Shumel was green and April was the last year of a bloody war.Military operations have moved almost entirely to Germany.From the east came the army of the Soviet Union, the west allies pressed.Everyone knew that the end of the Wehrmacht and the inevitable capture of Berlin.
By this time Germany was in full economic and political isolation.The only remaining allies - Japan - already could do nothing, and are in the same deplorable situation.German war production has steadily decreased, the economy has been disorganized.Casualties were so critical that the army recruited young men 16-17 years old.The only positive point for Germany was to reduce the length of the Eastern Front, which helped to concentrate considerable forces for resistance in their territory.
Strategic Plan Hitler was to restrain the pressure as long as the Soviet troops in the east, and in the meantime make a separate peace with the countries of the Allies.Guide Wehrmacht was ready to surrender Berlin troops of England and the US, but not at any price let to Russian.
Therefore, the bulk of the forces concentrated in the east of Germany, there were built the most powerful defenses.Was created by the Berlin defensive area includes three ring fenced bypass.The city itself was divided into nine sectors, interconnected passages.
most powerfully was prepared to defend the central area, which houses the main government buildings and the Reichstag.The number of the Berlin garrison was constantly increasing due to new recruits.It was clear that the capture of Berlin will be hard and bloody.
German command has called for the city to fight "to the last man, until the last bullet."The successful defense of the capital could be the turning point in the history of the war.The task of the Soviet troops was any cost to break the German resistance and lead to a final and unconditional surrender.
to participate in the Berlin operation by the Soviet Army were involved in three fronts, with the result that our troops their numbers were significantly superior to the German.
general plan of the operation was as follows: quick blows to crush the main group of the German armies "Center" and "Vistula", to ensure the capture of Berlin and reach the river Elbe to join forces with the Allies.This was to deprive Germany of the possibility to further organized resistance and force her to surrender completely.The principal agreement with Britain and the United States on the coordination of joint actions was reached during the Crimean conference.
In mid-April 1945, after careful preparation, Soviet troops launched a major offensive on Berlin.The strength of the artillery fire and air raids were devastating.First Ukrainian, First and Second Byelorussian Front moved fairly quickly into enemy territory, clutching a ring around the capital.April 19, Soviet troops were able to break through the third defensive ring around the city and to the north.Losses on both sides were enormous.
But for April 24 Berlin was taken to the environment, and on 25 April, the scheduled connection Soviet and Anglo-American forces - a meeting on the Elbe.Everything was going according to plan.
The Soviet troops was a growing excitement and the joy of a quick victory.The soldiers began to massively join the ranks of the party, and refused to leave the battlefield, even the wounded soldiers.
Taking Berlin lasted from April 16 to May 2.The highlight of the operation was the battle for the city, which began on April 21.It was attended by nearly 470 thousand Soviet soldiers against 300 thousand Germans.Berlin operation feature is that it actively and widely used tank attacks.The Germans resisted fiercely.For two weeks the battles have been lost more than a third of all the Soviet armored forces.
were fighting in the capital during the day and at night.April 28 stormed the Reichstag - the symbol and stronghold of the Wehrmacht.He was actually turned into a fortress, which was defended by the best troops of the SS and well-trained naval school cadets.However, everyone knew that it was a struggle doomed.
In the middle of the day April 30, Soviet troops were able to occupy the first floor of the building and on the same day, at 22:40, 150 Infantry Division soldiers Yegorov and Berest Kantariya hoisted on the roof of the Reichstag combat Soviet flag.
Around the same time, Hitler in his bunker committed suicide.
capture of Berlin in 1945 was not the last battle in this war.Ahead of Soviet troops awaited the liberation of Prague and many other important fights, punching direction of the west.
