Final battle in Berlin
On this day, however, the Russian attention concentrates on the German Reichstag. Three battalions attack at 10.00 after artillery preparation. They only move on slowly because the resistance from the anti-aircraft gun of Lieutenant Franz and the 8.8 cm guns of the batteries Radloff and Richter. A shattered King Tiger with the number 314 fires out of an earth bunker at Russian tanks on the other side of the Spree and keeps them at distance. The Light Infantry Regiment 756 under Captain Neustrojew manages to penetrate into the building at long last. The red flag flies at 20.50 on the dome of the German Reichstag. This message does not reach Hitler any more. He has already committed suicide together with his Mrs Eva Braun at 15.30.
At 18.07 Bormann sends a radio message to Großadmiral (grand admiral) Dönitz : Instead of Reichsmarschall Göring the Führer put you Herr Großadmiral into place as his successor. A written power of attorney will follow". No word of Hitler's death. Dönitz learns this only the next day at 14.46. In the evening chaotic discussions about the next steps begin in the Chancellery. Weidling wants the escape, Goebbels, the new German Chancellor, is strictly against this. At 02.00 General Krebs who speaks a little Russian and Oberst (colonel) von Dufving with the Latvian Obersturmführer (lieutenant) Neilandsas an interpreter to Chuikovs command post at the Schulenburgring in Tempelhof. But the Russians want to know nothing about an armistice. They want the unconditional surrender. Krebs returns to the Chancellery without having achieved anything. A little later, at 10.20 a drumfire hammers down on the last defended zones of the city. Ten Russian aircraft attack the huge anti-aircraft gun towers.
With the encirclement of Berlin on April 25 the final battle for the capital of the Reich begins. Hitler is determined to defend the city up to the utmost and is likewise determined not to fall into Stalins hands alive. The Royal Air Force flies its last great night attack on the capital on April 21. The Americans end their air campaign with a day attack on April 21 after they have already dug over the rubble of the centre the day before with 1,000 bombers. On April 24 a combat battalion and an accompanying company of the 33. SS Division "Charlemagne" under leadership of the SS Major General Dr. Krukenberg heads for Berlin with twelve trucks. The division was crushed in battles in Pomerania in March and was transferred to Neustrelitz to freshen up. But the tranquillity does not last for a long time. The excellently francophone lawyer Krukenberg lets the young Frenchmen chose to fight or to work on constructions of defences. He explains the situation to them ruthlessly. 60%, among them also officers, vote for the construction work after that. The rest moves under leadership of Hauptsturmführer (captain) Fenet with Krukenberg to Berlin. At the last moment at Falkenrehde they just make it into town before the ring closes.
On April 26 flight captain, test pilot and passionate Nazi supporter Hanna Reitsch flies with the new Commander-In-Chief of the Luftwaffe, Ritter von Greim, in a Fieseler Storch to the East-West-Axis in the zoo to pay a visit to Hitler.
In the night from April 27 Dönitz summons another battalion of marines, Krukenberg talks about a company, to fly to Gatow. They shall defend the city centre with the SS Division "Nordland". Gatow itself is already lost the same day. The defence of Berlin is divided up into zones. The zone Z, the centre is led by SS Major General Mohnke. This zone is divided into two defence sectors: Subsection west and east. The west is commanded by Oberstleutnant (lieutenant-colonel) Seifert with command post at the RLM, the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (ministry of aeronautics). The eastern sector is under command of Dr. Krukenberg with command post in the State Opera. Line of separation is the Wilhelmstrasse.
On April 23 General Weidling Commander of the LVI. Panzer Korps is summoned to Hitler to the Chancellery who wants to have him shot because of refusal to obey orders. There it proves fast that all accusations are invented freely and Hitler assigns the overall responsibility to him in return for the defence of Berlin reporting to him directly. Weidling subdivides the town into fighting zones. Zone A & B (east): Major General Mummert, now General of the Korps. Zone C (the southeast), under command of SS Brigadeführer (major general) Ziegler, SS Panzergrenadier Division "Nordland". Zone D (Tempelhof): Colonel Wöhlermann, Korpsartillery Commander. Zone E (the southwest & Grunewald): Major General Rauch, 18. Panzergrenadier Division. Zone F (Spandau & Charlottenburg): Oberstleutnant Eder.
It turns out very fast that the given positions and command bunkers are of pure imagination. Simply there is nothing. The complete defence of Berlin was built on sand. One had failed simply to make the really necessary installations in due time. The number of battle ready Panzers of the division "Nordland" were, according to Dr. Krukenberg, eight Tigers and assault tanks all of them positioned in the zoo. Until the evening of April 26 the defenders in the north are forced back by the Russians up to the circle line with the anti-aircraft gun tower Humboldthain as a corset bone. In the east the main frontline runs from the Prenzlauer Berg Allee along the anti-aircraft gun tower Friedrichshain, Friedrichshain Schloss, Spittelmarkt, Belle Alliance Platz, Schmargendorf, Grunewald to the river Havel.
The next day the artillery fire is intensified on the centre. Weidling moves with his staff into the Bendlerblock and registers intense attacks along the Frankfurter Allee and at many other neuralgic points of the centre, from everywhere a stream of non battle worthy German soldiers flock to the city centre. The18. Panzergrenadier Division is instructed to attack in the direction of the Potsdam with the last Panzers and 15 SPWs. But the attack collapses quickly on both sides of the Avus in the concentric fire of the Soviets. The attack turns into a retreat which is stopped only at the Kurfürstendamm.
Over and over again lone Tigers of SS Panzer Abteilung 503 save the situation in the west. Many regiments of "Nordland", "Danmark" and "Charlemagne" lie in the subsection east of the centre in reserve position in cellars of the Leipziger Straße which is still passable. "Norge" and "Danmark" have a strength of 600 men each however, are no homogenous units any longer. The pressure on the defenders gets heavier and heavier. "Müncheberg" can no longer hold position at the Anhalter station and retires to the north. Division Commander Mummert moves his command post into the 1st floor of the subway station "Potsdamer Platz". Also "Nordland" transfers its battle post to the subway station "Stadtmitte" (city centre).The division supplies itself from food stores at the Gendarmenmarkt and Panzerfäuste (bazookas) , the fright of the Russian T 34 crews, from the Chancellery. The wounded are taken care of at the hotel Adlon, later in the Chancellery.
Within these hours the remains of the Battalion "Charlemagne" fight from Neukölln and the Anhalter Bahnhof (station) back into the proximity of the subway station "Mitte". Dr. Krugmann honours a number of the fighters who are facing an enormous superior strength with Iron Crosses.
In the night of April 27 the last briefing takes place in Hitler's bunker. Gloomy pessimism spreads out. Mohnke tells the story of six Russian tanks that made it to the Wilhelmplatz. They were finally taken care of by anti-tank combat groups of "Charlemagne". The French fighter Vaulot reports his 6th tank kill in Berlin. The generals who used to deal with divisions and corps are now talking of single guns they place in direction of the Belle Alliance Platz or Unter den Linden. Weidling reports from the loss of the last big supply depot to the west port and indicates the senselessness of the fight.
In the morning of April the "Charlemagne" attacks tanks at Belle Alliance Platz and destroys a number of them. "Norge" also stops a Russian tank attack successfully with three kills at the Spittelmarkt. On this day Stalin assigns new separation lines to his army commanders. Zhukov is preferred with the German Reichstag and the city. Zhukov gives the historic order to Major General Perewjortin of the LXXIX. Light Infantry Corps of the 3. Push Army to storm the Reichstag: “Cross the river Spree, occupy the Reichstag and hoist the flag of victory on top of it". For the Russians the German Reichstag is synonym for Nazi power that caused so much grief for the Soviet Union. While Perewjotkin is planning the storm, Weidling meditates over an escape plan. The last 40 tanks and assault guns shall take the way about the Havel bridges at Pichelsdorf and secure Hitlers escape from Berlin.
Goebbels almost explodes when he learns from the plan and tries to make it appear ridiculous. For Goebbels it is imperative that the twilight of the gods must take place in Berlin shall the idea of National Socialism survive the collapse. Hitler considers carefully and comes to the conclusion that he would stay at the Reichshauptstadt until his suicide. It is perhaps at the back of his mind that "the fight of the Führer up to the last cartridge" would make Goebbels theory more plausibel. Weidlings plan is declined. In the night to April 29 Hitler marries Eva Braun and dictates his personal and political will to his secretary Junge.
April 29 is accompanied by signs of disintegration. Hitler learns of Himmlers activities for a separate peace treaty with the western Allies. When HitlersAdjutant and brother-in-law SS General Fegelein is caught while deserting the city, he is shot as con-initiator of the Himmler action and deserter in the garden of the Chancellery. The hope of relief by the Army Wenck dominates the German fighters in the city centre. Wenck is their last hope. And therefore they further hold out against the superior opponent. The "Charlemagne" fighter Vaulot receives the Ritterkreuz, the Knight's Cross from Dr. Krukenberg for the destruction of eight enemy tanks. Further soldiers of the "Nordland" and "Charlemagne" as well as the Commander of the Schwere (heavy) SS Panzerabteilung 503, Sturmbannführer (major) Herzig are awarded the Ritterkreuz.from Major General Mohnke .The French fighters hold the Hedemann Strasse now up to the afternoon. They then have to go back to Puttkamerstrasse. The Anhalter station is occupied by Russians. The last 63 men of the anti-aircraft gun detachment "Nordland" fight in the Lindenstrasse as infantrymen. At the Spittelmarkt the gate to the Leipzig Strasse, groups of the "Norge" hold out against the Soviets. Major General Bärenfänger and his men fight at the Alexanderplatz, the anti-aircraft gun towers to the northeast hold in check the enemy.
The hell is loose at the German Reichstag in the early morning hours. Soldiers of the 756th Light Infantry regiment succeed in crossing the badly damaged Moltkebrücke (bridge) are then confronted with a building of the Innenministerium, (Home Office) which they call "Himmler House". Up to the evening the German resistance holds them back. The resistance is then broken and the way to the German Reichstag is open. The German Reichstag itself is defended by the 9.Paratrooper Division, members of SS, and remains of the navy battalion flown to Gatow. At the same time Hitler asks General Mohnke:"How long can you hold?" Mohnkes answer: "Maximum 20 - 24 hours".
At the Alexanderplatz wreckless Russian gunners of Bersarins 5. Push Army shoot to pieces the police headquarters from open firing positions. In the evening Second Lieutenant Gromow hoists the banner at the Rotes Rathaus (the city hall is called Red because of the red bricks the building is made of) . In the evening a last briefing takes place in Hitler's bunker. His question about the whereabouts of army Wenck and the troops of Steiner are answered by Keitel and Jodl: 1.Vanguard Wenck has been stopped to the south of Lake Schwielow. 2. Therefore 12.Army cannot continue their attack on Berlin. 3. 9.Army encircled. 4. Korps "Holste" forced into defence".
On April 30 the Russians intensify the battle. Zhukov wants to make Stalin a present on May 1 with the fall of Berlin. But still the fight goes on undiminished. Heavy fights take place at the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtnis-Kirche (Emperor Wilhelm Memorial Church) and the Budapester Straße in the west. At the Landwehrkanal some Panzers and self-propelled quadruplet anti-aircraft guns of "Norge" attack Russian positions. The attack fails and a King Tiger is shot down by an IS Stalin from the other side of Landwehrkanal. Oberscharführer (sergeant) Turk prevents further advance of Russian tanks with his King Tiger at the Potsdamer Platz. Towards midnight the fight eases off there.
On May 1 the cauldron around the Chancellery is further squashed. Bormann finally tells Dönitz the plain truth and informs him he is the new Reichspräsident. At 19.00, Weidling returns to his bunker in the Bendlerblock. The Generals Krebs and Burgdorf shoot themselves. Magda Goebbels kills her six children and she and her husband commit suicide. At 21.00 Mohnke and his troop commanders agree upon the escape from Berlin. It is pre-arranged with Weidling not to capitulate to the morning of May 2 to give the different groups opportunity for the escape.
May 1 and the significance of this day for the Red Army soldiers help the escapees with their operation. Those who celebrate do not fight and so many groups succeed to come loose of the enemy unrecognized. Turk with his King Tiger still is at the Potsdamer Platz, it is quiet and the subway station is full of civilians. Here he learns from a soldier, that a breakout is planned for the night at the Weidendammer Brücke. Turk sends home Hitler Jugend (Hitler Youth) and Volkssturm, assembles his men and heads for Spandau.
The remains of the division "Müncheberg" a few Panzer IV and the King Tigers, lead a march column over the Ost-West Straße in the direction of Spandau, another two King Tigers and SPWs of the 18. Panzergrenadier Division join them in Halensee. In front of the Schulenburg bridge in Spandau an infinite flow of vehicles piles up at dawn. The Russians have set up a road block and try to prevent the crossing with all means. Mummert forms an attack group. The last two King Tigers drive to the bridge to give fire cover. Then four tanks, half tracks and self-propelled assault tanks dash over and cover from over there. With lightning speed the Russian bridge guard and their anti-tank guns are wiped out and the race for Spandau continues. But the Russians shoot from roofs, with artillery and use low-flying aircrafts. But tens of thousands want cross the bridge. The rush is so big that it will last the whole day until the last one has passed the bridge, and the further sector through to Spandau and to Staaken is no less heavily loss-making than the first sector. The end is near wehen they reach the railway embankment at Staaken. The tanks cannot battle the mortars that are positioned behind the dam. Russian intermediaries together with members of the Hitler Jugend explain to the Germans that the war is over for them but the big mass wants to join Army Wenck under any circumstances. In the evening of May 3 they break through. The ones who make it are held back by heavy fire at another road block near Döberitz. Only a few come through. The rest falls or goes into captivity.
On May 1 at 23.00 General Mohnke with another group of escapees get on their way .Among them are some out of Hitler's bunker like the two Hitler secretaries Jung and Christian. The aim is the Weidendammer Brücke.The underground shafts are used to advance undiscovered. They arrive at the Humboldthain at dawn. The survivors of the divisions "Norge" and "Nordland" also make themselves ready for departure and assemble at the S-Bahnhof Friedrichstrasse (train sstation). The King Tiger with the number 314, together with four tanks and and eight SPWs form the top. The King Tiger crosses the bridge and runs over an anti-tank obstacle. It is still quiet with the Russians. Only when order is given for departure, the Tiger is hit after some hundred metres. The Russians are wide-awake now. From the Johannis- and Ziegelstrasse they get fire. Some Panzers and SPWs are destroyed quickly. Only the King Tiger, led by an officer familiar with the locality manages the breakthrough only to be stopped by another road block a few hundred meters further down the road.
All hell breaks loose behind the Tiger. Russian artillery aims at the bridge and mortars fire endlessly. A German SPW with a 4.7 cm anti-tank gun fires 50 shots within these minutes to turn the opposing fire off in the Friedrichstrasse. A blazing assault gun blocks the way. Only at 03.00 the hull is burned out and can be passed. But only very few succeed in reaching the next rallying point at the Humboldthain. General Bärenfänger consults his soldiers before they decide to give up. But not everyone agrees. Single groups venture the breakthrough and one in particular, consisting of five assault guns, makes it actually all the way to Oranienburg where they break up.
At the station Friedrichstraße small groups try again and again to break out, also Martin Bormann who gets killed near the Lehrter Bahnhof (station). Thanks to a Yugoslavian foreign worker Hitler's driver Kempka actually manages to get out of Berlin. On May 30 he swims through the river Elbe at Wittenberge and is arrested by the Americans in Berchtesgaden.
The official end of the battle around Berlin is registered on May 2 at 05.00. Weidling is driven to Tempelhof in Chuikov`s headquarters where he signs the surrender document. In the afternoon the Russians drive him through the destroyed city of Berlin to give him a full picture of the utter destruction. Also the anti-aircraft gun bunker at the zoo surrenders at 05.00. The garrison must march to the Tiergarten where Russian tanks are already lined up for review. The Russian soldiers offer the losers cigarettes. Towards noon the last SS stronghold in the Tiergarten surrenders to the 79th Guard Division.
In the following days many try to flee from Berlin unrecognized or to hide at least. The Major General of the Waffen SS, Dr. Krukenberg, disappears in Berlin - Dahlem. But he changes his mind and reports to the Russian commanding officer in Steglitz on May 14. He wants to share the captivity with his soldiers. The Russians grant him this request for 11 years.