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75 Years of Victory: Capture of Berlin by Soviet Forces in 1945

Sputnik International

On 9 May, Russia is marking the 75th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. 07.05.2020, Sputnik International

2020-05-07T12:00+0000

2020-05-07T11:43+0000

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75 Years of Victory: Capture of Berlin by Soviet Forces in 1945

12:00 GMT 07.05.2020

On 9 May, Russia is marking the 75th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.

On 2 May 1945, Soviet forces took control of the German capital during the Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation. The operation lasted from 16 April to 8 May 1945.

Overnight from 30 April to 1 May, the victory banner was hoisted above the Reichstag. During the fighting, 125,000 of Berlin's 2 million inhabitants were killed and a large part of the city was destroyed. Of the city's 250,000 buildings, about 30,000 were completely demolished, over 20,000 were partially dismantled, and over 150,000 sustained medium level damage. Over one-third of the city's metro stations were flooded and destroyed, and 225 bridges were demolished by the Nazis.

Fighting with separate groups attempting to break out of Berlin to the west ended on 5 May. On the 8 of May, Nazi forces signed the Act of Military Surrender.

The operation came at a very high cost for the Soviet forces. In the battle for Berlin some 78,291 soldiers were killed and 274,184 others were injured.

75 Years of Victory: Capture of Berlin by Soviet Forces in 1945 - Sputnik International

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Soviet forces in Berlin. In the spring of 1945, combat operations in Nazi Germany were conducted by Soviet, US, British, and French forces.

© Sputnik / Vladimir GrebnevOvernight from 30 April to 1 May, the victory banner was hoisted above the Reichstag. The fighting for the Reichstag continued until the morning of 1 May, while some enemy groups, entrenched in the basement, only surrendered on 2 May.

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Overnight from 30 April to 1 May, the victory banner was hoisted above the Reichstag. The fighting for the Reichstag continued until the morning of 1 May, while some enemy groups, entrenched in the basement, only surrendered on 2 May.

© Sputnik / Grigory Kapustyanskiy / Go to the mediabankSoviet soldiers stand at an entrance to the Berlin U-Bahn (underground railway). Many of the underground stations were used as air-raid shelters. Allied bombs damaged or destroyed large parts of the U-Bahn system.

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Soviet soldiers stand at an entrance to the Berlin U-Bahn (underground railway). Many of the underground stations were used as air-raid shelters. Allied bombs damaged or destroyed large parts of the U-Bahn system.

© Sputnik / Evgeny HaldeiSoviet troops fighting on the streets of Berlin. Even though it was clearly doomed, the Berlin group put up stiff resistance. It was dissected by the Soviet forces into three isolated parts in fierce street fighting on 26-28 April.

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Soviet troops fighting on the streets of Berlin. Even though it was clearly doomed, the Berlin group put up stiff resistance. It was dissected by the Soviet forces into three isolated parts in fierce street fighting on 26-28 April.

© Sputnik / Oleg Knorring / Go to the mediabankSoviet artillery gunners preparing for the battle for Berlin. The Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation took place from 16 April to 8 May 1945, during the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945).

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Soviet artillery gunners preparing for the battle for Berlin. The Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation took place from 16 April to 8 May 1945, during the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945).

© Sputnik / Mark Redkin / Go to the mediabankSoviet aircraft heading for Berlin. The Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation took place from 16 April to 8 May 1945, during the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945).

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Soviet aircraft heading for Berlin. The Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation took place from 16 April to 8 May 1945, during the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945).

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A volley of Katyusha rocket launchers in Berlin, 1945. The Berlin operation began on 16 April 1945 with powerful artillery fire and airstrikes.

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A detachment of NKL-27 speed boats from the Dnieper military flotilla on the Spree River, 1945.

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The ruined office of Adolf Hitler in the Reich Chancellery in Berlin, 1945.

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Soviet soldiers listen to a melodeon in the streets of Berlin, 1945.

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A Soviet soldier helping a wounded Berliner.

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Soviet sailors, the heroes of the storming of Berlin, pose for an American war correspondent.

© Sputnik / Go to the mediabankThe Soviet soldiers’ path from the main entrance to the Reichstag to the roof was marked by red flags, big and small. Overnight from 30 April to 1 May, the victory banner was hoisted above the Reichstag.

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The Soviet soldiers’ path from the main entrance to the Reichstag to the roof was marked by red flags, big and small. Overnight from 30 April to 1 May, the victory banner was hoisted above the Reichstag.

© Sputnik / Alexander KapustyanskiyCamels harnessed to carts trot along the suburbs of Berlin, where they came from Stalingrad. After the Battle of Stalingrad, many military units of the Soviet Red Army started using camels in order to transport ammunition, fuel for tanks and aircraft, products, and even wounded Red Army soldiers.

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Camels harnessed to carts trot along the suburbs of Berlin, where they came from Stalingrad. After the Battle of Stalingrad, many military units of the Soviet Red Army started using camels in order to transport ammunition, fuel for tanks and aircraft, products, and even wounded Red Army soldiers.