The Battle of Berlin

Presented by: Matt Mullin, Danny Coleman

Battle of Berlin : Basic Info

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

Forces Involved• 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.

Starting the Battle

The Soviets along with Polish allies integrated into their army, initiated the attack on Berlin. USA, Britain, and France held back, to give the Soviets and the Polish a chance to get revenge on the Nazis for what they had done to Poland and Russia throughout WW II. The Soviets set up two fronts to attack Berlin, one for the East, and one from the South.

LeadersNazis-Gotthard Heinrici, surrendered. (Army group Vistula)-Kurt von Tippelskirch, surrendered to US. (Army group Vistula)-Ferdinand Schorner, surrendered to Soviets (Centre)-Hellmuth Reymann, surrendered to Soviets (Berlin Defence)-Helmuth Weidling, last to surrender to Soviets (Berlin Defence)-Hasso von Manteuffel, surrendered US (III Panzer Army)-Von Saucken, surrendered to US (II Panzer Army)-Walther Wenck, surrendered to US (Twelfth German Army)- Adolf Hitler, suicide (Nazi Leader)

Leaders, continued…

Russian Leaders-Georgy Zhukov (1st Belorussian Front)-Vasily Chuikov (1st Belorussian Front)-Konstantin Rokossovski (2nd Belorussian Front)-Ivan Konev (1st Ukrainian Front)-Joseph Stalin (Russian Leader)

Battle of Oder-Neisse

- 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.

Battle of Halbe

• 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.

Bombing Berlin• During the Battle of Berlin, Bombings were

conducted over Berlin to soften up the Germans. However, Berlin was bombed throughout all of WW II.

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

Casualties / Losses• 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.

Outcome of the Battle of Berlin

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

countries. (Starts the cold war)• Allies raise their flags over many German

buildings as a symbol of Victory.