Berlin operation running fighting. Berlin offensive operation

T. Busus
Veidling

Forces side Soviet troops:
1.9 million people
6,250 tanks
more than 7,500 aircraft
Polish troops: 155 900 people
1 million people
1,500 tanks
More than 3,300 aircraft Losses Soviet troops:
78 291 killed
274 184 wounded
215.9 thousand units. small arms
1,997 tanks and sau
2 108 guns and mortars
917 airplanes
Polish troops:
2 825 killed
6,067 wounded Soviet data:
OK. 400 thousand killed
OK. 380 thousand captives

The Great Patriotic War

Invasion in the USSR Karelia Opolyary Leningrad Rostov Moscow Sevastopol Barvenkovo-Lozova Kharkiv Voronezh-Voroshilovgrad Rzhev Stalingrad Caucasus Great Luki. Ostrogozhsk-Rossosh Voronezh-Kastorno Kursk Smolensk Donbass Dnieper Right Bank Ukraine Leningrad-Novgorod Crimea (1944) Belorussia Lviv Sandomir Yasi-Chisinau Eastern Carpathians Baltic Kurland Romania Bulgaria Debrecen Belgrade Budapest Poland (1944) Western Carpathians Eastern Prussia Lower Silesia Eastern Pomerania Upper Silesia Vein Berlin Prague

Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation - One of the latest strategic operations of the Soviet troops at the European Theater of Military Activities, during which the Red Army took the capital of Germany and the Victoriously completed the Great Patriotic War and the Second World War in Europe. 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 Voloo-Oder, the East-Pomeranian, the Upper-Silesian and the Nizhne-Silesian operations were overheaded 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 General Staff 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 take place 150 km west of Berlin. Despite this, Cherchil put forward the idea of \u200b\u200bahead of the Red Army and capture Berlin, and then instructed the development of a full-scale war against the USSR.

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.

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. The successful implementation of this strategic task made it possible to disrupt the plans of the Hitler's leadership for the delay of war.

• Send the capital of Germany by the city of Berlin
• After 12-15 days of surgery to go on the Elba River

• South Berlin's disseminating blow, isolate the main forces of the Center for the Center for the Center from the Berlin group and this is to provide the main blow to the 1st Belarusian Front from the south
• Defeat the enemy grouping south of Berlin and operational reserves in the area of \u200b\u200bCottat
• For 10-12 days, not later, to reach Belitz - Wittenberg and then on the River Elbe to Dresden

• Apply a disseminating blow to the north of Berlin, providing the right flank of the 1st Belarusian front from possible opponents of the enemy from the north
• Press the sea and destroy the German troops north of Berlin

• 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 the enemy defense in the Kushrinsky bridgehead
• Third brigade to promote the troops of the 33rd army in the area of \u200b\u200bFürstenberg
• Provide anti-minor defense of water transport routes.

• Support the seaside flank of the 2nd Belarusian front, continuing the blockade to the sea of \u200b\u200bthe Army Group "Kurland" in Latvia (Kullyndsky Cowle)

Operation plan

The operation plan provided for the simultaneous transition to the offensive of the troops of the 1st Belorussian 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.

In the preparation of the operation, special attention was paid to issues of disguise and achieve operational and tactical suddenness. 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 troops at various sections of the front were thrown into the arrangement of the enemy.

The arrival of reserves and parts of strengthening was carefully masked. Military echelons with artillery, mortar, tank parts on the territory of Poland were masked under the compositions carrying on the platforms of the forest and hay.

When carrying out reconnaissions, tank commanders from the battalion commander to the commander of the army were changed to the infantry form and under the guise of communication was examined by crossings and areas where their divisions will be focused.

The circle of awared people 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. The front was allocated 1,900 cars. Part of the path of the troops had to be overcome on foot.

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.

The saturation of defensive positions by the troops of 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 the resistance of your 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.

The composition and power of the parties

USSR

Total: Soviet troops - 1.9 million people, Polish troops - 155,900 people, 6,250 tanks, 41,600 guns and mortars, more than 7,500 aircraft

Germany

Performing the disposal of the commander, on April 18 and 19, the tank armies of the 1st Ukrainian Front were uncontrollably walked 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, on April 22, the 9th Meritohanov Methods and the 6th Guards Tank Corps of the 3rd Guards Tank Army forced the Notta Channel, broke through the external defensive Troop of Berlin and the end of the day came to the southern bank of the channel. There encountered a strong and well-organized opponation resistance, they were stopped.

At 12:15 on April 25, west of Berlin, the advanced parts of the 4th Guards Tank Army met with the units 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.

From April 25 to May 2, the troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front led fierce battles on three directions: parts of the 28th army, the 3rd and 4th Guards tank armies participated in the storm 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, the command of the Army Group "Center" was striving to rip off the offensive of 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 Belarusian 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.

A more modest success was achieved at 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 the 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)

Volley of Soviet reactive installations Katyusha on Berlin

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, six armies of the 1st Belarusian Front (47th, 3rd and 5th percussion, 8th Guards, 1st and 2nd Guards Tank Army) took part in the Storm of Berlin (47th, 3rd and 5th The Ukrainian Front (28th, 3rd and 4th Guards Tank). 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 advanced deep into 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.

April 30, 1945 at 14 o'clock 25 minutes, parts of the 150th rifle division under the command of General-Major, V. M. Shatilova and the 171st Rifle Division, under the command of Colonel A. I. National assault, was mastered the main part of the Reichstag building. The remaining Hitler parts have resistant resistance. It was necessary to fight for each room. Early in the morning of May 1, over Reichstag, the assault flag of the 150th Rifle Division was raised, but the fight for Reichstag continued to continue all day and only on the night of May 2, the Richstag's garrison capitulated.

Helmut Vadling (left) and officers of his headquarters surrendered to the Soviet troops. Berlin. May 2, 1945

• Troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front in the period from April 15 to April 29

destroyed 114,349 people, captured 55,080 people

• Troops of the 2nd Belarusian Front from April 5 to May 8:

49,770 people destroyed, 84,234 people captured

Thus, on the reports of the Soviet command, the loss of German troops were killed about 400 thousand people, about 380 thousand people were prisoners. Part of the German troops was pushed back to the Elbe and capitulated to the union troops.

Also, according to the evaluation of the Soviet command, the total number of troops that came out of the environment in the Berlin region does not exceed 17,000 people with 80-90 armored vehicles.

Berlin Operation - Offensive Operation of the 1st Belorussky (Marshal G.K. Zhukov), 2nd Belorussky (Marshal K.K. Rokossovsky) and the 1st Ukrainian (Marshal I.S. Konev) Fronts for the capture of Berlin and defeating the defended His groupings on April 16 - May 2, 1945 ( The Second World War , 1939-1945). In the Berlin direction of the Red Army, a large grouping as part of the Army Group "Vistula" was opposed (Generals G. Heinritz, then K. Tippelskirch) and "Center" (Feldmarshal F. Steirner).

The ratio is given in the table.

Source: History of World War II: at 12 t. M., 1973-1 1979. T. 10. P. 315.

The attack on the capital of Germany began on April 16, 1945, after the completion of the main operations of the Red Army in Hungary, East Pomerania, Austria and East Prussia. It deprived the German capital of support

the most important agricultural and industrial regions. In other words, Berlin was deprived of any opportunity to receive reserves and resources, which, undoubtedly, accelerated his fall.

For impact, which was to shake the German defense, an unprecedented density of fire was applied - over 600 guns per 1 km of front. The fierce battles broke out on the site of the 1st Belorussian front, where Zeelian heights were covered with the central direction. For the capture of Berlin, not only the frontal blow of the 1st Belorussian Front, a flange maneuver of the Tank Army (3rd and 4th) of the 1st Ukrainian Front was used. Overcoming over a few days more than a hundred kilometers, they broke through to the German capital from the south and completed her environment. At this time, the troops of the 2nd Belarusian front fell in the direction of the Baltic coast of Germany, covering the right flank of the forces on Berlin.

The culmination of the operation was the battle for Berlin, in which there was a 200-thousand group under the command of General X. Vadling. Fights in the city feature began on April 21, and by April 25 he was completely surrounded. In the battle of Berlin, which lasted for almost two weeks and was distinguished by extreme fierce, up to 464 thousand Soviet soldiers and officers took part. At the expense of retreating parts, Berlin garrison rose to 300 thousand people.

If in Budapest (see Budapest 1), the Soviet command avoided apply artillery and aviation, then during the assault of the capital of Nazi Germany, fire did not regret. According to Marshal Zhukov, from April 21 to May 2, almost 1.8 million artillery shots were made to Berlin. And more than 36 thousand tons of metal were collapsed on the city. According to the metropolitan center, the fire led, including the fortress guns, whose shells weighed by half-bottom.

A feature of the Berlin operation can be called a wide use of large tank masses in the zone of solid defense of German troops, including in Berlin itself. In such conditions, Soviet armored vehicles did not have the opportunity to apply a wide maneuver and became a comfortable target for anti-tank funds of the Germans. This led to high losses. Suffice it to say that in two weeks the fighting Red Army lost the third of the tanks and SAU participating in the Berlin operation.

The battles did not fill in the afternoon nor at night. In the afternoon, the assault parts fell by the first echelons, at night - the second. Particularly fierce was the battle for the Reichstag, over whom the banner of victory was empty. On the night of April 30, on May 1, Hitler committed suicide. By morning, on May 2, the remains of the Berlin garrison were dissected on separate groups, which to 15 hours capitulated. The surrender of the Berlin Garrison passed the commander of the 8th Guards Army General V.I. Chuikov, who passed the way from Stalingrad to the walls of Berlin.

During the Berlin operation, about 480 thousand German soldiers and officers fell. The losses of the Red Army amounted to 352 thousand people. In terms of daily loss of personnel and technology (St. 15 thousand people, 87 tanks and sau, 40 aircraft) Battle for Berlin surpassed all other operations of the Red Army, where the damage was applied primarily during the battle, unlike the battles of the first The period of war, when the daily loss of Soviet troops was largely determined by a significant number of prisoners (see border battles). By the intensity of loss, this operation is comparable only with a Kursk battle.

The Berlin Operation inflicted the last crushing blow to the armed forces of the Third Reich, which loss of Berlin lost their ability to organized resistance. Six days after the fall of Berlin, on the night of May 8 on May 9, the German leadership signed an act of unconditional surrender of Germany. For participants of the Berlin operation, a medal "For Taking Berlin" was released.

Materials are used: Nikolay Chefov. Battle of Russia. Military historical library. M., 2002.

Wir Kapitulieren Nie?

Offensive operation of the 2nd Belarusian (Marshal Rokossovsky), the 1st Belorussky (Marshal Zhukov) and the 1st Ukrainian (Marshal Konev) fronts on April 16 - May 8, 1945. Large German groups in Eastern Prussia in January-March, Poland and Eastern Pomerania and coming out to Oder and Neis, Soviet troops deeply wedged into Germany. On the west bank r. Oder were captured by bridgeheads, including especially important in the area of \u200b\u200bKustere. At the same time, the Anglo-American troops occurred from the West.

Hitler, hoping for disagreements between allies, took all measures to detain the promotion of Soviet troops on the approaches to Berlin and agree with the Americans about the separate world. On the Berlin direction, the German command focused a large grouping as part of the Army Group "Vistula" (3- I am the Tank and 9th Army) of Colonel-General G. Heinritz (from April 30, the infantry general C. Tippelskirch) and the 4th tank and 17- For the Army Armies of the Army Center "Center" General - Field Marshal F. Sherner (only about 1 million people, 10,400 guns and mortars, 1530 tanks and assault guns, over 3300 aircraft). On Western shores, Oder and Neurov created 3 defensive stripes in a depth of 20-40 km. Berlin defensive area consisted of 3 ring defensive ducts. All major buildings in the city were turned into supporting points, streets and square were blocked by powerful barricades, numerous mine fields were installed, minor traps were scattered throughout.

Walls of houses covered Goebbels propaganda slogans: "Wir Kapitulieren Nie!" ("We will never give up!"), "Each German will defend its capital!", "Let's stop the red hordes at the walls of our Berlin!", "Victory or Siberia!". Loudspeakers on the streets called upon the inhabitants to fight to death. Despite the showful browse, Berlin was already doomed. The gigantic city was in a huge West. The Soviet command focused on the Berlin direction 19 of the general-official (including 2 Polish), 4 tank and 4 air arms (2.5 million people, 41600 guns and mortars, 6250 tanks and self-propelled-artillery installations, 7,500 aircraft). From the west, continuous waves went English and American bomber, methodically, quarter over the quarter, turning the city into the pile of the ruins.

On the eve of the surrender, the city was a terrible spectacle. From the damaged gas pipeline, the flames were broken, illuminating wrapped walls of houses. The streets were impassable because of the piles of the wreckage. From the basements of houses, suicide bilots were popped up with a bottle of bilts with an incendiary mixture and rushed to the Soviet tanks who became easy prey in urban quarters. Running to hand-to-hand fights went everywhere - on the streets, on the roofs of houses, in the basements, in the tunnels, in the Berlin metro. Advanced Soviet parts competed with each other for honor the first to capture Reichstag, who considered the symbol of the Third Reich. Soon after the dome of the Reichstag was dried the banner of Victory, Berlin on May 2, 1945 capitulated.

Used site material Third Reich www.fact400.ru/mif/reich/titul.htm

In the historical dictionary:

Berlin Operation - an offensive operation of the Red Army at the final stage of the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945.

In January - March 1945, Soviet troops defeated major German fascist groups in East Prussia, Poland and East Pomerania, deeply wedged into the territory of Germany and seized the bridgeheads necessary to take its capital.

The operation plan was to apply several powerful blows on a wide front, dismember the Berlin enemy grouping, surround and destroy it in parts. To implement this task, the Soviet command concentrated 19 general-official (including two Polish), four tank and four air armies (2.5 million people, 41,600 guns and mortars, 6250 tanks and self-propelled-artillery installations, 7,500 aircraft).

The German command focused in the Berlin area a large grouping as part of the Army Group "Vistula" (3rd tank and 9th Army) and the Center for the Center for the Center (4th Tank and 17th Army) - about 1 million people, 10 400 guns and mortars, 1530 tanks and assault implements, over 3300 aircraft. On the Western shores of the Oder and Neurov rivers, three defensive strips depth to 20-40 km were created; The Berlin defensive area consisted of three ring defensive divers, all major buildings in the city were turned into supporting points, streets and squares are blocked by powerful barricades.

On April 16, after a powerful artillery and aviation preparation, the 1st Belarusian Front (Marshal G.K. Zhukov.) Attacked the enemy on the river. Oder. At the same time, the troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front (Marshal I. S. Koneva) began to forcing p. Neutov. Despite the fierce resistance of the enemy, especially in the Zelian altitudes, the Soviet troops broke through his defense. Attempts by the Hitler's command win the battle for Berlin on the line Oder - Neyce failed.

On April 20, the troops of the 2nd Belarusian Front (Marshal K. K. Rokossovsky) forced r. Oder and to the end of April 25, the main lane of the opponent's defense south of Shttitin broke through. On April 21, the 3rd Guards Tank Army (General Ya. S. Fishing) first broke into the northeastern outskirts of Berlin. The troops of the 1st Belorussky and 1st Ukrainian fronts after a breakthrough of the opponent's defense from the north and south went around Berlin and on April 25, they closed the west of Berlin in the rings of the environment to 200 thousand German troops.

The defeat of this group resulted in a fierce battle. Until May 2, bloody battles walked on the streets of Berlin during the day and night. On April 30, the troops of the 3rd shock army (Colonel-General V. I. Kuznetsova) began fighting for Reichstag and in the evening it took. Sergeant M. A. Egorov and Junior Sergeant M. V. Kantaria watershed on the Reichstage the banner of Victory.

Fights in Berlin lasted until May 8, when representatives of the German High Command, led by Paul-Field Marshal V. Kaitel, signed an act of unconditional surrender of Germany.

Orlov A.S., Georgiev N.G., Georgiev V.A. Historical dictionary. 2nd ed. M., 2012, p. 36-37.

Battle for Berlin

In the spring of 1945, the Third Reich stood on the threshold of the final collapse.

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.

Berlin himself was turned into a powerful fortified area. Around him, the Germans built three defensive rings - an external, internal and urban, and in the city (an area of \u200b\u200b88 thousand hectares) created nine sectors of defense: eight around the circumference and one - in the 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 six-storey bunkers in the ground - they accommodate up to a thousand people each. For hidden maneuver, the troops were used by the subway.

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.

Considering these factors, the rate of AGC focused on the Berlin direction as part of three fronts. In addition, it was supposed to use part of the forces of the Baltic Fleet, the Dnieper Military Flotilla, the 18th Air Army, the Country Air Defense Corses.

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.

On April 16, after a powerful artillery training and blows of aviation, the troops of the 1st Belarusian Front were transferred to the offensive. Berlin operation began. The enemy, depressed by fire of artillery, did not organize organized 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.

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 Army Army Groups and the 4th Tank Army were sent here. But the enemy's attempts to change the course of the battle did not have.

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 onset of these armies, as well as the 13th Army, has already led to the cut-off of the Army Group "Vistula" from the Army Group "Center".

The troops of the 1st Belorussian Front continued the offensive. April 20, for the fifth day of operation, long-range artillery of the 79th Rifle Corps of the 3rd Shock Army General-Pol Colonel V.I. Kuznetsova 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.

April 25, advanced divisions of the 1st Ukrainian Front - the 5th Guards Army General A.S. Zheadova - met on the shore of the Elbe in the area of \u200b\u200bTorgau with the distloscale groups of the 5th Corps of the 1st American Army of 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 Odider and broke through the defense on his West Bank. They fastened the 3rd German tank army and deprived her opportunities to apply Conrtuddar from the north of the Soviet troops surrounded by 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, the capture of Berlin (April 26 - May 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.

A part of the 12th Army survived from the defeat of the 12th army was departed to the left bank of Elba on bridges, induced by American troops, and surrendered to them.

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.

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.

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.

Used materials from the site http://100top.ru/encyclopedia/

By the beginning of April 1945, Soviet troops in a broad strip came to the central regions of Germany and were located 60-70 km from its capital - Berlin. Giving the exceptional importance to the Berlin direction, the main command of the Wehrmacht launched on it the 3rd tank and 9th army of the Army Group "Vistula", 4th Tank and 17th Army of the Center for Army Center, Aviation of the 6th Air Flot and Air Fleet "Reich". This group includes 48 infantry, four tank and ten motorized divisions, 37 separate regiments and 98 separate battalions, two separate tank shelf, other compounds and parts of the types of armed forces and labor of troops - only about 1 million people, 8 thousand guns and Mortar, over 1200 tanks and assault guns, 3330 aircraft.

The area of \u200b\u200bthe upcoming combat operations has emitted a large number of rivers, lakes, canals and large forest arrays, which were used everywhere enemy when creating a system of defensive strips and frontiers. Odsesko-Neissensky defensive fronting of a depth of 20-40 km included three stripes. The first strip, held along the West Bank of Oder and Neuris Rivers, consisted of two - three positions and had a depth of 5-10 km. Especially strongly it was strengthened before the Kustere Bridgehead. The front edge was covered with minefields, wire borders and poor obstacles. The average mining density at the most important directions reached 2 thousand mins per 1 km.

At removal of 10-20 km from the front edge, the second strip was held, equipped with the western banks of numerous rivers. At its limits were also the green heights, which were towering over the valley of the river. Oder 40-60 m. The basis of the third band was the settlements turned into strong resistance nodes. Next, in the depths, a Berlin defensive area was located, consisting of three ring divers and the city itself prepared for long-term resistance. The external defensive distribution was at a distance of 25-40 km from the center, and the inner - was held in the outskirts of the Berlin suburbs.

The purpose of the operation was to defeat the German troops on the Berlin direction, master the capital of Germany and with access to p. Elba to enter into contact with the army of the allies. Its plan was envisaged to apply several blows in a wide band, to surround and at the same time disseminate the enemy grouping on the part and destroy them separately. The 2nd and 1st Belarusian, 1st Ukrainian fronts, part of the forces of the Baltic Fleet, the 18th air army, the Dnieper Military Flotilla, and only 2.5 million people, 41,600 guns and mortars, 41,600 guns and mortars, 6300 tanks and sau, 8400 aircraft.

The task of the 1st Belorussian Front was to apply the main blow from the Custrian bridgehead on Oder by the forces of seven armies, of which two tanks, to master Berlin and no later than 12-15 days of the operation to reach the r. Elbe. The 1st Ukrainian front was to break through the defense of the enemy on the river. Neur, part of the forces to promote the 1st Belorussian front in mastering the capital of Germany, and the main forces, developing an offensive in the North and North-Western directions, no later than 10-12 days to master the frontier by R. Elba to Dresden. The entourage of Berlin was achieved by bypass from the north and northwest with the troops of the 1st Belorussian front, and from the south and south-west - the troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front. The 2nd Belarusian Front got the task to force the p. Odider in the lower current, defeat the shatta group of the enemy and continue the offensive in the direction of Rostock.

The transition to the offensive of the 1st Belarusian front was preceded by the reconnaissance of the fight, conducted on 14 and 15 April with advanced battalions. Using their success in some sections, the shelves of the first echelons of divisions were introduced into battle, which overcame the strip of the most dense mine barrage. But the measures taken did not allow to mislead the German command. Having determined that the main blow to the Soviet troops are planned to be applied from the Kusystrian bridgehead, the commander of the team of Army "Vistula", Colonel-General Sainnce, in the evening of April 15 ordered to take the infantry parts and artillery of the 9th Army from the front edge into the depth of defense.

At 5 am on April 16, before the onset of dawn, artillery preparation began, during which the most dense fire was conducted at the first position left by the enemy. After its completion, 143 powerful searchlights were included. Without encouraging organized resistance, rifle compounds with the support of aviation overcame 1.5-2 km. However, with their access to the third position, the battles took a fierce character. To increase the strength of the Marshal of the Soviet Union introduced into the battle of the 1st and 2nd Guards Tank Army General-Colkovnikov M.E. Katukuv and S.I. Bogdanova. Unlike the plan, this input was carried out even before mastering Zelovsky heights. But only the outcome of the next day of the division of the 5th shock and the 8th Guards Army General-Polkovnikov N.E. Berzarina and V.I. Chuikov together with tank corps with the support of bomber and assault aviation was able to break through the defense of the enemy in the second strip and move to a depth of 11-13 km.

During the 18th and 19 April, the main shock grouping of the 1st Belarusian front, consistently overcoming the echelonized positions, stripes and frontiers, increased its depinge for up to 30 km and slated the German 9th Army into three parts. She attracted a significant part of the opponent's operational reserves. In four days, he threw in its lane additionally seven divisions, two brigades of tank fighters, over 30 separate battalions. Soviet troops inflicted a significant damage to the enemy: nine divisions lost up to 80% of people and almost all the combat technique. Another seven divisions have lost over half of their composition. But their own losses were significant. Only in tanks and sau, they accounted for 727 units (23% of the operation that were competed).

In the strip of the 1st Ukrainian front, the battle intelligence was held on the night of April 16th. In the morning after artillery and aviation training, reinforced battalions began under the cover of the smoke curtain forcing p. Neutov. Capturing the bridgeheads, they provided the guidance of pontoon bridges, for which the first echelon armies, as well as the advanced parts of the 3rd and 4th Guards Tank Army, the 25th and 4th Guards Tank Corses crossed the opposite shore. During the day, the impact group broke through the main defense strip of the German troops on a plot of 26 km wide and advanced in a depth of 13 km, however, as in the 1st Belarusian front, the task of the day did not fulfill.

On April 17, the Marshal of the Soviet Union introduced the main forces of the 3rd and the 4th Guards Tank Army of Colonel-General and, who broke through the opponent's second defense strip and advanced 18 km in two days. Attempts by the German command to detain their offensive by numerous counterattacks of their success reserves did not have, and it was forced to start a departure to the third defense band, held by p. Spree. In order to prevent the enemy in the lesson of a profitable defensive turn, the Commander of the Front's troops ordered the rates of promotion as much as possible. Performing the task, the rifle divisions of the 13th Army (Colonel-General N.P. Puhov), the tank corps of the 3rd and the 4th Guards Tank Armies to the end of April 18 came to the spree, with the go forced it and captured the bridgehead.

In general, in three days, the front stop group completed the breakthrough of the Neissen defensive line in the direction of the main strike at a depth of 30 km. At the same time acting on the Dresden direction of the 2nd Army of the Polish army (Lieutenant-General K. Sverchevsky), 52nd Army (Colonel-General K. A. Kitheev) and 1st Guards Cavalry Corps (Lieutenant-General V.K. Baranov ) Promuls to West for 25-30 km.

After the breakthrough of the Oder-Neissensky turn of the troops of the 1st Belorussky and the 1st Ukrainian fronts began to develop an offensive for the purpose of the environment of Berlin. Marshal of the Soviet Union G.K. Zhukov decided bypassing the capital of Germany from the northeast to implement the 47th (Lieutenant General F.I. Perhhorovich) and the 3rd shock (Colonel-General V.I. Kuznetsov) army in cooperation with the buildings of the 2nd Guards Tank Army. The 5th strike, the 8th Guards and the 1st Guards Tank Army had to continue the offensive to the city from the East and isolate the Frankfurt-Guba Grouping of the enemy from him.

According to Marshal Soviet Union I.S. Konev, the 3rd Guards and 13th Army, as well as the 3rd and 4th Guards Tank Army, were intended to cover Berlin from the south. At the same time, the 4th Guards Tank Army was to connect the west of the city with the troops of the 1st Belarusian front and to surround the actual Berlin grouping of the enemy.

During April 20-22, the nature of the fighting in the strip of the 1st Belarusian Front has not changed. His armies were forced, as before, overcome the fierce resistance of the German troops in numerous reference points, every time implementing artillery and aviation training. Tank buildings were not able to break away from the rifle parts and acted on the same line with them. Nevertheless, they consistently broke through the external and internal defensive downtown of the city and tied the battles on its northeastern and northern outskirts.

In more favorable conditions, the 1st Ukrainian Front acted. In the course of a breakthrough of defensive frontiers on the Rivers of the Neur and Spree, he defeated the opponent's operational reserves, which allowed mobile compounds to develop an offensive in certain areas in high rates. On April 20, the 3rd and 4th Guards Tank Army came to the approaches to Berlin. During the next two days of the enemy in the areas of Zosssen, Luckekenwalde and Yuterbog, they overcame the external Berlin defensive equipment, burst into the southern outskirts of the city and cut off the path of waste by the German 9th Army to the West. To fulfill the same task in the battle, the 28th Army of Lieutenant General A.A. was also introduced Luchinsky.

In the course of further actions, part of the 8th Guards Army of the 1st Belarusian Front and the 28th Army of the 1st Ukrainian Front, on April 24, established interaction in the Bonsdorf region, thus completing the environment of the Frakfurt-Gubnaya Grouping of the Enemy. The next day, when the 2nd and 4th Guards Tank Army joined the west of the Potsdam, and the Berlin Group was the same fate. At the same time, the divisions of the 5th Guards Army of Colonel General A.S. Zheadov met on the Elbe in the area of \u200b\u200bTorgau with the American 1st Army's military personnel.

Starting from April 20, the 2nd Belarusian Front of Marshal of the Soviet Union K.K. began to implement the overall plan Rokossovsky. On that day of compounds 65, the 70th and 49th armies of Colonel-General P.I. Batova, V.S. Popova and I.T. Grishin forced r. West-Oder and captured the bridgeheads on his West Bank. Overcoming the fire resistance of the enemy and reflecting the counterattack of his reserves, the compounds of the 65th and 70th armies combined the captured bridgeheads into one width to 30 km and a depth of 6 km. Developing an offensive with him, they completed on April 25 completed a breakthrough of the main defense strip of the German 3rd tank army.

The final stage of the Berlin offensive operation began on April 26. Its content was to destroy surrounded enemy groupings and mastering the capital of Germany. Having decided to hold Berlin to the last opportunity, Hitler was ordered the 12th Army on April 22, until the time acting against the American troops, to break through to the southern suburbs of the city. In the same direction it was supposed to carry out a breakthrough surrounded by the 9th Army. After the connection, they had to strike at the Soviet troops, which went around Berlin from the south. To meet them from the north, it was planned to deploy the offensive of the Army Group of Steiner.

Anticipating the possibility of a breakthrough of the Frankfurt-Gubnaya grouping of the enemy to the West, Marshal of the Soviet Union I.S. Konev ordered the four rifle divisions of the 28th and 13th armies, reinforced tanks, SAU and anti-tank artillery, go to defense and disrupt the plans of the master command of the Wehrmacht. At the same time, the destruction of surrounded troops began. By that time, in the forests southeast of Berlin, up to 15 divisions of the German 9th and 4th tank armies were blocked. They counted 200 thousand soldiers and officers, more than 2 thousand guns and mortars, over 300 tanks and assault guns. To defeat the enemy from two fronts, six armies, part of the forces of the 3rd and 4th Guards Tank Army, the main forces of the 2nd air army of Colonel Colonel S.A. Krasovsky.

Applying simultaneous frontal blows and strikes on the converging directions, Soviet troops constantly reduced the area of \u200b\u200bthe area, cut off the enemy grouping to the parts, disrupted the interaction between them and destroyed separately. At the same time, they stopped not stopped attempts by the German command to carry out a break through the connection from the 12th Army. For this, it was necessary to constantly increase the forces and funds in the threatened areas, increase the depth of the combat order for them to 15-20 km.

Despite the big losses, the enemy persistently rushed to the West. Its maximum promotion amounted to more than 30 km, and the minimum distance between the oncoming blows of the compounds of the 9th and 12th armies - only 3-4 km. Nevertheless, by the beginning of May, the Frankfurt-Gubnaya group ceased to exist. In the course of heavy fighting, 120 thousand soldiers and officers were captured, 1500 tanks and assault guns, 1500 guns of field and anti-aircraft artillery, 17,600 cars, a large number of other techniques were captured.

The destruction of the Berlin group, which has numbered over 200 thousand people, more than 3 thousand guns and mortars, 250 tanks, was carried out in the period from April 26 to May 2. At the same time, the main method of overcoming the resistance of the enemy was to be widely used by assault detachments in the composition of rifle units, enhanced artillery, tanks, SAU and saules. They led an offensive with the support of aviation 16th (Colonel-General K.A. Vershinin) and the 18th (the main Marshal Aviation A.E. Golovanov) of the air armies at narrow sites and dispelled German parts into a variety of isolated groups.

On April 26, the compounds of the 47th Army of the 1st Belarusian Front and the 3rd Guards Tank Army of the 1st Ukrainian Front disassembled the groupings of the enemy, which were in Potsdam and directly in Berlin. The next day, the Soviet troops mastered Potsdam and simultaneously tied the battles in the central (ninth) defensive section of Berlin, where the highest state and military governments of Germany were held.

On April 29, the rifle buildings of the 3rd shock army came to the Reichstag District. The approaches to it were covered by p. Spree and a number of fortified major buildings. At 13:30, on April 30, artillery preparing the assault began, in which, in addition to artillery, operating from closed positions, took part as a direct fitting of 152- and 203-mm leaders. After its end of the unit of the 79th Rifle Corps attacked the enemy and broke into Reichstag.

As a result of the battles on April 30, the position of the Berlin group was hopeless. It was dissected on isolated groups, managing troops in all units - broken. Despite this, individual units and parts of the enemy have continued unpromising resistance for several days. Only for the outcome of May 5, it was finally broken. 134 thousand German soldiers and officers surrendered.

In the period from 3 to 8 May, the troops of the 1st Belarusian front in a wide band were put forward to the r. Elbe. The North of the 2nd Belarusian Front, by that time, completed the defeat of the German 3rd tank army, went to the coast of the Baltic Sea and on the turn of Elbe. On May 4, at the Vismar site, the rabes of his compound were made contact with the parts of the English 2nd Army.

During the Berlin operation, the 2nd and 1st Belarusian, the 1st Ukrainian fronts crushed 70 infantry, 12 tank and 11 motorized divisions, 3 combat groups, 10 separate brigades, 31 separate regiment, 12 separate battalions and 2 military schools. They captured about 480 thousand soldiers and opponent officers, captured 1550 tanks, 8600 guns, 4150 aircraft. At the same time, the losses of Soviet troops amounted to 274,184 people, of which 78 291 were irretrievable, 2108 guns and mortars, 1997 tanks and self-propelled artillery installations, 917 combat aircraft.

A distinctive feature of the operation compared to the largest offensive operations carried out in 1944-1945 was its small depth, which was 160-200 km. It was due to the line of meeting of the Soviet and allied troops according to R. Elbe. Nevertheless, the Berlin Operation is an instructive example of an offensive in order to envisage a major grouping of the enemy with simultaneous dissection on parts and the destruction of each of them is apart. It also fully found their reflection issues of a consistent breakthrough of echelonized defensive bands and frontiers, timely increases for the strength of the strike, the use of tank armies and buildings as mobile groups of fronts and armies, conducting hostilities in a major city.

For courage, heroism and high military skills, manifested during surgery, 187 compounds and parts were awarded the honorary name "Berlin". By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of June 9, 1945, the medal "For Taking Berlin" was established, which were awarded about 1082 thousand Soviet soldiers.

Sergey Aptraikin,
Lead Researcher Research
Institute (Military History) of the Military Academy
General Staff of the Armed Forces

She walked april last year of war. She was nearing completion. Fascist Germany agonated, but Hitler and his approximated were not going to stop the struggle, hoping until the last minutes on the split of the anti-Hitler coalition. They resigned with the loss of Western German regions and the basic forces of Wehrmacht threw against the Red Army, trying to prevent the capture of the Central Reich regions, primarily Berlin with the troops of the Red Army. The Hitler's leadership put forward the slogan: "It is better to pass Berlin to Anglo-Saxam than to put Russians into it."

By the beginning of the Berlin operation on the Soviet-German front, there were 214 divisions of the enemy, including 34 tank and 15 motorized and 14 brigades. 60 divisions left against Anglo-American troops, including 5 tanks. At that time, the Nazis had yet had certain stocks of weapons and ammunition, which gave the opportunity to fascist command and in the last month of war to provide stubborn resistance on the Soviet-German front.

Stalin well understood the complexity of the military-political situation at the conquer of the end of the war and knew about the intention of the fascist tip to pass Berlin by the Anglo-American troops, therefore, as soon as the preparation for a decisive strike was completed, ordered to start the Berlin operation.

For the attack on Berlin, large forces were highlighted. Troops of the 1st Belorussian Front (Marshal G.K. Zhukov) numbered 2.500,000 people, 6.250 tanks and self-propelled guns, 41,600 guns and mortars, 7.500 combat aircraft.

They are at the front with a length of 385 km. The troops of the Army Center "Center" (Feldmarshal General F. Sherner) were opposed. It has 48 infantry divisions, 9 tank divisions, 6 motorized divisions, 37 separate infantry regiments, 98 individual infantry battalions, as well as a large number of artillery and special parts and compounds that have numbered 1.000.000 people, 1.519 tanks and self-propelled guns, 10.400 guns and mortars, 3.300 combat aircraft, including 120 reactive fighters IU.262. Of these, 2.000 in the Berlin area.

The Army Group "Vistula", defended Berlin from the troops of the 1st Belorussian Front held by Custrine Bridgeheads, commanded Colonel-General Saintsyri. As part of the Custrian group of consisted of 14 divisions were: 11th SS Tank Corps, 56th Tank Corps, 101th Army Corps, 9th Parachute Division, 169th, 286th, 303 "Deberitz", 309 - I "Berlin", 712-I infantry divisions, 606th special purpose division, 391th Security division, 5th Lögko-Infantry Division, 18th, 20th Motority, 11th Tank-Grenadle SS Division Nordland, 23rd Tank-Grenador Division SS Netherlands, 25th Tank Division, 5th and 408th Art Cropus RGK, 292nd and 770th Anti-Tank Art Division, 3rd, 405th, 732th Artbrigada, 909th Brigadens tools, 303rd and 1170th Divisions of assault guns, 18th Saporny Brigade, 22 Spare Artbatalon (3117-3126-y, 3134-33139-y, 3177th, 3184- y, 3163-3166-th), 3086th, 3087th ArtBatalonians and other parts. At the front of 44 km. 512 tanks and 236 assault tools, only 748 tanks and self-propelled guns, 744 field guns, 600 anti-aircraft guns, and 2640 (or 2.753) guns and mortars were concentrated.

In the reserve on the Berlin direction there were 8 divisions: Tank-Grenador divisions "Munichberg", "Kurmark" Infantry divisions 2nd "Friedrich Ludwig Yang", "Theodore Kerner", "Sharnhorst", 1st training parachute division, 1st Motorivia, Tancoat consuming brigade "Hitlergendan", 243rd and 404 brigades of assault guns.

Nearby, on the right flank, in the strip of the 1st Ukrainian Front, occupied the positions, 21st Tank Division, Bohemia Tank Division, the 10th Pan Division of the SS "Frundsberg", 13th Motority, 32nd Infantry Division January 30, "35th SS Police Division, 8th, 245th, 275th Infantry Divisions, Saxony Infantry Division, Burg Infantry Brigade.

In the Berlin direction, deeply echelonized defense was prepared, the construction of which began in January 1945. It was the basis of the Odesko-Neissensky defensive line and the Berlin defensive area. The Odesko-Neissensky defensive frontier consisted of three bands, between which there were intermediate and shut-off positions in the most important directions. The total depth of this turn reached 20-40 km. The front edge of the main defense strip was held on the left bank of the Oder and Neutise Rivers, with the exception of the prevailing fortifications from Frankfurt, Guna, forst and Musku.

Popular points were turned into powerful reference points. Nazis prepared for the opening of gateways on Oder, in order to flood, if necessary, a number of districts. In 10-20 km from the front edge, a second strip of defense was created. The most equipped in engineering attitude was in Zeelian altitudes - in front of the Kustere Bridgehead. The third band was at a distance of 20-40 km from the front edge of the main strip. As the second, it consisted of powerful resistance nodes connected to the messages of the posts.

During the construction of defensive borders, the fascist command was particularly important to organize the organization of anti-tank defense, which was worth a combination of artillery fire, assault guns and tanks with engineering booms, dense mining of tanque directions and the mandatory use of rivers, canals and lakes. In addition, the anti-aircraft artillery of Berlin was aimed to combat tanks. Before the first trenches, and in the depth of defense at the intersection of roads and on their roads were located the fighters of tanks armed with Faustpatrona.

In Berlin itself, 200 folksturma battalions were formed, and the total number of garrison exceeded 200,000. The composition of the garrison were: 1st, 10th, 17th, 23rd anti-aircraft-artillery divisions, 81st, 149th, 151st, 154th, 404th spare infantry divisions, 458- I am a spare Grenador Brigade, 687th Saporny Brigade, MOTOVYDOGED SS "FUURBEGLEIT", WARKING PERQUE GROSSDYUKHLAND, 62nd Fortress Regiment, 503rd Separate Heavy-Tank Battalion, 123rd, 513th Zenith-Artillery Division, 116th fortific machine gun battalion, 301th, 303rd, 305th, 306th, 307th, 308th marine infantry battalions, 539th battalion, 630th, 968th sapper battalions, 103rd, 107th, 109th, 203-th, 205th, 207th, 301th, 308th, 313rd, 318th, 320th, 509th, 617- y, 705th, 707th, 713rd, 803rd, 811th "Rolland", 911th battalions of Volkssturma, 185th construction battalion, 4th training battalion for air force, 74th Marsh Battalion Air Force , 614th Rota fighters tanks, 76th training company Communication, 778th Assault company, 101th, 102nd Rogers of the Spanish Legion, 253rd, 255th Police Police and other parts. (On the protection of the Motherland, p.148 (TsAMO, F.1185, OP.1, D.3, L.221), 266th Artyomovsko-Berlinskas. 131, 139 (TsAMO, F.1556, OP.1, D .8, l.160) (TsAMO, F.1556, op 1, d.33, l.219))

Berlin defensive area included three roundabouts. External distribution took place on rivers, canals and lakes 25-40 km from the center of the capital. The internal defensive supply was held in the outskirts of the suburbs. All supporting points and positions were interconnected in fireproof. On the streets there are numerous anti-tank obstacles and wire barriers. The total depth was 6 km. The third - urban regulation was held around the district railway. All the streets leading to the center of Berlin were blocked by barricades, bridges are prepared for undermining.

The city was divided into 9 defensive sectors, the central sector was stronged by the strongest. On the streets and squares were separated for artillery and tanks. Built dots. All defensive positions were connected to each other network moves of the message. For secretive maneuver, the subway was widely used, the length of which reached 80 km. The fascist leadership ordered: "Hold Berlin to the last cartridge."

Two days before the operation of the operation in the strings of the 1st Belorussky and 1st Ukrainian fronts, reconnaissance was conducted. On April 14, after 15-20 minute fire raids on the direction of the main strike of the 1st Belarusian front, reinforced rifle battalions began to operate. Then, on a number of plots, the shelves of the first echelons were entered into battle. During the two-day battles, they managed to embry on the defense of the enemy and capture certain sections of the first and second tranches, and in some directions to move up to 5 km. The integrity of the enemy defense was broken.

Intelligence in the strip of the 1st Ukrainian Front was held on the night of April 16 with strengthening companies.

Berlin offensive operation began on April 16, 1945. Attack of tanks and infantry began at night. At 05-00, the Soviet artillery was most powerful for the entire war. In art preparation, 22,000 guns and mortars participated. Artillery density reached 300 stems per 1 km of front. Immediately after that, the German positions unexpectedly illuminated 143 anti-aircraft spotlights. At the same time, hundreds of tanks with illuminated headlights and infantry of the 3rd, 5th shock, 8th Guards, 69th armies moved to the blinded Hitlerians. The advanced positions of the enemy were shortly broken. The enemy was pronounced great damage, and therefore his resistance was unorganized for the first two hours. The upcoming troops wedged into a noon in the depths of enemy defense for 5 km. The 32nd Rifle Corps of General DS reached the greatest success in the center. Zherelbi 3rd shock army. He came to 8 km and went to the second defense band. On the left flank of the army, the 301th Infantry Division took an important support point - the Railway Railway Station. In the battles for her, the 1054th rifle regiment distinguished. The 16th air army presented great help to the upcoming troops. During the day, its aircraft made 5.342 aircraft and shot down 165 German aircraft.

However, the second defense strip, the key to which the Zeelian heights of the enemy were able to delay the promotion of our troops. The troops of the 8th Guards Army and the 1st Guards Army introduced in the battle of the 1st Guards Army suffered significant losses. Germans, beating unprepared attacks, destroyed 150 tanks and 132 aircraft. Zeelian heights dominated the terrain. They opened a review for many kilometers to the east. Skates of heights were very cool. Tanks could not climb them on top and were forced to move through the only road, from all sides of the shot. Walking around Zeelian heights prevented Spreyevald Forest.

Fights for Zeelian heights were solely stubborn character. The 172nd Guards Rifle Regiment of the 57th Guards Rifle Division was able after fierce battles to occupy the outskirts of the city of Zeelov, but then the troops could not go further.

The enemy hurriedly moved the reserve heights in the area and during the second day several times took strong counterattacks. The promotion of troops was insignificant. On April 17, the troops came to the second defense strip, part of the 4th rifle and 11th tank guards buildings in bloody battles took Zeelov, but they could not capture heights.

Marshal Zhukov ordered the attacks to stop. The troops were regrouped. An artillery of the front was tight, which began processing the positions of the enemy. On the third day, heavy battles continued in the depths of the opponent's defense. Gitlerians introduced almost all their operational reserves into battle. Soviet troops slowly, in bloody battles moved forward. On April 18, they passed 3-6 km. And came to the approach to the third defensive strip. Promotion was still slow. In the strip of the 8th Guards Army along the highway going to the West, the Nazis installed 200 anti-aircraft. Here, their resistance was the most fierce.

Ultimately, the tightened artillery and aviation of an opponent force of an enemy IR outcome on April 19, the troops of the strike group broke through the third defensive strip and in four days advanced to a depth of 30 km away., After receiving the opportunity to develop an offensive on Berlin and bypass him from the north. Fights for Zeelian heights were bloody for both sides. The Germans lost to 15.000 killed on them and 7,000 prisoners.

The offensive of the troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front developed more successfully. On April 16, at 6-15, art preparation began, during which the reinforced battalions of the first echelon divisions were nominated for neutov and after transferring artillery fire under the cover of the smoke curtain, put on the 390-kilometer front, the river forcing began. The first echelon of the upcoming force forced Neutse for an hour until artepook was taken.

In 8-40 troops of the 3rd, the 5th Guards and the 13th armies, a breakthrough of the main defensive strip began. The battles took a fierce character. The Nazis took powerful counterattacks, however, to the outcome of the first day of the offensive of the troops of the shock group, the main defense strip at the front of 26 km and advanced to a depth of 13 km.

The next day, the forces of both Tank Army Front were introduced into the battle. Soviet troops reflected all opponent's counterattacks and completed a breakthrough of the second strip of his defense. For two days, the troops of the front of the front advanced 15-20 km. The opponent began to move over the spree.

On the Dresden direction of the 2nd army army troops of the Polish and 52nd army after entering the battle of the 1st Polish and 7th Guards mechanized buildings, the breakthrough of the tactical zone of defense was also completed and in two days of hostilities were advanced in some areas up to 20 km.

On the morning of April 18, the 3rd and 4th Guards Tank Army came to the spree and forced her with the move, broke through the third defensive strip at a 10-kilometer plot and captured the bridgeheads to the north and south of Spröbberg.

For three days of the army of the 1st Ukrainian Front, advanced in the direction of the main strike of up to 30 km. The 2nd air army, which had completed 7,517 flights of flights during these days, had a significant help of the coming, which had shot down 155 opponent aircraft. Front troops deeply went by Berlin from the south. Front tank armies broke out on operational space.

April 18 began forcing the Ost-Oder part of the 65th, 70th, 49th armies of the 2nd Belarusian Front. Overcoming the resistance of the enemy troops captured on the opposite shore of the bridgehead. On April 19, the crossing parts continued to destroy the enemy's units in the interfluve, focusing on the dams on the right bank of the river. Overcoming the wetlands of the Oder Troops of the front occupied on April 20 a favorable position for the forcing of the West Oderer.

The troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front on April 19 were advanced in the north-western direction by 30-50 km, they reached the area of \u200b\u200bLubbenau, Luccau and cut the communications of the 9th field army. All attempts by the 4th tank army of the enemy break through to crossing the areas of Cottat and Spröbberg failed. The troops of the 3rd and 5th Guards armies fighting on the West reliably covered the communications of the tank armies, which allowed tankers the next day to advance another 45-60 km. And go out for the approaches to Berlin. The 13th Army advanced 30 km.

The rapid promotion of the 3rd and 4th Guards Tank and the 13th armies led to the cut-off of the Army Group "Vistula" from the Army Group "Center", enemy troops in the areas of Cottbus and Spröbberg found themselves in a semicircle.

From morning April 22, the 3rd Garde Tank Army, deploying all three corps in the first echelon, began an attack of enemy fortifications. The army's troops broke through the external defensive distribution of the Berlinsky district and the battles were tied to the outcome of the day on the southern outskirts of the capital of Germany. On the northeast of its outskirts, the troops of the 1st Belorussian Front broke on the northeast.

The leftmost 4th Guards Tank Army General Lelashenhenko on April 22 broke through the external Observation of the Defense of Berlin and went on the line Skarund, Belitz.

While the compounds of the 1st Ukrainian Front rapidly managed the capital of Germany from the south, the impact grouping of the 1st Belarusian front fell on Berlin directly to Berlin from the East. After a breakthrough of the Odersky turn of the front troops, overcoming the resistance of the enemy moved forward. On April 20, at 13-50, the long-range artillery of the 79th Rifle Corps opened fire on Berlin. The 3rd and 5th shock and the 2nd Guards tank army to the outcome of April 21 overcame resistance at the external diversion of the Berlin defensive area and reached its northeast outskirts. The first guards and 32th rifle buildings, the 60th, 89th, 94th Guards, 266th, 295th, 416th rifle divisions broke into Berlin. The 9th Guards Tank Corps of the 2nd Guards Tank Army by the morning of April 22 went to the Hafel River, on the north-western outskirts of the capital and together with the parts of the 47th Army began its forcing.

The Nazis made desperate efforts to prevent Berlin's environments. On April 22, at the last operational meeting, Hitler agreed with the proposal of General A. Iodl to remove all the troops from the Western Front and throw them into battle for Berlin. The 12th field army of General V. Wreath was ordered to leave positions on the Elbe and break through to Berlin and to connect from the 9th field army. At the same time, the Army Group of General SS F. Steiner received an order to strike at the flank grouping of the Soviet troops, which accounted for Berlin from the north and northwest. The 9th Army was ordered to move to the West to connect from the 12th Army.

The 12th Army, on April 24, turning on the front to the east, attacked parts of the 4th Guards Tank and the 13th Arms held by the defense at the turn of Belitz, Threyenbritzen.

On 23 and 24 April, the battles in all directions took a particularly fierce character. The pace of promotion of Soviet troops decreased, but the Germans never managed to stop the troops. Already on April 24, the troops of the 8th Guards and the 1st Guards Tank Army of the 1st Belorussian Front connected with the parts of the 3rd Guards Tank and the 28th armies of the 1st Ukrainian Front Southeast Berlin. As a result, the main forces of the 9th field and part of the forces of the 4th tank army were cut off from the city and are surrounded. The day after the connection, West Berlin, in the area of \u200b\u200bKetcin, the 4th Guards Tank Army of the 1st Ukrainian Front with the units of the 2nd-yards of the Tank Army of the 1st Belarusian Front, was surrounded by the Berlin group of the enemy.

On April 25, Soviet and American troops met on Elbe. In the area of \u200b\u200bTorgau, part of the 58th Guards Rifle Division of the 5th Guards Army crossed the ELBA and established a connection with the 69th Infantry Division of the 1st US Army. Germany turned out to be dismembered into two parts.

Around on April 18, Consturdar Görlitskaya Grouping of the enemy by April 25 was finally broken by the resistant defense of the 2nd Army of the Polish and 52nd Army.

The offensive of the main forces of the 2nd Belarusian front began in the morning of April 20 from the forcing the West Oder River. The 65th Army achieved the greatest success on the first day of operation. In the evening she captured several small bridgeheads on the left bank of the river. To the end of April 25, the troops of the 65th and 70th armies completed a breakthrough of the main defense strip, advanced by 20-22 km. Having used the success of the neighbors in crossings in the 65th Army strip, the offensive of the 49th Army began and began, and followed by the 2nd percussion army. As a result of the actions of the 2nd Belarusian Front, the 3rd German tank army turned out to be stolen and could not take part in the battles on the Berlin direction.

On the morning of April 26, the Soviet troops began an offensive against the surrounded Frankfurt-Gappie group, seeking to abide and destroy it in parts. The enemy provided stubborn resistance and tried to break through to the West. Two infantry, two motorized and tank enemy divisions hit the 21st and 3rd Guards armies. The Nazis broke through the defense at a narrow plot and began to move to the West. During the fierce battles, our troops closed the neck of the breakthrough, and the broken grouping was surrounded in the bar of the baruta and almost completely destroyed.

In the following days, the surrounded parts of the 9th Army again tried to connect to the 12th Army, broken through the defenses of the 4th Guards Tank and the 13th armies at the external front of the environment. However, all opponent attacks were reflected on April 27-28.

The troops of the 1st Belorussian front at the same time continued to close the surrounded grouping from the east. On the night of April 29, the Nazis began an attempt to breakthrough. The price of large losses they managed to break through the main defense strip of the Soviet troops at the junction of two fronts in the Vendish-Bukholz area. In the second half of April 29, they managed to break through the second defense strip at the site of the 3rd Guards Infantry Corps of the 28th Army. The corridor was formed 2 km wide. Through it, the surrounded began to go away on Lukekenwald. To the end of April 29, Soviet troops stopped Sverperberg, Kummersdorf and broken into three groups on the turn.

Especially stressful battles unfolded on April 30. The Germans rushed to the West, not believing with losses, but were defeated. Only one grouping of 20,000 people managed to break into the Belita district. From the 12th Army, it was separated by 3-4 km. But during the fierce battles, this group on the night of May 1 was crushed. Square to the West managed to separate small groups. To the outcome of the day on April 30, the Frankfurt-Gubnaya group of the enemy was eliminated. 60.000 people from her number were killed in battles, more than 120,000 people were captured. Among the prisoners were the Deputy Commander of the 9th Field Army, Lieutenant Berngardt General, Commander of the 5th Corps MOP Lieutenant General Ecel, Commanders of the 21st Tank Division SS Lieutenant General, Lieutenant Lieutenant Lieutenant, Commander Frankfurt-on-Oder's fortress, Major General Biel, head of artillery of the 11th Tank Corps SS Major General Strammer, General Aviation Cadder. For the period from April 24 to May 2, 500 guns were destroyed. Captured as trophies 304 tanks and self-propelled guns, more than 1.500 guns, 2,180 machine guns, 17.600 cars. (Reports of Sovinformbühro T / 8, p.199).

Meanwhile, fighting in Berlin reached their climax. The garrison, continuously increasing at the expense of the units, has already arrived more than 300,000 people. The 56th Tank Corps, the 11th and 23rd Grenado Grenado Divisions, Panzer Grenarch, 18th, 20th, 25th Motorc, Infantry Divisions 303, - "Deberitz", 2nd "Friedrich Ludwig Yang" and many other parts. It has 250 tanks and assault tools, 3.000 guns and mortars. By the end of April 25, the enemy occupied the territory of the capital with an area of \u200b\u200b325 square meters. km.

By April 26, the troops of the 8th Guards, the 3rd, 5th strike and the 47th of the Army, the 1st and 2nd Guards Tank Army of the 1st Belorussian Front, 3rd and 4 took part in the Berlin storm - Gwelling tank armies and part of the forces of the 28th army of the 1st Ukrainian Front. Their composition had 464,000 people, 1,500 tanks and self-propelled guns, 12.700 guns and mortars, 2,100 reactive installations.

The troops were assigned in the composition of battalion and assault rugs, which had tanks, self-propelled installations, guns, sapins, and often flamers. Each detachment was intended to act in their direction. Usually it was one or two streets. To capture individual objects from the detachment, a group of platform or separation, reinforced with 1-2 tanks, saproins and flame engines, was distinguished.

During the storm, Berlin was shut off by smoke, so the use of attack aircraft and bombers was difficult, they acted mainly against the 9th Army surrounded in the area, and the fighters carried out an air blockade. The three most powerful air strikes of the 16th and 18th air armies were delivered on the night from 25 to 26 April. They took part 2.049 aircraft.

The battles in the city did not stop neither the day or night. Soviet troops have already taken off from Berlin Potsdam group of the enemy. The next day, the joints of both fronts deeply wedged into the defense of the enemy and began fighting in the central sector of the capital. As a result of the concentric offensive of the Soviet troops, the enemy grouping to the outcome of April 27 was compressed in a narrow, fully skipped strip. With east to west, it was 16 km, and her width did not exceed 2-3 km. Hitlermen were fiercely resisted, however, at the end of April 28, the surrounded group was dissected for three parts. By that time, all attempts to command the Wehrmacht to assist the Berlin group were crashing. After April 28, the struggle continued with a relaxed force. Now she flared out in the Reichstag area.

The task of mastering the Reichstag was assigned to the 79th Rifle Corps of General Major S.N. Oversized by the 3rd shock army of General Gorbatov. Having captiously on the night of April 29, Moltke Bridge, part of the building on April 30 to 4 o'clock traded the major resistance node - the house where the Ministry of the Interior was located, and went directly to Reichstagu.

On this day, Hitler, who remained in the underground bunker at Reichskancelary committed suicide. Following him, on May 1, she committed suicide with him the closest subframe J. Goebbels. M. Borman, who, with a detachment of tanks, escape from Berlin was killed on the night of May 2 on one of the streets of the city.

April 30, 171 and 150th Rifle divisions Colonel A.I. Natives and Major General V.M. Shatilova and the 23rd tank brigade began the assault of the Reichstag. To support the storming on the straight press, 135 guns were allocated. His garrison, who had 5,000 soldiers and officers of the SS troops, had desperate resistance, but by the evening of April 30, the battalions of the 756th, 674th, 380th rifle regiments, who were commanded by the captains S.A. Nezstower, V.I. Davydov and senior lieutenant k.Y. Samsonov. In the most severe battle, constantly moving in hand-to-hand fights, Soviet soldiers captured the room at room. Early in the morning am 1945, the 171st and 150th rifle divisions were broken by resistance and captured Reichstag. Slightly earlier, on the night of May 1, the scouts of the 756th rifle regiment Sergeant M.A. Egorov, Jr. Sergeant M.V. Cantaria was dropped at the dome Reichstagtar victory. Their group was headed by the Battalion Lieutenant A.P. Best, maintained the company car guns Lieutenant I.Ya. Syanova.

Separate groups of equipment, hiding in the basements, folded the weapon only on the night of May 2. In the most severe battle, which lasted two days, 2.396 ESSISTS was destroyed, captured 2.604. Announced 28 guns. 15 tanks are captured, 59 guns, 1.800 rifles and automata.

On the evening of May 1, the 248th and 301th rifle divisions of the 5th shock army after a long fierce battle took the imperial stationery. It was the last major battle in Berlin. On the night of May 2, a group of 20 tanks broke out from the city. On the morning of May 2, it was intercepted by the 15 km north-west of Berlin and completely destroyed. It was assumed that someone from the Nazi leaders run from the capital of Reich, but there was no one from the bonz Reich among the dead.

At 15 o'clock on May 1, the head of the General Staff of the Ground Forces of Germany, General Colonel Kreb, passed the headquarters. He was adopted by the teamar of the 8th Guards Army by General Chuikov and reported the suicide of Hitler, about the formation of the Government of Admiral Dinet, as well as the list of new government and the proposal for the temporary cessation of hostilities. Soviet command demanded unconditional surrender. By 18 o'clock it became of the extent that the proposal was rejected. Fights in the city all this time continued. When the garrison dissected on isolated groups, the Nazis began to surrender. On the morning of May 2, at 6 o'clock, the commander of the Defense Berlin, the commander of the 56th Tank Corps General G. Vaidling surrendered and signed an order to surrender.

By 15 o'clock on May 2, 1945, the Berlin garrison capitulated. During the assault, the garrison lost 150.000 soldiers and officers killed. Captivity on May 2 surrendered 134.700 people, including 33,000 officers and 12,000 wounded.

(IVMV, vol. 10, p.310-344; G.K. Zhukov Memories and Reflections / M, 1971, p. 610-635)

In total, during the Berlin operation, it was killed only in the strip of the 1st Belarusian Front 218.691 and 250.534 soldiers and officers were captured, and a total of 480,000 people were captured. 1132 aircraft shot. Captured as trophies 4.510 aircraft, 1,550 tanks and self-propelled guns, 565 armored vehicles and armored vehicles, 8.613 guns, 2.304Minet, 876 tractors and tractors, (35.797 cars), 9.340 motorcycles, 25.289 bicycles, 19.393 Machine gun, 179.071 Rifle and Carabiner, 8.261 wagon , 363 steam locomotive, 22.659 wagons, 34.886 Faustpatronov, 3.400.000 shells, 360.000.000 Cartridges (Tsamo USSR F.67, OP.23686, D.27, L.28).

According to the rear of the 1st Belorussian Front, Major General N.A. Antipenko trophies was captured even more. The 1st Ukrainian, the 1st and 2nd Belarusian fronts seized 5.995 aircraft, 4.183 tanks and assault implements, 1.856 armored transporters, 15.069 guns, 5.607 mortars, 36.386 machine guns, 216.604 rifles and automaton, 84.738 cars, 2,199 warehouses.

(In the main direction, p.261)

The losses of the Soviet troops and the Polish troops amounted to 81.116 people killed and missing, 280.251 were injured (from them Poles 2.825 people died and disappeared, 6.067 were injured). 1,997 tanks and self-propelled guns were lost, 2.108 guns and mortars, 917 combat aircraft, 215.900 units of small arms (a vulture of secrecy is removed, p.219,220, 372).

Berlin Operation - Offensive Operation of the 1st Belorussky (Marshal G.K. Zhukov), 2nd Belorussky (Marshal K.K. Rokossovsky) and the 1st Ukrainian (Marshal I.S. Konev) Fronts for the capture of Berlin and defeating the defended His groupings on April 16 - May 2, 1945 ( The Second World War , 1939-1945). In the Berlin direction of the Red Army, a large grouping as part of the Army Group "Vistula" was opposed (Generals G. Heinritz, then K. Tippelskirch) and "Center" (Feldmarshal F. Steirner).

The ratio is given in the table.

Source: History of World War II: at 12 t. M., 1973-1 1979. T. 10. P. 315.

The attack on the capital of Germany began on April 16, 1945, after the completion of the main operations of the Red Army in Hungary, East Pomerania, Austria and East Prussia. It deprived the German capital of support

the most important agricultural and industrial regions. In other words, Berlin was deprived of any opportunity to receive reserves and resources, which, undoubtedly, accelerated his fall.

For impact, which was to shake the German defense, an unprecedented density of fire was applied - over 600 guns per 1 km of front. The fierce battles broke out on the site of the 1st Belorussian front, where Zeelian heights were covered with the central direction. For the capture of Berlin, not only the frontal blow of the 1st Belorussian Front, a flange maneuver of the Tank Army (3rd and 4th) of the 1st Ukrainian Front was used. Overcoming over a few days more than a hundred kilometers, they broke through to the German capital from the south and completed her environment. At this time, the troops of the 2nd Belarusian front fell in the direction of the Baltic coast of Germany, covering the right flank of the forces on Berlin.

The culmination of the operation was the battle for Berlin, in which there was a 200-thousand group under the command of General X. Vadling. Fights in the city feature began on April 21, and by April 25 he was completely surrounded. In the battle of Berlin, which lasted for almost two weeks and was distinguished by extreme fierce, up to 464 thousand Soviet soldiers and officers took part. At the expense of retreating parts, Berlin garrison rose to 300 thousand people.

If in Budapest (see Budapest 1), the Soviet command avoided apply artillery and aviation, then during the assault of the capital of Nazi Germany, fire did not regret. According to Marshal Zhukov, from April 21 to May 2, almost 1.8 million artillery shots were made to Berlin. And more than 36 thousand tons of metal were collapsed on the city. According to the metropolitan center, the fire led, including the fortress guns, whose shells weighed by half-bottom.

A feature of the Berlin operation can be called a wide use of large tank masses in the zone of solid defense of German troops, including in Berlin itself. In such conditions, Soviet armored vehicles did not have the opportunity to apply a wide maneuver and became a comfortable target for anti-tank funds of the Germans. This led to high losses. Suffice it to say that in two weeks the fighting Red Army lost the third of the tanks and SAU participating in the Berlin operation.

The battles did not fill in the afternoon nor at night. In the afternoon, the assault parts fell by the first echelons, at night - the second. Particularly fierce was the battle for the Reichstag, over whom the banner of victory was empty. On the night of April 30, on May 1, Hitler committed suicide. By morning, on May 2, the remains of the Berlin garrison were dissected on separate groups, which to 15 hours capitulated. The surrender of the Berlin Garrison passed the commander of the 8th Guards Army General V.I. Chuikov, who passed the way from Stalingrad to the walls of Berlin.

During the Berlin operation, about 480 thousand German soldiers and officers fell. The losses of the Red Army amounted to 352 thousand people. In terms of daily loss of personnel and technology (St. 15 thousand people, 87 tanks and sau, 40 aircraft) Battle for Berlin surpassed all other operations of the Red Army, where the damage was applied primarily during the battle, unlike the battles of the first The period of war, when the daily loss of Soviet troops was largely determined by a significant number of prisoners (see border battles). By the intensity of loss, this operation is comparable only with a Kursk battle.

The Berlin Operation inflicted the last crushing blow to the armed forces of the Third Reich, which loss of Berlin lost their ability to organized resistance. Six days after the fall of Berlin, on the night of May 8 on May 9, the German leadership signed an act of unconditional surrender of Germany. For participants of the Berlin operation, a medal "For Taking Berlin" was released.

Materials are used: Nikolay Chefov. Battle of Russia. Military historical library. M., 2002.

Wir Kapitulieren Nie?

Offensive operation of the 2nd Belarusian (Marshal Rokossovsky), the 1st Belorussky (Marshal Zhukov) and the 1st Ukrainian (Marshal Konev) fronts on April 16 - May 8, 1945. Large German groups in Eastern Prussia in January-March, Poland and Eastern Pomerania and coming out to Oder and Neis, Soviet troops deeply wedged into Germany. On the west bank r. Oder were captured by bridgeheads, including especially important in the area of \u200b\u200bKustere. At the same time, the Anglo-American troops occurred from the West.

Hitler, hoping for disagreements between allies, took all measures to detain the promotion of Soviet troops on the approaches to Berlin and agree with the Americans about the separate world. On the Berlin direction, the German command focused a large grouping as part of the Army Group "Vistula" (3- I am the Tank and 9th Army) of Colonel-General G. Heinritz (from April 30, the infantry general C. Tippelskirch) and the 4th tank and 17- For the Army Armies of the Army Center "Center" General - Field Marshal F. Sherner (only about 1 million people, 10,400 guns and mortars, 1530 tanks and assault guns, over 3300 aircraft). On Western shores, Oder and Neurov created 3 defensive stripes in a depth of 20-40 km. Berlin defensive area consisted of 3 ring defensive ducts. All major buildings in the city were turned into supporting points, streets and square were blocked by powerful barricades, numerous mine fields were installed, minor traps were scattered throughout.

Walls of houses covered Goebbels propaganda slogans: "Wir Kapitulieren Nie!" ("We will never give up!"), "Each German will defend its capital!", "Let's stop the red hordes at the walls of our Berlin!", "Victory or Siberia!". Loudspeakers on the streets called upon the inhabitants to fight to death. Despite the showful browse, Berlin was already doomed. The gigantic city was in a huge West. The Soviet command focused on the Berlin direction 19 of the general-official (including 2 Polish), 4 tank and 4 air arms (2.5 million people, 41600 guns and mortars, 6250 tanks and self-propelled-artillery installations, 7,500 aircraft). From the west, continuous waves went English and American bomber, methodically, quarter over the quarter, turning the city into the pile of the ruins.

On the eve of the surrender, the city was a terrible spectacle. From the damaged gas pipeline, the flames were broken, illuminating wrapped walls of houses. The streets were impassable because of the piles of the wreckage. From the basements of houses, suicide bilots were popped up with a bottle of bilts with an incendiary mixture and rushed to the Soviet tanks who became easy prey in urban quarters. Running to hand-to-hand fights went everywhere - on the streets, on the roofs of houses, in the basements, in the tunnels, in the Berlin metro. Advanced Soviet parts competed with each other for honor the first to capture Reichstag, who considered the symbol of the Third Reich. Soon after the dome of the Reichstag was dried the banner of Victory, Berlin on May 2, 1945 capitulated.

Used site material Third Reich www.fact400.ru/mif/reich/titul.htm

In the historical dictionary:

Berlin Operation - an offensive operation of the Red Army at the final stage of the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945.

In January - March 1945, Soviet troops defeated major German fascist groups in East Prussia, Poland and East Pomerania, deeply wedged into the territory of Germany and seized the bridgeheads necessary to take its capital.

The operation plan was to apply several powerful blows on a wide front, dismember the Berlin enemy grouping, surround and destroy it in parts. To implement this task, the Soviet command concentrated 19 general-official (including two Polish), four tank and four air armies (2.5 million people, 41,600 guns and mortars, 6250 tanks and self-propelled-artillery installations, 7,500 aircraft).

The German command focused in the Berlin area a large grouping as part of the Army Group "Vistula" (3rd tank and 9th Army) and the Center for the Center for the Center (4th Tank and 17th Army) - about 1 million people, 10 400 guns and mortars, 1530 tanks and assault implements, over 3300 aircraft. On the Western shores of the Oder and Neurov rivers, three defensive strips depth to 20-40 km were created; The Berlin defensive area consisted of three ring defensive divers, all major buildings in the city were turned into supporting points, streets and squares are blocked by powerful barricades.

On April 16, after a powerful artillery and aviation preparation, the 1st Belarusian Front (Marshal G.K. Zhukov.) Attacked the enemy on the river. Oder. At the same time, the troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front (Marshal I. S. Koneva) began to forcing p. Neutov. Despite the fierce resistance of the enemy, especially in the Zelian altitudes, the Soviet troops broke through his defense. Attempts by the Hitler's command win the battle for Berlin on the line Oder - Neyce failed.

On April 20, the troops of the 2nd Belarusian Front (Marshal K. K. Rokossovsky) forced r. Oder and to the end of April 25, the main lane of the opponent's defense south of Shttitin broke through. On April 21, the 3rd Guards Tank Army (General Ya. S. Fishing) first broke into the northeastern outskirts of Berlin. The troops of the 1st Belorussky and 1st Ukrainian fronts after a breakthrough of the opponent's defense from the north and south went around Berlin and on April 25, they closed the west of Berlin in the rings of the environment to 200 thousand German troops.

The defeat of this group resulted in a fierce battle. Until May 2, bloody battles walked on the streets of Berlin during the day and night. On April 30, the troops of the 3rd shock army (Colonel-General V. I. Kuznetsova) began fighting for Reichstag and in the evening it took. Sergeant M. A. Egorov and Junior Sergeant M. V. Kantaria watershed on the Reichstage the banner of Victory.

Fights in Berlin lasted until May 8, when representatives of the German High Command, led by Paul-Field Marshal V. Kaitel, signed an act of unconditional surrender of Germany.

Orlov A.S., Georgiev N.G., Georgiev V.A. Historical dictionary. 2nd ed. M., 2012, p. 36-37.

Battle for Berlin

In the spring of 1945, the Third Reich stood on the threshold of the final collapse.

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.

Berlin himself was turned into a powerful fortified area. Around him, the Germans built three defensive rings - an external, internal and urban, and in the city (an area of \u200b\u200b88 thousand hectares) created nine sectors of defense: eight around the circumference and one - in the 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 six-storey bunkers in the ground - they accommodate up to a thousand people each. For hidden maneuver, the troops were used by the subway.

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.

Considering these factors, the rate of AGC focused on the Berlin direction as part of three fronts. In addition, it was supposed to use part of the forces of the Baltic Fleet, the Dnieper Military Flotilla, the 18th Air Army, the Country Air Defense Corses.

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.

On April 16, after a powerful artillery training and blows of aviation, the troops of the 1st Belarusian Front were transferred to the offensive. Berlin operation began. The enemy, depressed by fire of artillery, did not organize organized 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.

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 Army Army Groups and the 4th Tank Army were sent here. But the enemy's attempts to change the course of the battle did not have.

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 onset of these armies, as well as the 13th Army, has already led to the cut-off of the Army Group "Vistula" from the Army Group "Center".

The troops of the 1st Belorussian Front continued the offensive. April 20, for the fifth day of operation, long-range artillery of the 79th Rifle Corps of the 3rd Shock Army General-Pol Colonel V.I. Kuznetsova 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.

April 25, advanced divisions of the 1st Ukrainian Front - the 5th Guards Army General A.S. Zheadova - met on the shore of the Elbe in the area of \u200b\u200bTorgau with the distloscale groups of the 5th Corps of the 1st American Army of 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 Odider and broke through the defense on his West Bank. They fastened the 3rd German tank army and deprived her opportunities to apply Conrtuddar from the north of the Soviet troops surrounded by 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, the capture of Berlin (April 26 - May 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.

A part of the 12th Army survived from the defeat of the 12th army was departed to the left bank of Elba on bridges, induced by American troops, and surrendered to them.

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.

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.

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.

Used materials from the site http://100top.ru/encyclopedia/