2. Date: January 16, 1945 Location: Berlin Forces Involved: Mainly: Soviet Union, Poland, Germany. USA, British, French came in with air support.

3. 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.

4. -By 1944 the Germans found themselves on the defensive due to the success of the d-day landings and repeated losses in operation Barbarossa. -By 1945, the British, Americans, and Russians were all closing in on Germany. -Within the first months of the year, the Russian military was within 100 miles of Berlin. -In April, Russian forces were closing in on the German capital. With no where to go, Hitler designated Berlin as a fortress to be defended.

5. The Soviets along with Polish allies integrated into their army, initiated the attack on Berlin. The Soviets set up two fronts to attack Berlin, one from the East, and one from the South.

6. -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.

7. 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.

8. Major Bombing dates (1945): April 15 (105 bombers) April 17 (61 bombers) April 18 (57 bombers) April 19 (79 bombers) April 20 (78 bombers)

9. -By April 27 th the government sector of Berlin was the greatest extent of Hitler’s rule -Hitler, 55 feet below the city, thought there was a possibility of Berlin being saved by the 12 th army -No thought of surrender whatsoever -On the night of the 29 th the fighting was less than ¼ mile from Hitler’s bunker -Hitler ready to die, determined not to be taken alive

10. -Hitler commits suicide -Goebbels wanted to discuss terms of surrender -Pockets of resistance still scattered throughout the government district -Russian guns fall silent on May 2, 1945

11. 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. 92,000-100,000 KIA. 220,000 Wounded 480,000 Prisoners of War Inside Berlin: 22,000 Soldiers dead, 22,000 civilians dead.

12. -Entire city of Berlin reduced to rubble -Staggering loss of life -Many civilians wounded, raped, and went insane -May 8, 1945 – Germany formally surrendered, putting an end to the Third Reich -Stalin’s primary mission of securing nuclear research center was accomplished

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