Slaughter at Halbe : the Destruction of Hitler's 9th Army, April 1945

Operation 'Berlin', the Soviet offensive launched on 16 April, 1945, by Marshals Zhukov and Koniev, isolated the German Ninth Armyy and tens of thousands of refugees in the Spreewald 'pocket', south-east of Berlin. Stalin ordered its encirclement and destruction and his subordinates, eager to win the race to the Reichstag, pushed General Busse's 9th Army into a tiny area east of the village of Halbe. To escape the Spreewald pocket, the remnants of 9th Army had to pass through Halbe, where barricades constructed by both sides formed formidable obstacles and the converging Soviet forces sub.;Cover; Title; Copyright; Contents; Abbreviations; Introduction; 1 Preparing for 'Operation Berlin'; 2 Breaching the Oder-Neisse Defences; 3 9th Army Encircled -- 21 April 1945; 4 Destroy the 9th Army -- 22 April 1945; 5 12th Army to the Rescue -- 23 April 1945; 6 The Soviets Close In -- 24 April 1945; 7 No Luck for von Luck -- 25 April 1945; 8 Preparing the BreakOut -- 26 April 1945; 9 The Pocket Shrinks -- 27 April 1945; 10 The Eye of the Needle -- 28 April 1945; 11 Breaching Koniev's Lines -- 29 April 1945; 12 12th Army Waits -- 30 April 1945; 13 The Last Leg -- 1 May 1945; 14 Retreat to the Elbe. Operation 'Berlin', the Soviet offensive launched on 16 April 1945 by Marshals Zhukov and Koniev, isolated the German 9th Army and tens of thousands of refugees in the Spreewald 'pocket', south-east of Berlin. Stalin ordered its encirclement and destruction and his subordinates, eager to win the race to the Reichstag, pushed General Busse's 9th Army into a tiny area east of the village of Halbe. Meanwhile General Wenck's 12th Army, ordered to disengage with the American forces on the Elbe and come to the relief of Berlin, launched an attack from the southwest in a desperate bid to rescue the 9th. To escape the Spreewald pocket the remnants of 9th Army had to pass through Halbe, where barricades constructed by both sides formed formidable obstacles and the converging Soviet forces subjected the area to heavy artillery fire. By the time the 9th Army eventually escaped the Soviet pincers and linked up with the 12th Army, it had suffered over 40,000 killed and 60,000 taken prisoner.Teenaged refugees recount their experiences alongside Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS veterans attempting to maintain military discipline amid the chaos and carnage of headlong retreat. While army commanders strive to extricate their decimated units, demoralised soldiers change into civilian clothing and take to the woods. Relating the story day by day, Tony Le Tissier shows the impact of total war upon soldier and civilian alike, illuminating the unfolding of great and terrible events with the recollections of participants Operation 'berlin', The Soviet Offensive Launched On 16 April, 1945, By Marshals Zhukov And Koniev, Isolated The German Ninth Army And Tens Of Thousands Of Refugees In The Spreewald 'pocket', South-east Of Berlin. Stalin Ordered Its Encirclement And Destruction And His Subordinates, Eager To Win The Race To The Reichstag, Pushed General Busse's 9th Army Into A Tiny Area East Of The Village Of Halbe. To Escape The Spreewald Pocket, The Remnants Of 9th Army Had To Pass Through Halbe, Where Barricades Constructed By Both Sides Formed Formidable Obstacles And The Converging Soviet Forces Subjected The Area To Heavy Artillery Fire. By The Time 9th Army Eventually Escaped The Soviet Pincers, It Had Suffered 40,000 Killed And 60,000 Taken Prisoner. Teenaged Refugees Recount Their Experiences Alongside Wehrmacht And Waffen-ss Veterans Attempting To Maintain Military Discipline Amid The Chaos And Carnage Of Headlong Retreat. While Army Commanders Strive To Extricate Their Decimated Units, Demoralised Soldiers Change Into Civilian Clothing And Take To The Woods. Relating The Story Day By Day, Tony Le Tissier Shows The Impact Of Total War Upon Soldier And Civilian Alike, Illuminating The Unfolding Of Great And Terrible Events With The Recollections Of Participants. Operation 'Berlin', the Soviet offensive launched on 16 April 1945 by Marshals Zhukov and Koniev, isolated the German 9th Army and tens of thousands of refugees in the Spreewald 'pocket', south-east of Berlin. Stalin ordered its encirclement and destruction, and his subordinates, eager to win the race to the Reichstag, pushed General Busse's 9th Army into a tiny area east of the village of Halbe. To escape the Spreewald pocket, the remnants of 9th Army had to pass through Halbe, where barricades constructed by both sides formed formidable obstacles and the converging Soviet forces subjected the area to heavy artillery fire. By the time 9th Army eventually escaped the Soviet pincers, it had suffered 40,000 killed and 60,000 taken prisoner. In Slaughter at Halbe , teenaged refugees recount their experiences alongside Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS veterans attempting to maintain military discipline amid the chaos and carnage of headlong retreat. Relating the story day by day, Tony Le Tissier shows the impact of total war upon soldier and civilian alike. Cover Title Copyright Contents Abbreviations Introduction 1 Preparing for 'Operation Berlin' 2 Breaching the Oder-Neisse Defences 3 9th Army Encircled -- 21 April 1945 4 Destroy the 9th Army -- 22 April 1945 5 12th Army to the Rescue -- 23 April 1945 6 The Soviets Close In -- 24 April 1945 7 No Luck for von Luck -- 25 April 1945 8 Preparing the BreakOut -- 26 April 1945 9 The Pocket Shrinks -- 27 April 1945 10 The Eye of the Needle -- 28 April 1945 11 Breaching Koniev's Lines -- 29 April 1945 12 12th Army Waits -- 30 April 1945 13 The Last Leg -- 1 May 1945 14 Retreat to the Elbe. 15 AftermathAppendix A Soviet Forces Engaged Against the HalbePocket B Order of Battle: German 9th Army C Order of Battle: German 12th Army Bibliography.

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