Siege of Breslau

Part of the Eastern Front of World War II

German troops in Breslau on 2 February 1945.

Date

13 February 1945 – 6 May 1945 (2 months, and 24 days)

Location

Breslau, Nazi Germany, now Wrocław, Poland
51°07′N 17°02′E / 51.117°N 17.033°ECoordinates: 51°07′N 17°02′E / 51.117°N 17.033°E

Result

Soviet victory

Unconditional surrender of the city Breslau garrison on 6 May, followed by the unconditional surrender of all German forces two days after (see End of World War II in Europe)

Belligerents

Soviet Union

Germany

Commanders and leaders

6th Army:

Vladimir A. Gluzdovskii

Festung Breslau:

Strength

87,334

50,000

Casualties and losses

60,000

29,000

6,000 dead
23,000 wounded

80,000 civilian deaths

Soviet victory

29,000

The Battle of Breslau, also known as the Siege of Breslau, was a three-month-long siege of the city of Breslau in Lower Silesia, Germany (now Wrocław, Poland), lasting to the end of World War II in Europe. From 13 February 1945 to 6 May 1945, German troops in Breslau were besieged by the Soviet forces which encircled the city as part of the Lower Silesian Offensive Operation. The German garrison's surrender on 6 May was followed by the surrender of all German forces two days after the battle.

In August 1944, Adolf Hitler declared the city of Breslau to be a fortress (Festung), ordering that it must be defended at all costs. He named Karl Hanke (Gauleiter of Silesia since 1941) to be the city's "Battle Commander" (Kampfkommandant).

On 19 January 1945, the civilian population was forced to leave (many thousands died in the bitter cold of the makeshift evacuation; many more arrived in Dresden to be bombed a few weeks later). The German Army, aided by the Home Guard (Volkssturm) and slave labourers, then turned the city into a military fortress: Breslau was to be capable of a lengthy defense against the advancing Soviets. A large area of the city center was demolished and turned into an airfield. Late in January, a regiment of Hitler Youth (Hitler-Jugend) was sent to reinforce the garrison of Festung Breslau. SS regiment "Besslein" (which included volunteers from France and the Netherlands) also took part.

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