The Battle of Berlin was the last major battle in Europe in the world war two. It was the result of the Oder-Vistula offensive that began on 16 January 1945, Red Army broke through the eastern German fronts and progress every day for about 40 kilometers ahead to Berlin. The Battle of Berlin began on 20th April 1945 when Soviet forces surrounded Berlin from the south, north and east and lasted until the fall of Berlin at morning of 2. May. With regard to the fact that the German army was heavily defeated and suffered large losses on all fronts, and that the Soviets had a large superiority in manpower,weapons and supplies outcome of the battle was quite certain - the defeat of Germany.
The Battle of Berlin meant the end of the war in Europe and the German capitulation. Stalin gave clear instructions to his high rank generals - Zhukov and Konev, that they should take Berlin before the Allies do that, there are theories that Stalin wanted to take Berlin before the allies to get into possession of the important scientific data that were in the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute in Berlin which was a Nazi research center for nuclear program. Although the Russian numerical superiority clearly indicated that the Russians will capture the city, the battle for Berlin was still a difficult and both sides have suffered heavy losses.
The Russian army attacked with 2.5 million of soldiers, 41 600 artillery, 6250 tanks and 7500 aircrafts on a heavily fortified Germans who defended with 1 million of soldiers (for the defense of the city the Nazis recruited even children and the elderly), 10 400 artillery, 1 500 tanks and 3300 planes.
The predominance in tank numbers was not much helped the Russians because they fought street fights in which tanks are very vulnerable. The Russians have applied the tactics of street fighting that had previously practiced to perfection in the Battle of Stalingrad. The infantry fought for each street, each building and each house separately, and if they have encountered strong resistance from inside of some fortified German building, it was destroyed by artillery to the ground.
After ten days of heavy fighting on 30th April 1945. The Russians have taken all important Nazi strongholds, including the Reichstag, and Hitler had committed suicide that day. On the Second May 1945. The Battle of Berlin was finished and the Russians had complete control over the city. This battle meant the end of the war activities in World War II on the territory of Europe, and Germany on 7 May 1945 declared capitulation.
