APRIL 16th 1945 Battle Of Berlin

Happy 2nd Lt. William Robertson and Lt. Alexander Sylvashko, Russian Army, shown in front of sign [East Meets West] symbolizing the historic meeting of the Russian and American Armies, near Torgau, Germany

The final battle of the Eastern front began on April 16th, as Soviet troops attempted to capture Berlin. German troops fought to the last man, but the Soviet victory was inevitable. The Soviets completed the capture of Berlin on May 2, 1945

The last battle in the European theater was the battle to capture Berlin. The German were determined to fight to the end to stop the Soviets. The first stage of the battle was the Battle of Seelow Heights. It was fought between April 16th - April 19th . One million Soviet soldiers face off against 100,000 German soldiers. The Soviets broke through on April 19th. It cost them 30,000 soldiers to the 12,000 Germans who died. Once they broke through the Soviets were able to envelop the German 9th Army. On April 20th Soviet artillery began shelling central Berlin. On April 23rd the Soviets began assaulting the city and reached the Teltow Canal by the evening of the April 24th. by then the Soviet forces had succeed in encircling the city. The Germans were left with 45,000 unprepared troops to defend the center of Berlin.

On April 29th the Soviet troops reached the center of the city and started to assault the government buildings. Hitler signed his last will and testament, married Eva Braun an then committed suicide. It took the Soviets another two days to fully capture the city and for the German defenders to surrender.