(2/12) Battlefield I The Battle of Berlin Episode 12 (GDH)

The Battle of Berlin was a colossal battle that ended the war in Europe. The Western Allies, pushing from the West, and the USSR encircling Berlin from North and South doomed Nazi Germany. Controversy still remains in Eisenhowers decision not to take Berlin and leave the greatest trophy claimed in World War II to Stalins Soviet Union.
Many in the American and British high commands, recommended to Eisenhower the taking of Berlin by Allied forces. Probably the only decision that Montgomery and Patton agreed on, was the taking of Berlin. Both reasoned it symbolized the destruction of Nazi German by the Allies. Of course both had their selfish dreams of glory in mind. Eisenhower had several reasons deciding against the capture of Berlin. No matter what nation captured Berlin, Berlin would become a four nation occupation zone. Planners had estimated the capture of Berlin would cost 100,000 KIA Allied troops. Intelligence reports and Nazi propaganda indicated that several Waffen SS divisions were planning a national redoubt in the mountains of Austria. The latter proving to be utter nonsense. For these reasons, Eisenhower declined to capture Berlin. The Allies were amazed at Stalins seemly lack of interest in taking Berlin. In actuality it was his greatest dream to capture Berlin with USSR forces.
The USSR attacked the German lines before Berlin with three massive Soviet Fronts (Army Groups). First Belorussia Front (Marshal Georgy Zhukov) was to attack the German Oder-Neisse area on April 16th, 1945. First Ukrainian Front (Marshal Ivan Konev) would attack the south Berlin Oder area on April 16th, 1945. Second Belorussian Front (Marshal Konstantin Rokossovskiy) would strike north out the Stettin bridgehead on April 20th, 1945. The estimated combined strength of the USSR forces before Berlin and surrounding areas was; 2,500,000 soldiers, 6,250 tanks and AFV, 7,500 aircraft, 41,600 artillery pieces. Total USSR troops in the Berlin Defense Area would consist of an estimated 1,500,000 troops
Nazi Germany would defend Berlin with 2 Army Groups. Army Group Vistula (Heeresgruppe Weichsel) (Col. Gen Heinrici) would defend the approaches to Berlin and the Seelow Heights. Army Group Center (Heeresgruppe Mitte) (Field Marshal Ferdinand Schörner) would defend the southern approaches to Berlin, and Prague. The German defense of the Berlin would consist of an estimated; 766,750 soldiers, 1,519 tanks and AFVs, 9,303 artillery pieces. Total German strength in the Berlin Defense Area would consist of an estimated 45,000 troops.
Zhukov was convinced his past victories would elevate him to supreme commander of all Soviet forces. However, Zhukov was in for a rude awakening. Stalin announced that Zhukov and Konev would race for the honor of taking Berlin. Both commanders would ruthlessly throw everything they had into the capture of Berlin no matter the cost in lives.
Col. Gen Heinrici was a master at defensive tactics. Heinrici had discovered the Soviet time table for their offensive. His plan was to retreat from his first line of defense and fortify his second line of defense. The Soviet opening barrage would fall on a skeleton force. Zhukov planned to blind the defenders with search lights. The last set piece battle of World War II in Europe began on April 16, 1945.
The battles of the Seelow Heights and Halbe were a horrific nightmare. Zhukov keep pouring in unit after unit until the German lines broke. On April 19th Zhukov broke through. To the north and south of Berlin other spearheads had broken through. Konev encircled the 9th Army (Busse) near Halbe. Hitler ordered the 12 Army (Wenck) to link up with 9th Army and counterattack the Soviet forces encircling Berlin. This last ditch effort hadnt a pray from the start. After the encirclement of Berlin Soviet forces crushed the remaining, mostly irregular forces, inside the defenses. Berlin surrendered on May 2nd, 1945. (GDH)

Enjoy this excellent episode of Battlefield I The Battle of Berlin.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• World
• War
• II
• Berlin
• USSR
• Soviet
• Zhukov
• Eisenhower
• Stalin
• Hitler
• German
• Nazi
• Allies
• Heinrici
• Konev
• Seelow
• Army
• Group
• encirclement

[WTCTribute]

Hitler survived the assassination attempt by God's grace. And I say this because, imagine if it did succeed? Do you REALLY think nothing would have happened? Germany was falling apart on both fronts, and by air war. Killing Hitler would have meant that your most fanatical soldiers, the Waffen SS, would have started a civil war to keep the Nazi's in power. That's effectively 3 fronts (4 if you count Italy), and it would have led to defeat far quicker. The time to assasinate was 1941, not 1944.

[HoustonGD]

@WTCTribute The German plotters had this odd belief that once Hitler was assassinated that the Western Allies would negotiate a separate peace and even perhaps assist Germany. LOL The Western Allies had NO plans for anything, but: "Germany lay down your arms and that is it." Plus Hitler was the Allies new secret weapon with his screw ball ideas.

[ITILII]

@gaikokujinNor yes Stalin a bigger idiot and murderer than Hitler. He decapitated his own army because of his megalomania and paranoia, ignored all the warning signs on a German invasion, and killed alot more people than Hilter. But when he was fighting on the Allied side with Britain and USA, he was good old Uncle Joe. Just goes to show that war and politics are run by crooks, murderers, incompetents and lunatics

[nodinitiative]

@ETsonggalaxy i agree wit you on all points, but we have to face the reality of youtube ppl, youtube n internet commentators consist of ppl largely ignorant of the Will of God. But hopefully, bcoz we r discussing this on an educational and well objective doc video, there would not be any trolls bashing on us.

Anyway, God's written word is our religion, religion is in the belief of God. So in a sense, you were speaking about religion. There is no shame in believing in God or having a religion.

[ETsonggalaxy]

@nodinitiative You sound as if i insulted people or gays.  I said nothing but what is written in the bible. For now, we are governed by man. In the end, there will be no escape for you or me, or anyone. Judgement day will happen and the book of works will be open . I never spoke of religion. i spoke of God's written word! People may speak of their own words - but is it in alignment with the holy word. I ll say it again- God loves us but not our sin. You cannot change the truth.

[ETsonggalaxy]

@nodinitiative Thanks for your second feedback. You speak of gay rights and other matters . This is not to mock no-one. Yes, God loves everyone -it is our sin that he does not accept. Bibical writtings make it clear that men who lay with men will NOT enter the kingdom of God. A city named Soldem and Gommora was destroyed by God because wrong sexual matches It is clear to me that woman was made for man. And if God made any thing better than a woman for ME as a man - he sure took it with him.

[ETsonggalaxy]

@nodinitiative I appreciate your feedback. I think you have a good head. I am so thankful that i do have history - our family tree is even on the world enternet. We are the TADIFA''s this is our original family spelling. Photos of my grandpa who is actually a native of Malay island. My grandmother was 100% German. My mother had Hispanic heritage and American Indian ( NOT of India.) I sincerely feel for your REGRET. I think you can gather more of your family history thrurelatives alive.

[nodinitiative]

@ETsonggalaxy Of course, my grandparents suffered under Japanese occupation in Brunei. The burial ground of my grandparents is an example of how my country suffered. Their burial ground are miles from the nearest burial ground of my post war family members.

My biggest regret is that i never took official record of my grandparents experience when they were still able to communicate properly.

[ETsonggalaxy]

Gee, stop and think about it. How many countries did it take to stop the Nazi empire -6 /7? IT was really the Russians who went in first -and wanted revenge or to get even. They wanted to show Hitler that they had equal power? If Hitler or Japan had the Atom bomb at that time, they would have use it! Thank God Americans had it first! The weapons today are so powerful that nothing would be left of human life or nature. SELF DESTRUCTION OR PEACE? Which shall it be?

[ETsonggalaxy]

You can take the Korean war as another example. A camera man from north Korea said this -" I had to cover myself with blankets, because the American firepower was so great."  This makes alot of sense from a camera man who wanted to record history. Well said camera man! My dad did NOT want to really talke about the war since it was so bloody and too much suffering. But.. because i was his son, he took the time to tell me as i wanted to know the facts! It was history to me and the world.

[ETsonggalaxy]

@nodinitiative I respect your views and or opinions. However, my father was in the war against Japan. And i have him on recordings. His tone of voice was not kidding. He saw many killings and sufferings for 8 months at 21 age. I should upload it one day. Of course, many people would have doubt or saying some smart ass remarks. They would be guessing only caz they were NEVER there. I can tell when FAKE videos are uploaded. There are much proof that things really took place. Thx!

[nodinitiative]

@ETsonggalaxy some people think that being reporters or cameramen are useless because they dont do any fighting. But hell, without these people, no one today would know they even existed or even cared about the consequences of war. People today are more horrified of war because they now can see its true face and not just in those glorifying tales of war or war songs.

[Zyworski]

@Zyworski Just Google Sacrifice of the generals, it will come right up.