(9/12) Battlefield I The Battle of Berlin Episode 12 (GDH)

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Videos Running Time: 01:54:00 in 12 Parts

Battlefield I: "The Battle of Berlin"
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 Germany 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 prayer 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:

Entertainment

Tags:

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

[whitesox889]

What is a panzergrenadier?

[2bn442RCT]

Armored infantry or you could say a light panzer division.

[KingSkullfuck]

@2bn442RCT I was under the impression that it was more like mechanised infantry with large amounts of light vehicles like half-tracks. A highly mobile force of infantry.

[2bn442RCT]

@KingSkullfuck Armored or mechanized whatever word you want to describe half-tracks. Yes they were much more mople than Panzer Divisions. Had a large component of Stugs and stuff like that.

[tjhoenecke]

@StasTarasov ARGH! Skewered by your rapier wit! (I'm using the word "rapier" here as a noun, not as an adjective.)

[StasTarasov]

@tjhoenecke what an idiot XD

[bawad01]

@2bn442RCT I think panzergrenadier theoretically has heavier equipment than a motorized division. Grenadier divisions have a 3:1 (i think) ratio of infantry units to armor. panzer has 3:1 armor to infantry. Panzergrenadier has 1:1, as in its half half. I think the idea of panzergrenadier divisions are very unique and I think were only ever used by Germany in WW2. correct me if I'm wrong.

[tansmshel]

Battle for Berlin

[suspicious35]

@tjhoenecke and the selection process and training were really tough. That said, near the end of the war they lowered they're standards.

[tjhoenecke]

@nicesinging1 Communists don't care about casualties -- the individual counts for nothing. However, great generalship isn't really about keeping casualties low, it's about achieving decisive victories. Of course, decisive victories tend to save lives by shortening the war, but the main concern of the Red Army commanders was to deliver what Stalin demanded so they wouldn't get shot. This bred an indifference to casualties all the way down to NCO level.

[tjhoenecke]

@nicesinging1 Generally speaking, Waffen SS units were superior to Wehrmacht units. They were all fanatical Nazis, they were elite forces, and they got the best equipment, supplies and reinforcements first.

[utuhamuha]

@nicesinging1 Zhukov doesn't care about human losses, it perfectly knew, Stalin Will not forgive him if the battle of berlin will fail will make. It is possible to tell, that the Soviet army has won war owing to huge manpower resources. sorry for my bad english