WW II Battle for Berlin Question (1 Viewer)

[PanzerAce1944]

What army group was Hitler counting on to relieve the encircled Berlin defenders ?

 

[Grognard]

XII Army Group.

 

[breslau]

Agree it was 12th Army Group under the youngest general in the German Army - Walther Wenck.

Earlier, hope was placed in Felix Steiner's 11th SS Panzer Army which largely existed on paper only.

 

[PanzerAce1944]

What happened to the 9th Army that was in the area, or was it so weak at this point it was not even a consideration ???? ^&confuse

 

[breslau]

What happened to the 9th Army that was in the area, or was it so weak at this point it was not even a consideration ???? ^&confuse

The 9th Army defended the Seelow Heighs and eastern towns before Berlin like Frankfurt an der Oder. Hitler ordered it to link-up with the 12th Army but it was largely destroyed south-east of Berlin near Halbe.

Tony Le Tissier has done a number of books on this period including the destruction of the 9th Army. I'm soon going to start his book the Siege of Kustrin 1945. Also released last month is a new book the Oder Front 1945 by A. Stephan Hamilton.

 

[fmethorst]

Here is what the situation looked like April 25, 1945:

 

[Mitch]

Great book the Oder front
Mitch

 

[PanzerAce1944]

Thanks. This is my favorite European theater battle. If I am not mistaken didn't the Russians suffer around 300,000 casualties in taking Berlin ????

 

[fmethorst]

Berlin Stratigic Offensive Operation (April 16 - May 8, 1945)

2nd Byelorussian Front
Strength - 441,600
Casualties - 59,110 (13%)

1st Byelorussian Front
Strength - 908,500
Casualties - 179,490 (20%)

1st Ukranian Front
Strength - 550,900
Casualties - 113,825 (21%)

1st and 2nd Polish Armies
Strength - 155,900
Casualties - 8,892 (6%)

Casualties include irrecoverable losses and sick/wounded.

Comparison of material losses between the battles of Kursk and Berlin
Kursk (July 5 - July 23, 1943) - 19 days
Berlin (April 16 - May 8, 1945) - 23 days

Tanks and Self Propelled Guns
Kursk - 1,614 (85/day)
Berlin - 1,997 (87/day)

Guns and Mortars
Kursk - 3929 (207/day)
Berlin - 2108 (92/day)

Aircraft
Kursk - 459 (24/day)
Berlin - 917 (40/day)

Source "Bloody Streets" by Stephan Hamilton

 

[PanzerAce1944]

Thanks fmethorst, Close to 360,00 Russian casualties. They paid with blood for Berlin!