Army defeated the Berlin grouping of German troops and took the capital of Germany Berlin. The victory of the antihytler coalition in Europe. |
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Opponents |
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Germany |
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Commander |
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I. V. Stalin |
A. Hitler † |
G. K. Zhukov |
Haneritsa |
I. S. Konev |
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K. K. Rokossovsky |
Veidling |
Forces side |
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Soviet troops: 1.9 million people, 6250 tanks, more than 7,500 aircraft. Polish troops: 155 900 people |
1 million people, 1,500 tanks, more than 3300 aircraft |
Soviet troops: 78 291 killed, 274 184 injured, 215.9 thousand units. small arms, 1997 tanks and sau, 2108 guns and mortars, 917 aircraft. |
All grouping. Soviet data: OK. 400 thousand killed, approx. 380 thousand captives. Losses of folkssturma, police, organization Todta, Hitlergendan, the service of imperial communication, labor service services (only 500-1 million people) are unknown. |
One of the latest strategic operations of Soviet troops at the European Theater of Military Activities, during which the Red Army took the capital of Germany victoriously completed the Great Patriotic War and the World Warf War in Europe. The operation lasted on 23 days - from April 16 to May 8, 1945, during which Soviet troops have advanced to the west at a distance from 100 to 220 km. The width of the front of the fighting is 300 km. Within the framework of the operation, said: Shttinsko-Rostokskaya, Zelovskoy-Berlin, Kotbus-Potsdamskaya, Pedrembg-Torgau and Brandenburg-Rathenovsky front-line offensive operations.
Military political situation in Europe in the spring of 1945
In January-March 1945, the troops of the 1st Belorussky and the 1st Ukrainian fronts during the Voloo-Oder, the East-Pomeranian, the Upper-Silesian and the Nizhne-Silesian operations were overheaded by the Oder and Neuris rivers. Under the shortest distance from the Kustere Brillus, 60 km remained to Berlin. The English-American troops completed the elimination of the Ruruga grouping of German troops and by mid-April, the advanced parts reached the Elbe. The loss of essential raw materials led to the decline in the industrial production of Germany. Increased difficulties with the filling of human losses incurred in the winter of 1944/45. Nevertheless, Germany's armed forces were still an impressive force. According to the reconnaissance of the General Staff of the Red Army, by mid-April, there were 223 divisions and brigades in their composition.
According to the agreements reached by the heads of the USSR, USA and Great Britain in the fall of 1944, the border of the Soviet occupation zone was supposed to take place 150 km west of Berlin. Despite this, Churchillvilized the idea of \u200b\u200bahead of the Red Army and capture Berlin.
Goals of Party
Germany
Nazi leadership tried to tighten the war in order to achieve the Separate world with England and the United States and the split of the anti-Hitler coalition. At the same time, the retention of the front against the Soviet Union was crucial.
the USSR
The military-political situation, which pretended by April 1945, demanded from the Soviet command in the shortest possible time to prepare and carry out an operation to defeat the grouping of German troops on the Berlin direction, the seizure of Berlin and entering the Elba River to connect to the allies troops. The successful implementation of this strategic task made it possible to disrupt the plans of the Hitler's leadership for the delay of war.
For the operation, the strength of three fronts was attracted: the 1st Belorussky, 2nd Belorussky and 1st Ukrainian, as well as the 18th air ariance army of distant action, Dniprovskaya military flotilla and part of the forces of the Baltic Fleet.
1st Belorussian Front
- Send the capital of Germany by the city of Berlin
- After 12-15 days of surgery to go on the Elba River
1st Ukrainian Front
- South Berlin's disseminating blow, isolate the main forces of the Center for the Center for the Center from the Berlin group and this is to provide the main blow to the 1st Belarusian Front from the south
- Defeat the enemy grouping south of Berlin and operational reserves in the area of \u200b\u200bCottat
- For 10-12 days, not later, to reach Belitz - Wittenberg and then on the River Elbe to Dresden
2nd Belorussian Front
- Apply a disseminating blow to the north of Berlin, providing the right flank of the 1st Belarusian front from possible opponents of the enemy from the north
- Press the sea and destroy the German troops north of Berlin
Dniprovskaya Military Flotilla
- Two teams of river ships promote the troops of the 5th shock and the 8th Guards armies in crossing the Oder and the breakthrough of the enemy defense of Nastustrian bridgehead
- Third brigade to promote the troops of the 33rd army in the area of \u200b\u200bFürstenberg
- Provide anti-minor defense of water transport routes.
Red-known Baltic Fleet
- Support the seaside flank of the 2nd Belarusian front, continuing the blockade to the sea of \u200b\u200bthe Army Group "Kurland" in Latvia (Kullyndsky Cowle)
Operation plan
The operation plan provided for the simultaneous transition to the offensive of the troops of the 1st Belorussian and 1st Ukrainian fronts in the morning of April 16, 1945. The 2nd Belorussian front, in connection with the upcoming major regrouping of his forces, was to begin an offensive on April 20, that is, 4 days later.
The 1st Belorussian Front was to apply the main blow to the forces of the five general-official (47th, 3rd shock, 5th shock, the 8th Guards and 3rd Army) and two tank armies from the Custrian bridgehead in the direction of Berlin. Tank armies were planned to introduce into battle after a breakthrough with the general army of the second defense strip in Zeelian altitudes. An artillery density of up to 270 instruments (caliber from 76 mm and above) was created on the main strike area (caliber from 76 mm and above) for one kilometer of the breakthrough front. In addition, the commander of the front of the city of K. Zhukov decided to apply two auxiliary strikes: to the right of the 61st Soviet and 1st army of Polish troops bypass Berlin from the north in the direction on Eberswalde, Zandaão; And on the left forces of the 69th and 33rd armies to Bonsdorf with the main task of preventing departure to the Berlin of the 9th Army of the enemy.
The 1st Ukrainian Front was supposed to apply the main blow to the forces of five armies: three general-official (13th, 5th Guards and 3rd Guards) and two tanks from the city of Trimbel towards Sprömbert. The auxiliary blow was to be applied in the general direction on Dresden by the 2nd Army of the Polsky forces part of the forces of the 52nd army.
The distinction line between the 1st Ukrainian and 1st Belarusian fronts was cut into 50 km southeast of Berlin in the area of \u200b\u200bLubbin, which allowed, if necessary, the troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front strike at Berlin from the south.
The commander of the 2nd Belarusian Front of K. K. Rokossovsky decided to apply the main blow to the forces of 65, 70 and 49 armies in the direction on the Nechier. Develop success after the breakthrough of German defense should have had separate tank, mechanized and cavalry corps of front-line subordination.
Preparation for the operation
the USSR
Intelligence
Intelligence Aviation 6 times produced Berlin Aerophotus, all approaches to it and defensive strips. A total of about 15 thousand aerial photographs were obtained. According to the results of filming, trophy documents and polls of the prisoners, detailed schemes were compiled, plans, cards that were supplied with all command-staff instances. The Military Topographic Service of the 1st Belarusian Front made an accurate layout of the city with suburbs, which was used in the study of issues related to the organization of the offensive, the general assault of Berlin and the battle in the city center.
Two days before the operation of the operation, in the entire band of the 1st Belarusian front, the battle was conducted. 32 reconnaissance detachments by force to the reinforced rifle battalion each for two days on 14 and 15 April, the battle was specified by the placement of the enemy's fire funds, the dislocation of its groups was determined, the strong and most vulnerable places of the defensive strip were determined.
Engineering
During the preparation of the offensive, engineering troops of the 1st Belorussian front under the command of Gene-Lieutenant Antipenko performed a large amount of main engineering work. By the beginning of the operation, often under the fire of the enemy, 25 automotive bridges with a total length of 15,017 travel meters were built through Oder, and 40 ferry crossings were prepared. In order to organize the continuous and complete support of the upcoming parts by ammunition and the combustible railway canvas in a busy territory, it was rewrote to a Russian rut to almost the Oder. In addition, the military engineers of the front have attached heroic efforts to strengthen railway bridges through the Vistula, which were threatened by the Spring Ice Trim.
On the 1st Ukrainian Front for the Forcing of the Neurov River, 2440 sapar wooden boats were harvested, 750 robust meters of assault bridges and over 1000 wooden bridges under loads 16 and 60 tons.
The 2nd Belorussian front at the beginning of the offensive was to forcing Oder, whose width in some places reached six kilometers, so special attention was paid to engineering training. The engineering troops of the front under the leadership of Lieutenant Bleslavov, in the shortest possible time pulled up and reliably covered in the coastal zone dozens of pontoons, hundreds of boats, brought timber for the construction of berths and bridges, produced rafts, laid gati through the wetlands of the coast.
Masking and disinformation
In the preparation of the operation, special attention was paid to issues of disguise and achieve operational and tactical suddenness. The headquarters of the fronts developed detailed plans for disinformation measures and the introduction of an enemy misconception, according to which preparation for the onset of the troops of the 1st and 2nd Belarusian fronts was imitated in the city of Shttatin and Guben. At the same time, at the central section of the 1st Belarusian front, where in reality the deposition of the main strike was planned, reinforced defensive work continued. Especially intensely they conducted on sites well-looking opponent. The entire personal composition of the armies clarified that the main task is to persistent defense. In addition, documents characterizing the activities of troops at various sections of the front were thrown into the arrangement of the enemy.
The arrival of reserves and parts of strengthening was carefully masked. Military echelons with artillery, mortar, tank parts on the territory of Poland were masked under the compositions carrying on the platforms of the forest and hay.
When carrying out reconnaissions, tank commanders from the battalion commander to the commander of the army were changed to the infantry form and under the guise of communication was examined by crossings and areas where their divisions will be focused.
The circle of awared people was limited. In addition to the commander, the stakes directive were allowed to acquaint only the headquarters of the armies, headquarters of the operational departments of the headquarters of armies and commander of artillery. Regiment commanders received tasks orally three days before the onset. The junior commanders and the Red Army teams on the offensive was allowed to declare two hours before the attack.
Rearrangeing forces
During the preparations for the Berlin operation, the 2nd Belorussian front, who had just completed the East Pomeranian operation, from 4 to 15 April 1945, was to transfer 4 general-official army to a distance of up to 350 km from Danzig and Gdynia Cities District Change the army there of the 1st Belorussian Front. The poor condition of the railways and the sharp lack of rolling stock did not fully use the possibilities of railway transport, so the main severity of traffic fell on motor vehicles. Front was allocated 1900 cars. Part of the path of the troops had to be overcome on foot.
Germany
The German command foresaw the onset of Soviet troops and carefully prepared for its reflection. Deeply echelonized defense was built from Oder to Berlin, and the city itself was turned into a powerful defensive citadel. The first line divisions were replenished with a personnel and technique, strong reserves were created in the operational depth. In Berlin and near him, a huge number of folksturma battalions were formed.
Character defense
The basis of defense was the Odesko-Neissensky defensive line and the Berlin defensive area. Odessa-Neissensky Rubage consisted of three defensive bands, and his total depth reached 20-40 km. The main defensive band had up to five solid lines of trenches, and her front edge took place along the left bank of the Oder and Neurov rivers. At 10-20 km from him, a second defense band was created. It was the most equipped in engineering terms on Zeelian altitudes - in front of the Kustere Bridgehead. The third band was at a distance of 20-40 km from the front edge. When organizing and equipment defense, the German command skillfully used natural obstacles: lakes, rivers, channels, ravines. All settlements were turned into strong reference points and were adapted to circular defense. During the construction of the Odessa-Neissensky turn, special attention was paid to the organization of anti-tank defense.
The saturation of defensive positions by the troops of the enemy was uneven. The greatest density of troops was observed before the 1st Belarusian front in a strip of a width of 175 km, where 23 divisions were occupied by 23 divisions, a significant number of individual brigades, regiments and battalions, and 14 divisions were defended against the Custrian bridgehead. In the offensive band of the 2nd Belarusian front, 7 infantry divisions and 13 separate regiments were defended by 120 km width. In the strip of the 1st Ukrainian front, a width of 390 km was 25 enemy divisions.
In an effort to increase the resistance of your troops in defense, the Nazi leadership tightened repressive measures. So, on April 15, in his appeal to the soldiers of the Eastern Front, A. Hitler demanded a shot at the place of all who would give an order to the departure or will be departed without an order.
The composition and power of the parties
the USSR
1st Belorussian Front (Commander Marshal G. K. Zhukov, Head of Staff General Colonel M. S. Malinin) As part of:
The 1st Ukrainian Front (Commander Marshal I. S. Konev, Chief of Staff General of the Army, I. E. Petrov) as part of:
- 3rd Guards Army (Colonel-General Gordov V. N)
- 5th Guards Army (Colonel-General Zheadov A. S.)
- 13th Army (Colonel-General Puhov N. P.)
- 28th Army (Lieutenant General Luchinsky A. A.)
- 52nd Army (Colonel-General Kitheev K. A.)
- 3rd Guards Tank Army (Colonel-General Rybalko P. S.)
- 4th Guards Tank Army (Colonel-General Lelyushenko D. D.)
- 2nd Air Army (Colonel-General Krasovsky S. A.)
- 2nd Army of Polish Troops (Lieutenant-General Sverchivsky K. K.)
- 25th Tank Corps (Major General Tank Forces Fominy E. I.)
- 4th Guards Tank Corps (Lieutenant Lieutenant General P. P.)
- 7th Guards Mechanized Corps (Lieutenant General Korchagin I. P.)
- 1st Guards Cavalry Corps (Lieutenant General Baranov V. K.)
The 2nd Belorussian Front (Commander Marshal K. K. Rokossovsky, Head of Staff General Colonel Bogolyubov A. N.) As part of:
- 2nd Impact Army (Colonel-General Fedyuninsky I. I.)
- 65th Army (Colonel-General Batov P. I.)
- 70th Army (Colonel-General Popov V. S.)
- 49th Army (Colonel-General Grishin I. T.)
- 4th Air Army (Colonel-General Aviation Vershinin K. A.)
- 1st Guards Tank Corps (Lieutenant-General Tank Troops Panov M. F.)
- 8th Guards Tank Corps (Lieutenant-General Popov Tank Troops A. F.)
- 3rd Guards Tank Corps (Lieutenant-General Tank Forces Panfilov A. P.)
- 8th mechanized case (Major General Tank Troops Firsovich A. N.)
- 3rd Guards Cavalry Corps (Lieutenant General Oslikovsky N. S.)
18th Air Army (Main Marshal Aviation Golovanov A. E.)
Dniprovskaya Military Flotilla (counter-admiral Grigoriev V. V.)
Red Baltic Fleet (Admiral Tributz V. F.)
Total: Soviet troops - 1.9 million people, Polish troops - 155,900 people, 6250 tanks, 41,600 guns and mortars, more than 7,500 aircraft
In addition, in the 1st Belarusian Front, there were German formations, consisting of former prisoners and officers of the Wehrmacht, who gave consent to participate in the fight against the Hitler's regime (Zeidlitz's troops)
Germany
The Army Group "Vistula" under the command of General Colonel G. Haneritsi, from April 28, General K. Student as part:
- 3rd Tank Army (General Tank Forces H. Mandyfel)
- 32nd Army Corps (General of Infantry F. Shak)
- army Corps "Oder"
- 3rd Tank Corps SS (SS Brigadefürer Tsigler)
- 46th Tank Corps (General of Infantry M. Garais)
- 101th Army Corps (General of Artillery V. Berlin, from April 18, 1945 Lieutenant General F. Zikst)
- 9th Army (genera of infantry T. Busus)
- 56th Tank Corps (General of Artillery Vaidling)
- 11th CAS Corps (Obergroupenführer SS M. KleinhajsterKamp)
- 5th Mountain Corpus COP (Obergroupenfürer SS F. Ekeln)
- 5th Army Corps (Artillery General K. Vegeer)
The Army Center "Center" under the command of General Feldmarshal F. Sherner as part of:
- 4th Tank Army (General Tank Forces F. Grezer)
- tank Corps "Great Germany" (General Tank Forces of Jayer)
- 57th Tank Corps (General Tank Forces F. Kirchner)
- Part of the forces of the 17th armies (General of infantry V. Hasse)
Aviation support for land forces was carried out: the 4th air fleet, the 6th air fleet, the air fleet "Reich".
Total: 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 parts and compounds (1 million people, 10,400 guns and mortars, 1,500 tanks and assault guns and 3300 combat aircraft).
On April 24, the Battle joined the 12th Army under the command of General Infantry General V. Wreath, who previously engaged in defense on the Western Front.
Common Travel
1st Belorussian Front (April 16-25)
At 5 am Moscow time (2 hours before dawn) on April 16, artillery preparation began in the band of the 1st Belorussian Front. 9000 guns and mortars, as well as more than 1,500 installations of the PC-13 and BM-31 for 25 minutes, were grinding the first lane of German defense at the 27th kilometer breakthrough site. With the beginning of attack, the fire of artillery was transferred to deep defense, and 143 anti-aircraft spotlights were included in the breakthrough sites. Their dazzling light stunned the enemy and at the same time illuminated the road to the upcoming units. (German night vision systems InfraRot-Scheinwerfer discovered targets at a distance of one kilometer and represented a serious threat to the storm of the Zelian heights, and the searchlights brought them out of powerful illumination.) The first one and a half or two hours the offensive of Soviet troops developed successfully, individual compounds went to the second The defense strip. However, soon the Nazis, relying on a strong and well-prepared second defense strip, began to provide fierce resistance. Along the front, tense battles broke out. Although in some parts of the front, the troops managed to master individual support points, they failed to achieve decisive success. A powerful resistance assembly, equipped on green heights, was irresistible for rifle compounds. This picked up the success of the entire operation. In such an environment, the Commander of the front Marshal Zhukov decided to introduce the 1st Guards Tank Army to the Battle of the 1st and 2nd Guards. This was not provided for by the plan of the offensive, however, the stubborn resistance of the German troops, demanded to strengthen the breakdown ability to enter into the battle armies. The course of the battle on the first day showed that the German command gives the deduction of the Zelian heights crucial. To strengthen defense at this site by the end of April 16, operational reserves of the "Vistula" armies were thrown. All day and all night on April 17, the troops of the 1st Belarusian front led fierce battles with the enemy. By the morning of April 18, tank and rifle compounds, with the support of aviation of the 16th and 18th air armies, took green heights. Overcoming the stubborn defense of German troops and reflecting violent counterattacks, the front troops to the end of April 19 broke through the third defensive band and got the opportunity to develop an offensive on Berlin.
The real threat to the environment, forced the commander of the 9th German army T. Busus to go out with a proposal for the army's discharge to the suburbs of Berlin and the lesson there is strong defense. Such a plan was supported by the Commander of the Army Group "Vistula" General Colonel Heinritz, however, Hitler rejected this proposal and ordered to hold the frontiers-friendly.
On April 20, he was marked by an artillery strike of Berlin, inflicted long-range artillery of the 79th Rifle Corps of the 3rd Shock Army. It was a kind of birthday Guitler. On April 21, part of the 3rd shock, the 2nd Guards Tank, the 47th and 5th shock armies overcoming the third defense strip, broke into the outskirts of Berlin and tied the battles there. First broke into Berlin from the east of the troops, which were part of the 26th Guards Corps of General P. A. Firsov and the 32nd Corps of General D. S. Zhelebin of the 5th shock army. On the same day, the Efreitor A. I. Muravyov established the first Soviet banner in Berlin. On the evening of April 21, from the south to the city, the advanced parts of the 3rd Guards Tank Army P. S. Fishing. On 23 and 24 April, the fighting in all directions took a particularly fierce character. On April 23, the 9th Rifle Corps was achieved the greatest success in the Berlin storming, under the command of the Major General I. P. Grown. The warriors of this building were resolved by the Karlshort, part of the shock and, going to the spree, with the go forced it. The ships of the Dniprovskoy military flotilla were provided with great help when crossing the spree, throwing rifle units under the opposite shore. Although by April 24, the pace of promotion of Soviet troops decreased, the Nazis could not stop them. On April 24, the 5th shock army, leading fierce battles, continued to successfully move towards the center of Berlin.
Acting at the auxiliary direction, 61st Army and the 1st Army of the Polish troops, starting the offensive on April 17, with stubborn battles overcoming German defense, went around Berlin from the north and moved to the Elbe.
1st Ukrainian Front (April 16-25)
The offensive of the troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front developed more successfully. April 16 Early in the morning, a smoke curtain was delivered to the 390-kilometer front, blinded by the advanced observation points of the enemy. At 6 o'clock 55 minutes, after a 40-minute artillery strike at the front edge of German defense, reinforced battalions of the first echelon divisions began to force Neutse. Quickly capturing the bridgehead on the left bank of the river, they provided the conditions for the guidance of bridges and the crossing of the main forces. In the first hours of operation, the engineering troops of the front on the main direction of the strike were equipped with 133 crossings. With each hour, the number of forces and means transported to the bridgehead increase. In the middle of the day, the coming reached the second strip of German defense. Feeling the threat of a major breakthrough, the German command on the first day of the operation threw not only his tactical, but also the operational reserves, putting the task before them, reset the advancing Soviet troops into the river. Nevertheless, to the outcome of the day, the front of the front broke through the main defense strip at the front of 26 km and advanced to a depth of 13 km.
By morning, on April 17, the 3rd and 4th Guards Tank Army crossed through Neutse. The entire day of the troops of the front, overcoming the stubborn resistance of the enemy, continued to expand and deepen the gap in German defense. Aviation support for the upcoming troops was provided by pilots of the 2nd air army. Aviation, acting on the applications of land commanders, destroyed the fire facilities and the lively enemy strength in the forefront. Bombarding aviation has a suitable reserve. By the middle of April 17, the following atmosphere was found in the strip of the 1st Ukrainian Front: in a narrow corridor, punishable forces of the 13th, 3rd and 5th Guards armies, the tank armies of fishing and Lebryushenko went to the west. By the end of the day, they approached the spree and began its forcing. Meanwhile, on the secondary, Dresden, the direction of the troops of the 52nd army of General K.A. Kovel and the 2nd Army of the Troops of the Polish General K. K. Schurchavsky broke through the tactical defense of the enemy and in two days of the fighting advanced to a depth of 20 km.
Considering the slow promotion of troops of the 1st Belorussian front, as well as the success achieved in the strip of the 1st Ukrainian Front, on the night of April 18, the rate decided to turn the 3rd and 4th Guards Tank Army of the 1st Ukrainian Front to Berlin. In its order, the commander of fishing and Lelyushenko wrote the commander of the front entry:
Performing the disposal of the commander, on April 18 and 19, the tank armies of the 1st Ukrainian Front were uncontrollably walked to Berlin. The pace of their offensive reached 35-50 km per day. At the same time, the general-official army was prepared for the elimination of major enemy groups in the area of \u200b\u200bCottbus and Spröbberg.
To the outcome of the day on April 20, the main shock grouping of the 1st Ukrainian Front was deeply wedged into the army of the enemy, and completely cut off the German Army Group from the Army Group Center. Feeling the threat caused by the rapid actions of the Tank Army of the 1st Ukrainian Front, the German command took a number of measures to strengthen the approaches to Berlin. To strengthen defense to the city area of \u200b\u200bTsosssen, Lukekenwalde, infantry and tank parts were urgently directed. Overcoming their stubborn resistance, tankers fishing on the night of April 21 reached the external Berlin defensive obligation. By morning, April 22, the 9th Meritoofan Harred Tank Corps of the 3rd Guards Tank Army forced the Notta Channel of the 3rd Guards Tank Army, Berlin broke through the external defensive way and the end of the day came to the southern coast of Telttovka. There, having met the strong and well-organized opponation resistance, they were stopped.
On April 22, at the Hitler's bet, a meeting of the highest military leadership was held, at which it was decided to withdraw the 12th Army of V. Wreath from the Western Front and the direction of it on the connection from the semicircular 9th army T. Busus. For the organization of the 12th Army, a Feld Marshal was sent to her headquarters. This was the last serious attempt to influence the course of battle, since to the outcome of the day on April 22, the troops of the 1st Belorussky and 1st Ukrainian fronts have formed and almost closed two rings of the environment. One thing is around the 9th Army of the enemy east and southeast of Berlin; Other - West Berlin, around parts directly defeated in the city.
The channel-channel was quite a serious obstacle: water filled with high concreted shores of forty width - fifty meters. In addition, his northern shore was very well prepared for defense: trenches, reinforced concrete dots, dried in the ground Tanks and self-propelled. Above the channel is almost solid, the walls of houses, torn by fire, with walls thick in meter and more. Assessing the situation, the Soviet command decided to spend thorough preparations for force-channel forcing. All day April 23, the 3rd Guards Tank Army was preparing for the assault. By morning on April 24, a powerful artillery grouping was concentrated on the southern bank of the channel, a density of up to 650 stems per kilometer of the front, designed to destroy German fortifications on the opposite shore. Having suppressed by the most powerful artillery strike of enemy defense, the troops of the 6th Guards Tank Corruptment General Major Mitrofanov General, successfully forced the channels-channel and captured the bridgehead on his northern shore. Day April 24, the 12th Army Wreath undertook the first tank attacks at the position of the 5th Guards Mechanized Corps of General Yermakov (4th Guards Tank Army) and parts of the 13th Army. All attacks were successfully repulsed with the support of the 1st assault aviation case of Lieutenant General Ryazanov.
At 12:15 on April 25, west of Berlin, the advanced parts of the 4th Guards Tank Army met with the units of the 47th Army of the 1st Belarusian Front. On the same day, another significant event occurred. After an hour and a half at Elbe, the 34th Guards Corps of General Baklanov of the 5th Guards Army met with American troops.
From April 25 to May 2, the troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front led fierce battles on three directions: parts of the 28th army, the 3rd and 4th Guards tank armies participated in the storm of Berlin; Part of the forces of the 4th Guards Tank Army, together with the 13th Army, reflected Kontrudar 12th German Army; The 3rd Guards Army and part of the forces of the 28th Army blocked and destroyed the surrounded 9th army.
All the time, from the beginning of the operation, the command of the Army Group "Center" was striving to rip off the offensive of Soviet troops. On April 20, the German troops inflicted the first counterpart on the left flank of the 1st Ukrainian Front and pushed the troops of the 52nd Army and the 2nd Army of Polish troops. On April 23, a new powerful counterudrome was followed, as a result of which the defense at the stake of the 52nd Army and the 2nd Army of Polish troops were broken and the German troops advanced 20 km in the overall direction to Spristeng, threatening to go to the front rear.
2nd Belorussian Front (April 20-8)
From April 17 to 19, the troops of the 65th Army of the 2nd Belarusian Front, under the command of General Colonel Batov P. I., conducted exploration of the fight and advanced detachments were mastered by Mezrechy Oder, thereby facilitating the following river forcing. On the morning of April 20, the main forces of the 2nd Belarusian Front passed on the offensive: 65, 70 and 49th Army. Forcing the Oder took place under the cover of artillery flame and smoke curtains. The most successful offensive developed at the plot of the 65th Army, which was the considerable merit of the army engineering troops. Having for 13 o'clock two 16-ton pontoon crossings, the troops of this army in the evening of April 20 captured a bridgehead of 6 and a depth of 1.5 kilometers.
A more modest success was achieved at the central section of the front in the 30th Army Strine. The leftophlantic 49th army met stubborn resistance and did not have success. All day and all night on April 21, the troops of the front, beating numerous attacks of German troops, stubbornly expanded the bridgeheads on the West Bank of Oder. In the current situation, the commander of the front K. K. Rokossovsky decided to send the 49th Army to cross the right neighbor of the 70th Army, and then return to his offensive lane. By April 25, as a result of fierce battles, the front troops expanded the captured by a bridgehead to 35 km along the front and up to 15 km deep. To build a shock power to the West Coast, the Oder was shipped by the 2nd Impact Army, as well as the 1st and 3rd Guards Tank Cases. At the first stage of operation, the 2nd Belarusian front was the main forces of the 3rd German Tank Army, having deprived her opportunity to help fighting under Berlin. On April 26, the compounds of the 65th Army assault on Shttetin. In the future, the Army of the 2nd Belarusian Front breaking the opponent's resistance and pushing the appropriate reserves, stubbornly moved to the west. On May 3, the 3rd Guards Tank Corps of Panfilova South-west Wismar established a connection with the advanced parts of the 2nd British Army.
Liquidation of the Frankfurt-Guba Grouping
By the end of April 24, the compounds of the 28th Army of the 1st Ukrainian Front entered into contact with the parts of the 8th Guards Army of the 1st Belorussian Front, thereby surrounding the southeastern Berlin 9th Army of General Bouss and cutting it off from the city. Surrounded grouping of German troops became referred to - Frankfurt-Gubnaya. Now, before the Soviet command, the task of eliminating the 200-thousand-thousand enemy grouping and the prevention of its breakthrough in Berlin or west. To fulfill the last task, the 3rd Guards Army and part of the forces of the 28th Army of the 1st Ukrainian Front took an active defense on the way of a possible breakthrough of German troops. On April 26, the 3rd, 69th, and the 33rd Army of the 1st Belarusian Front began the final elimination of the surrounded parts. However, the enemy not only provided stubborn resistance, but he repeatedly made attempts to escape from the environment. Skilled maneuvering and skillfully creating superiority in the forces on the narrow sections of the front, the German troops managed to break through the ring of the environment. However, every time the Soviet command took decisive measures to eliminate breakthrough. Up until May 2, the early parts of the 9th German army took desperate attempts to break through the combat order of the 1st Ukrainian Front to the West, to connect to the 12th army of the general wreath. Only a separate small group managed to leak through the forests and go to the West.
Berlin's assault (April 25 - May 2)
At 12 o'clock in the afternoon, the ring around Berlin was closed on April 25, when the 6th Guards Cropus of the 4th Guards Tank Army forced the Hafer River and connected with the parts of the 328th division of the 47th Army of General Perchorovich. By the time, according to the assessment of the Soviet command, Berlin's garrison numbered at least 200 thousand people, 3 thousand guns and 250 tanks. The defense of the city was carefully thought out and well prepared. It was based on a strong fire system, reference points and resistance sites. The closer to the city center, the defense it became denser. Special strength was given massive stone buildings with a large wall thickness. The windows and doors of many buildings were climbed and turned into ambrusuras to lead fire. The streets overlapped with powerful barricades with thickness up to four meters. The defenders had a large number of faustparters, which in the situation of street fighting turned out to be a formidable anti-tank weapon. Incidentally important in the defense system, the enemy had underground structures that were widely used by the enemy for maneuver troops, as well as to cover them from artillery and bomb shocks.
By April 26, six armies of the 1st Belarusian Front (47th, 3rd and 5th percussion, 8th Guards, 1st and 2nd Guards Tank Army) took part in the Storm of Berlin (47th, 3rd and 5th The Ukrainian Front (28th, 3rd and 4th Guards Tank). Given the experience of taking major cities, assault detachments were created in the city in the city of rifle battalions or mouth, enhanced tanks, artillery and sappers. Actions of assault detachments, as a rule, were preceded by a short but powerful artillery preparation.
By April 27, as a result of actions deeply advanced to the center of Berlin armies of two fronts, the enemy grouping in Berlin stretched out a narrow strip from the east to the west - sixteen kilometers in length and two or three, in some places there are five kilometers wide. Fights in the city did not stop in the afternoon nor at night. Quarter over the quarter Soviet troops "threw up" the defense of the enemy. So, in the evening on April 28, parts of the 3rd shock army came to the Reichstag district. On the night of April 29, the actions of advanced battalions under the command of Captain S. A. Remessel and senior lieutenant. Ya. Samsonova was captured by the Moltke Bridge. At dawn on April 30, the assault price of considerable losses was captured by the building of the Ministry of the Interior, adjacent to the parliament building. The path to Reichstag was open.
April 30, 1945 at 21.30 parts of the 150th Rifle Division, under the command of General-Major, V. M. Shatilova and the 171st Rifle Division, under the command of Colonel A. I. National Storms mastered the main part of the Reichstag building. The remaining Hitler parts have resistant resistance. It was necessary to fight for each room. Early in the morning of May 1, over the Reichstag, the assault flag of the 150th Rifle Division was raised, however, the fight for Reichstag continued on all day, and only on the night of May 2, the Reichstag garrison capitulated.
On May 1, only Tirgarian and government quarter remained in the hands of Germans. Here the imperial office was located, in the courtyard of which he was a bunker of Hitler's bet. On the night of May 1, by prior arrangement, the head of the General Staff of German Land Forces General, General Krebs, arrived at the headquarters of the 8th Guards Army. He informed the commander of the army of General V. I. Chuikov about the suicide of Hitler and about the proposal of the new government of Germany to conclude a truce. The message was immediately transferred to G. K. Zhukov, who himself called Moscow. Stalin confirmed the categorical requirement of unconditional surrender. At 18 o'clock on May 1, the new government of Germany rejected the requirement of unconditional surrender, and the Soviet troops with a new force resumed the assault.
In the first hour of the night, on May 2, the radio stations of the 1st Belorussian Front received a message in Russian: "Please stop the fire. We send parliamentary to Potsdam Bridge. " The German officer arrived at the appointed place on behalf of the commander of the defense Berlin General Wadling reported on the readiness of the Berlin garrison to stop resistance. At 6 am, on May 2, General of Artillery Vadling, accompanied by three German generals, passed the front line and surrendered. An hour later, being in the headquarters of the 8th Guards Army, he wrote an order to surrender, which was reproduced and with the help of speaking installations and radio was brought to parts of the enemy defending in the center of Berlin. As this order is made before defending, resistance in the city stopped. By the end of the day, the troops of the 8th Guards Army cleared the central part of the city from the enemy. Separate parts that did not want to give up to capture, tried to break through to the West, but were destroyed or scattered.
Losses of Party
the USSR
From April 16 to May 8, Soviet troops lost 352,775 people, of which it is irretrievable - 78,291 people. The losses of Polish troops over the same period amounted to 8892 people, from them irrevocably - 2825 people. The loss of military equipment amounted to 1997 tanks and SAU, 2108 guns and mortars, 917 combat aircraft, 215.9 thousand units of small arms.
Germany
According to combat reports of Soviet fronts:
- Troops of the 1st Belorussian Front from April 16 to May 13
destroyed 232,726 people, captured 250 675
- Troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front in the period from April 15 to April 29
destroyed 114,349 people, captured 55,080 people
- Troops of the 2nd Belarusian Front from April 5 to May 8:
49,770 people destroyed, 84,234 people captured
Thus, on the reports of the Soviet command, the loss of German troops were killed about 400 thousand people, about 380 thousand people were prisoners. Part of the German troops was pushed back to the Elbe and capitulated to the union troops.
Also, according to the evaluation of the Soviet command, the total number of troops that came out of the environment in the Berlin region does not exceed 17,000 people with 80-90 armored vehicles.
Germany losses according to German sources
According to German data, 45 thousand German soldiers took place in defense directly from Berlin, of which 22 thousand people died. The losses of Germany killed in the whole Berlin operation amounted to about one hundred thousand servicemen. It is necessary to take into account that data on losses in 1945 in the OKM was determined by the estimated method. Due to violation of systematic documentary accounting and reporting, violations of the management of troops, the accuracy of these information is very low. In addition, according to the rules adopted in the Weirmacht, the losses of only military personnel were taken into account and the losses of the troops of the Allied States and foreign formations who fought as part of the Wehrmacht, as well as militarized formations that served troops were taken into account.
Owliness of German losses
According to the combat reports of fronts:
- The troops of the 1st Belorussian front from April 16 to May 13: destroyed - 1184, seized - 629 tanks and self-propelled guns.
- The troops of the 1st Ukrainian front in the period from April 15 to April 29, destroyed - 1067, seized - 432 tanks and self-propelled guns;
- The troops of the 2nd Belarusian front in the period from April 5 to May 8 were destroyed - 195, seized - 85 tanks and self-propelled guns.
In total, according to the fronts, 3592 tanks and self-propelled guns were destroyed, which is more than 2 times higher than the number of tanks that were spent on the Soviet-German front before the start of the operation.
In April 1946, a military scientific conference was held, dedicated to the Berlin offensive operation. In one of the speeches, Lieutenant-General K. F. Telegin led the data according to which the total number of tanks, allegedly destroyed during operation by the troops of the 1st Belarusian front, is more than 2 times the number of tanks that occurred in the Germans against the 1st Belorussian Front before starting the operation. Also in the speech was referred to some overestimation (about 15%) of human losses incurred by German troops.
These data allow us to talk about the overestimation of German losses in the technique from the Soviet command. On the other hand, it is necessary to take into account that the 1st Ukrainian front, during the operation it was necessary to fight with the troops of the 12th German army, which before the start of the battle occupied defense against the American troops and the tanks of which were not taken into account at the initial settlement. In addition to the number of baked German tanks over the number of battles taken to the beginning, it is also explained by the high "returnability" of the German tanks after the shot, which was due to the clear work of the equipment evacuation services from the battlefield, the presence of a large number of well-equipped repair units and good maintainability of German tanks .
Results of the operation
- The destruction of the largest grouping of German troops, capturing the capital of Germany, the captivity of the highest military and political leadership of Germany.
- The fall of Berlin and the loss of German leadership ability to control led to a practically complete cessation of organized resistance from the German armed forces.
- Berlin Operation has demonstrated the allies high combat capability of the Red Army and was one of the reasons for the abolition of the operation "unthinkable" - the plan of the war of the Allies against the Soviet Union. However, this decision was in the future did not affect the development of the arms race and the beginning of the Cold War.
- Hundreds of thousands of people were released from German captivity, among which at least 200 thousand citizens of foreign states. Only in the band of the 2nd Belarusian front from April 5 to May 8, 197,523 people were liberated from the captivity, of which 68,467 citizens of the Allied States.
Feedback opponent
The last commander of the defense of Berlin General of Artillery Vadling, being in the Soviet captivity, gave the following characteristic of the actions of the Red Army in the Berlin Operation:
I believe that the main features of this operation of Russians, as in other operations, is the following:
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Historical facts
- Berlin operation is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest battle in history. About 3.5 million people, 52 thousand guns and mortars, 7750 tanks and 11 thousand aircraft took part in the battle on both sides.
- Initially, the command of the 1st Belorussian Front planned to carry out an operation on Mastering Berlin in February 1945.
- Among the 63rd Chelyabinsk Tank Brigade of the 63rd Chelyabinsk Tank Brigade of Mr. Fomichev, the former French Prime Minister Eduar Errio is located near the Guards.
- On April 23, Hitler, on the basis of a false Donos, gave an order about the execution of the commander of the 56th tank corps of the general artillery general of Vadling. Having learned about this, Waidling arrived at the rate and achieved an audience with Hitler, after which the order for the execution of the general was canceled, and he himself was appointed commander of the Defense of Berlin. In the German artistic film "Bunker", General Weidling, receiving an order in the office of this appointment, says: "I would prefer me to be shot."
- On April 22, the Tankists of the 5th Guards Tank Corps of the 4th Guards Tank Army were released from the captivity of the commander of the Norwegian army of General Otto Roga.
- On the 1st Belarusian front, in the direction of the main strike, one kilometer of the front accounted for 358 tons of ammunition, and the weight of one front ammunition exceeded 43 thousand tons.
- During the offensive to the warriors of the 1st Guards Cavalry Corps under the command of Lieutenant-General Baranova V. K. managed to find and capture the largest tribal equestrian plant, vigorous by the Germans from the North Caucasus in 1942.
- In the food pack, issued by the inhabitants of Berlin at the end of the hostilities, in addition to basic foods, part of coffee, delivered by a special train from the USSR.
- The troops of the 2nd Belarusian front were freed from the captivity almost all the highest military leadership of Belgium, including the head of the General Staff of the Belgian Army.
- The Presidium of the USSR Sun established the medal "For Taking Berlin", which was awarded more than 1 million soldiers. 187 parts and connections that most distinguished during the assault of the enemy capital were assigned the honorary name of Berlin. More than 600 participants of the Berlin Operations were awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. 13 people were awarded the 2nd medal "Golden Star" Hero of the Soviet Union.
- The Berlin Operations are devoted to the 4th and 5 series of film epoplision "Liberation".
- The Soviet Army involved in the storming of the city directly 464,000 people and 1,500 tanks and SAU.
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