Battle of the Oder-Neisse
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The Battle of the Oder-Neisse was one of the last pitched battles of World War II. It was fought over four days, from April 16 until April 19, 1945, within the larger context of the Battle of Berlin.
The battle included heavy fighting by three Soviet Fronts, General Konstantin Rokossovsky's 2nd Belorussian Front, General Georgy Zhukov's 1st Belorussian Front and General Ivan Konev's 1st Ukrainian Front, that attacked the defending German Army Group Vistula commanded by General Gotthard Heinrici and Field Marshal Ferdinand Schörner' Army Group Centre.
Most of the fighting took place during 1st Belorussian Front's assault on the Seelow Heights, that were defended by German IX Army (part of Army Group Vistula) , in what became known as the Battle of the Seelow Heights. 1st Ukrainian Front encountered much lighter resistance crossing the Neisse to penetratate defensive lines of Army Group Centre.
| Berlin Offensive |
|---|
| Oder-Neisse – Seelow Heights – Encirclement of Berlin – City of Berlin – Halbe |
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[edit] Battle
In the early hours on April 16, the Berlin offensive began with a massive bombardment by thousands of artillery pieces and Katyusha rockets in a barrage which was sustained for several days. Shortly afterwards and well before dawn the 1st Belorussian Front attacked across the Oder. The 1st Ukrainian Front attacked across the Neisse before the dawn the same morning. The 1st Belorussian Front was the stronger force but it had the more difficult assignment and was facing the majority of the German forces.[1][2]
The initial attack by the 1st Belorussian Front was a disaster. Heinrici anticipated the attack and withdrew his defenders from the first line of trenches just before the Soviet artillery obliterated them. The light from 143 searchlights which were intended to blind the defenders was diffused by the early morning mist and made useful silhouettes of the attacking Soviet formations. The swampy ground proved to be a great hindrance and under a German counter barrage, Soviet casualties were enormous. Frustrated by the slow advance, or on the direct orders of Stalin, Zhukov threw in his reserves, which in his plan were to have been held back to exploit the expected breakthrough. By early evening an advance of almost six kilometres had been achieved in some areas, but the German lines remained intact. In the south the attack by the 1st Ukrainian Front was keeping to plan. Zhukov was forced to report that the Battle of the Seelow Heights was not going as planned. Stalin, to spur Zhukov, told him that he would give Konev permission to wheel his tank armies towards Berlin from the south.[3][4]
On the second day the 1st Belorussian Front staff were reduced to combing the rear areas for any troops which could be thrown into the battle. The Soviet tactic of using massed attacks was proving more costly than usual. By night fall of April 17 the German front before Zhukov remained unbroken, but only just. To the south Army Group Centre under the command of General Ferdinand Schörner was not proving such a hindrance. IV Panzer Army on the north flank of his formation was falling back under the weight of the 1st Ukrainian Front Attack. He kept his two reserve Panzer divisions in the south covering his centre, instead of using them to shore up the IV Panzer Army. This was the turning point in the battle because by nightfall the positions of both the Army Group Vistula and southern sectors of Army Group Centre were becoming untenable. Unless they fell back in line with the IV Panzer Army they faced envelopment. In effect Konev's successful attacks on Schörner's poor defences, to the south of the battle of the Seelow Heights, were unhinging Heinrici's brilliant defence.[3][5][6]
On April 18, both Soviet Fronts made steady progress but Soviet losses were again substantial. By the nightfall the 1st Belorussian Front had reached the third and final German line of defence and the 1st Ukrainian Front having captured Forst was preparing to break out into open country.[7][6]
On April 19, the fourth day the 1st Belorussian Front broke through the final line of the Seelow Heights and nothing but broken German formations lay between them and Berlin. The remnants of General Theodor Busse's IX Army which had been holding the heights and the remaining northern flank of the IV Panzer Army were in danger of being enveloped by elements of the 1st Ukrainian Front, these were the 3rd Guards Army and the 3rd and 4th Guards Tank Armies, which having broken through the IV Panzer Army turned north towards Berlin and the 1st Belorussian Front. Other armies of the 1st Ukrainian Front raced west towards the Americans. By the end of the 19th the German eastern front line north of Frankfurt around the Seelow and to the south around Frost and had ceased to exist. These breakthroughs allowed the the two Soviet fronts to envelop the German IX Army in a large pocket east of Frankfurt. Attemps by the IX Army to break out to the west would result in the Battle of Halbe.[3][8]
The cost to the Soviet forces had in making this initial breakthrough been very high. Between 1 April and 19 April, the Soviets lost over 2,807 tanks. During the same period the Allies in the west lost 1,079 tanks.[9]
While the 1st Belorussian Front and the 1st Ukrainian Front encircled Berlin, and started the battle for the city itself. Rokossovsky's 2nd Belorussian Front started his offensive to the north of Berlin. On the 20 April between Stettin and Schwedt Rokossovsky's 2nd Belorussian Front attacked the northern flank of Army Group Vistula, held by the III Panzer Army.[8] By the 22 April the 2nd Belorussian Front had established a bridgehead on the east bank of the Oder over 15 km deep and was heavily engaged with the III Panzer Army[10]
On 25 April, the 2nd Belorussian Front broke through III Panzer Army's line around the bridgehead south of Stettin and crossed the Rando Swamp. They were now free to move west towards the British 21st Army Group and north towards the Baltic port of Stralsund. The same day to the south of Berlin, the 58th Guards Division of the 5th Guards Army, part of 1st Ukrainian Front,mmade contact with the US 69th Infantry Division of the First Army near Torgau, Germany on the Elbe River.[11]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Beevor, Antony. Berlin: the Downfall, 1945, ISBN 0-670-88695-5
- Ziemke, Earl F. Battle For Berlin: End Of The Third Reich, NY:Ballantine Books, London:Macdomald & Co, 1969.
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Beevor see References page 217
- ^ Ziemke see References page 81
- ^ a b c Beevor see References page 217-233
- ^ Ziemke see References page 82
- ^ Ziemke see References page 82,83
- ^ a b Ziemke see References page 76
- ^ Ziemke see References page 83
- ^ a b Ziemke see References page 84
- ^ World War II Axis Military History Day-by-Day: April 20 April 1945
- ^ Ziemke see References page 92
- ^ Ziemke see References page 94
