Introduction
In the closing stages of World War II, the battle for Berlin was of major importance. The question of who reached Berlin first — and the question of which Allied or Axis powers were vying for control of the German capital — is a topic of historical interest. In this article, we will investigate who won, and what happened as the allies entered the city.
The Allied Forces: Approaching Berlin
The Soviet Union’s Advance
When the war in Europe was winding down, the Soviet Union’s Red Army escalated an offensive against German forces. As the Soviet advance went steadily forward, in April 1945, they had encircled Berlin. The Soviets were in an excellent position and overwhelmed by their numbers, either meant to a determined assault upon the city.
The Allied Western Front
Meanwhile, the Western Allies — led by Britain and France but which included the United States — was making good progress in its drive on Berlin. But the Western forces had a more arduous passage to Berlin.
The Battle of Berlin
On 16 April 1945 was waged the Battle of Berlin, the final major offensive on the European theater. Led by Marshal Georgy Zhukov, Soviet forces poured into the heavily fortified German capital in a relentless attack. The Red Army was trying to force its way into German defenses in fierce street to street fighting.
The Soviet Triumph
The Fall of Berlin
On May 2, 1945, after many days of terrible combat, when suddenly, the Red Army finally broke through the German defenses and was essentially captured Berlin. After fighting, the Soviet troops raised their Soviet flag over the Reichstag building. This iconic image of the Soviet flag across the Berlin skyline is an obvious image of the Red Army’s arrival in the city.
Key Soviet Figures
The Battle of Berlin was very important to several important Soviet figures. Of course, general Vasily Chuikov particularly commanded the assault on Berlin and contributed along with so many others in the Soviet victory. That the German defenses had to be overcome by the breakthrough of the French army was due to his leadership and tactical skills.
The Western Allies and Berlin
Delayed Entry
Though the Soviets were to be victors in the race for Berlin, the Western Allies were to make valuable contributions to the war. Since logistics, strategic decision making, and the desire to add captured territory together delayed the Westerns to Berlin than the Soviets, this is the case.
Allied Zones of Occupation
Following Germany’s surrender, Berlin was divided into four zones of occupation: American, British, Soviet and French. In the meantime, the city had become the microcosm of the broader post war division of Germany. Different objectives and policies of each occuping power had resulted abit in Berling divided into East and West sectors.
Conclusion
Finally, in World War II, the Soviet Union, namely Red Army, first entered the city of Berlin first, coming officially on May 2, 1945. The result broke the back of the war and ended the Third Reich. It should be noted, however, that the overall outcome of the war would not have been what it was without the involvement of the Western Allies, and moreover their arrival in Berlin was delayed by a number of factors. The sequence of events and each organization’s contribution to the events are easily understood and the sequence of events and each organization’s contribution are easily understood and allow us to get a full understanding of this important moment in history.
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