Berlin Operation (Battle for Berlin, from Apr 16 to May 08, 1945) - This is one of the last strategic offensive operations of the Red Army in Europe, during which the Soviet troops occupied Berlin, it made it forced Germany unconditionally. The operation lasted for 23 days, during which time Soviet troops have advanced to the west at a distance from 100 to 220 km. The width of the front of the fighting is 300 km.
Within the framework of the Berlin operations (Battle of Berlin) carried out:
Shattinsko-Rostock offensive operation
Zeelovo-Berlin offensive operation
Cottbus Potsdam Offensive Operation
Spröbberg Torgau offensive operation
Brandenburg-Ratienovskaya offensive operation
Berlin's assault itself.
Table of the main events of the Berlin operation of 1945
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Events, Battle Operations for Berlin |
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Vorolo-Oder military operation. Breakthrough of German Defense on Vistula |
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Berlin operation. Parts of the Red Army were in 60km from Berlin, the advanced parts of the Allies came out on the Elba River in 100-120km from Berlin. |
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Breakthrough of the Oder-Neissensky border of defense. |
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Surroundings and dissection of enemy troops. |
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The troops of the 1st Belorussky and the 1st Ukrainian fronts were surrounded by Berlin, Soviet troops in the area of \u200b\u200bTorgau met with the allied troops on the Elbe River |
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The destruction of surrounded groupings and the capture of Berlin. |
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Breakthrough of Soviet troops to the center of Berlin-Reichstagu |
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Capitulation of the German garrison |
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Representatives of the German and Union Command signed an act of unconditional surrender of Germany in Carlhurst. |
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Conducting the Prague operation. Liquidation of the grouping of German troops in Prague. End of the Great Patriotic War |
Map of hostilities and operations in the battle of Berlin
Power of Parties and Loss in Berlin Operations
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Sourse of information:
1. The history of Russia in schemes and tables / V.I. Korenev - Orel.: 2007.
2. The history of Russia in tables, schemes and cards / V.V. Kasyanov. - Rostov-on-Don: 2011
3. Materials from the site ru.wikipedia.org.
Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation (Berlin Operation, Taking Berlin) - offensive operation of Soviet troops during Great Patriotic Warending with the take of Berlin and victory in the war.
The military operation was carried out on the territory of Europe from April 16 to May 9, 1945, during which the territories captured by the Germans were released and taken under the control of Berlin. Berlin Operation became the last B. Great domestic and World War War.
As part Berlin Operation The following smaller operations were carried out:
- Shtttinsko-Rostokskaya;
- Zelovsko-Berlin;
- Cottbus Potsdam;
- Steterberg Torgau;
- Brandenburg-Ratenovskaya.
The purpose of the operation was the capture of Berlin, which would allow the Soviet troops to open the way to connect with the allies on the Elbe River and not allow Hitler to tighten Second world war For a longer period.
The course of the Berlin Operation
In November 1944, the General Staff of the Soviet troops began planning an offensive operation on the approaches to the German capital. The operation was supposed to defeat the German group of army "A" and finally release the occupied territories of Poland.
At the end of the same month, the German army undertook a counteroffensive in Ardennes and was able to push the allied troops, thereby putting them practically on the edge of defeat. To continue the war, the Allies needed support for the USSR - for this, the leadership of the United States and Great Britain appealed to the Soviet Union with a request to send their troops and conduct offensive operations to distract Hitler and give allions the opportunity to recover.
The Soviet command agreed, and the USSR army began an offensive, but the operation began before almost a week, which was not enough training and, as a result, large losses.
Already by mid-February, Soviet troops were able to force Oder - the last obstacle to Berlin. The capital of Germany remained a little more than seventy kilometers. From this point on, the battles took more protracted and fierce character - Germany did not want to give up and he tried to keep the Soviet offensive with all their might, but it was quite difficult to stop the Red Army.
At the same time, on the territory of East Prussia, preparation for the storming of the Königsberg fortress, which was extremely well fortified and seemed almost impregnable. For the assault, Soviet troops conducted a thorough art preparation, which as a result gave their fruits - the fortress was taken extraordinarily quickly.
In April 1945, the Soviet army began preparations for the long-awaited storm of Berlin. The leadership of the USSR adhered to the opinion that in order to achieve success of the entire operation, it is urgent to carry out assault, not tightening, since the delay in the war itself can lead to the fact that the Germans will be able to open another front in the West and conclude a separate world. In addition, the leadership of the USSR did not want to give Berlin the forces of the Allies.
Berlin offensive operation Preparing very carefully. The in the outskirts of the city were transferred huge stocks of military military equipment and ammunition, the strengths of three fronts were pushed. Commanded the operation of Marshals G.K. Zhukov, K.K. Crosovsky and I.S. Koniev. In total, more than 3 million people participated in the battle on both sides.
Storm Berlin
Berlin Operation It was characterized by the largest indicator of the density of artillery shells in the history of all world wars. Berlin's defense was thought out to the smallest detail, and it was not so easy to break through the system of fortifications and the tricks, the loss of armored vehicles was 1,800 units. That is why the command was made to tighten all the nearby artillery to suppress the city defense. The result was truly hellish fire, which literally dares from the face of the earth the front line of the opponent's defense.
The city's assault began on April 16 at 3 am. In the light of the spotlights, one and a half hundred tanks and infantry attacked the defensive positions of the Germans. The fierce battle was four days, after which the forces of the three Soviet fronts and the troops of the Polish army managed to take the city into the ring. On the same day, Soviet troops met with the Allied on the Elbe. As a result of four days of battles, several hundred thousand people were captured, dozens of armored vehicles were destroyed.
However, despite the offensive, Hitler was not going to hand over Berlin, he insisted that the city should be retained by anything. Hitler refused to surrender even after the Soviet troops came close to the city, he threw all the existing human resources, including children and old people, on the field of hostilities.
On April 21, the Soviet Army was able to reach the outskirts of Berlin and tie there street battles - German soldiers fought until the latter, following the order of Hitler not to give up.
On April 30, the Soviet flag was watered on the building - the war was over, Germany was defeated.
Results of the Berlin Operation
Berlin Operation put an end to the Great Patriotic and World War II. As a result of the rapid offensive of the Soviet troops, Germany was forced to surrender, all the chances of the opening of the second front and the conclusion of the world with the allies were torn. Hitler, having learned about the defeat of his army and the entire fascist regime committed suicide. Behind the assault Berlin was awarded more awards than the remaining military operations of the Second World War. The 180 divisions were awarded the honorary "Berlin" differences, which is in terms of the personnel - 1 million 100 thousand people.
Planning the Berlin offensive operation, the Soviet command understood that heavy, stubborn battles coming. Her genuine heroes have become over two million soldiers and officers of the Red Army
Whose army is the first to suit the capital of Germany - in early 1945, this issue was key to the allies. Each of the countries of the antihytler coalition sought to conquer Berlin before other than others. Master the main lair of the enemy was not just prestigious: it opened wide geopolitical perspectives. Wanting to get ahead of the Red Army, the British and Americans were included in the race for taking the German capital.
Race for Berlin
Back at the end of November 1943 Franklin Roosevelt He held an Anglo-American-Chinese meeting on board Lincher "Iowa". During the meeting, the US President noted that the opening of the second front should take place primarily for the reason that the troops of the Red Army are located just 60 miles from the border with Poland and 40 miles from Bessarabia. Already then, on board "Iowa", Roosevelt pointed to the need for the Occupation by the States and Great Britain most of Europe, stating that "Berlin should take the United States."
"Berlin Question" was discussed in Moscow. When on April 1, 1945, the commander of the 1st Belarusian Front Marshal was caused in the Supreme Commander Georgy Zhukov and commander of the 1st Ukrainian Front Marshal Ivan Konev, on the agenda stood a single question: who will take Berlin?
Road to Berlin
By that time Stalin Already received information that the allies prepare for the capture of Germany a group of troops under the command of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery. Marshal Konev assured the Supreme Commander that Berlin will take the Red Army. Zhukov announced the readiness of the 1st Belarusian Front to fulfill this task, since he had enough forces and was aimed at the main city of Third Reich from the shortest distance.
On the same day, Prime Minister of Great Britain Winston Churchill sent to American president Franklin Roosevelt Telegram of the following content:
"Nothing will have such a psychological impact and will not cause such despair among all the German forces of resistance, as an attack on Berlin. For the German people, this will be the most convincing sign of defeat. On the other hand, if you provide the siege of the Russians lying in the ruins of Berlin, then it is necessary to take into account that until the German flag is waiting there, Berlin will inspire the resistance of all the Germans under the gun.
Fight on the streets of Berlin.
Photo by Vladimir Kresheva / RIA Novosti
In addition, there is another side of the case that you and I should consider. Russian army will undoubtedly seize the entire Austria and enter Vienna. If they are capturing Berlin, whether they will not be created with the too exaggerated idea of \u200b\u200bwhat they contributed to the overwhelming contribution to our common victory, and can this lead them to such a mindset that will cause serious and very significant difficulties in the future? Therefore, I believe that from a political point of view, we should move in Germany as far as possible to the east and that if Berlin is within our reach, we undoubtedly have to take it. It seems reasonable and from a military point of view. "
"This is too big price"
However, soon the allies abandoned the idea to storm the capital of Germany. A considerable role in this was played by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces in Europe General Dwight Eisenhower. On March 27, 1945, during the press conference, he made it possible to understand: the subordinates of the troops will not force the offensive on Berlin. To the question of the American Correspondent: "Who is the first to enter Berlin, Russians or we?" "The general replied:" Already only the distance says that they will do it. They are thirty-five miles from Berlin, we are two hundred and fifty. I do not want to predict anything. They have a shorter distance, but in front of them the main forces of the Germans. "
On March 28, 1945, Eisenhower in his personal message Stalin reported that he plans to surround and split the enemy's troops in the Rura region to isolate this area from the rest of Germany and thus accelerate the overall defeat of the enemy. Obviously, the decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces in Europe to abandon the attack on Berlin was caused, including the understanding, which high price will have to pay for it. So, commander of the 12th group of American armies general Omar Bradley (It was his troops at the central section of the Front) believed that the capture of the capital of Germany would cost about 100 thousand soldiers. "This is too big the price of a prestigious object, especially considering that we will have to convey it to others," said Bradley. (Berlin entered the zone of occupation of the Red Army, so even if the allies took it first, they would still have to leave the city.) As a result, the Committee of Headquarters, and then President Roosevelt supported the decision of Eisenhower. Storm Berlin was to have the Red Army.
Defense Commander and Commander Berlin General Helmut Vaidling leaves the team bunker and gives prisoner. May 1945 / Photoxronics TASS
Planning the Berlin offensive operation, the Soviet command understood that not avoiding heavy, stubborn battles. The enemy was still strong and was not going to give up.
The basis of the city defense was the Odessa-Neissensky Round and the Berlin Defense region. Rubezh, whose depth in certain areas reached 40 km, included three defensive stripes. The main one had up to five solid lines of trenches, and her front edge took place on the left bank of Oder and Neur. In 10-20 km, the second strip of defense was located with the most equipped in engineering terms of Zeelian heights. The third was created at a distance of 20-40 km from the front edge. The German command skillfully used the natural obstacles to organize defense: lakes, rivers, channels and ravines.
This perfectly fortified and almost impregnable fortress and was to take the storming of the Soviet troops.
Under the light of the spotlights
On April 16, 1945, two hours before dawn, the roar of more than 40 thousand guns and mortars reported on the beginning of the final operation by defeating Nazi Germany. And shortly before the artillery training, a massive blow on the defense of the enemy was 743 distant bombers. Within 42 minutes, bombs flew on the heads of the fascists. The power of the fire was huge. Only over the first day, the operation artillery of the front spent 1 million 236 thousand shells (these are almost 2.5 thousand railway cars).
Immediately, the Soviet troops and the 1st Army of the Polish troops rushed at the art delivery. Behind the backs of the coming fighters, powerful spotlights were shining, blinded by the enemy. Soviet aircraft hung in the air. Then only in the first day our pilots dropped over 1.5 thousand tons of bombs on the enemy. And in the first hours, the offensive of the 1st Belorussian front developed successfully: infantry and tanks advanced by 1.5-2 km.
In Berlin operation participated 2.5 million Soviet soldiers and officers. In service with our troops had 6.25 thousand tanks and self-propelled plants, 41.6 thousand guns and mortars, as well as 7.5 thousand combat aircraft. The German group reached 1 million people, had 1.5 thousand tanks and assault guns, 10.4 thousand guns and mortars, 3.3 thousand aircraft
But then serious difficulties began. Especially severe were the fights on the Zeelian altitudes that dominated the surrounding terrain. Heights stormed 8th Guards Army General Vasily ChuikovaThe connections of which moved extremely slowly. "By 13 o'clock, - remembered Marshal Georgy Zhukov- I clearly realized that the fire system of the enemy's defense here mainly survived and in that combat construction in which we started an attack and conduct an offensive, we do not take Zeelian heights. "
The steep rocks of Zeelian heights were outpathed with trenches and trenches. All the approaches to them are shot through cross-artillery and rifle-machine-gun fire. Separate structures were turned into supporting points, barriers from logs and metal beams are arranged on the roads, and the approaches to them are mined. On both sides of the highway coming from the city of Zeelov to the West, an anti-aircraft artillery was located for anti-tank defense.
On the first day, to conquer Zeelovsky heights failed. The next day attempts repeated. However, the troops were given an indication: not imposing in protracted battles, bypass the strong reference points of the enemy. The task of their destruction was assigned to the second echelons of the armies.
The 1st Ukrainian Front of Marshal Konev was more successful. Already on April 16, the advanced battalions of divisions ensured the conditions for the guidance of bridges across the Neurov River, the first echelon crossed the entire hour. However, here our troops faced fierce resistance. The enemy repeatedly counted. Only when additional tank and mechanized forces were introduced into battle, managed to break through the defense of the enemy.
To the outcome of April 20, the enemy front on the Berlin direction was dissected into two parts: the army of the Army Group "Vistula" turned out to be cut off from the "Center's armies". In the highest leadership of the Wehrmacht began a stir when the imperial office received a message that the Soviet tanks are 10 km south of Tsossen, where the head of the German Armed Forces was located in the dungeon. Generals in a hurry rushed evacuated. And by the end of the day on April 22, our troops have already broke into Berlin, and the fights started on the outskirts of the city.
But here another problem arose: the Germans could bring the grouping of their troops from the capital and thus preserve personal composition and equipment. So that this does not happen, the rate ordered the commander of the 1st Belarusian and 1st Ukrainian fronts no later than April 25 to complete the environment of the entire Berlin grouping of the enemy.
In the hutler bunker
Meanwhile, the German command made desperate efforts to prevent the surroundings of his capital. On April 22, after noon, the last operational meeting was held in the Imperial Office, on which Hitler agreed with the proposal of his generals to remove the troops from the Western Front and throw them into battle for Berlin. In connection with these several operational compounds (including the 12th Army of General Walter Wreath) It was ordered to go for a breakthrough to the capital.
However, the troops of the Red Army talked the intention of the Hitler's command. On April 25, west of Berlin, in the Ketcin area, part of the 1st Ukrainian and 1st Belorussian fronts were connected. As a result, the ring around the Berlin grouping the enemy closed. On the same day, a meeting of parts of the 1st Ukrainian Front and American troops arrived from the West took place around the city of Torgau on Elbe.
Military doctors identify the corpse of Josef Goebbels. May 1945.
Photo Victor Kuznetsova / RIA Novosti
The Nazis took fierce attempts to break the ring of the environment. Three days and three nights did not stop the bloody battles. The Germans fought desperately. To break the resistance of the enemy, the Soviet troops strained all the forces. Even wounded did not leave combat positions (such, for example, in the 4th Guards Tank Army Dmitry Lelyushenko There have been 2 thousand people). The opponent was broken by the joint efforts of tankers and pilots. The Germans lost 60 thousand killed, 120 thousand soldiers and officers surrendered. Only a little managed to break through to the West. As trophies, the Soviet troops got more than 300 tanks and assault guns, 500 guns and mortars, over 17 thousand cars and many other property.
The city is the fortress will be taken!
So far, the troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front eliminated the enemy grouping surrounded by Berlin, parts of the 1st Belorussian stormed the city himself. Back in early March, Hitler announced the capital of the Third Reich city-fortress. And now, Soviet troops needed to master this fortress, and at extremely short time.
Berlin's garrison by April 25 he had 300 thousand people, 3 thousand guns and mortars, 250 tanks and assault guns. He headed his general Helmut Vadling, appointed on April 12, the commander of the city. The atmosphere in Berlin was extremely difficult: the reserves of coal were completed, the supply of electricity was stopped, enterprises, trams, metro stopped, stopped operation and sewage. For a week, the population was issued for a person 800 g of bread, 800 g of potatoes, 150 g of meat and 75 g of fats.
During the Berlin operation The troops of the 1st, 2nd Belarusian and 1st Ukrainian fronts, moving to a depth of 160 to 220 km, crushed 93 German divisions, as well as many separate regiments and battalions. About 480 thousand prisoners of war were captured
On April 23, the command of the 1st Belorussian Front proposed a garrino to surrender, but the answer was not followed. Then for two days more than 2 thousand Soviet aircraft delivered three massive blows around the city. And then the eight armies of the 1st Belorussky and 1st Ukrainian fronts, coming to the capital from three directions, began storming.
The main role in street fighting was played by assault groups and detachments. They acted like that. At the time when the storming offices, penetrating into the building, sought a throw to reach the opposite part of it and start the attack of the following objects, ensuring the separation of the building, destroying the remains of the enemy garrison, after which the assault units were put forward. The reserve finally cleaned the building from enemies, after which it was fixed in it, or followed the assault group by promoting it.
As experience showed, the battle in the city does not tolerate the break. Capturing one building, it is necessary to immediately begin the assault on the next. Only so it was possible to deprive the enemy the opportunity to figure out the established atmosphere and organize defense.
Fights walked around at the same time on Earth, in underground communications and in the air. By changing, the assault units moved forward. Berlin was shrouded in smoke fires, pilots with great difficulty distinguished their own from others. To support assault detachments, they were mainly diverting bomber, and the best crews were selected. Fighter aviation not only covered troops, but also blocked the Berlin garrison from the supply of air.
Tanks that supported assault groups, on the streets of Berlin, became easy prey for the phausers. Only the 2nd Guards Tank Army for the week of battles in the German capital lost 204 cars. Half of them turned out to be chopped by Faustpatron.
The highest battles have reached on April 27. On this day, Soviet troops defeated the enemy in Potsdam, the suburb of Berlin, and seized them. In Berlin, battle was already in the city center.
Flags over Reichstagom
The first percussion army came to Reichstag. Stepping from the north, her 79th rifle corps broke through the bridge through the spree and after the fierce fighting on the night of April 29 seized him. On the way to Reichstagi, the fighters of the building mastered the prison of Moabit, freeing thousands of the remaining prisoners: Soviet prisoners of war, German patriots-anti-fascist, French, Belgians, British.
500 meters remained before Reichstag. But they were incredibly difficult. They were defended by the SS divisions, Volkssturma, three companies of the marine school from Rostock, three divisions of field artillery and an anti-aircraft artillery division. The strengthened strip consisted of three tranches, 16 reinforced concrete dollars, minefields and anti-tank RVA with water.
In the morning April 30, 150th (general Vasily Shatilov) and 171th (Colonel Alexey Egrogen) Rifle divisions with the support of the 23rd tank brigade took the assault of these fortifications. But the first attempt was unsuccessful. I had to tighten hundreds of guns, tanks, self-propelled and jet plants to Reichstagu.
April 30, 1945 at 18 o'clock began the third assault on the Reichstag. This attack was successful: captain battalions Stepana Nezstozhen, Vasily Davydov and senior lieutenant Konstantina Samsonova broke into the building.
Everyone knows the story that the banner of victory over Reichstag was watered Scouts Egorov and Cantarius. However, in fact, the red flags above the Reichstag were set several.
More than 600 soldiers, sergeants and officers of the Red ArmyThe title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded to participate in Berlin's storm. 1 million 141 thousand people were handed orders and medals, 187 parts and connections received the names of Berlin. The medal "For Taking Berlin" was established to commemorate this battle. She awarded 1 million 82 thousand soldiers, sergeants and officers of the Red Army and the Troops of Polish
The first on the roof of the building made their way fighters of the assault group of the captain Vladimir Makova As part of Sergeant Mikhail Minina, senior sergeants Gazi Zagitova, Alexander Lisimenko and Alexey Bobrov. On 22 hours and 40 minutes over Reichstag in Berlin, a red flag was emptied. The fighters attached it to the metal tube-rod on the sculpture of the goddess of the Victory, located above the front entrance in the western part of the building. After some time, on the same sculptural group, the fighters of the assault group of Major strengthened their flag Mikhail Bondar. Another red flag on the western part of the Reichstag building was set by the scouts of the 674th shelf under the command of Lieutenant Seeds Sorokina.
Lieutenant Group Alexey Berestain which the regimental scouts sergeant Mikhail Egorov and junior sergeant Melitone CantariusAt that moment was still on the observation clause of the 756th rifle regiment. About midnight there arrived commander Shelf Colonel Fedor Zinchenko And ordered immediately set the red banner on the rooftop roof. Approximately in the third hour of the night May 1, Egorov and Cantaria, accompanied by a depicting of battalion of Lieutenant Beresta, attached a red flag to the Horse sculpture of Wilhelm I, placed on the eastern part of the building. And then, in the afternoon, the flag was moved already as a banner of victory to the dome of the Reichstag and is fixed there.
For the waters of the Red Flag Above Reichstag, many were presented to awards, and the fighters of Captain Makova at the request of the commander of the 79th Rifle Corps - to the titles of the heroes of the Soviet Union. However, then, in the first days of May 1945, reports began to receive reports about the fact that it was their fighters first watershed over Berlin the banner of victory. Commanders petitioned about obtaining their subordinate "Golden Star". This forced Zhukov to postpone the final decision. Order of the Commander of the 1st Belarusian Front of May 18, 1945 of the Group Fighters Vladimir Makova Awarded only the orders of the Red Banner. The same award received intelligence officers of Egorov and Cantaria.
Participants of the Reichstag Sturm (from left to right): Konstantin Samsonov, Meliton Cantaria, Mikhail Egorov, Ilya Syanov, Stepan Nezstowju at the Banner of Victory. May 1945.
And only a year ago, on May 8, 1946, the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR for the wings of the Banner of Victory Above Reichstag, the title Hero of the Soviet Union was assigned to commanders of battalions Vasily Davydov, Stepana Nezstower and Konstantin Samsonovas well as sergeant Mikhail Egorov And the younger sergeant Meliton Cantarius. And on May 15 of the same year, the title of the Hero was awarded another eight participants of the Reichstag storm, three of them - posthumously ...
Berlin was taken. General Hans Krebs., arriving at the location of the Soviet troops, reported on the suicide of Hitler, about the composition of the new government of Germany and handed the appeal Goebbels and Borman To the Chief Command of the Red Army asking for a temporary cessation of hostilities in Berlin as a condition for peace negotiations between Germany and the USSR. The message was transferred to Marshal Zhukow, who, in turn, reported to everything in Moscow. Soon called Stalin: "No negotiations, except for unconditional surrender, nor with KrebszNor with other nicknames do not lead. " With these words, Krebs went back to the bunker.
However, without waiting for the decision of his command, some enemy garrisons began to give up. On May 1, the Garnison of Reichstag folded the weapon. And on May 2, at 6 o'clock 30 minutes, the commander of the defense of Berlin General Vadling He declared the unconditional surrender of all parts that defended the city. By 15 o'clock, the remains of the Berlin garrison were granted - 135 thousand people.
So the last battle of the war ended so victorious.
Russian Archive: Great Patriotic. Battle for Berlin (Red Army in the defeated Germany). T. 15 (4-5). M., 1995.
Rhazshevsky O.A. Stalin and Churchill. M., 2010.
In the spring of 1945, the Third Reich stood on the threshold of the final collapse. Not only Soviet troops, but also allied troops led the fighting in Germany. Anglo-American forces, overcoming the weak opponation resistance, with its advanced parts reached the Elbe 100-120 km from Berlin. The Soviet army was only 60 km from the capital of the Third Reich and was ready to apply the ending strike on the enemy.
The Nazi leadership of Germany mobilized all resources of the country, hoping to defend Berlin, to avoid unconditional surrender, the German command is still the main forces of the land forces and aviation directed against the Red Army.
By April 15, 214 divisions were fighting on the Soviet-German front, including 34 tank and 14 motorized, and 14 brigades. 60 German divisions acted against Anglo-American troops, of which 5 tanks.
Preparing for the reflection of the Soviet offensive, the German command has created a powerful defense in the east. Berlin on a large depth was covered with numerous defensive structures, erected along the West Bank of Oder and Neurov. Odesko-Neissensky frontier consisted of three stripes in a depth of 20-40 km, and there were intermediate and cut-off positions between the bands.
Strattin (Szczecin), Gartshch-Swedet, Frankfurt-on-Oder, Guben, Forst, Cottbus, Spröberg were stronger resistance nodes. In engineering, the defense was especially prepared in front of the Kustere Bridgehead and on the Kubsky direction, where the strongest groups of German troops focused. Berlin himself was turned into a powerful fortified area. Around him, the Germans built three defensive rings - external, internal and urban, and in the city itself (an area of \u200b\u200b88 thousand hectares); Created nine sectors of defense: eight around the circle and one - in; Center. This central sector, which covered the main state and administrative institutions, including Reichstag and the Imperial Office, was prepared especially carefully in engineering. There have been more than 400 reinforced concrete long-term structures in the city. The largest of them - the silent bunkers in] the land - accommodate up to a thousand people each. (Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union 1941-1945. Brief story. M., 1965. P. 484.) For the hidden maneuver, the troops were used by the subway.
The troops held by the defense on the Berlin direction were combined into four armies, of which the 3rd tank and the 9th Army were part of the Army Group "Vistula" (Colonel-General G. Heinritz), covered by Berlin and the territory of north of him to the Baltic Sea , and, the 4th Tank and 17th Army - in the Army Group "Center" (General-Field Marshal von Sherner), which occupied the defense of South Berlin to the border with the Czech Republic. These armies included 48 infantry, 6 tank and 9 motorized divisions, 37 separate infantry regiments, 98 separate machine-gun battalions and a large number of individual artillery and special parts and compounds. Both groups of armies have 1 million people, 10,400 guns and mortars, 1,500 tanks and assault guns and 3300 combat aircraft. (Great Patriotic War 1941-1945. Encyclopedia. M., 1985. P. 94.) There were up to 2,000 combat aircraft in the Berlin area and about 600 anti-aircraft guns.
In the rear of the group of Army "Vistula" and "Center", strategic reserves were reserved as part of 8 previously broken divisions, including the north of Berlin - the Army Group of Steiner (2 Infantry Divisions), and in the Dresden area - the Corps group "Moser" (3 infantry divisions). In 20-30 km behind the front line on the Berlin direction were in reserve 16 divisions. (Samsonov A. M. Second World War. M., 1985. P. 505.)
For the defense of Berlin, the German command hastily formed new parts. In January - 1945, even 16-, 17-year-old boys were called for military service. In addition to the personnel troops, all possible additional forces were involved in defense. Folkssturma battalions were formed from young people and old people. In Berlin itself, they were created up to 200. The tanks of tank fighters, part of the "Hitlergend" were created. The total number of Berlin garrison exceeded 200 thousand people.
The German command sought at any cost to keep defense in the east. The Nazis urged the soldiers and officers to fight the Russians to the last man. On April 15, Hitler addressed the soldiers of the Eastern Front with the appeal, calling them to repel the offensive of the Soviet troops. At the same time, he demanded to shoot at the place of everyone who dares to move away or give an order about the departure.
Considering these factors, the TGC rate focused on the Berlin direction of large forces in the composition of the three fronts - the 2nd (Marshal K. K. Rokossovsky) and the 1st (Marshal of K. Zhukov) of the Belarusian and 1st Ukrainian (Marshal I. S. Konev), total 21 general-official, 4 tank, 3 air armies, 10 separate tank and mechanized, as well as 4 cavalry corps. In addition, it was supposed to use a part of the Baltic Fleet forces (Admiral V. F. Tributz), Dniprovskaya Military Flotilla (counter-admiral V. V. Grigoriev), the 18th air army, the country's three air defense buildings.
The Polish troops in the composition of two armies, tank and aviation buildings, two artillery divisions of the breakthrough and a separate mortar brigade were attracted to the Berlin operation. They were part of the fronts.
In total, the 1st and 2nd Belarusian and 1st Ukrainian fronts numbered 2.5 million people, 41,600 guns and mortars, 6250 tanks and self-propelled guns, 7,500 aircraft (including long-range aviation). This ensured a predominance over the enemy: 2.5 times in humans, in guns and mortars - 4 times, in tanks and self-propelled installations - 4.1 times, in aviation - 2.3 times. (History of World War II, 1939-1945. T. 10. M., 1879. P. 314-315.)
The design of the Soviet command provided for powerful blows of the troops of three fronts to break through the defense of the enemy on Oder and Neutse, and, developing an offensive in the depth, to surround the main grouping of the German troops on the Berlin direction, simultaneously dismembering it into several parts and destroy it, to enter the elbe.
The 1st Belorussian Front, inflicting the main blow from the Custrian Bridgehead, had the task of defeating the enemy on the approaches to Berlin, master them and on the 12-15th day after the start of operations to reach the Elbe.
The 1st Ukrainian Front got the task of defeating German troops in the area of \u200b\u200bCottbus and South Berlin. On the 10-12th day after the start; The offensive seizure Belitz, Wittenburg and further along the Elbe to Dresden.
The 2nd Belorussian Front was to force the Oder, defeat the shatta group of the enemy and no later than 12-15 days from the beginning of the operation to master the anchons, Demmin, Malchin, Wittenberg. This was ensured by the Actions of the 1st Belarusian Front from the north.
The Baltic Fleet got a task to cover the seaside flank of the 2nd Belarusian front, ensure the blockade of the Kullynd to group the enemy and violate its maritime communications. Dnieper military flotilla, operating in the strip of the 1st Belorussian Front, (should be promoted by the troops of the 5th shock army and the 8th Guards Army in crossing the enemy and breakthrough of the enemy's defense at the Kusteremian bridgehead, and the 33rd army in the area of \u200b\u200bFürstenberg and provide anti-mineral defenses of waterways. The main efforts of aviation focused on the directions of the main blows. (Great Patriotic War. 1941-1945. Encyclopedia. P. 95.)
By the nature of the tasks and results, the Berlin operation is divided into three stages.
The first stage is a breakthrough of the Oder-Neissensky border of the Defense of the Germans (April 16-19). At 5 o'clock in the morning (Moscow time), on April 16, after powerful artillery training and blows of aviation, the troops of the 1st Belorussian Front were followed. Berlin operation began. The enemy, depressed by fire artillery, not! It was organized by resistance at the forefront, but then, having recovered from shock, resisted with fierce perseverance.
Soviet infantry and tanks advanced by 1.5-2 km. In the established atmosphere, to speed up the promotion of troops, Marshal Zhukov introduced into the battle of tank and mechanized buildings of the 1st and 2nd Guards tank armies. However, the enemy continued fierce resistance. The command of the 9th German army threw two motorized divisions into battle - 25th and "Kurmark". The movable buildings of the 1st and 2nd Guards Tank Army could not break away from the infantry and got involved in exhausting battles. The troops of the front had to consistently break through a few stripes of defense. The enemy has repeatedly undertaken violent counterattacks. As a result of stubborn fighting troops of the shock grouping front to the end of April 17, he broke through the second defensive strip and two intermediate positions.
The rates of the onset of the 1st Belorussian front were lower than planned, which put, in the opinion of the TGK bet, threatened the implementation of the Plan on the environment of the Berlin Group. As a result of the troops of the strike group adopted by the commander of the front of April 19, he broke through the third defensive strip and advanced to a depth of 30 km in four days, having received the opportunity to step on Berlin and bypass him from the north. German troops moved away to the external distribution of the Berlinsky district of the defense. On the left front of the front, the conditions for bypassing the Frankfurt enemy grouping from the north and cut-off from Berlin were created.
Successfully developed the onset of troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front. At 6 hours of 15 minutes on April 16, artillery preparation began. Bomber and attack aircraft applied strong blows across the resistance sites, communication nodes and command items. The battalions of the first echelon divisions quickly forced the Neurov River and captured the bridgeheads on her left bank. The German command introduced into battle from his reserve to three tank divisions and a tank-fighter brigade. The battles took a fierce character. Breaking the opponation resistance, the general and tank associations of the 1st Ukrainian Front broke through the main defense band. On April 17, the front troops completed a breakthrough of the second strip and approached the third, held along the left bank of the river. Spree.
The successful offensive of the 1st Ukrainian Front created for the enemy a threat to bypassing his Berlin grouping from the south. The German command concentrated its efforts to delay the further promotion of Soviet troops at the turn of the Republic. Spree. The reserves of the Center for the Center "Center" and the troops of the 4th tank army were sent here. (History of the Second World War, 1939-1945. T.6. P. 331.) But the enemy's attempts to change the course of the battle did not have.
The TGK rate ordered Marshal Konev to turn the 3rd and 4th Guards Tank Army of Generals P. S. Fishkalko and D. D. Lelyushenko north to attack on Berlin from the south. On April 18, together with the 13th Army, they forced the spree and launched an offensive on the capital of the Reich, providing the conditions for its surroundings from the south. On the Dresden direction, the 52nd Army reflected the opponents of the opponent from the North Görlitz region.
The 2nd Belorussian Front switched to the offensive on April 18. On April 18-19, the front troops in difficult conditions forced the Ost-Oder, they cleaned the nizenne from the enemy between the Oder and West-Oder and occupied the initial positions to forcing the West-Oder.
Thus, in the strip of all fronts there are favorable prerequisites for continuing the operation.
The onset of troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front was most successfully developed. They went to the operational space and rushed to Berlin, covering the right wing of the Frankfurt-Gubnaya grouping. On April 19-20, the 3rd and 4th Guards Tank Army advanced by 95 km. The rapid offensive of these armies, as well as the 13th Army, has already led to cut-off of the Army Group "Vistula" from the Army Group "Center"; German troops in the area of \u200b\u200bCottat and Shpreiberg were divided. On April 21, Talkists of Golkalko's generals and Lelyushenko reached the southern plot of an external Berlin defensive burden. On April 22, the compounds of the 3rd Guards Tank Army broke through the external defensive distribution and made his way to the southern outskirts of Berlin. On the same day, the 4th Guards Tanks The Army also broke through the external defensive distribution and ranked favorable positions for connecting to the troops of the 1st Belarusian front and completion together with them the surroundings of the entire German Berlin group. Using the success of tankers, the overall army of the front grouping quickly advanced in the western direction. The enemy tried to apply confruders. The newly formed 12th army of General V. Wreath, which was intended for action at the turn of Elba against American troops, the German command decided to use against the 1st Ukrainian Front forces. This army received an order to step in the direction of the Uterbog to connect to the time to break from the environment to the west of parts of the 9th German army and part of the forces of the 4th tank army. On April 19, the enemy grouping (2 infantry, 2 tank and semi-dimensional divisions) switched to the offensive from the Görlitz district, broke the front of the 52nd Army and went to the rear of the 2nd Army forces of the Polish troops on April 20-26, the opponent's offensive, advanced in the direction of Spridberg, It was stopped.
The troops of the 1st Belorussian Front continued the offensive. On April 20, on the fifth day of the operation, the long-range artillery of the 79th Rifle Corps of the 3rd Shock Army of Colonel-General V. I. Kuznetsov opened fire on Berlin. On April 21, the front part of the front broke into the northern and southeastern outskirts of the German capital.
On April 24, the south-east of Berlin is the 8th Guards and 1st Guards Tank Army of the 1st Belorussian Front, who advancing on the left flank of the strike group, met with the 3rd Guards Tank and the 28th Arms of the 1st Ukrainian Front. As a result, the Frankfurt-Gubnaya grouping of the enemy was completely isolated from the Berlin garrison. The next day, the right-hand associations of the impact group of the 1st Belarusian Front - 47th; The 2nd Guards Tank Army - connected with the 4th Tank Army of the 1st Ukrainian Front, west of Berlin, completing the surroundings of the entire Berlin enemy grouping.
April 25, advanced divisions of the 1st Ukrainian Front - 5th | General A. S. Zhadov's Guards Army - met on the shore of Elba in the area of \u200b\u200bTorgau with the distillation groups of the 5th Corps of the 1st American Army General O. Bradley. The German front was dissected. In honor of this victory, Moscow Saluteoval troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front.
At this time, the troops of the 2nd Belarusian front forced the West Oder and broke through the defense on his West Bank. They fastened the German tank army and deprived her opportunities to put counterudine from the north on the Soviet troops surrounding Berlin.
Soviet troops for ten days of operations overcame the German defense over Oder and Neur, surrounded and dismembered its groupings on the Berlin direction and created the conditions for Mastering Berlin.
The third stage is the destruction of the Berlin enemy grouping and the capture of Berlin (April 26-8). German troops, despite the impairment inevitable, continued resistance. First of all, it was necessary to eliminate the Frankfurt-Gubnaya grouping of the enemy, which consisted of up to 200 thousand people. It was over 2 thousand guns, more than 300 tanks and assault guns. Her destruction was carried out on April 26-May 1 by the 1st Belorussian and 1st Ukrainian fronts who threw the German troops attempted to connect from the 12th Army. Soviet troops captured 120 thousand people, captured 300 tanks and assault guns, over 1500 field weapons, 17,600 cars. A part of the 12th Army who survived from the defeat of the 12th army went to the left bank of Elba in bridges, induced by American troops, and surrendered to them (ibid., P. 338).
To the outcome of April 25, the opponent defeated in Berlin occupied the area whose area was approximately 325 square meters. km. The overall length of the front of the Soviet troops acting in the capital of Germany was about 100 km. Up to 4,64 thousand Soviet soldiers took part in the battles, who had over 12.7 thousand guns and mortars, 2.1 thousand attitudes of jet artillery, up to 1,500 tanks and self-propelled-artillery plants. The German Berlin garrison, which continuously increased by attracting the population of the city and the departing military units, had already 300 thousand people. It was 3 thousand guns and mortars on its weapons! 250 tanks (ibid., P. 339). The destruction of the Berlin grouping directly in the city continued until May 2 by dismembering the defense and destruction of the enemy in parts. April 30, German troops in Berlin were divided into four isolated part of each other. Soviet soldiers moved to the center, leading fights for each street and every home. The Germans clung to any obstacles channels, railway mounds and platforms, metropolitan and other underground communications. Large buildings, attics and basements turned into fortified bastions. Numerous fires made it difficult for fighting. Under these conditions, the battles of small units were imported. The basis of the combat order of rifle tank parts was the assault detachments and groups - the arrow of the unit, enhanced with artillery, tanks and sacks.
On April 28, Soviet troops on a number of sites broke through the German defense of the Central (9th) sector, and on the night of April 29, the only bridge did not explored the bridge through the spree, forcing on which the river, parts of the 79th rifle corps of the 3rd shock army The 1st Belorussian Front began preparing the restaging assault.
On April 29, battles began for Reichstag, mastering which was assigned to the 79th Rifle Corps. Reichstag assault began on April 30. His first attempts were reflected by the enemy. Only in the second half of the day, the attacking units under the command of the Commanders of Batalionov K. Ya. Samsonov, with A. Neztower and V. I. Davydov broke into the Reichstag building. He began hot contractions for each floor, for each room. And only in the morning on May 2, the remnants of the garrison that fell in the basements in the compartments capitulated. Two thousand soldiers and officers of the enemy were killed in the battles for Reichstag, the 2604 prisoners were captured, 59 guns, 15 tanks and assault guns. (Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union 1941-1945. Brief history. P. 495.)
On May 1, parts of the 1st shock army, who had arrived from the north, met south of the Reichstag with the parts of the 8th Guards Army, who were coming from the south. The capitulation of the remains of the Berlin garrison was held in the morning of May 2 by order of his last commander of the general artillery command of Vadling. The elimination of the Berlin group of German troops ended.
The troops of the 1st Belorussian front, moving in the western direction, went out by May 7 on a wide front to the Elbe. The troops of the 2nd Belarusian front reached the coast of the Baltic Sea and the turn of the Elba River, where they established a connection with the 2nd English army. The troops of the right wing of the 1st Ukrainian Front began regrouping on the Prague direction to fulfill the tasks at the end of the release of Czechoslovakia. During the Berlin operation, Soviet troops defeated 70 infantry, 23 tank and motorized enemy divisions, they captured about 480 thousand people, captured to 11 thousand guns and mortars, over 1.5 thousand tanks and assault guns, 4500 aircraft. (Great Patriotic War 1941-1945. Encyclopedia. P. 96.)
Soviet troops in this final operation suffered large losses - more than 350 thousand people, including over 78 thousand - irretrievably. The 1st and 2nd Army of the Polish troops lost about 9 thousand soldiers and officers. (Fixiness has been removed. Losses of the USSR's armed forces in wars, hostilities and military conflicts. M., 1993. P. 220.) Soviet troops also lost 2156 tanks and self-propelled-artillery plants, 1220 guns and mortars, 527 aircraft.
Berlin Operation is one of the largest operations of the Second World War. The victory in her Soviet troops became a decisive factor at the end of the military defeat of Germany. With the fall of Berlin and the loss of vital districts, Germany lost the possibility of organized resistance and soon capitulated.
Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation
-Oner from the latest strategic operations of the Soviet troops, during which the Red Army took the capital of Germany and ended the Great Patriotic War. The operation lasted on 23 days - from April 16 to May 8, 1945, during which Soviet troops have advanced to the west at a distance from 100 to 220 km. The width of the front of the fighting is 300 km. Within the framework of the operation, said: Shttinsko-Rostokskaya, Zelovskoy-Berlin, Kotbus-Potsdamskaya, Pedrembg-Torgau and Brandenburg-Rathenovsky front-line offensive operations.
Military political situation in Europe in the spring of 1945
In January-March 1945
The troops of the 1st Belorussky and the 1st Ukrainian fronts during the Volo-Oder, the East-Pomeranian, the Upper-Silesian and the Lower Silesian operations were outwarded by the Oder and Neuris rivers. Under the shortest distance from the Kustere Brillus, 60 km remained to Berlin. The English-American troops completed the elimination of the Ruruga grouping of German troops and by mid-April, the advanced parts reached the Elbe. The loss of essential raw materials led to the decline in the industrial production of Germany. Increased difficulties with the filling of human losses incurred in the winter of 1944/45. Nevertheless, Germany's armed forces were still an impressive force. According to the reconnaissance of the Red Army, by mid-April, there were 223 divisions and brigades in their composition. According to the agreements reached by the heads of the USSR, USA and Great Britain in the fall of 1944, the border of the Soviet occupation zone was supposed to be 150 km west of Berlin. Despite this, Churchill put forward the idea of \u200b\u200bahead of the Red Army and capture Berlin.
Goals of Party
Germany
Nazi leadership tried to tighten the war in order to achieve the Separate world with England and the United States and the split of the anti-Hitler coalition. At the same time, the retention of the front against the Soviet Union was crucial.
the USSR
The military-political situation, which pretended by April 1945, demanded from the Soviet command in the shortest possible time to prepare and carry out an operation to defeat the grouping of German troops on the Berlin direction, the seizure of Berlin and entering the Elba River to connect to the allies troops. Successful implementation of this strategic task made it possible to disrupt the plans of the Hitler's leadership for the delay of war. For the operation of the operation was attracted by the strength of three fronts: the 1st and 2nd Belorussky, and the 1st Ukrainian, as well as the 18th air argeon of long-range aviation, Dniprovskaya military Flotilla and part of the forces of the Baltic Fleet.
Tasks of Soviet fronts
1st Belorussian Front
Send the capital of Germany by the city of Berlin. After 12-15 days of surgery to go on the Elba River
1st Ukrainian Front
Apply the south of Berlin south of Berlin, isolate the main forces of the Center for the Center "Center" from the Berlin grouping and to provide this from the south of the main strike of the 1st Belarusian Front. Slide the enemy grouping south of Berlin and operational reserves in the Kotbus area. For 10-12 days, not later, the Belitz - Wittenberg and further on the River Elbe to Dresden.
2nd Belorussian Front
Apply the dissection of the northerner of Berlin, providing the right flank of the 1st Belarusian front from possible opponents of the enemy from the north. Put to the sea and destroy the German troops north of Berlin.
Dniprovskaya Military Flotilla
Two teams of river ships promote the troops of the 5th shock and the 8th Guards armies in crossing the Oder and the breakthrough of enemy defense at the Kushrinsky bridgehead. The third brigade is promoted by the troops of the 33rd army in the area of \u200b\u200bFürstenberg. Provide anti-minor defense of water transport routes.
Red-known Baltic Fleet
Support the seaside flank of the 2nd Belorussian Front, continuing the blockade of Kurlyandy armies group in Latvia (Kurlyadsky Covered).
Operation plan
Operation plan provided for
Simultaneous transition to the offensive of the troops of the 1st Belorussky and 1st Ukrainian fronts in the morning of April 16, 1945. The 2nd Belorussian front, in connection with the upcoming major regrouping of his forces, was to begin an offensive on April 20, that is, 4 days later.
The 1st Belorussian Front must
It was the main blow to the forces of the five General (47th, 3rd shock, the 5th shock, the 8th Guards and the 3rd Army) and two tank armies from the Custrian bridgehead in the direction of Berlin. Tank armies were planned to introduce into battle after a breakthrough with the general army of the second defense strip in Zeelian altitudes. An artillery density of up to 270 instruments (caliber from 76 mm and above) was created on the main strike area (caliber from 76 mm and above) for one kilometer of the breakthrough front. In addition, the commander of the front of Kiev Zhukov decided to apply two auxiliary strikes: right - by the 61st Soviet and 1st Army of Polish troops bypass Berlin from the north in the direction on Eberswalde, Zandaão; And on the left forces of the 69th and 33rd armies to Bonsdorf with the main task of preventing departure to the Berlin of the 9th Army of the enemy.
1st Ukrainian Front
It was supposed to apply the main blow to the forces of five armies: three general official (13th, 5th Guards and 3rd Guards) and two tanks from the city of Trimbel towards Sprömbert. The auxiliary blow was supposed to be applied in the general direction on Dresden forces by the 2nd Army of the Troops of Polish and part of the forces of the 52nd Army. The promotional line between the 1st Ukrainian and 1st Belarusian fronts broke up 50 km southeast Berlin in the city district Lubbin, which allowed, if necessary, the troops of the 1st Ukrainian front strike at Berlin from the South. Commitant 2nd Belarusian Front K.K. Rokossovsky decided to apply the main blow to the forces of 65, 70 and 49 armies towards the Neulystritsa. Develop success after the breakthrough of German defense should have had separate tank, mechanized and cavalry corps of front-line subordination.
Preparation for the operation
the USSR
Intelligence
Intelligence Aviation 6 times produced Berlin Aerophotus, all approaches to it and defensive strips. A total of about 15 thousand aerial photographs were obtained. According to the results of filming, trophy documents and polls of the prisoners, detailed schemes were compiled, plans, cards that were supplied with all command-staff instances. The military topographic service of the 1st Belorussian Front made an accurate layout of the city with suburbs, which was used in the study of issues related to the organization of the offensive, the general assault of Berlin and the battle in the city center. For two days before the start of the operation in the entire band of the 1st Belorussky The front was conducted by reconnaissance. 32 reconnaissance detachments by force to the reinforced rifle battalion each for two days on 14 and 15 April, the battle was specified by the placement of the enemy's fire funds, the dislocation of its groups was determined, the strong and most vulnerable places of the defensive strip were determined.
Engineering
During the preparation of the offensive, engineering troops of the 1st Belorussian front under the command of Gene-Lieutenant Antipenko performed a large amount of main engineering work. By the beginning of the operation, often under the fire of the enemy, 25 automotive bridges with a total length of 15,017 travel meters were built through Oder, and 40 ferry crossings were prepared. In order to organize the continuous and complete support of the upcoming parts by ammunition and the combustible railway canvas in a busy territory, it was rewrote to a Russian rut to almost the Oder. In addition, the military engineers of the front have attached heroic efforts to strengthen railway bridges through the Vistula, which were threatened by the Spring Ice Trim.
On the 1st Ukrainian Front
For the mining of the Neurov River, 2440 serviced wooden boats were harvested, 750 robust storm bridges and over 1000 wooden bridges for cargoes 16 and 60 tons.
2nd Belorussian Front
At the beginning of the offensive, Oder, the width of which in some places reached six kilometers, so special attention was also paid to engineering training. The engineering troops of the front under the leadership of Lieutenant Bleslavov, in the shortest possible time pulled up and reliably covered in the coastal zone dozens of pontoons, hundreds of boats, brought timber for the construction of berths and bridges, produced rafts, laid gati through the wetlands of the coast.
Masking and disinformation
Preparing the offensive, - recalled G.K. Zhukov, - we completely gave yourself a report that the Germans expect our blow to Berlin. Therefore, the front command in all details thought out how to organize this blow most sudden for the enemy. In the preparation of the operation, special attention was paid to issues of masking and achieving operational and tactical surprise. The headquarters of the fronts developed detailed plans for disinformation measures and the introduction of an enemy misconception, according to which preparation for the onset of the troops of the 1st and 2nd Belarusian fronts was imitated in the city of Shttatin and Guben. At the same time, at the central section of the 1st Belarusian front, where in reality the deposition of the main strike was planned, reinforced defensive work continued. Especially intensely they conducted on sites well-looking opponent. The entire personal composition of the armies clarified that the main task is to persistent defense. In addition, documents characterizing the activities of the troops in various parts of the front were thrown into the arrangement of the enemy. Advanced reserves and strengthening parts carefully masked. Military echelons with artillery, mortar, tank parts on the territory of Poland masked under the compositions carrying on the platforms of the forest and hay. In carrying out reconnoitions, tank commanders from the battalion commander to the commander of the army changed to the infantry form and under the guise of communication were examined by crossings and areas where they will focus Their divisions. Krug awared persons was limited. In addition to the commander, the stakes directive were allowed to acquaint only the headquarters of the armies, headquarters of the operational departments of the headquarters of armies and commander of artillery. Regiment commanders received tasks orally three days before the onset. The junior commanders and the Red Army teams on the offensive was allowed to declare two hours before the attack.
Rearrangeing forces
During the preparations for the Berlin operation, the 2nd Belorussian front, who had just completed the East Pomeranian operation, from 4 to 15 April 1945, was to transfer 4 general-official army to a distance of up to 350 km from Danzig and Gdynia Cities Area and Gdynia by River Oder and Change the army there of the 1st Belorussian Front. The poor condition of the railways and the sharp lack of rolling stock did not fully use the possibilities of railway transport, so the main severity of traffic fell on motor vehicles. Front was allocated 1900 cars. Part of the routes of the troops had to be overcome on foot. This was a complex maneuver of the troops of the whole front, - recalled Marshal K.K. Rokossovsky, - the like that was not throughout the Great Patriotic War.
Germany
The German command foresaw the onset of Soviet troops and carefully prepared for its reflection. Deeply echelonized defense was built from Oder to Berlin, and the city itself was turned into a powerful defensive citadel. The first line divisions were replenished with a personnel and technique, strong reserves were created in the operational depth. In Berlin and near him, a huge number of folksturma battalions were formed.
Character defense
The basis of defense was the Odesko-Neissensky defensive line and the Berlin defensive area. Odessa-Neissensky Rubage consisted of three defensive bands, and his total depth reached 20-40 km. The main defensive band had up to five solid lines of trenches, and her front edge took place along the left bank of the Oder and Neurov rivers. At 10-20 km from him, a second defense band was created. It was the most equipped in engineering attitude on green altitudes - in front of the Kustere Bridgehead. The third band was at a distance of 20-40 km from the front edge. When organizing and equipment defense, the German command skillfully used natural obstacles: lakes, rivers, channels, ravines. All settlements were turned into strong reference points and were adapted to circular defense. During the construction of the Odessa-Neissensky turn, special attention was paid to the organization of anti-tank defense.
Saturation of defensive positions by the troops
The enemy was uneven. The greatest density of troops was observed before the 1st Belarusian front in a strip of a width of 175 km, where 23 divisions were occupied by 23 divisions, a significant number of individual brigades, regiments and battalions, and 14 divisions were defended against the Custrian bridgehead. In the offensive band of the 2nd Belarusian front, 7 infantry divisions and 13 separate regiments were defended by 120 km width. In the strip of the 1st Ukrainian front, a width of 390 km was 25 enemy divisions.
In an effort to increase resistance
His troops in defense, the Nazi leadership tightened repressive measures. So, on April 15, in his appeal to the soldiers of the Eastern Front, A. Hitler demanded a shot at the place of all who would give an order to the departure or will be departed without an order.
Forces side
the USSR
Total: Soviet troops - 1.9 million people, Polish troops - 155,900 people, 6250, 41,600 guns and mortars, more than 7,500 aircraft. In addition, the 1st Belarusian Front had German formations consisting of former captive soldiers and Wehrmacht officers who gave consent to participate in the fight against the Hitler's regime (Zeidlitz's troops).
Germany
Total: 48 infantry, 6 tank and 9 motorized divisions; 37 separate infantry regiments, 98 separate infantry battalions, as well as a large number of separate artillery and special parts and compounds (1 million people, 10,400 guns and mortars, 1500 and assault tools and 3300 combat aircraft) .24 on the battle joined the 12th The army under the command of General Infantry, Venka, who had previously occupied defense on the Western Front.
Common Travel
1st Belorussian Front (April 16-25)
At 5 am Moscow time (2 hours before dawn) on April 16, artillery preparation began in the band of the 1st Belorussian Front. 9000 guns and mortars, as well as more than 1,500 installations of the PC-13 and BM-31 for 25 minutes, were grinding the first lane of German defense at the 27th kilometer breakthrough site. With the beginning of attack, the fire of artillery was transferred to deep defense, and 143 anti-aircraft spotlights were included in the breakthrough sites. Their dazzling light stunned the enemy and at the same time illuminated the road to the upcoming units. The first one and a half or two hours of the Soviet troops developed successfully, separate compounds came to the second defense band. However, soon the Nazis, relying on a strong and well-prepared second defense strip, began to provide fierce resistance. Along the front, tense battles broke out. Although in some parts of the front, the troops managed to master individual support points, they failed to achieve decisive success. A powerful resistance assembly, equipped on green heights, was irresistible for rifle compounds. This picked up the success of the entire operation.
In such an atmosphere, the commander of the front Marshal Zhukov took
The decision to introduce the 1st Guards Tank Army to the Battle of the 1st and 2nd Guards Tank Army. This was not provided for by the plan of the offensive, however, the stubborn resistance of the German troops, demanded to strengthen the breakdown ability to enter into the battle armies. The course of the battle on the first day showed that the German command gives the deduction of the Zelian heights crucial. To strengthen defense at this site by the end of April 16, operational reserves of the "Vistula" armies were thrown. All day and all night on April 17, the troops of the 1st Belarusian front led fierce battles with the enemy. By the morning of April 18, tank and rifle compounds, with the support of aviation of the 16th and 18th air armies, took green heights. Overcoming the stubborn defense of German troops and reflecting violent counterattacks, the front troops to the end of April 19 broke through the third defensive band and got the opportunity to develop an offensive on Berlin.
Real threat to the environment
Forced the commander of the 9th German army T. Busus to go out with a proposal for the army's discharge to the suburbs of Berlin and the lesson there is strong defense. Such a plan was supported by the Commander of the Army Group "Vistula" General Colonel Heinritz, however, Hitler rejected this proposal and ordered to hold the frontiers-friendly.
April 20 was marked by an artillery strike on Berlin
deployed long-range artillery of the 79th Infantry Corps of the 3rd Shock Army. It was a kind of birthday Guitler. On April 21, part of the 3rd shock, the 2nd Guards Tank, the 47th and 5th shock armies overcoming the third defense strip, broke into the outskirts of Berlin and tied the battles there. The first to burst into Berlin from the east of the troops, which were part of the 26th Guards Corps of General P.A. Firsov and 32nd Corps General D. S. Zhelebin of the 5th shock army. On the evening of April 21 from the south to the city, the advanced parts of the 3rd Guards Tank Army P.S. Fishing. On 23 and 24 April, the fighting in all directions took a particularly fierce character. On April 23, the 9th Rifle Corps was achieved the greatest success in the storm of Berlin, under the command of General Major Reloble. The warriors of this building were resolved by the Karlshort, part of the shock and, going to the spree, with the go forced it. The ships of the Dniprovskoy military flotilla were provided with great help when crossing the spree, throwing rifle units under the opposite shore. Although by April 24, the pace of promotion of Soviet troops decreased, the Nazis could not stop them. On April 24, the 5th shock army, leading fierce battles, continued to successfully move towards the center of Berlin. At the auxiliary direction, 61st Army and the 1st Army of Polish troops, starting the offensive on April 17, with stubborn battles overcome German defense, went around Berlin From the north and moved to the Elbe.
1st Ukrainian Front (April 16-25)
The offensive of the troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front developed more successfully. April 16 Early in the morning, a smoke curtain was delivered to the 390-kilometer front, blinded by the advanced observation points of the enemy. At 6 o'clock 55 minutes, after a 40-minute artillery strike at the front edge of German defense, reinforced battalions of the first echelon divisions began to force Neutse. Quickly capturing the bridgehead on the left bank of the river, they provided the conditions for the guidance of bridges and the crossing of the main forces. In the first hours of operation, the engineering troops of the front on the main direction of the strike were equipped with 133 crossings. With each hour, the number of forces and means transported to the bridgehead increased. In the middle of the day, the coming reached the second strip of German defense. Feeling the threat of a major breakthrough, the German command on the first day of the operation threw not only his tactical, but also the operational reserves, putting the task before them, reset the advancing Soviet troops into the river. Nevertheless, to the outcome of the day, the front of the front broke through the main defense strip at the front of 26 km and advanced to a depth of 13 km.
By morning April 17
Through Neur, the 3rd and 4th Guards Tank Army crossed in full. The entire day of the troops of the front, overcoming the stubborn resistance of the enemy, continued to expand and deepen the gap in German defense. Aviation support for the upcoming troops was rendered by the pilots of the 2nd air army. Assault Aviation, acting on the requests of land commanders, destroyed fire products and live enemy strength at the front edge. Bombarding aviation has a suitable reserve. By the middle of April 17, the following atmosphere was found in the strip of the 1st Ukrainian Front: in a narrow corridor, punishable forces of the 13th, 3rd and 5th Guards armies, the tank armies of fishing and Lebryushenko went to the west. By the end of the day, they approached the spree and began its forcing. Meanwhile, on the secondary, Dresden, the direction of the troops of the 52nd army of General K.A. Kovel and the 2nd Army Troops of Polish General K.K. Schurchavsky broke through the tactical defense of the enemy and in two days of the fighting advanced to a depth of 20 km.
Given the slow promotion of troops of the 1st Belorussian Front
, as well as the success achieved in the strip of the 1st Ukrainian Front, on the night of April 18, the rate decided to turn the 3rd and 4th Guards Tank Army of the 1st Ukrainian Front to Berlin. In its order, the commander of fishing and Lelyushenko on the offensive wrote the front commander: on the main direction of the tank fist bolder and more decisively make his way forward. Cities and major settlements bypass and not get involved in protracted front fights. I demand firmly understand that the success of the tank armies depends on the bold maneuver and rapidness.
Performing the order of the commander
, On April 18 and 19, the tank armies of the 1st Ukrainian Front were uncontrollable to Berlin. The pace of their offensive reached 35-50 km per day. At the same time, the general-official army was prepared for the elimination of major enemy groups in the area of \u200b\u200bCottbus and Spröbberg.
To the outcome of the day on April 20
The main shock grouping of the 1st Ukrainian Front was deeply wedged into the army of the enemy, and completely cut off the German Army Group from the Army Group Center. Feeling the threat caused by the rapid actions of the Tank Army of the 1st Ukrainian Front, the German command took a number of measures to strengthen the approaches to Berlin. To strengthen defense to the city area of \u200b\u200bTsosssen, Lukekenwalde, infantry and tank parts were urgently directed. Overcoming their stubborn resistance, tankers fishing on the night of April 21 reached the external Berlin defensive obligation.
By morning April 22
The 9th Mehkorpus Sukhova and the 6th Guards Tank Corps of Mitrofanov 3rd Guards Tank Army forced the Notta Channel, broke through the external defensive distribution of Berlin and the end of the day came to the south coast of Telttovka. There, having met the strong and well-organized opponation resistance, they were stopped.
Day April 22 at the Hitler rate
A meeting of the highest military leadership was held, at which it was decided to withdraw the 12th army V. Wreath from the Western Front and the direction of it on the connection with the semicircular 9th army T. Busus. For the organization of the 12th Army, Field Marshal Kaitel was sent to her headquarters. This was the last serious attempt to influence the course of battle, since to the outcome of the day on April 22, the troops of the 1st Belorussky and 1st Ukrainian fronts have formed and almost closed two rings of the environment. One thing is around the 9th Army of the enemy east and southeast of Berlin; Other - West Berlin, around parts directly defeated in the city.
Channel caval constituted a serious obstacle
: Water filled with high concreted shores of forty width - fifty meters. In addition, his northern shore was very well prepared for defense: trenches, reinforced concrete dots, lined in Earth and self-propelled. Above the channel is almost solid, the walls of houses, torn by fire, with walls thick in meter and more. Assessing the situation, the Soviet command decided to spend thorough preparations for force-channel forcing. All day April 23, the 3rd Guards Tank Army was preparing for the assault. By morning on April 24, a powerful artillery grouping was concentrated on the southern bank of the channel, a density of up to 650 stems per kilometer of the front, designed to destroy German fortifications on the opposite shore. Having suppressed by the most powerful artillery strike, the enemy defense of the 6th Guards Tank Corrupts Major Mitrofanov General Mitrofanov successfully forced the channels-channel and captured a bridgehead on his northern coast. Day April 24, the 12th Army Wreath undertook the first tank attacks at the position of the 5th Guards Mechanized Corps of General Yermakov (4th Guards Tank Army) and parts of the 13th Army. All attacks were successfully repulsed with the support of the 1st assault aviation case of Lieutenant General Ryazanov.
At 12 pm on April 25
West Berlin, the advanced parts of the 4th Guards Tank Army met with parts of the 47th Army of the 1st Belarusian Front. On the same day, another significant event occurred. After an hour and a half at Elbe, the 34th Guards Corps of General Baklanov of the 5th Guards Army met with American troops. On April 25 to May 2, the troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front were fierce battles on three directions: parts of the 28th Army, 3rd and the 4th Guards Tank Army participated in the storming of Berlin; Part of the forces of the 4th Guards Tank Army, together with the 13th Army, reflected Kontrudar 12th German Army; The 3rd Guards Army and part of the forces of the 28th Army blocked and destroyed the surrounded 9th army.
All the time, from the beginning of the operation, command of the Army Center "Center"
It was sought to ride the offensive of the Soviet troops. On April 20, the German troops inflicted the first counterpart on the left flank of the 1st Ukrainian Front and pushed the troops of the 52nd Army and the 2nd Army of Polish troops. On April 23, a new powerful counterudrome was followed, as a result of which the defense at the stake of the 52nd Army and the 2nd Army of Polish troops were broken and the German troops advanced 20 km in the overall direction to Spristeng, threatening to go to the front rear.
2nd Belorussian Front (April 20-8)
From April 17 to 19, the troops of the 65th Army of the 2nd Belorussian Front, under the command of General Colonel Batov P.I., conducted exploration of the fight and advanced detachments were mastered by Mezrechy Oder, thereby facilitating the following river forcing. On the morning of April 20, the main forces of the 2nd Belarusian Front passed on the offensive: 65, 70 and 49th Army. Forcing the Oder took place under the cover of artillery flame and smoke curtains. The most successful offensive developed at the plot of the 65th Army, which was the considerable merit of the army engineering troops. Having for 13 o'clock two 16-ton pontoon crossings, the troops of this army in the evening of April 20 captured a bridgehead of 6 and a depth of 1.5 kilometers.
We happened to watch the work of the sappers.
Working on the throat in ice water among the gaps of the shells and mines, they brought the crossing. Every second they threatened death, but people understood their soldier's debt and thought about one - to help comrades in the West Bank and bring it to the victory.
More modest success was achieved
In the central section of the front in the 30th Army Strine. The leftophlantic 49th army met stubborn resistance and did not have success. All day and all night on April 21, the troops of the front, beating numerous attacks of German troops, stubbornly expanded the bridgeheads on the West Bank of Oder. In the current situation, the commander of the front K. K. Rokossovsky decided to send the 49th Army to cross the right neighbor of the 70th Army, and then return to his offensive lane. By April 25, as a result of fierce battles, the front troops expanded the captured by a bridgehead to 35 km along the front and up to 15 km deep. To build a shock power to the West Coast, the Oder was shipped by the 2nd Impact Army, as well as the 1st and 3rd Guards Tank Cases. At the first stage of operation, the 2nd Belarusian front was the main forces of the 3rd German Tank Army, having deprived her opportunity to help fighting under Berlin. On April 26, the compounds of the 65th Army assault on Shttetin. In the future, the Army of the 2nd Belarusian Front breaking the opponent's resistance and pushing the appropriate reserves, stubbornly moved to the west. On May 3, the 3rd Guards Tank Corps of Panfilova South-west Wismar established a connection with the advanced parts of the 2nd British Army.
Liquidation of the Frankfurt-Guba Grouping
By the end of April 24, the compounds of the 28th Army of the 1st Ukrainian Front entered into contact with the parts of the 8th Guards Army of the 1st Belorussian Front, thereby surrounding the southeastern Berlin 9th Army of General Bouss and cutting it off from the city. Surrounded grouping of German troops became referred to - Frankfurt-Gubnaya. Now, before the Soviet command, the task of eliminating the 200-thousand-thousand enemy grouping and the prevention of its breakthrough in Berlin or west. To fulfill the last task, the 3rd Guards Army and part of the forces of the 28th Army of the 1st Ukrainian Front took an active defense on the way of a possible breakthrough of German troops. On April 26, the 3rd, 69th, and the 33rd Army of the 1st Belarusian Front began the final elimination of the surrounded parts. However, the enemy not only provided stubborn resistance, but he repeatedly made attempts to escape from the environment. Skilled maneuvering and skillfully creating superiority in the forces on the narrow sections of the front, the German troops managed to break through the ring of the environment. However, every time the Soviet command took decisive measures to eliminate breakthrough. Up until May 2, the early parts of the 9th German army took desperate attempts to break through the combat order of the 1st Ukrainian Front to the West, to connect to the 12th army of the general wreath. Only a separate small group managed to leak through the forests and go to the West.
Berlin's assault (April 25 - May 2)
At 12 o'clock in the afternoon, the ring around Berlin was closed on April 25, when the 6th Guards Cropus of the 4th Guards Tank Army forced the Hafer River and connected with the parts of the 328th division of the 47th Army of General Perchorovich. By the time, according to the assessment of the Soviet command, Berlin's garrison numbered at least 200 thousand people, 3 thousand guns and 250 tanks. The defense of the city was carefully thought out and well prepared. It was based on a strong fire system, reference points and resistance sites. The closer to the city center, the defense it became denser. Special strength was given massive stone buildings with a large wall thickness. The windows and doors of many buildings were climbed and turned into ambrusuras to lead fire. The streets overlapped with powerful barricades with thickness up to four meters. The defenders had a large number of faustparters, which in the situation of street fighting turned out to be a formidable anti-tank weapon. Incidentally important in the defense system, the enemy had underground structures that were widely used by the enemy for maneuver troops, as well as to cover them from artillery and bomb shocks.
By April 26 in Berlin's storm
The six armies of the 1st Belorussian Front (47th, 3rd and 5th strikes, the 8th Guards, the 1st and 2nd Guards Tank Army) and the three armies of the 1st Ukrainian Front (28- I, 3rd and 4th Guards Tanks). Given the experience of taking major cities, assault detachments were created in the city in the city of rifle battalions or mouth, enhanced tanks, artillery and sappers. Actions of assault detachments, as a rule, were preceded by a short but powerful artillery preparation.
By April 27.
As a result of actions deeply advanced to the center of Berlin armies of two fronts, the enemy grouping in Berlin stretched out a narrow strip from the east to the west - sixteen kilometers in length and two or three, in some places there are five kilometers wide. Fights in the city did not stop in the afternoon nor at night. Quarter over the quarter Soviet troops "threw up" the defense of the enemy. So, in the evening on April 28, parts of the 3rd shock army came to the Reichstag district. On the night of April 29, the actions of advanced battalions under the command of Captain S. A. Neztashen and Senior Lieutenant K. Ya. Samsonova was captured by the Moltke Bridge. At dawn on April 30, the assault price of considerable losses was captured by the building of the Ministry of the Interior, adjacent to the parliament building. The path to Reichstag was open.
parts of the 150th rifle division under the command of General Major in
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