World War II: Battle of Berlin

The Battle of Berlin is the last strategic offensive operation of the Soviet Army during the Second World War on the eastern front, which swept a vast territory and during which the capital of Germany was captured and the end of the war in Europe. This operation lasted twenty-three days. During this time the Soviet troops managed to advance to the capital of Germany. The battle ended with the storming of the Reichstag.

The USSR Armed Forces proceeded from the policy of Germany's surrender in the military, economic and political fields. The main goal at the same time was the complete destruction of fascism, not only in the state, but also in the social system, as well as bringing to justice the main Nazi intruders for their crimes, destruction and massacres.

During the development of the Berlin operation, the actions of the Allied forces were taken into account, which in the beginning of spring of 1945 entered the territory of the Rhine and began its crossing in order to further launch an offensive in the center of Germany.

Before the battle for Berlin was to take place, it was planned to take control of the Ruhr area, then advance the British and American troops to the Elbe in the Berlin direction. Simultaneously, the French troops were to capture Stuttgart, Munich and go to Austria and Czechoslovakia.

However, the German government, wishing to defend the capital and avoid capitulation, attracted all the funds of the country. It advanced all land forces and aviation against the Soviet Army. At the same time, the fascist government continued to seek agreement with Britain and the United States, trying to avoid surrender and relying on the split of the coalition. Germany was ready to give them the capital, only so that the battle for Berlin did not begin.

The forces of the Red Army incredibly exceeded the strength of the Wehrmacht. The basis of German defense in Berlin was a ramified system of protective reinforced concrete structures: bunkers, pillboxes, which were equipped with guns and machine guns. Around the whole of this was placed a system of radar surveillance posts.

Zhukov was supposed to storm the line of defense on Zahelovsky heights, which closed the road to Berlin. Konev had to force Nase, and Rybalko and Lelyushenko - to hit the capital of Germany, and then, having reached the Elbe to unite with the allies.

The battle for Berlin began on April 16. The whole operation was carried out in three stages. At first, a breakthrough of the Neisen line of enemy defense took place, which provided the conditions for the seizure of Berlin from the south. Further, the encirclement and dismemberment of the Nazi troops continued. And only then - the destruction of fascist groups and the capture of Berlin. The liquidation of enemy forces in the capital took place from 26 to 2 April, and already on 30 April they were actually divided into four parts.

In Berlin, Zhukov appeared on April 22. When the northern parts of the city were captured, he turned off Rokossovsky from the operation, and from that moment on the second Byelorussian Front continued the rout of the enemy troops in the north.

On April 29, the Nazis had a sixteen-kilometer long strip, at that time the first German prisoners arrived in the rear. In the evening, Hitler was last reported on the situation, where it was indicated that the next day the Russians would be standing near the entrance to the office. The next day, Hitler did not, he brought the scores back to life.

The battle for 1945 Berlin lasted until May 2. On this day the German officers raised a white flag, the fascist garrison surrendered.

Thus, when the capital of Germany was captured, an end to the war in all of Europe was put an end.

It should be noted that the battle for Berlin, the loss of which by Soviet troops was much smaller than that from Germany, played a huge role in world history.