The Battle of Berlin The Fall of Hitler and the Third Reich

Final Offensive from the West After Battle of the Bulge, the Allies paused only briefly before resuming the offensive. Eisenhower had already decided that his forces should advance to the Rhine and cover its length before crossing; he wanted to shorten Allied lines, provide a defensible position to counter further German counterattacks, and free troops to build up strong reserves. After Battle of the Bulge, the Allies paused only briefly before resuming the offensive. Eisenhower had already decided that his forces should advance to the Rhine and cover its length before crossing; he wanted to shorten Allied lines, provide a defensible position to counter further German counterattacks, and free troops to build up strong reserves. The Western Allies found a great deal of success in their engagements with the Germans. The Western Allies found a great deal of success in their engagements with the Germans. Nevertheless, Eisenhower resisted British pressure to drive on to Berlin. He saw no point in taking casualties to capture ground that, in line with earlier agreements between Allied leaders, would have to be relinquished to the Soviets once hostilities ceased. His objective remained to capture or destroy the remnants of the German armed forces. Nevertheless, Eisenhower resisted British pressure to drive on to Berlin. He saw no point in taking casualties to capture ground that, in line with earlier agreements between Allied leaders, would have to be relinquished to the Soviets once hostilities ceased. His objective remained to capture or destroy the remnants of the German armed forces.

Offensive from the West continued… No offensive was planned to take the city. The major Western Allied contribution to the battle for Berlin was a strategic bombing of it. During 1945 the West launched a number of very large daytime raids on Berlin and for 36 consecutive nights, bombers raided the German capital, ending on the night of 20/21 April 1945, just before the Soviets entered the city. No offensive was planned to take the city. The major Western Allied contribution to the battle for Berlin was a strategic bombing of it. During 1945 the West launched a number of very large daytime raids on Berlin and for 36 consecutive nights, bombers raided the German capital, ending on the night of 20/21 April 1945, just before the Soviets entered the city. As the battles raged, British, American, and Soviet forces neared previously negotiated stop lines along the Elbe and Mulde Rivers. As the battles raged, British, American, and Soviet forces neared previously negotiated stop lines along the Elbe and Mulde Rivers. German forces in Italy surrendered effective May 2 and those in the Netherlands, northwestern Germany, and Denmark on May 4. German forces in Italy surrendered effective May 2 and those in the Netherlands, northwestern Germany, and Denmark on May 4.

Final Offensive from the East On 20 April, Hitler's birthday, Soviet artillery began to shell the centre of Berlin and did not stop until the city surrendered. On 20 April, Hitler's birthday, Soviet artillery began to shell the centre of Berlin and did not stop until the city surrendered. Outside his bunker, Hitler awards the Iron Cross to Hitler Youth on his 56 th Birthday.

Russian Encirclement of Berlin On 23 April, the Soviet 1st Belorussian Front and 1st Ukrainian Front continued to tighten the encirclement. This included cutting off the last link that the German IX Army had with the city. Elements of 1st Ukrainian Front continued to move westward and started to engage the German XII Army, moving towards Berlin On 23 April, the Soviet 1st Belorussian Front and 1st Ukrainian Front continued to tighten the encirclement. This included cutting off the last link that the German IX Army had with the city. Elements of 1st Ukrainian Front continued to move westward and started to engage the German XII Army, moving towards Berlin By April 24 elements of 1st Belorussian Front and 1st Ukrainian Front had completed the encirclement of the city. By April 24 elements of 1st Belorussian Front and 1st Ukrainian Front had completed the encirclement of the city. The next day, 25 April, the Soviet attack on Berlin was consolidated by leading Soviet troops to probe and penetrate the German defensive ring. By the end of the 25 April it became obvious that the German defence of Berlin could not stop the Russian onslaught, but only temporally delay it. The next day, 25 April, the Soviet attack on Berlin was consolidated by leading Soviet troops to probe and penetrate the German defensive ring. By the end of the 25 April it became obvious that the German defence of Berlin could not stop the Russian onslaught, but only temporally delay it.

Russians Advance to Reichstag

Battle for the Reichstag The Reichstag was one of the places where the fighting was heaviest, with house-to-house and hand-to-hand combat. German SS soldiers fought especially hard, as they were ideologically motivated and they believed that they would not live if captured. The Reichstag was one of the places where the fighting was heaviest, with house-to-house and hand-to-hand combat. German SS soldiers fought especially hard, as they were ideologically motivated and they believed that they would not live if captured. In the early hours of the 29 April the Soviet 3rd Shock Army crossed the Moltke bridge and began to spread out into the surrounding area. In the early hours of the 29 April the Soviet 3rd Shock Army crossed the Moltke bridge and began to spread out into the surrounding area. At 04:00 hours, in the Führerbunker, Hitler signed his last will and testament and, shortly afterwards, married Eva Braun. At dawn the Soviets pressed on with their assault in the south east. After very heavy fighting they managed to capture the Gestapo headquarters. At 04:00 hours, in the Führerbunker, Hitler signed his last will and testament and, shortly afterwards, married Eva Braun. At dawn the Soviets pressed on with their assault in the south east. After very heavy fighting they managed to capture the Gestapo headquarters.

Hitler Commits Suicide Just days before his death Hitler married Eva Braun. That same night he tested out a cyanide pill on his German Shepherd dog, Blondi. Braun agreed to commit suicide with him. Just days before his death Hitler married Eva Braun. That same night he tested out a cyanide pill on his German Shepherd dog, Blondi. Braun agreed to commit suicide with him. The Soviet troops were now only 300 yards away from Hitler's underground bunker. Although defeat was assured, Hitler demanded his troops fight to the death. Instructions were constantly being sent out giving orders that the Germans execute any military commanders who retreated. The Soviet troops were now only 300 yards away from Hitler's underground bunker. Although defeat was assured, Hitler demanded his troops fight to the death. Instructions were constantly being sent out giving orders that the Germans execute any military commanders who retreated. On 30th April, 1945, after saying their farewells, Hitler and Eva Braun went into a private room and took cyanide tablets. Hitler also shot himself in the head. There are some discrepancies over what was done with their bodies. On 30th April, 1945, after saying their farewells, Hitler and Eva Braun went into a private room and took cyanide tablets. Hitler also shot himself in the head. There are some discrepancies over what was done with their bodies.

Time Magazine - May 7, 1945

Soviets Capture the Reichstag By the next day, 30 April, the Soviets had gained artillery support and at 06:00 they launched an attack on the Reichstag. By the next day, 30 April, the Soviets had gained artillery support and at 06:00 they launched an attack on the Reichstag. Soviet troops fought their way to the top of the building and hoisted the red flag on the top of the Reichstag at 22:50 Soviet troops fought their way to the top of the building and hoisted the red flag on the top of the Reichstag at 22:50

Soviets Capture Reichstag

German Surrender On the night of the 2/3 May General Hasso von Manteuffel, commander of the III Panzer Army and Kurt von Tippelskirch commander of the XXI Army surrendered to the Americans. On the night of the 2/3 May General Hasso von Manteuffel, commander of the III Panzer Army and Kurt von Tippelskirch commander of the XXI Army surrendered to the Americans. On the morning of 7 May the perimeter of Wenck's XII army's bridgehead was compromised. Wenck crossed the Elbe under small arms fire that afternoon and surrendered to the Americans. Those who did not succeed in crossing the Elbe surrendered to the Soviets. On the morning of 7 May the perimeter of Wenck's XII army's bridgehead was compromised. Wenck crossed the Elbe under small arms fire that afternoon and surrendered to the Americans. Those who did not succeed in crossing the Elbe surrendered to the Soviets.