Background
The Soviet forces began their offensive attack against Berlin. The campaign was supported by American and British aircraft but it was conducted entirely by the Red Army. The Red Army massed Marshal Georgy Zhukov's 1st Belorussian Front to the east of Berlin with Marshal Konstantin Rokossovky's 2nd Belorussian Front to the north and Marshal Ivan Konev's 1st Ukrainian Front to the south. Opposing the Soviets was General Gotthard Heinrici's Army Group Vistula supported by Army Group Centre to the south.
The Plan
Stalin's two generals, Zhukov and Konev successfully trapped the city that had long prepared for the invasion but was far from ready for it. Germany had little resources left when the Soviets invaded, however they fought valiantly. By April, much of Germany had been occupied by the Allied armies. Although their still remained strong pockets of resistance, the war was clearly drawing to an end. The German forces in the east however continued to fight on more bitterly to allow German refugees to escape westward.
The two generals devised a plan within 48 hours to complete this mission. Zhukov planned to enter at Seelöw Heights but was not prepared for the barrier of Germans that met him there. It took him so long to fight them off that Stalin had Konev go on with his plan of attacking River Neisse. Konev had the easier battle, though both were successful.
Two days after on May 4, 1945 General E. Kinzel and Admiral H. G. von Friedeburg signed the surrender documents relating to the German forces in the Netherlands, Northwest Germany, the Friesian Islands, Heligoland and Schleswig-Holstein, at Montgomery's 21st Army Group headquarters on Lüneburg Heath. Four days after that German surrendered the war.
The two generals devised a plan within 48 hours to complete this mission. Zhukov planned to enter at Seelöw Heights but was not prepared for the barrier of Germans that met him there. It took him so long to fight them off that Stalin had Konev go on with his plan of attacking River Neisse. Konev had the easier battle, though both were successful.
Two days after on May 4, 1945 General E. Kinzel and Admiral H. G. von Friedeburg signed the surrender documents relating to the German forces in the Netherlands, Northwest Germany, the Friesian Islands, Heligoland and Schleswig-Holstein, at Montgomery's 21st Army Group headquarters on Lüneburg Heath. Four days after that German surrendered the war.
V-E Day
The Battle of Berlin marked the victory of WWII in Europe. Joseph Stalin had ordered his generals into the city to take over the capital, without help from the other Allies the Soviet Union was able to overcome the German empire and win the war in Europe. The Germans had roughly 1,000,000 men while the Red Army had a hefty 2,500,000 on their side.
Tuesday May 8, 1945 was 'Victory in Europe' Day (V-E Day) because it marks the formal end of Hitler's war. Individuals reacted in very different ways to the end of the nightmare: some celebrated by partying; others spent the day in quiet reflection; and there were those too busy carrying out tasks to do either. Ultimately nothing would be quite the same again.
A common reaction to the news of peace among soldiers in Europe was 'I've survived'. A British officer with an armoured regiment named Stuart Hills finished the war in Germany. When he heard the good news, he felt immediate exhilaration and marked the occasion with some champagne. But then the reaction set in as he thought of his friends who had been killed, and he no longer felt like celebrating.
Tuesday May 8, 1945 was 'Victory in Europe' Day (V-E Day) because it marks the formal end of Hitler's war. Individuals reacted in very different ways to the end of the nightmare: some celebrated by partying; others spent the day in quiet reflection; and there were those too busy carrying out tasks to do either. Ultimately nothing would be quite the same again.
A common reaction to the news of peace among soldiers in Europe was 'I've survived'. A British officer with an armoured regiment named Stuart Hills finished the war in Germany. When he heard the good news, he felt immediate exhilaration and marked the occasion with some champagne. But then the reaction set in as he thought of his friends who had been killed, and he no longer felt like celebrating.