Fall of Berlin

DATE: 21/04/2024

TIME (GMT): 18:00

ERA: WW2

MAP(S): Streets of Berlin

TYPE: COOP

TEAMSPEAK: ts1.biaarma.com

GAME: Arma 3

EVENT: Official

AUTHOR(S): Aris and Lord for Brothers in Arms

SLOTS: 66 / 88

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RATING: (31)

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 The Battle of Berlin, designated as the Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation by the Soviet Union, and also known as the Fall of Berlin, was one of the last major offensives of the European theatre of World War II.

After the Vistula Oder offensive of January–February 1945, the Red Army had temporarily halted on a line 60km east of Berlin. On 9 March, Germany established its defence plan for the city with Operation Clausewitz. The first defensive preparations at the outskirts of Berlin were made on 20 March, under the newly appointed commander of Army Group Vistula, General Gotthard Heinrici.

When the Soviet offensive resumed on 16 April, two Soviet fronts (army groups) attacked Berlin from the east and south, while a third overran German forces positioned north of Berlin. Before the main battle in Berlin commenced, the Red Army encircled the city after successful battles of theSeelow Heights and Halbe. On 20 April 1945, Hitler birthday, the 1st Belorussian Front led by Marshal Georgy Zhukov, advancing from the east and north, started shelling Berlin city centre, while Marshal Ivan Konev 1st Ukrainian Front broke through Army Group Centre and advanced towards the southern suburbs of Berlin. On 23 April General Helmuth Weidling assumed command of the forces within Berlin. The garrison consisted of several depleted and disorganised Army and Waffen-SS divisions, along with poorly trained Volkssturm and Hitler Youth members. Over the course of the next week, the Red Army gradually took the entire city.

On 30 April, Hitler and several of his officials committed suicide. The city s garrison surrendered on 2 May but fighting continued to the north-west, west, and south-west of the city until the end of the war in Europe on 8 May as some German units fought westward so that they could surrender to the Western Allies rather than to the Soviets.

In the early hours of 29 April the Soviet 3rd Sock Army crossed the Moltke Bridge and started to fan out into the surrounding streets and buildings.The initial assaults on buildings, including the Ministry of the Interior, were hampered by the lack of supporting artillery.

It was not until the damaged bridges were repaired that artillery could be moved up in support. At 04:00 hours, in the Führerbunker, Hitler signed his and, shortly afterwards, married .

At dawn the Soviets pressed on with their assault in the south-east. After very heavy fighting they managed to capture Gestapo headquarters,but a Waffen-SS counter-attack forced the Soviets to withdraw from the building.

The battle represents the final attack of the Soviets after Hitler died to occupy the Hitler Bunker and the Reichstag building.It is an Urban Battle.