The fall of berlin

Jai, Ivan, Edwin, Vamshi

Thesis

After a series of Allied victories across the continent, Germany became a mere shell of its former self. The Soviets pushed from the east, and the Allies from the west, eventually surrounding Berlin. The Race to Berlin concluded with a final Soviet offensive; Hitler’s carefully constructed regime crumbled beneath him. The death of Hitler and his high-ranking officers and the destruction of their capital effectively put an end to the war in Europe.

Downfall Clip

MapMapBERLIN

Allied Forces

Allied Forces

Allied Forces

Race to Berlin – UK & US

The Allies were too far from Berlin to be a rival in a race to Berlin.

Dwight Eisenhower moved south of Berlin instead of aiming for Berlin to be apart of the race.

To prevent top German brass from escaping to the southern mountains instead of aiming for Berlin.

MapMapBERLIN

Allied Forces

Allied Forces

Allied Forces

SOVIET FORCES

SOVIET FORCES

SOVIET FORCES

SOVIET FORCES

Race to Berlin - Soviets

Joseph Stalin called for massive amounts of Soviet troops to advance on Berlin

Both on Ground and in AirThe soviets had more firepower than the Germans Getting to the capital was relatively easy in that the Germans were constantly retreating while the Soviets had the forward momentumRussia: Take no Prisoner mentality Fighting street-to-street and house-to-house, Russian troops blasted their way towards Hitler's chancellery in the city's center.

The GermansThe Germans put in both old and young onto the frontlines to save Berlin from the Soviets

Propaganda demonized the Soviets and more Berliners thought the coming battle was a battle to the death

200,000 German soldiers, and 2 million civilians remained in Berlin during the Fall and the Soviets were ready to hand Germany a strong defeat,

The Germans who fought were issued with portable anti-tank weaponry and could use hit-and-run tactics against the Soviet tanks.

The depleted German forces put up a stiff defense, initially repelling the attacking Russians, but ultimately succumbing to overwhelming force.

April 16th, 1945

Soviet Army begins its berlin campaign

Signals the beginning of the offensive to take the Berlin Capital

April 22nd, 1945

Stalin Sends Final Assault Orders

April 24th, 1945

The British Royal Air force starts bombing Germany’s Offensive

April 25th, 1945

All access points west of Berlin cutoff by the Soviets

April 26th, 1945

Twin Soviet offensives break Germany’s defensive front

April 27th, 1945

Germany sets up a small 10 mile long defensive

front

Known as Berlin’s Last Stand

April 30th, 1945

Adolf Hitler marries Eva Braun in an

underground bunker

After giving a final speech to his supporters, poisons his dog,

then Braun, and them himself.

Their bodies are incinerated to avoid

capture and humiliation

May 1st, 1945

Joseph Goebbels murders his family

before taking his own life.

Berlin formally and unconditionally surrenders to the Soviet legions and Western Allies.

May 2nd,

1945

German forces across Berlin begin

surrendering.

The German forces across Berlin begin

surrendering

Fall of Berlin is complete

May 2nd, 1945

Soviet forces occupy all major sections of the

German Capital

The war in Europe officially comes to a

close

Life in the Bunker

• Although 50ft underground, the bunker was practically luxurious with its own heating, electricity, and water.

• Life in the Berlin Führerbunker, however, was grim and filled with constant anxiety and gloom.

The Battle

The Siege of Berlin started on April 16, 1945, with the Russians as the aggressors.

The Soviets were led by General Zukov

During this time, Germans put both young, and old at the frontlines to save Berlin from falling.

Noticing a defeat, Hitler and Goebbels committed suicide along with their families.

The end of the Reichstag

outcomes and aftermath

• Defeat of the Germans in Berlin signaled the end of the war in Europe. (The war, however, continued in the Pacific against Japan)

• Suicide of Hitler and many of his generals such as Goebbels, Krebs, and Burgdorf.

• Unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany on all war fronts by May 2nd.

Work CIted

Alex, Dan. "Battle of Berlin Timeline." Battle of Berlin. Second World War History, 12 Dec. 2014. Web. 17 Mar. 2015.

"The Battle for Berlin." The Battle for Berlin. History Learning Site, n.d. Web. 04 Mar. 2015.

Chen, Peter. "Adolf Hitler." WW2DB RSS. World War II Database, n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2015.

Latson, Jennifer. Time.com. Time Magazine, 16 Jan. 2015. Web. 31 Mar. 2015.

"The Race For Berlin." The Race For Berlin. Ohio State University, n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2015.