Fall of Berlin By SM, MR, AB

Thesis Despite Germany’s home-field advantage during the Battle of Berlin, the Soviets sought revenge against the outnumbered Nazis; this coupled with a two-front war caused the fall of Berlin and Germany’s surrender, escalating Russo-American tensions and leading to the Cold War.

Operation Citadel - Soviet march on Berlin Background Operation Citadel - Soviet march on Berlin Poles and Soviets wanted revenge for previous invasions

Timeline 1944 GB and US forces advance from the West April 19 1945 Soviets take Seelow Heights May 7 1945 Berlin falls, Nazi Germany surrenders, Allied victory February 1945 Soviet forces camp on the Oder river April 28 1945 Soviets attack Berlin’s Citadel and tanks roll into Berlin Want revenge for barbarossa and stalingrad and moscow

Timeline 1944 GB and US forces advance from the West April 19 1945 Soviets take Seelow Heights May 7 1945 Berlin falls, Nazi Germany surrenders, Allied victory February 1945 Soviet forces camp on the Oder river April 28 1945 Soviets attack Berlin’s Citadel and tanks roll into Berlin Want revenge for barbarossa and stalingrad and moscow

The War so Far... Operation Barbarossa (Axis) Operation Overlord (Axis) Operation Citadel (Axis) Italian Campaign (Allies)

Thesis Despite Germany’s home-field advantage during the Battle of Berlin, the Soviets sought revenge against the outnumbered Nazis; this coupled with a two-front war caused the fall of Berlin and Germany’s surrender, escalating Russo-American tensions that would lead to the Cold War.

Preparations

Zhukov Participated in every major operation Directed battle of Kursk Deputy Commander-in-Chief Helped save Stalingrad

Why Berlin? Everyone wanted to end the war Huge victory Represented 1,000 year Reich

Thesis Despite Germany’s home-field advantage during the Battle of Berlin, the Soviets sought revenge against the outnumbered Nazis; this coupled with a two-front war caused the fall of Berlin and Germany’s surrender, escalating Russo-American tensions that would lead to the Cold War.

The Race to Berlin Soviet Race Command split between Zhukov and Konev Both wanted credit for seizing Berlin Wanted revenge for Barbarossa International Race USSR and West wanted Berlin Soviet mistrust of the West

Timeline 1944 GB and US forces advance from the West April 19 1945 Soviets take Seelow Heights May 7 1945 Berlin falls, Nazi Germany surrenders, Allied victory February 1945 Soviet forces camp on the Oder river April 28 1945 Soviets attack Berlin’s Citadel and tanks roll into Berlin Want revenge for barbarossa and stalingrad and moscow

The Oder River Soviets camp on river (January 12-February 2, 1945) Want to overpower German forces Want war to end quickly Reinforce and resupply

The Odds 1,000,000 troops 2,500,000 troops Germany 10,400 artillery pieces 1,500 tanks 3,300 aircraft USSR 2,500,000 troops 41,600 artillery pieces 6,250 tanks 7,500 aircraft

ACTIVITY!!!!!

“The amount of equipment deployed for the Berlin operation was so huge I simply cannot describe it and I was there………” Alex Popov (The Battle)

Allied Advantages Soviet and Polish soldiers vengeful Had more, better trained troops Had more machinery

Nazi Advantages/Disadvantages Home field advantage Low morale Untrained army Lack of resources Hitler led the operation

The Assault on Berlin Zhukov- 1st Belorussian Front (closer) Konev Konev- 1st Ukrainian Front (Winner)

Timeline 1944 GB and US forces advance from the West April 19 1945 Soviets take Seelow Heights May 7 1945 Berlin falls, Nazi Germany surrenders, Allied victory February 1945 Soviet forces camp on the Oder river April 28 1945 Soviets attack Berlin’s Citadel and tanks roll into Berlin Want revenge for barbarossa and stalingrad and moscow

Seelow Heights Start of Battle for Berlin Only high ground near Berlin Needed to reduce Soviet tank numbers Germans hold out longer than expected Soviets are one step closer to Berlin

Timeline 1944 GB and US forces advance from the West April 19 1945 Soviets take Seelow Heights May 7 1945 Berlin falls, Nazi Germany surrenders, Allied victory February 1945 Soviet forces camp on the Oder river April 28 1945 Soviets attack Berlin’s Citadel and tanks roll into Berlin Want revenge for barbarossa and stalingrad and moscow

Tempelhof and the Reichstag Soviets cross Teltow canal on April 25 use barges for troops/resources Soviets take control of Tempelhof Airport HUGE Strategic Victory Take the Reichstag on May 2

Thesis Despite Germany’s home-field advantage during the Battle of Berlin, the Soviets sought revenge against the outnumbered Nazis; this coupled with a two-front war caused the fall of Berlin and Germany’s surrender, escalating Russo-American tensions that would lead to the Cold War.

The End Hitler’s suicide demoralizes population Göbbels and his wife commit suicide - Not uncommon Fail to negotiate conditional surrender Germany surrenders May 7, 1945 Poisons all six of his kids

Timeline 1944 GB and US forces advance from the West April 19 1945 Soviets take Seelow Heights May 7 1945 Berlin falls, Nazi Germany surrenders, Allied victory February 1945 Soviet forces camp on the Oder river April 28 1945 Soviets attack Berlin’s Citadel and tanks roll into Berlin Want revenge for barbarossa and stalingrad and moscow

Thesis Despite Germany’s home-field advantage during the Battle of Berlin, the Soviets sought revenge against the outnumbered Nazis; this coupled with a two-front war caused the fall of Berlin and Germany’s surrender, escalating Russo-American tensions that would lead to the Cold War.

Results The Allies won, Germany defeated, surrendered week later Germany and Berlin divided into four occupation zones USSR at odds with the rest of the Allies - Cold War Soviet losses totaled as many as 25 million people Germany reduced to rubble

Keep it brief

Keep it brief

Works Cited "BBC - History - World Wars: The Battle for Berlin in World War Two." BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 03 May 2018. Cavendish, Marshall. History of World War II: Victory and Aftermath. Vol. 3, Marshall Cavendish Corp., 2004. Cooke, Tim, and Sarah Halliwell. The New Grolier Encyclopedia of World War II. Grolier Educational Corp., 2001. Fogarty, Richard. "World War II." Daily Life through History, ABC-CLIO, 2018, dailylife.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/2080487. Accessed 30 Apr. 2018. "Fortress Berlin." Directed by Steve Baker, narrated by Corey Johnson. Nazi Mega Weapons, season 1, episode 6, PBS, 16 Dec. 2013. Grossman, Mark. “Zhukov, Georgii.” World Military Leaders: A Biographical Dictionary, Facts On File, 2007. History, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=150531&itemid=WEHRC&articleId=269350. Accessed 3 May 2018. Map of Berlin Divided into Sectors or Zones; after WWII and during the Berlin Airlift. Air Force Historical Support Division, www.afhistory.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2000294740/.

"Post-War Germany, 1945-. ". History Study Center, http://gateway "Post-War Germany, 1945-.". History Study Center, http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:ho-us&rft_dat=xri:ho:sup:1034. Accessed 30 Apr. 2018. Quinn, Edward. “Fall of Berlin.” History in Literature, Facts On File, 2004. History, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=150531&itemid=WEHRC&articleId=44968. Accessed 2 May 2018. "The Battle for Berlin." History Learning Site. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 May 2018.

Questions?