The BATTLE of HALBE

The Last German Offensive - Battle of Halbe
- In April 1945, the Red Army breache the last obstacle remaining in its way, before Berlin - the Seelow Heights. Advancing rapidly, the Soviets, managed to encircle a big part of the troops that fought at Seelow Heights, preventing them from defending Berlin. Such was the case of Theodor Busse's 9th Army, which was left stranded near Halbe, south-west of Berlin. The German High Command ordered Busse's troops and Wenck's 12th Army, which was facing the Americans on the Elbe, to attack towards Berlin and relieve the city. The two commanders realised that this was impossible, as their armies' strength was reduced to an army corps, at most, and they were facing three Soviet fronts - the equivalent of an army group. Therefore, without the needed manpower and equipment, such an attempt to relieve Berlin would have been a suicidal mission. Wenck and Busse decided to create a corridor towards the Elbe, allowing civilians and German troops to surrender to the Americans, rather than face Soviet captivity. This is the Battle of Halbe.