The Battle of Berlin Presented by: Matt Mullin, Danny Coleman

Battle of Berlin : Basic Info Date: January 16, 1945 Location: Berlin Forces Involved: Mainly: Soviet Union, Poland, Germany, USA, British, French came in later.

Forces Involved Soviet Union & Poland 2,500,000 Soldiers 6,250 Tanks 7,500 Aircraft 41,600 Artillery Peices -German 766,750 Soldiers 1,519 Armored Fighting Vhicles 2,224 Aircraft 9,303 Artillery Peices Hilter Youth and Police forces dragged into the army out of desperation.

Starting the Battle The Soviets along with Polish allies integrated into their army, initiated the attack on Berlin. USA, Britain, and France held back, to give the Soviets and the Polish a chance to get revenge on the Nazis for what they had done to Poland and Russia throughout WW II. The Soviets set up two fronts to attack Berlin, one for the East, and one from the South.

Leaders Nazis -Gotthard Heinrici, surrendered. (Army group Vistula) -Kurt von Tippelskirch, surrendered to US. (Army group Vistula) -Ferdinand Schorner, surrendered to Soviets (Centre) -Hellmuth Reymann, surrendered to Soviets (Berlin Defence) -Helmuth Weidling, last to surrender to Soviets (Berlin Defence) -Hasso von Manteuffel, surrendered US (III Panzer Army) -Von Saucken, surrendered to US (II Panzer Army) -Walther Wenck, surrendered to US (Twelfth German Army) - Adolf Hitler, suicide (Nazi Leader)

Leaders, continued… Russian Leaders -Georgy Zhukov (1 st Belorussian Front) -Vasily Chuikov (1 st Belorussian Front) -Konstantin Rokossovski (2 nd Belorussian Front) -Ivan Konev (1 st Ukrainian Front) -Joseph Stalin (Russian Leader)

Battle of Oder-Neisse -Force Strength: -1 million Russian troops and 20,000 + tanks broke through the final defenses of the Germans, defended by 100,000 Nazis with 1,200 tanks. -Loses: -Nazis: 12,000 Men -Russians: 30,000 The Soviet Union claimed victory in this Battle.

Battle of Halbe Soviets split the Nazi forces in two and began to surround them. German forces attempted to break out, but failed. However, the Soviets took heavy casualties losing over 2,807 tanks in 17 days.

Bombing Berlin During the Battle of Berlin, Bombings were conducted over Berlin to soften up the Germans. However, Berlin was bombed throughout all of WW II. Major Bombing dates (1945): April 15 (105 bombers) April 17 (61 bombers) April 18 (57 bombers) April 19 (79 bombers) April 20 (78 bombers)

Casualties / Losses Russia and Poland 81,116 Missing or Dead 280,251 Sick or Wounded Total Casualties: 361,367 Men 10,097 Tanks 2,108 Artillery Pieces 917 Aircraft -German Exact Losses unkown: EST. 92, ,000 KIA. 220,000 Wounded 480,000 Prisoners of War Inside Berlin: 22,000 Soldiers dead, 22,000 civilians dead.

Outcome of the Battle of Berlin Allies Claim victory over Germany Berlin divided into sections rules by different countries. (Starts the cold war) Allies raise their flags over many German buildings as a symbol of Victory.