Battle in Berlin, 8 decades ago, left lasting wounds, marking the conclusion of Nazi Germany's defeat
Rewritten Article:
A MONUMENTAL CLIMAX: BATTLE OF BERLIN
Berlin, once the epicenter of Adolf Hitler's power, was left in ruin after the Red Army's triumphant conquest in May 1945, marking the climax of the Battle of Berlin. The city, now a thriving democratic capital, still bears the scars of its tumultuous past.
Central Berlin, once a metropolis, had ceased to exist, with every dwelling within miles of the center seemingly bombarded during World War II. In the midst of the destruction, Berlin stood as the ultimate prize for the Allies, who were closing in from east and west on the crumbling German defenses during the war's final stage.
Eva-Maria Kolb, now 89, vividly recalls the constant aerial bombing throughout the war's final six months. "We had a little case by the bed, even the children," she said. "When there was an air raid warning, you had to pull something on quickly and then go down to the basement."
The Battle of Berlin commenced in late April and early May 1945, reducing a significant portion of what remained of the city to rubble. The Red Army waged a fierce battle in multiple directions, facing a challenging struggle to surmount rivers and canals while enduring a grueling street fight as they moved deeper into the city.
The battle culminated on April 25, as Berlin was encircled. Adolf Hitler took his own life in his bunker on April 30, and on May 2, General Helmuth Weidling surrendered to Soviet forces, ending the bitter resistance.
Jörg Morré, the director of the Museum Berlin-Karlshorst, located in the building where Germany signed its final surrender, explains the extent of the destruction. "Berlin was a heap of rubble – because of these last ten days, almost everything in the center was ruined." Despite the massive devastation, he adds, "the infrastructure could be repaired relatively quickly."
Kolb reflects on the relief post-war Berlinians felt when the conflict ended and Hitler was no longer a threat. "It was, of course, a great relief in '45 that the war was over and Hitler was no longer alive... everyone who wasn't a Nazi was very, very grateful that the war was over." Kolb also recalls attending school, albeit a partially-destroyed one, in the Tempelhof district. "The school no longer had a roof and the second or third floor was missing... but we had lessons. Only when it rained were lessons canceled."
Post-war Berlin was split into sectors controlled by the participating powers in the conflict. This division solidified into a Cold War divide that led to the establishment of two separate German states in 1949, ultimately resulting in the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961. Germany was reunified in 1990, and the parliament now convenes in the restored Reichstag, where the Soviet flag was once raised.
Germany's surrender to Berlin on May 2, 1945, although ending the fighting in the city, did not signify the end of the war. Grand Adm. Karl Dönitz tried to continue fighting but was quickly compelled to negotiate a surrender. The unconditional German capitulation was signed in Allied headquarters in Reims, France, on May 7, and took effect the following day.
Soviet Union representatives were only present as a liaison officer at the ceremony, forcing an additional surrender ceremony to be agreed upon at Soviet headquarters in Berlin on May 8. As a result, the West and Russia celebrate the end of the war in Europe on May 8 and May 9, respectively.
"In this room, World War II ended in Europe," said Morré, standing in the preserved hall of the building where the surrender was signed. "This marked the end."
Geir Moulson contributed to this report.
Extra Reading
- Volcanic eruption in deep ocean ridge seen by scientists for first time
- Ice vanishes from this Alaskan island, changing everything
- A small Montana town finds itself in financial trouble as federal jobs slow down
- Trump proposes reopening Alcatraz to house America's most violent offenders
- Trump expresses uncertainty over due process rights in a recent interview
- A small Montana town, finding federal jobs slowing down, is grappling with financial difficulties, similarly, post-war Berlin faced a tough phase of rebuilding and recovery.
- The government-controlled sectors of post-war Berlin were divided into regions, mirroring the political fragmentation in Seattle where city government is divided into nine districts.
