The Second World - the fall of Germany (42 photos) Bashny.Net

The biggest mistake on the part of the Germans was that they could not assume that will be met by the Soviet people's true heroism, self-sacrifice and selfless work. Soviet administrative system has proven its ability to mobilize human resources, industry and agriculture to the military, even in conditions of severe press the first months of the war, when it lost nearly two-thirds of industrial and agricultural half capacity. The main achievement was evacuated and commissioning of available industrial enterprises, construction of new factories, development of new agricultural areas. Besides, is not the last factor was unprecedented, which had no parallel translation of the economy on a war footing. In fact, the absolute growth of the Soviet economy was not as important as the mass concentration of enterprises in the production of weapons of war, such as small arms, artillery, ammunition, tanks, fighters and attack aircraft. On a war footing the Germans moved their production only in the 44th year, it is from the 44th to 45th years they have produced the bulk of the weapons.



for the defense of Berlin, the German command hurriedly formed a new part. In January - March 1945 for military service were called even 16-17 year old boys. Given these factors, the Stavka focused on Berlin large forces of three fronts. In addition, the anticipated use of the forces of the Baltic Fleet, the Dnieper Flotilla, 18th Air Army, three corps air defense of the country.



By conducting the Berlin operation involved Polish troops consisting of two armies, tanks and aircraft hulls, two artillery divisions breakthrough and a mortar team. They were part of the fronts. April 16 after a powerful artillery barrage and air strikes went on the offensive forces of the 1st Belorussian Front. Berlin operation began. The enemy, overwhelmed by artillery fire, had no organized resistance to the forefront, but then, after recovering from the shock resist fierce tenacity. Soviet infantry and tanks moved to 1, 5-2 km. In this situation, to speed up the movement of troops, Marshal Zhukov introduced into battle tank and mechanized corps of the 1st and 2nd Guards Tank Army.



May 1 of the 1st Shock Army advancing from the north to the south of the Reichstag met with parts of the 8th Guards Army, advancing from the south. The surrender of the remnants of the Berlin garrison held the morning of 2 May to order his last commanding general of artillery G. Weidling. The elimination of the Berlin group of German troops completed. Troops of the 1st Belorussian Front, moving westward, out May 7 on a broad front to the Elbe. Troops of the 2nd Belorussian Front reached the coast of the Baltic Sea and the turn of the Elbe River, where established contact with the British 2nd Army. The right wing of the 1st Ukrainian Front began to regroup in the direction of Prague to perform tasks to complete the liberation of Czechoslovakia. During the Berlin operation, Soviet troops crushed the 70 infantry, 23 armored and motorized divisions of the enemy, captured about 480 thousand people took to 11 thousand guns and mortars, more than 1, 5000 tanks and assault guns, 4,500 aircraft. Soviet troops in this final operation suffered heavy losses - more than 350 thousand people, including more than 78,000 - forever. 1st and 2nd Polish Army lost about 9,000 soldiers and officers. (Secrecy lifted. The loss of the Armed Forces of the USSR in the wars, hostilities and military conflicts. M., 1993. S. 220.) The Soviet troops also lost 2,156 tanks and self-propelled guns, 1,220 guns and mortars, 527 aircraft.



Berlin operation - one of the largest operations of World War II. The victory of the Soviet troops it was a decisive factor in the completion of the military defeat of Germany. In commemoration of the victory in the Great Patriotic War 9 maya1945 by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR was established medal "For the victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.»



With the fall of Berlin and the loss of vital areas of Germany lost the opportunity to organized resistance and soon surrendered.