1. Preparations of the Last Offensives
Americans and British preparations for the last offensives.
Goals of Allies.
Soviet preparations for the last offensives.
The Soviet goals.
Hitler’s last hopes.
The final attacks begin.

2. Allied attacks in the West
Crossing the Rhine.
Capture of the Ludendorf Bridge – March 7, Creating the Remagen bridgehead.
Changes in the German command. Kesselring replaces Rundstedt – March 10, 1945.
Germans encircled in Ruhr – April 1, ,000 German soldiers surrendered. Ruhr is taken by Allies.
Allies continue their attacks and reach the Elba river on April 11, 1945.
Eisenhower stops the offensive towards Berlin thinking that it will cost too much – 100,000 American and British soldiers – to capture the city which will fall into the Soviet zone of occupation.
Churchill’s last objections to Eisenhower’s plans. Combined Chiefs of Stuff and George Marshall support Eisenhower. Churchill in anger.

3. The Siege of Berlin
The Soviet attack on Berlin begins – April 16, Soviets involve nearly 3 million soldiers, tens of thousands of tanks, planes and machine guns in the attack. Germans have 1,3 million soldiers, but lack tanks and machine guns. They nearly do not have planes.
Berlin encircled – April 25, 1945.
Soviet troops reaching the Elbe – Meeting at Elbe – April 25, 1945.
Hitler’s last birthday in Bunker – April 20, 1945.
The Soviet troops begin to move into the city. Street fighting like in Stalingrad.

4. The Fall of Berlin
Soviets taking several districts of the city. They move to the Reich chancellery.
Hitler commits suicide – April 30, He appoints Admiral Donitz as his successor.
The Soviet troops attacking the Reichstag building. The Soviet flag is hoisted on its dome by Mikhail Yegorov (Russian) and Meliton Kantaria (Georgian) – April 30, 1945.
Germans asking for surrender in Berlin – May 1, 1945.
Official surrender of German forces in Berlin – May 2, 1945.

5. German Surrender
Donitz sends his representative Gen. Alfred Jodl to Rheims, Eisenhower’s headquarters
Talks in Rheims– 5-7 May, 1945.
Germans signing on unconditional surrender – May 7, 1945.
Victory Day in Europe – May 8, 1945.
Stalin’s decision to repeat the procedure of surrender in Berlin.
Germans signing the surrender in Berlin – May 8, 1945.
Victory Day for the Soviets – May 9, 1945.