Between the Oder and the Elbe

Between the Oder and the Elbe by Wilhelm Thieke

Between the Oder and the Elbe describes the German attempts to stem the Soviet tide at the Oder River, the Russian crossing of the river, the drive on Germany’s capital and the final bitter street fighting that ended with Hitler’s death and the capture of the Reichstag. It details the Führer’s desperate orders to Wenck and Steiner for the relief of Berlin and the resulting troop movements that failed to help. The book also covers the actions around the Stettin bridgehead, fighting at Swinemünde, evacuation of the Island of Rügen, withdrawal of the army units from north of Berlin to the Elbe, and the desperate attempts by troops and civilians alike to break out of Berlin.

This account mixes the descriptions of the overall military situation with personal accounts of small unit actions. The desperation, fear and resolve of the soldiers often turned to feats of bravery as well as acts of cowardice and brutality. Hopes for a last-minute alliance with the Western Allies encouraged the Germans to defend desperately. Ultimately, the lack of an alliance and the possibility of capture by the Soviets drove many soldiers and civilians to suicide.

The reader has the opportunity here to relive the last days of the Third Reich, as seen through the eyes of the German soldiers and the foreign volunteers who fought before and in Berlin.

Book Data

Author: Wilhelm Thieke
Language: English
Pages: 531
Photos: 35 black & white photos
Illustrations: 14 maps
Physical: Hardcover, 230x150mm, portrait

Contents

Prologue
Background
Supreme Commander and Operations Staffs
The Oder Front in Highlights
General Situation
Defensive Disposition of Heeresgruppe Weichsel
Defence Zone Berlin
General Wenck Creates the 12. Armee
The 12. Armee (Wenck) between Oder and Elbe (April 1945)
Before the Storm
Probing Attacks
16 April 1945, “Operation Berlin” Begins
17 April 1945
18 April – All the Dams are Breaking
19 April, Day of Decision
20 April, Toward Destruction
21 April 1945
The Encirclement of the 9. Armee and the Regrouping of the 12. Armee
Hitler Decides: Berlin will be Defended
Ziegler Case and Background
25 April: Major Russian Attack on the Centre of Berlin
The Russian Bridgehead at Stettin
Creation, Fighting, and End of Armee-Abteilung Steiner
Counterattack by the 12. Armee and Breakout of the 9. Armee from the Halbe Pocket
Final Battle in Berlin
General Weidling signs the Capitulation
Breakout through Spandau
Evacuating the Defensive Zone of Swinemünde and the Island of Rügen
Collapse and End of Heeresgruppe Weichsel
Retreat of the 12. Armee to the Elbe
The End in Retrospect
Strength of Russian Formations in the Battle for Berlin
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX