• Date: January 16, 1945• Location: Berlin• Forces Involved: • Mainly: Soviet Union, Poland, Germany.• USA, British, French came in with air support.

• Soviet Union & Poland2,500,000 Soldiers6,250 Tanks7,500 Aircraft41,600 Artillery Peices- German766,750 Soldiers1,519 Armored Fighting Vhicles2,224 Aircraft9,303 Artillery PeicesHilter Youth and Police forces dragged into the army out

of desperation.

- By 1944 the Germans found themselves on the defensive due to the success of the d-day landings and repeated losses in operation Barbarossa.

- By 1945, the British, Americans, and Russians were all closing in on Germany.

- Within the first months of the year, the Russian military was within 100 miles of Berlin.

- In April, Russian forces were closing in on the German capital. With no where to go, Hitler designated Berlin as a fortress to be defended.

The Soviets along with Polish allies integrated into their army, initiated the attack on Berlin. The Soviets set up two fronts to attack Berlin, one from the East, and one from the South.

- Force Strength:- 1 million Russian troops and 20,000 + tanks broke

through the final defenses of the Germans, defended by 100,000 Nazis with 1,200 tanks.

- Loses:- Nazis: 12,000 Men- Russians: 30,000

- The Soviet Union claimed victory in this Battle.

• Soviets split the Nazi forces in two and began to surround them. German forces attempted to break out, but failed. However, the Soviets took heavy casualties losing over 2,807 tanks in 17 days.

• Major Bombing dates (1945): • April 15 (105 bombers)• April 17 (61 bombers)• April 18 (57 bombers)• April 19 (79 bombers)• April 20 (78 bombers)

- By April 27th the government sector of Berlin was the greatest extent of Hitler’s rule

- Hitler, 55 feet below the city, thought there was a possibility of Berlin being saved by the 12th army

- No thought of surrender whatsoever - On the night of the 29th the fighting was less than ¼ mile

from Hitler’s bunker- Hitler ready to die, determined not to be taken alive

- Hitler commits suicide- Goebbels wanted to

discuss terms of surrender

- Pockets of resistance still scattered throughout the government district

- Russian guns fall silent on May 2, 1945

• Russia and Poland81,116 Missing or Dead280,251 Sick or WoundedTotal Casualties: 361,367 Men10,097 Tanks2,108 Artillery Pieces917 Aircraft- GermanExact Losses unkown: EST. 92,000-100,000 KIA.220,000 Wounded480,000 Prisoners of WarInside Berlin: 22,000 Soldiers dead, 22,000 civilians dead.

- Entire city of Berlin reduced to rubble- Staggering loss of life - Many civilians wounded, raped, and went insane- May 8, 1945 – Germany formally surrendered,

putting an end to the Third Reich- Stalin’s primary mission of securing nuclear

research center was accomplished

• Allies Claim victory over Germany• Berlin divided into sections rules by different

countries (cue the cold war…)• Allies raise their flags over many German

buildings as a symbol of Victory.