The final battle of the Great Patriotic War was the Battle of Berlin, or the Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation, which took place from April 16 to May 8, 1945.
On April 16, at 3 o'clock local time, aviation and artillery preparation began in the sector of the 1st Belorussian and 1st Ukrainian fronts. After its completion, 143 searchlights were turned on to blind the enemy, and infantry, supported by tanks, went on the attack. Without encountering strong resistance, she advanced 1.5-2 kilometers. However, the further our troops advanced, the stronger the enemy’s resistance grew.
Troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front carried out a rapid maneuver to reach Berlin from the south and west. On April 25, troops of the 1st Ukrainian and 1st Belorussian Fronts united west of Berlin, completing the encirclement of the entire Berlin enemy group.
The liquidation of the Berlin enemy group directly in the city continued until May 2. Every street and house had to be stormed. On April 29, battles began for the Reichstag, the capture of which was entrusted to the 79th Rifle Corps of the 3rd Shock Army of the 1st Belorussian Front.
Before the storming of the Reichstag, the Military Council of the 3rd Shock Army presented its divisions with nine Red Banners, specially made according to the type State flag THE USSR. One of these Red Banners, known as No. 5 as the Victory Banner, was transferred to the 150th Infantry Division. Similar homemade red banners, flags and flags were available in all forward units, formations and subunits. They, as a rule, were awarded to assault groups, which were recruited from among volunteers and went into battle with the main task - to break into the Reichstag and plant the Victory Banner on it. The first, at 22:30 Moscow time on April 30, 1945, to hoist the assault red banner on the roof of the Reichstag on the sculptural figure “Goddess of Victory” were reconnaissance artillerymen of the 136th Army Cannon Artillery Brigade, senior sergeants G.K. Zagitov, A.F. Lisimenko, A.P. Bobrov and Sergeant A.P. Minin from the assault group of the 79th Rifle Corps, commanded by Captain V.N. Makov, the assault artillery group acted together with the battalion of captain S.A. Neustroeva. Two or three hours later, also on the roof of the Reichstag on the sculpture of an equestrian knight - Kaiser Wilhelm - on the orders of the commander of the 756th Infantry Regiment of the 150th Infantry Division, Colonel F.M. Zinchenko erected Red Banner No. 5, which later became famous as the Victory Banner. Red Banner No. 5 was hoisted by scouts Sergeant M.A. Egorov and junior sergeant M.V. Kantaria, who were accompanied by Lieutenant A.P. Berest and machine gunners from the company of senior sergeant I.Ya. Syanova.
The fighting for the Reichstag continued until the morning of May 1. At 6:30 a.m. on May 2, the chief of defense of Berlin, artillery general G. Weidling, surrendered and gave the order to the remnants of the Berlin garrison to cease resistance. In the middle of the day, the Nazi resistance in the city ceased. On the same day, the surrounded groups were eliminated German troops southeast of Berlin.
On May 9 at 0:43 Moscow time, Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, as well as representatives of the German Navy, who had the appropriate authority from Doenitz, in the presence of Marshal G.K. Zhukov, on the Soviet side, signed the Act of Unconditional Surrender of Germany. A brilliantly executed operation, coupled with the courage of Soviet soldiers and officers who fought to end the four-year nightmare of war, led to a logical result: Victory.
Capture of Berlin. 1945 Documentary
PROGRESS OF THE BATTLE
The Berlin operation of the Soviet troops began. Goal: complete the defeat of Germany, capture Berlin, unite with the allies
The infantry and tanks of the 1st Belorussian Front began the attack before dawn under the illumination of anti-aircraft searchlights and advanced 1.5-2 km
With the onset of dawn on the Seelow Heights, the Germans came to their senses and fought with ferocity. Zhukov brings tank armies into battle
16 Apr 45 The troops of Konev's 1st Ukrainian Front encounter less resistance on the path of their advance and immediately cross the Neisse
The commander of the 1st Ukrainian Front, Konev, orders the commanders of his tank armies, Rybalko and Lelyushenko, to advance on Berlin
Konev demands that Rybalko and Lelyushenko not get involved in protracted and frontal battles, and move forward more boldly towards Berlin
A hero died twice in the battles for Berlin Soviet Union, commander of a tank battalion of the Guards. Mr. S. Khokhryakov
The 2nd Belorussian Front of Rokossovsky joined the Berlin operation, covering the right flank.
By the end of the day, Konev’s front completed the breakthrough of the Neissen defense line and crossed the river. Spree and provided conditions for the encirclement of Berlin from the south
Troops of the 1st Belorussian Front Zhukov spend the whole day breaking the 3rd line of enemy defense on the Oderen on the Seelow Heights
By the end of the day, Zhukov’s troops completed the breakthrough of the 3rd line of the Oder line on the Seelow Heights
On the left wing of Zhukov’s front, conditions were created to cut off the enemy’s Frankfurt-Guben group from the Berlin area
Directive of the Supreme High Command Headquarters to the commander of the 1st Belorussian and 1st Ukrainian Fronts: “Treat the Germans better.” , Antonov
Another directive from Headquarters: about identification marks and signals when meeting Soviet armies and allied troops
At 13.50, the long-range artillery of the 79th Rifle Corps of the 3rd Shock Army was the first to open fire on Berlin - the beginning of the assault on the city itself
Apr 20 45 Konev and Zhukov send almost identical orders to the troops of their fronts: “Be the first to break into Berlin!”
By evening, formations of the 2nd Guards Tank, 3rd and 5th Shock Armies of the 1st Belorussian Front reached the northeastern outskirts of Berlin
The 8th Guards and 1st Guards Tank Armies wedged into the city defensive perimeter of Berlin in the areas of Petershagen and Erkner
Hitler ordered the 12th Army, previously aimed at the Americans, to be turned against the 1st Ukrainian Front. It now has the goal of connecting with the remnants of the 9th and 4th Panzer armies, making their way south of Berlin to the west.
3rd Guards tank army Rybalko broke into the southern part of Berlin and by 17.30 was fighting for Teltow - Konev’s telegram to Stalin
Hitler refused to leave Berlin for the last time while there was such an opportunity. Goebbels and his family moved to a bunker under the Reich Chancellery (“Fuhrer’s bunker”)
Assault flags were presented by the Military Council of the 3rd Shock Army to the divisions storming Berlin. Among them is the flag that became the banner of victory - the assault flag of the 150th Infantry Division
In the area of Spremberg, Soviet troops eliminated the encircled group of Germans. Among the destroyed units was the tank division "Fuhrer's Guard"
Troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front are fighting in the south of Berlin. At the same time they reached the Elbe River northwest of Dresden
Goering, who left Berlin, turned to Hitler on the radio, asking him to approve him at the head of the government. Received an order from Hitler removing him from the government. Bormann ordered Goering's arrest for treason
Himmler unsuccessfully tries, through the Swedish diplomat Bernadotte, to offer the Allies surrender on the Western Front.
Shock formations of the 1st Belorussian and 1st Ukrainian fronts in the Brandenburg region closed the encirclement of German troops in Berlin
German 9th and 4th tank forces. armies are surrounded in the forests southeast of Berlin. Units of the 1st Ukrainian Front repulse the counterattack of the 12th German Army
Report: “In the Berlin suburb of Ransdorf there are restaurants where they “willingly sell” beer to our fighters for occupation stamps.” The head of the political department of the 28th Guards Rifle Regiment, Borodin, ordered the owners of Ransdorf restaurants to close them until the battle was over.
In the area of Torgau on the Elbe, Soviet troops of the 1st Ukrainian fr. met with the troops of the 12th American Army Group of General Bradley
Having crossed the Spree, the troops of Konev's 1st Ukrainian Front and Zhukov's 1st Belorussian Front are rushing towards the center of Berlin. Nothing can stop the rush of Soviet soldiers in Berlin
Troops of the 1st Belorussian Front in Berlin occupied Gartenstadt and Görlitz station, troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front occupied the Dahlem district
Konev turned to Zhukov with a proposal to change the demarcation line between their fronts in Berlin - the center of the city should be transferred to the front
Zhukov asks Stalin to honor the capture of the center of Berlin by the troops of his front, replacing Konev's troops in the south of the city
The General Staff orders Konev's troops, who have already reached Tiergarten, to transfer their offensive zone to Zhukov's troops
Order No. 1 of the military commandant of Berlin, Hero of the Soviet Union, Colonel General Berzarin, on the transfer of all power in Berlin to the hands of the Soviet military commandant's office. It was announced to the population of the city that the National Socialist Party of Germany and its organizations were dissolved and their activities were prohibited. The order established the order of behavior of the population and determined the basic provisions necessary to normalize life in the city.
Battles began for the Reichstag, the capture of which was entrusted to the 79th Rifle Corps of the 3rd Shock Army of the 1st Belorussian Front
When breaking through the barriers on the Berlin Kaiserallee, N. Shendrikov’s tank received 2 holes, caught fire, and the crew was disabled. The mortally wounded commander, having collected last strength, sat down at the controls and threw the flaming tank at the enemy gun
Hitler's wedding to Eva Braun in a bunker under the Reich Chancellery. Witness - Goebbels. In his political will, Hitler expelled Goering from the NSDAP and officially named Grand Admiral Dönitz as his successor.
Soviet units are fighting for the Berlin metro
The Soviet command rejected the attempts of the German command to begin negotiations on the time. ceasefire. There is only one demand - surrender!
The assault on the Reichstag building itself began, which was defended by more than 1000 Germans and SS men from different countries
Several red banners were fixed in different places of the Reichstag - from regimental and divisional to homemade
Scouts of the 150th division Egorov and Kantaria were ordered to hoist the Red Banner over the Reichstag around midnight
Lieutenant Berest from Neustroev's battalion led the combat mission to plant the Banner over the Reichstag. Installed around 3.00, May 1
Hitler committed suicide in the Reich Chancellery bunker by taking poison and shooting himself in the temple with a pistol. Hitler's corpse is burned in the courtyard of the Reich Chancellery
Hitler leaves Goebbels as Reich Chancellor, who commits suicide the next day. Before his death, Hitler appointed Bormann Reich Minister for Party Affairs (previously such a post did not exist)
Troops of the 1st Belorussian Front captured Bandenburg, in Berlin they cleared the areas of Charlottenburg, Schöneberg and 100 blocks
In Berlin, Goebbels and his wife Magda committed suicide, having previously killed their 6 children
The commander arrived at the headquarters of Chuikov's army in Berlin. German General Staff Krebs, reported Hitler's suicide, proposed a truce. Stalin confirmed his categorical demand for unconditional surrender in Berlin. At 18 o'clock the Germans rejected it
At 18.30, due to the refusal of surrender, a fire strike was launched at the Berlin garrison. Mass surrender of Germans began
At 01.00, the radios of the 1st Belorussian Front received a message in Russian: “We ask you to cease fire. We are sending envoys to the Potsdam Bridge."
A German officer, on behalf of the commander of the defense of Berlin Weidling, announced the readiness of the Berlin garrison to stop resistance
At 6.00 General Weidling surrendered and an hour later signed an order for the surrender of the Berlin garrison
Enemy resistance in Berlin has completely ceased. The remnants of the garrison surrender en masse
In Berlin, Goebbels' deputy for propaganda and press, Dr. Fritsche, was captured. Fritsche testified during interrogation that Hitler, Goebbels and Chief of the General Staff General Krebs committed suicide
Stalin's order on the contribution of the Zhukov and Konev fronts to the defeat of the Berlin group. By 21.00, 70 thousand Germans had already surrendered.
The irretrievable losses of the Red Army in the Berlin operation were 78 thousand people. Enemy losses - 1 million, incl. 150 thousand killed
Soviet field kitchens are deployed throughout Berlin, where “wild barbarians” feed hungry Berliners
IT'S ALWAYS POSSIBLE
The capture of Berlin was not particularly successful militarily, but had great political resonance. A phrase uttered by the favorite of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, Count I.I., quickly spread throughout all European capitals. Shuvalov: “You can’t reach St. Petersburg from Berlin, but you can always get from St. Petersburg to Berlin.”
COURSE OF EVENTS
The dynastic contradictions of European courts in the 18th century resulted in a bloody and long war “for the Austrian succession” of 1740-1748. Military fortune was on the side of the Prussian king Frederick II, who managed not only to expand his possessions, taking away the rich province of Silesia from Austria, but also to increase the foreign policy weight of Prussia, turning it into the most powerful Central European power. However, this state of affairs could not suit other European countries, and especially Austria, which was then the leader of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. Frederick II that the Austrian Empress Maria Theresa and the Viennese court would strive to restore not only the integrity of their state, but also the prestige of the state.
The confrontation between the two German states in Central Europe led to the emergence of two powerful blocs: Austria and France opposed the coalition of England and Prussia. In 1756, the Seven Years' War began. The decision to join Russia in the anti-Prussian coalition was made by Empress Elizaveta Petrovna in 1757, since due to numerous defeats of the Austrians there was a threat of taking Vienna, and the excessive strengthening of Prussia was in conflict with the foreign policy course of the Russian court. Russia also feared for the position of its newly annexed Baltic possessions.
Russia acted successfully in the Seven Years' War, more successfully than all other parties, and won brilliant victories in key battles. But they did not take advantage of their fruits - in any case, Russia did not receive territorial acquisitions. The latter arose from internal court circumstances.
At the end of the 1750s. Empress Elizabeth was often ill. They feared for her life. Elizabeth's heir was her nephew, the son of Anna's eldest daughter - Grand Duke Petr Fedorovich. Before converting to Orthodoxy, his name was Karl Peter Ulrich. Almost immediately after birth, he lost his mother, was left without a father at a young age and took over his father’s Holstein throne. Prince Karl Peter Ulrich was the grandson of Peter I and the great-nephew of the Swedish king Charles XII. At one time he was being prepared to become the heir to the Swedish throne.
They raised the young Holstein Duke in an extremely mediocre manner. The main pedagogical tool was the rod. This had a negative impact on the boy, whose abilities were believed to be naturally limited. When the 13-year-old Holstein prince was sent to St. Petersburg in 1742, he made a depressing impression on everyone with his backwardness, bad manners and contempt for Russia. The ideal of Grand Duke Peter was Frederick II. As Duke of Holstein, Peter was a vassal of Frederick II. Many feared that he would become a "vassal" of the Prussian king, taking the Russian throne.
The courtiers and ministers knew that if Peter III came to the throne, Russia would immediately end the war as part of the anti-Prussian coalition. But the reigning Elizabeth demanded victories over Frederick. As a result, the military leaders sought to inflict defeats on the Prussians, but “not fatally.”
In the first major battle between Prussian and Russian troops, which took place on August 19, 1757 near the village of Gross-Jägersdorf, our army was commanded by S.F. Apraksin. He defeated the Prussians, but did not pursue them. On the contrary, he withdrew himself, which allowed Frederick II to put his army in order and move it against the French.
Elizabeth, having recovered from another illness, removed Apraksin. His place was taken by V.V. Fermor. In 1758, the Russians captured the capital East Prussia Koenigsberg. Then followed a bloody battle near the village of Zorndorf, both sides suffered heavy losses, but did not defeat each other, although each side declared its “victory”.
In 1759, headed Russian troops in Prussia P.S. stood up. Saltykov. On August 12, 1759, the Battle of Kunersdorf took place, which became the crown of Russian victories in the Seven Years' War. Under Saltykov, 41,000 Russian soldiers, 5,200 Kalmyk cavalry and 18,500 Austrians fought. The Prussian troops were commanded by Frederick II himself, with 48,000 men in the ranks.
The battle began at 9 o'clock in the morning, when Prussian artillery dealt a crushing blow to the batteries of Russian artillerymen. Most of the artillerymen died under grapeshot, some did not even have time to fire a single volley. By 11 o'clock in the afternoon, Frederick realized that the left flank of the Russian-Austrian troops was extremely weakly fortified, and attacked it with superior forces. Saltykov decides to retreat, and the army, maintaining battle order, retreats. At 6 o'clock in the evening, the Prussians captured all the Allied artillery - 180 guns, of which 16 were immediately sent to Berlin as war trophies. Frederick celebrated his victory.
However, Russian troops continued to hold two strategic heights: Spitzberg and Judenberg. An attempt to capture these points with the help of cavalry failed: the inconvenient terrain of the area did not allow Frederick's cavalry to turn around, and it all died under a hail of grapeshot and bullets. A horse was killed near Frederick, but the commander himself miraculously escaped. Frederick's last reserve, the life cuirassiers, was thrown into the Russian positions, but the Chuguev Kalmyks not only stopped this attack, but also captured the cuirassier commander.
Realizing that Frederick's reserves were depleted, Saltykov gave the order for a general offensive, which plunged the Prussians into panic. Trying to escape, the soldiers crowded onto the bridge over the Oder River, many drowned. Frederick himself admitted that the defeat of his army was complete: out of 48 thousand Prussians after the battle, only 3 thousand were in the ranks, and the guns captured at the first stage of the battle were recaptured. Frederick’s despair is best shown in one of his letters: “From an army of 48,000, at this moment I don’t have even 3,000 left. Everything is running, and I no longer have power over the army. In Berlin they will do well if they think about their safety. A cruel misfortune, I will not survive it. The consequences of the battle will be even worse than the battle itself: I have no more means, and to tell the truth, I consider everything lost. I will not survive the loss of my fatherland."
One of the trophies of Saltykov’s army was the famous cocked hat of Frederick II, which is still kept in the museum in St. Petersburg. Frederick II himself almost became a prisoner of the Cossacks.
The victory at Kunersdorf allowed Russian troops to occupy Berlin. Prussia's forces were so weakened that Frederick could continue the war only with the support of his allies. In the campaign of 1760, Saltykov expected to capture Danzig, Kolberg and Pomerania, and from there proceed to capture Berlin. The commander’s plans were realized only partly due to inconsistency in actions with the Austrians. In addition, the commander-in-chief himself fell dangerously ill at the end of August and was forced to surrender command to Fermor, who was replaced by Elizabeth Petrovna’s favorite A.B., who arrived at the beginning of October. Buturlin.
In turn, the building Z.G. Chernyshev with the cavalry of G. Totleben and the Cossacks made a campaign to the capital of Prussia. On September 28, 1760, advancing Russian troops entered capitulated Berlin. (It is curious that when in February 1813, pursuing the remnants of Napoleon’s army, the Russians occupied Berlin for the second time, Chernyshev was again at the head of the army - but not Zakhar Grigorievich, but Alexander Ivanovich). The trophies of the Russian army were one and a half hundred guns, 18 thousand firearms, and almost two million thalers of indemnity were received. 4.5 thousand people in prison gained freedom German captivity Austrians, Germans and Swedes.
After staying in the city for four days, the Russian troops abandoned it. Frederick II and his Great Prussia stood on the brink of destruction. Building P.A. Rumyantsev took the Kolberg fortress... At this decisive moment, the Russian Empress Elizabeth died. Peter III, who ascended the throne, stopped the war with Frederick, began to offer help to Prussia and, of course, broke the anti-Prussian alliance with Austria.
Has any of those born in the light heard,
So that the triumphant people
Surrendered into the hands of the vanquished?
Oh, shame! Oh, strange turn!
So, M.V. responded bitterly. Lomonosov about events Seven Years' War. Such an illogical end to the Prussian campaign and the brilliant victories of the Russian army did not bring Russia any territorial gains. But the victories of Russian soldiers were not in vain - the authority of Russia as a powerful military power increased.
Note that this war became a combat school for the outstanding Russian commander Rumyantsev. He first showed himself at Gross-Jägersdorf, when, leading the vanguard infantry, he fought his way through the thicket of the forest and hit the discouraged Prussians with bayonets, which decided the outcome of the battle.
The capture of the German capital is an old Russian tradition, dating back more than a quarter of a millennium.
They die but don't give up
At the beginning of October 1760, the Russian army approached Berlin. The war with Prussia, which lasted for seven years, came to its logical end. Frederick the Great, the formidable emperor, who until recently was considered the foremost European commander, understood perfectly well that the old fortifications of Berlin were not capable of withstanding either a long siege or a serious assault. Dilapidated medieval walls and the wooden palisade were weak protection for the garrison, which at that moment numbered only fifteen hundred bayonets.
However, in response to the first demand for surrender sent by the commander of the Russian advanced units, the international adventurer General Gottlob Kurt Heinrich von Totleben, the Prussians responded with a decisive refusal. Then he deployed an assault battery and struck the center of the city, making it clear that he was able to shoot right through it. However, the garrison still did not lower the flag. The valor of the Germans was appreciated - the old Berliner Totleben set up another battery, this time at the city gates. A dense fire opened the way into the city and led to fires along Friedrichstrasse. By midnight, in the light of the fires, Russian grenadiers attacked the breach in three detachments. But it was not possible to take the city “by spear” on the move.
Participant in the assault prince Prozorovsky, who commanded the Russian troops here, wrote in his memoirs that one detachment lost its way in the dark, the second came under fire from fortress artillery and retreated. And only the detachment that he personally led, despite huge losses, managed to break through to the ditch filled with water. However, it was impossible to cross the ditch itself under fire. The first assault ended in failure, but the worst thing was that the leading corps was running out of fire supplies. In addition, many guns were out of order: to increase the range of the shot, they were loaded with excessive amounts of gunpowder. The fortress, which seemed almost defenseless, survived and was ready to continue its defense.
The Russians are fighting - the Germans are trembling
Soon the main Russian forces under the command of General Zakhara Chernysheva. This is where the main battle began - in which the unfortunate Germans did not take part, awaiting the decision of their fate. Chernyshev and Totleben located their camps on the right and left banks of the Spree, respectively. At the same time, Chernyshev tried to achieve obedience from Totleben, wanting to take overall leadership of the assault. In turn, Totleben, with fortitude worthy of better use, ignored all Chernyshev’s orders. He responded to demands to cross to the right bank with a categorical refusal. Half a century later, retreating before Napoleon, in the same way they will pull the blanket over themselves Bagration And Barclay de Tolly..
The Berliners, perked up, did not stop the besiegers from engaging in their quarrels, especially since they had enough of their own to do - fresh reinforcements were arriving from Saxony and Pomerania. So by the time the Russians turned their attention back to Berlin, the balance of forces was already quite decent. Berliners hoped that the miracle of three years ago would repeat itself when Stepan Apraksin for reasons only known to him. Moreover, now the battle, which only yesterday had seemed like a simple undertaking, threatened to turn into a real massacre.
Force majeure circumstance
However, unlike the generals who were concerned only with personal glory, the Almighty was on the side of the Russian battalions - on October 8, a hurricane of unprecedented force swept over Berlin. And if the burgomaster could still do something with the hundred-year-old oak trees uprooted, then it was already difficult to repair the fallen sections of the palisade under the fire of Russian troops. And then, to the misfortune of the Prussians, their sworn friends, the Austrians, allies of the Russians, approached the city two days earlier than planned. Of course, it was possible to wait to see if the Russian generals would clash with the Austrian ones, finding out who was in charge now, but the Prussians decided not to risk it. On the night of October 9, they began to retreat to Spandau. On the morning of the same day, the Berlin authorities took out the keys and capitulated to their fellow countryman, General Totleben, who of the three military leaders seemed to be the least evil.
In Berlin, Russian troops captured 4.5 thousand soldiers, captured 143 guns, 18 thousand rifles and pistols, and almost 2 million indemnity thalers as payment for travel expenses. But at the same time, the pogroms and reprisals expected by the Berliners did not follow - the ferocious Russians behaved surprisingly peacefully and calmly.
Gifted Victory
The fall of Berlin plunged Emperor Frederick the Great into extreme despondency, but the fruits of Russian victories in this war were soon wiped out. January 5, 1762 Russian Empress Elizaveta Petrovna died and her nephew ascended the throne PeterIII. The new sovereign idolized Frederick the Great and therefore immediately ended the war without any benefits for Russia, returning to his idol all the lands conquered from him.
Contrary to established opinion, there was a certain logic in the actions of the new sovereign. Peter III, born Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, wanted to involve Frederick in the war with Denmark, which at that time had chopped off a large piece of his Holstein possessions, and he succeeded. True, our emperor did not live to see the triumph of such dubious diplomacy: he was eliminated in the interests of Ekaterina Alekseevna, which would later be called the Great. But that's a completely different story...
And the keys to Berlin, presented to General Totleben on October 9, are still kept in the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg.
I. S. Konev
Storm of Berlin- the final part of the Berlin offensive operation of 1945, during which the Red Army captured the capital of Nazi Germany and victoriously ended the Great Patriotic War and the Second World War in Europe. The operation lasted from April 25 to May 2.
Storm of Berlin
The “Zoobunker” - a huge reinforced concrete fortress with anti-aircraft batteries on the towers and extensive underground shelter - also served as the largest bomb shelter in the city.
Early in the morning of May 2, the Berlin metro was flooded - a group of sappers from the SS Nordland division blew up a tunnel passing under the Landwehr Canal in the Trebbiner Strasse area. The explosion led to the destruction of the tunnel and filling it with water along a 25-km section. Water poured into the tunnels where the shelter a large number of civilians and wounded. The number of victims is still unknown.
Information about the number of victims... varies - from fifty to fifteen thousand people... The data that about a hundred people died under water seems more reliable. Of course, there were many thousands of people in the tunnels, including the wounded, children, women and old people, but the water did not spread through the underground communications too quickly. Moreover, it spread underground in various directions. Of course, the picture of advancing water caused genuine horror in people. And some of the wounded, as well as drunken soldiers, as well as civilians, became its inevitable victims. But talking about thousands of deaths would be a gross exaggeration. In most places the water barely reached a depth of one and a half meters, and the inhabitants of the tunnels had enough time to evacuate themselves and save the numerous wounded who were in the “hospital cars” near the Stadtmitte station. It is likely that many of the dead, whose bodies were subsequently brought to the surface, actually died not from water, but from wounds and illnesses even before the destruction of the tunnel.
At one o'clock in the morning on May 2, the radio stations of the 1st Belorussian Front received a message in Russian: “We ask you to cease fire. We are sending envoys to the Potsdam Bridge.” A German officer who arrived at the appointed place, on behalf of the commander of the defense of Berlin, General Weidling, announced the readiness of the Berlin garrison to stop resistance. At 6 a.m. on May 2, Artillery General Weidling, accompanied by three German generals, crossed the front line and surrendered. An hour later, while at the headquarters of the 8th Guards Army, he wrote an order of surrender, which was duplicated and, with the help of loudspeaker installations and radio, communicated to enemy units defending in the center of Berlin. As this order was communicated to the defenders, resistance in the city ceased. By the end of the day, the troops of the 8th Guards Army cleared the central part of the city from the enemy. Individual units that did not want to surrender tried to break through to the west, but were destroyed or scattered.
On May 2 at 10 o'clock in the morning everything suddenly became quiet, the fire stopped. And everyone realized that something had happened. We saw white sheets that had been “thrown away” in the Reichstag, the Chancellery building and the Royal Opera House and cellars that had not yet been taken. Entire columns fell from there. A column passed ahead of us, where there were generals, colonels, then soldiers behind them. We walked for probably three hours.
Alexander Bessarab, participant in the Battle of Berlin and the capture of the Reichstag
Results of the operation
Soviet troops defeated the Berlin group of enemy troops and stormed the capital of Germany, Berlin. Developing a further offensive, they reached the Elbe River, where they linked up with American and British troops. With the fall of Berlin and the loss of vital areas, Germany lost the opportunity for organized resistance and soon capitulated. With the completion of the Berlin operation, favorable conditions were created for encircling and destroying the last large enemy groups on the territory of Austria and Czechoslovakia.
German losses armed forces killed and wounded are unknown. Of the approximately 2 million Berliners, about 125 thousand died. The city was heavily destroyed by bombing even before the arrival of Soviet troops. The bombing continued during the battles near Berlin - the last American bombing on April 20 (Adolph Hitler's birthday) led to food problems. The destruction intensified as a result of Soviet artillery attacks.
Indeed, it is unthinkable that such a huge fortified city could be taken so quickly. We know of no other such examples in the history of World War II.
Alexander Orlov, Doctor of Historical Sciences.
Two Guards IS-2 heavy tank brigades and at least nine Guards heavy self-propelled artillery self-propelled artillery regiments took part in the battles in Berlin, including:
- 1st Belorussian Front
- 7th Guards Ttbr - 69th Army
- 11th Guards ttbr - front-line subordination
- 334 Guards tsap - 47th Army
- 351 Guards tsap - 3rd shock army, front-line subordination
- 396 Guards tsap - 5th shock army
- 394 Guards tsap - 8th Guards Army
- 362, 399 guards tsap - 1st Guards Tank Army
- 347 Guards tsap - 2nd Guards Tank Army
- 1st Ukrainian Front
- 383, 384 guards tsap - 3rd Guards Tank Army
Situation of the civilian population
Fear and despair
A significant part of Berlin, even before the assault, was destroyed as a result of Anglo-American air raids, from which the population hid in basements and bomb shelters. There were not enough bomb shelters and therefore they were constantly overcrowded. In Berlin by that time, in addition to the three million local population (consisting mainly of women, old people and children), there were up to three hundred thousand foreign workers, including “ostarbeiters”, most of whom were forcibly taken to Germany. Entry into bomb shelters and basements was prohibited for them.
Although the war had long been lost for Germany, Hitler ordered resistance to the last. Thousands of teenagers and old men were conscripted into the Volkssturm. From the beginning of March, by order of Reichskommissar Goebbels, responsible for the defense of Berlin, tens of thousands of civilians, mostly women, were sent to dig anti-tank ditches around the German capital.
Civilians who violated government orders, even in last days war was threatened with execution.
There is no exact information about the number of civilian casualties. Various sources indicate different number persons who died directly during the Battle of Berlin. Even decades after the war, previously unknown mass graves are found during construction work.
Violence against civilians
In Western sources, especially in Lately, a significant number of materials appeared concerning mass violence by Soviet troops against the civilian population of Berlin and Germany in general - a topic that was practically not raised for many decades after the end of the war.
There are two opposing approaches to this extremely painful problem. On the one hand, there are artistic and documentary works of two English-speaking researchers - “ last fight"Cornelius Ryan and "The Fall of Berlin. 1945" by Anthony Beevor, which are more or less a reconstruction of the events of half a century ago based on the testimony of participants in the events (overwhelmingly representatives of the German side) and memoirs of Soviet commanders. The claims made by Ryan and Beevor are regularly reproduced by the Western press, which presents them as scientifically proven truth.
On the other hand, the opinions of Russian representatives ( officials and historians) who acknowledge numerous facts of violence, but question the validity of statements about its extreme mass character, as well as the possibility, after so many years, of verifying the shocking figures presented in the West. Russian authors also draw attention to the fact that such publications, which focus on over-emotional descriptions of scenes of violence that allegedly took place Soviet troops on German territory, follow the standards of Goebbels propaganda of the beginning of 1945 and aim to belittle the role of the Red Army as the liberator of the Eastern and Central Europe from fascism and tarnish the image Soviet soldier. In addition, the materials distributed in the West provide virtually no information about the measures taken Soviet command to combat violence and looting - crimes against civilians, which, as has been repeatedly pointed out, not only lead to tougher resistance of the defending enemy, but also undermine the combat effectiveness and discipline of the attacking army.
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Everyone remembers the sacramental phrase of Ivan the Terrible from the comedy film: “Kazan - he took, Astrakhan - he took!” In fact, starting from the 16th century, the Moscow state began to declare itself with loud military victories. And at the same time, it was by no means limited to successes in the eastern lands. Very soon the tread of Russian regiments began to sound in Europe. Which European capitals witnessed the victories of Russian weapons?
Baltics
The Northern War ended with the victory of Russia and allowed Peter I to annex the lands of the Baltic states to the possessions of the Russian crown. In 1710, after a long siege, Riga was taken, and then Revel (Tallinn). At the same time, Russian troops captured the then capital of Finland, Abo.
Stockholm
For the first time, Russian troops appeared in the area of the Swedish capital during the Northern War. In 1719, the Russian fleet carried out landings and raids on the suburbs of Stockholm. The next time Stockholm saw the Russian flag was during the Russian Swedish war 1808-1809. The Swedish capital was taken as a result of a unique operation - a forced march across the frozen sea. The army under the command of Bagration covered 250 kilometers on ice, on foot, in a snowstorm. This required five night marches.
The Swedes were confident that they were not in danger, because Russia was separated from them by the Gulf of Bothnia in the Baltic Sea. As a result, when Russian troops appeared, real panic began in the Swedish capital. This war finally ended all disputes between Russia and Sweden and forever removed Sweden from among the leading European powers. At the same time, the Russians occupied Turku, the then capital of Finland, and Finland became part of Russian Empire.
Berlin
The Russians took the capital of Prussia and then Germany twice. The first time was in 1760, during the Seven Years' War. The city was taken after a vigorous raid by combined Russian-Austrian troops. Each of the allies, understandably, was in a hurry to get ahead of the other, since the laurels of the winner would go to the one who managed to come first. The Russian army turned out to be more efficient.
Berlin was surrendered practically without any resistance. The residents of Berlin froze in horror, expecting the appearance of the “Russian barbarians,” however, as it soon became clear, they should have been wary of the Austrians, who had long-standing scores to settle with the Prussians.
Austrian troops committed robbery and pogroms in Berlin, so the Russians had to reason with them using weapons. It is said that Frederick the Great, upon learning that the destruction in Berlin was minimal, said: “Thank you to the Russians, they saved Berlin from the horrors with which the Austrians threatened my capital!” However, official propaganda, at the behest of the same Frederick, did not skimp on descriptions of the horrors that the “Russian savages” committed. Berlin was captured for the second time in the spring of 1945, and this ended the most bloody war in the history of Russia.
Bucharest
Russian troops occupied the capital of Romania during the Russian-Turkish War of 1806-1812. The Sultan tried to recapture the city, but the Russian army, numbering less than five thousand bayonets, opposed the thirteen thousand-strong Turkish corps and completely defeated it. In this battle, the Turks lost more than 3 thousand, and the Russians - 300 people.
The Turkish army retreated beyond the Danube, and the Sultan was forced to leave Bucharest. Our troops took Bucharest in 1944, during the Iasi-Chisinau operation, which is recognized as one of the most successful and effective military operations of the Second World War. An uprising against the fascist regime began in Bucharest, Soviet troops supported the rebels, and were greeted on the streets of Bucharest with flowers and general rejoicing.
Belgrade
Belgrade was first taken by Russian troops during the same Russian-Turkish war of 1806-1812. An uprising against the Ottoman Empire broke out in Serbia, supported by the Russians. Belgrade was taken, our troops were enthusiastically greeted, and Serbia came under Russian protectorate. Subsequently, Serbia had to be liberated from the Turks once again because the peace terms were violated Ottoman Empire, and with the connivance of European states, the Turks again began to oppress Christians. Our troops entered the streets of Belgrade as liberators in 1944.
In 1798, Russia, as part of an anti-French coalition, began to fight Napoleon, who had seized the lands of Italy. General Ushakov landed near Naples, and taking this city, moved towards Rome, where the French garrison was located. The French hastily retreated. On October 11, 1799, Russian troops entered the " the eternal City" This is how Lieutenant Balabin wrote to Ushakov about this: “Yesterday, with our small corps, we entered the city of Rome.
The delight with which the residents greeted us brings the greatest honor and glory to the Russians. From the very gates of St. John to the soldiers' apartments, both sides of the streets were dotted with inhabitants of both sexes. Our troops could even pass through with difficulty.
"Vivat Pavlo Primo! Viva Moskovito!” - was proclaimed everywhere with applause. The joy of the Romans is explained by the fact that by the time the Russians arrived, bandits and marauders had already begun to rule the city. The appearance of disciplined Russian troops saved Rome from real plunder.
Warsaw
This European capital The Russians took, perhaps, most often. 1794 There was an uprising in Poland, and Suvorov was sent to suppress it. Warsaw was taken, and the assault was accompanied by the notorious “Prague Massacre” (Prague is the name of a suburb of Warsaw). The cruelty of Russian soldiers towards civilian population, although they took place, were nevertheless greatly exaggerated.
The next time Warsaw was taken was in 1831, also during a military campaign to suppress the uprising. The battle for the city was very fierce, both sides showed miracles of courage. Finally, our troops took Warsaw in 1944. The assault on the city was also preceded by an uprising, although this time the Poles rebelled not against the Russians, but against the Germans. Warsaw was liberated and saved from destruction by the Nazis.
Sofia
Our troops also had to fight for this city more than once. Sofia was first occupied by the Russians in 1878, during Russian-Turkish war. Liberation ancient capital Bulgaria from the Turks was preceded by fierce fighting in the Balkans.
When the Russians entered Sofia, they were enthusiastically greeted by the city's residents. This is how the St. Petersburg newspapers wrote about it: “Our troops, with music, songs and waving banners, entered Sofia with the general rejoicing of the people.” In 1944, Sofia was liberated by Soviet troops from the Nazis, and the “Russian brothers” were again greeted with flowers and tears of joy.
Amsterdam
This city was liberated by the Russians from the French garrison during the foreign campaign of the Russian army of 1813-15. The Dutch began an uprising against the Napoleonic occupation of the country and were supported by Cossack units commanded by none other than General Benckendorff. The Cossacks made such a strong impression on the residents of Amsterdam that in memory of the liberation of their city from Napoleon they celebrated for a long time special holiday- Cossack Day.
Paris
The capture of Paris was a brilliant conclusion to the foreign campaign. The Parisians did not at all perceive the Russians as liberators, and in fear they expected the appearance of barbarian hordes, terrible bearded Cossacks and Kalmyks. However, very soon fear gave way to curiosity, and then sincere sympathy. The rank and file behaved very disciplined in Paris, and the officers all spoke French and were very gallant and educated people.
Cossacks quickly became fashionable in Paris; whole groups walked around to watch them bathe themselves and bathe their horses in the Seine. Officers were invited to the most fashionable Parisian salons. They say that Alexander I, having visited the Louvre, was very surprised not to see some of the paintings. They explained to him that in anticipation of the arrival of the “terrible Russians,” the evacuation of works of art had begun. The Emperor just shrugged his shoulders. And when the French set out to demolish the statue of Napoleon, the Russian Tsar ordered armed guards to be assigned to the monument. So, who protected the heritage of France from vandalism is still a question.
