16 – 19 April 1945
Part I
4 of the seventeen days of the battle, 16 – 19 April 1945, with the introduction to the account. 10,927 words.
- 00 Introduction The Battle of Berlin 1945: Introduction Our in-depth day-by-day coverage of the largest confrontation of the Second World War to be fought in Germany – the Battle of Berlin in 1945.
- 01 Monday, 16 April 1945 The Soviet Offensive Begins …Start of the Soviet offensive …Georgy Zhukov’s 1st Belorussian Front struggles to reach the 2nd German defensive line…the 1st Ukrainian Front push through the left flank of the German 9th Army…Hitler issues a call to arms…
- 02 Tuesday, 17 April 1945 Zhukov Struggles To Break Out …The second German defensive line at the Seelow Heights is broken…Ivan Konev’s 1st Ukrainian Front is given permission to push towards Berlin…An RAF Mosquito raid arrives and attacks Berlin in the evening…
- 03 Wednesday, 18 April 1945 Zhukov & Konev Advance …1st Belorussian reaches the third defensive line of the 9th Army’s preparations …Stalin orders Marshal Rokossovsky to begin his part of the operation, two days ahead of schedule…1st Ukrainian cross the river Spree…a Royal Air Force Mosquito raid hits Berlin from the night of the 18th to 19th…
- 04 Thursday, 19 April 1945 Through The ‘Gates Of Berlin’ …Soviets troops break through the final line of Heinrici’s Seelow Heights defenses …German forces attempt to defend Berlin’s eastern approaches…the 1st Belorussian Front threatens to surround the German 9th Army…Royal Air Force Mosquito attack on the city (79 bombers)…