Battle of Berlin

Chronological Storyline (21 Milestones)

Apr 16, 1945 CE

Soviets launch Berlin offensive

Marshal Zhukov's 1st Belorussian Front attacked across the Oder River but was pinned down by German defenses on the Seelow Heights after a massive but poorly targeted artillery barrage. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Seelow_Heights

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Source: history.army.mil ↗

Apr 17, 1945 CE

Seelow Heights breakthrough achieved

After heavy losses, Soviet forces finally broke through the main German defensive line on the Seelow Heights, forcing General Gotthard Heinrici to authorize a withdrawal. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Seelow_Heights

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Source: iwm.org.uk ↗

Apr 19, 1945 CE

Seelow Heights defense collapses

The German defense on the Seelow Heights completely collapsed, opening the direct road to Berlin for Zhukov's armored columns and resulting in massive German casualties. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Seelow_Heights

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Source: iwm.org.uk ↗

Apr 20, 1945 CE

First Soviet shells hit Berlin

On Hitler's 56th birthday, Soviet long-range artillery shelled central Berlin for the first time, while Konev's 1st Ukrainian Front advanced from the south. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Berlin

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Source: iwm.org.uk ↗

Apr 21, 1945 CE

Soviet tanks reach city outskirts

Zhukov's advance guard reached the northeastern outskirts of Berlin, initiating urban combat as German Volkssturm and Hitler Youth units were committed to the defense. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Berlin

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Source: history.army.mil ↗

Apr 22, 1945 CE

Hitler admits war is lost

At a conference in the Führerbunker, Hitler suffered a nervous breakdown and admitted the war was lost for the first time, refusing to leave the city as Soviet forces closed in. Source — Wikipedia:

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Source: Wikipedia Article ↗

Apr 23, 1945 CE

Berlin completely encircled

Soviet forces completed the encirclement of Berlin, cutting off the city from German relief attempts and trapping the defending garrison inside the tightening Soviet ring. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Berlin

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Source: iwm.org.uk ↗

Apr 24, 1945 CE

Wenck's relief attempt ordered

Hitler ordered General Walther Wenck's Twelfth Army to abandon its western front and march east to relieve Berlin, a desperate plan that ultimately failed to reach the city. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Berlin

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Source: history.army.mil ↗

Apr 25, 1945 CE

Elbe River link-up occurs

American and Soviet forces met at Torgau on the Elbe River, effectively splitting Germany in two and eliminating any chance of a unified German defense against the Soviets. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbe_Day

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Source: history.army.mil ↗

Apr 26, 1945 CE

Soviets assault central districts

Soviet troops launched a coordinated assault on Berlin's central districts, using tanks and heavy artillery in house-to-house fighting against fanatical German resistance. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Berlin

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Source: iwm.org.uk ↗

Apr 27, 1945 CE

Tempelhof airport captured

Soviet forces seized Tempelhof Airport after fierce fighting, eliminating the last viable resupply route into Berlin and compressing the German defensive perimeter further. Source — Wikipedia:

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Source: Wikipedia Article ↗

Apr 28, 1945 CE

Moltke Bridge seized

Soviet troops captured the Moltke Bridge over the Spree River under heavy fire, gaining a direct approach to the Reichstag building in the government district. Source — Wikipedia:

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Source: Wikipedia Article ↗

Apr 29, 1945 CE

Hitler marries Eva Braun

Hitler married Eva Braun in the Führerbunker and dictated his final political testament, blaming the war on international Jewry and expelling Göring and Himmler from the party. Source — Wikipedia:

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Source: Wikipedia Article ↗

Apr 30, 1945 CE

Hitler commits suicide

Hitler and his new wife Eva Braun committed suicide in the Führerbunker; their bodies were burned with gasoline in the Reich Chancellery garden as Soviet troops fought nearby. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Adolf_Hitler

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Source: iwm.org.uk ↗

Apr 30, 1945 CE

Reichstag assault begins

Soviet troops launched the first assault on the Reichstag building, facing intense German resistance from SS, Volkssturm, and naval personnel barricaded inside the structure. Source — Wikipedia:

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Source: Wikipedia Article ↗

May 1, 1945 CE

Goebbels attempts surrender negotiation

Joseph Goebbels, the new Chancellor, attempted to negotiate a partial surrender with the Soviets but was rejected; he and his wife killed themselves after murdering their children. Source — Wikipedia:

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Source: Wikipedia Article ↗

May 1, 1945 CE

German breakout attempt fails

General Helmuth Weidling ordered a mass breakout from Berlin through Soviet lines, but the attempt largely failed as most German units were surrounded and unable to break through. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmuth_Weidling

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Source: history.army.mil ↗

May 1, 1945 CE

Soviet flag raised over Reichstag

Sergeants Yegorov and Kantaria hoisted the Soviet flag over the Reichstag, though fighting continued inside the building as pockets of German defenders resisted fiercely. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Berlin

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Source: iwm.org.uk ↗

May 2, 1945 CE

Berlin garrison surrenders

General Weidling surrendered the Berlin garrison unconditionally to Soviet General Chuikov, ending organized resistance in the city after days of devastating urban combat. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Berlin

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Source: iwm.org.uk ↗

May 2, 1945 CE

Reichstag fully secured

The last German defenders in the Reichstag surrendered, fully securing the building and symbolizing the complete Soviet capture of Berlin after one of the war's bloodiest battles. Source — Wikipedia:

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Source: Wikipedia Article ↗