The Battle for Germany

Abstract

Stalin assigned two axes of advance into Germany at the start of 1945: Zhukov’s 1 st Byelorussian Front would proceed from Warsaw to Berlin, while Konev’s 1 st Ukrainian headed towards Breslau. They outnumbered Army Groups A and Centre twofold in infantry, fourfold in tanks, and sevenfold in artillery, which they had come to use in blistering preludes to their unsubtle direct forward advances. The Red Air Force dominated the air. Konev got off to a start on 12 January behind an enormous barrage. Zhukov’s advance began on 14 January. Warsaw was encircled and fell on 17 January. On 21 January, Hitler created a new army, the Army of the Vistula, under Himmler: an appointment determined by loyalty not military talent. Himmler’s forces were mainly volkssturm — militias of old men and boys. Konev crossed the Oder into Germany at Steinau on 22 January.