Battle of Berlin

Battle of Berlin
Part of the Eastern Front of World War II
After the battle, Soviet soldiers hoist the Soviet flag on the balcony of the Hotel Adlon in Berlin
Date 16 April – 2 May 1945 Location Berlin, Germany 52°31′N 13°23′E / 52.517°N 13.383°E / 52.517; 13.383Coordinates: 52°31′N 13°23′E / 52.517°N 13.383°E / 52.517; 13.383 Result Decisive Soviet victory Suicide of Adolf Hitler and deaths of other high-ranking Nazi officials Unconditional surrender of the Berlin city garrison on 2 May. German forces still fighting the battle outside Berlin capitulated on 8/9 May (following the unconditional surrender of all German forces—see End of World War II in Europe) Territorial changes Destruction of Nazi Germany Soviets occupy what will later be East Germany.
Belligerents
Soviet Union Poland	Germany
Commanders and leaders
1st Belorussian Front:  Georgy Zhukov 2nd Belorussian Front:  Konstantin Rokossovsky 1st Ukrainian Front: Ivan Konev	Army Group Vistula: Gotthard Heinrici Kurt von Tippelskirch  Army Group Centre: Ferdinand Schörner Berlin Defence Area: Helmuth Reymann Helmuth Weidling
Strength
Total strength: 2,500,000 soldiers (155,900 – c.200,000 Polish People's Army) 6,250 tanks and SP guns 7,500 aircraft 41,600 artillery pieces. For the investment and assault on the Berlin Defence Area: about 1,500,000 soldiers	Total strength: 36 divisions 766,750 soldiers 1,519 AFVs 2,224 aircraft 9,303 artillery pieces In the Berlin Defence Area: about 45,000 soldiers, supplemented by the police force, Hitler Youth, and 40,000 Volkssturm
Casualties and losses
Archival research (operational total) 81,116 dead or missing 280,251 sick or wounded 1,997 tanks 2,108 artillery pieces 917 aircraft	Estimated: 92,000–100,000 killed 220,000 wounded 480,000 captured Inside Berlin Defence Area: about 22,000 military dead 22,000 civilian dead

Decisive Soviet victory

The Battle of Berlin, designated the Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation by the Soviet Union, was the final major offensive of the European theatre of World War II.

Following the Vistula–Oder Offensive of January–February 1945, the Red Army had temporarily halted on a line 60 km (37 mi) east of Berlin. On 9 March, Germany established its defence plan for the city with Operation Clausewitz. The first defensive preparations at the outskirts of Berlin were made on 20 March, under the newly appointed commander of Army Group Vistula, General Gotthard Heinrici.

When the Soviet offensive resumed on 16 April, two Soviet fronts (army groups) attacked Berlin from the east and south, while a third overran German forces positioned north of Berlin. Before the main battle in Berlin commenced, the Red Army encircled the city after successful battles of the Seelow Heights and Halbe. On 20 April 1945, Hitler's birthday, the 1st Belorussian Front led by Marshal Georgy Zhukov, advancing from the east and north, started shelling Berlin's city centre, while Marshal Ivan Konev's 1st Ukrainian Front broke through Army Group Centre and advanced towards the southern suburbs of Berlin. On 23 April General Helmuth Weidling assumed command of the forces within Berlin. The garrison consisted of several depleted and disorganized Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS divisions, along with poorly trained Volkssturm and Hitler Youth members. During the next week, the Red Army advanced towards the city centre overcoming tenacious and desperate German house to house resistance.

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