BATTLE OF BERLIN

WHO, WHERE, WHEN

• April 16-May2, 1945
• Berlin, Germany
• Germany army vs. Soviet army

Green: Soviets
Red: German
Blue: Polish

WHY WERE THEY FIGHTING?

• Soviet army invaded Berlin
• Good time for them to attack. The German army was weak.

DETAILS

• Soviets quickly defeated the German forces outside of the town. After this they began bombing Berlin.
• Soviet army: 2.5 million soldiers
• 81K killed, 280K injured
• German army: 1 million soldiers
• 92K killed, 220K injured
• German civilians: 22k killed. 100K women were raped during the battle.

PRIMARY SOURCE QUOTE

• "The Soviets battled the German soldiers and drafted civilians street by street until we could hear explosions and rifle fire right in our immediate vicinity. As the noise got closer, we could even hear the horrible guttural screaming of the Soviet soldiers which sounded to us like enraged animals. Shots shattered our windows and shells exploded in our garden, and suddenly the Soviets were on our street."
• Dorothea Von Schwanenfluegel, who was a 29 year old wife and mother at the time

OUTCOME

• Soviets won
• Resulted in the surrender of the German army
• On April 30 (during the battle) Hitler committed suicide

SIGNIFICANCE

• It was the concluding major battle in WWII
• It was an end to Hitler's rule

SOURCES

• http://www.ducksters.com/history/world_war_ii/battle_of_berlin.php
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/berlin_01.shtml
• http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/berlin.htm