Monday, May 22, 2023

What a final campaign looks like: April 1945,Germany

 



In the final stages of World War II, the situation in Germany was dire. After the Soviet charge on Berlin, beginning on April 16, 1945, the German front collapsed, and the last remaining German armies were scattered. Adolf Hitler, however, saw a glimmer of hope and attempted to organize his last military plan. He had at his disposal several units, including what was left of Busse's 9th Army, surrounded at Halbe, Hubert Graser's 4th Panzer Army, Wenck's 12th Army, and Felix Steiner's detachment.

Hitler's orders to these units were as follows:

  1. Busse's 9th Army: Hitler ordered Busse's 9th Army to break out of the encirclement at Halbe and head towards Berlin to reinforce the city's defence. However, the 9th Army was severely weakened and faced overwhelming Soviet forces. Despite their efforts, they could not break out successfully, and most of the remaining soldiers were captured or killed.

  2. Graser's 4th Panzer Army: Hitler instructed Graser's 4th Panzer Army to launch a counteroffensive to relieve Berlin. However, the 4th Panzer Army was also heavily depleted and needed more resources and strength to achieve a significant breakthrough. They faced fierce opposition from the Soviet forces and could not achieve their objective.

  3. Wenck's 12th Army: Hitler ordered Wenck's 12th Army to launch a counteroffensive towards Berlin from the south, aiming to link up with the city's defenders. Wenck's forces managed to make some progress and reached the outskirts of Berlin, but they were ultimately unable to break through and were forced to retreat.

  4. Steiner's detachment: Hitler's last-minute plan relied on Steiner's detachment to launch a counterattack towards Berlin. However, Steiner reported that his forces were too weak and could not carry out the attack as ordered. In reality, Steiner's detachment needed to be in a position to mount any significant offensive action.

Overall, Hitler's last military plan during the final stages of World War II was largely futile. The German units were severely weakened, lacked resources, and faced overwhelming Soviet forces. Despite some localized resistance, they could not alter the war's course.

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