20. Fall of Germany

Question 1

• How the USSR prepare for Operation Bagration?

Answer 1

une 23 Operation Bagration commenced with
attacks on the southern front in Ukraine aimed
at deceiving the Germans into thinking that
was the main focus.
* Instead the main attack came through
Belorussian corridor on Army Group Centre.
* Using a “Deep Battle” strategy the Soviets
used armoured vehicles to punch deep holes
in the German lines before encircling.

Question 2

What actions did Germany make that contributed to their defeat
during Operation Bagration?

Answer 2

March 1944: Hitler ordered that no other
defensive lines beyond the front line were to
be built, as retreat was forbidden. The
Germans built Fester Plätze (strongholds), in
strategic towns but didn’t reinforce the whole
front with mines.

Hitler’s refusal to allow troops to retreat from
Fester Platze’s that were being over run meant
played into the hands of the Soviet strategy +
German troops were encircled

Question 3

Consequence of Operation Bagration

Answer 3

An estimated 350,000 to 670,000 German soldiers were killed, wounded, or
captured. This included 57,000 POWs who were marched through the streets
of Moscow on their way to gulags
* 750,000+ Soviet soldiers died or were wounded

Belorussia was retaken, and vast portions of Poland and the Baltics were also
captured, all in under two months.
* Triggered the Warsaw Uprising which began on the 1st of Aug.
* The Polish partisans expected the Soviet’s to attack Warsaw, h/w Stalin diverted soldiers
south which led to brutal fighting between partisans + Nazi’s
* The Nazi’s crushed the uprising in Oct + over 250.000 poles were killed most of whom
were pro-democracy → Churchill suspected Stalin delayed invasion so it would be easier
to install a communist govt.
* The Soviets are now closer to Berlin than British, French + USA troops who
had invaded Normandy two weeks before Operation Bagration was launched.
* 22nd Aug. Romania defected to the Allies
* 8
th September Bulgaria surrendered

Question 4

• The Battle of the Bulge

Answer 4

The Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944: Germany launched a counter offensive on the
western front in the hope a defeat would lead to the USA seeking peace terms.
* The Germans managed to push the Allies back into Belgium. It would take almost 2 months
until the Allies retook the territory thanks to overwhelming troop + material advantage

Question 5

The Battle of Berlin

Answer 5

6th April: USSR launched the offensive on Berlin. German defence was well
organised + the Russians lost 30,000 men in 3 days trying to cross the Oder river.
* 20th April: USSR was close enough to begin shelling the city centre
* 30th April Hitler committed suicide in his bunker + appointed Admiral Donitz his
successor
* 2nd May German forces in Berlin surrenders
* 7th May Germany surrenders unconditionally= the war in Europe is over

Question 6

Impact on the war on German civilians

Answer 6

• Sept 1944: Hitler widened conscription to include all men 16-60yo (Volksstrum)
  along with the Hitler Youth. This led to 1000’s deaths of males, not properly
  trained or equipped
• Mass graves of some of the one million murdered civilians were uncovered; crops and
  livestock had been destroyed, towns and villages razed, all of which served to infuriate the
  Soviet soldiers

The army didn’t discourage looting as USSR soldiers were allowed to send one
package of loot home a month. Soldiers were forced to listen to propaganda
speeches about German actions at Leningrad → motivation for revenge
* Along with damage to property mass rapes and killings were common during
the Soviet advance.
* Up to 2 million German women were raped + 2 mill civs killed during the Red army advance
+ occupation
* Millions of Germans had become refugees or internally displaced as they fled the
advancing USSR