1st Ukrainian Front’s Pivotal Role in Splitting German Army and Paving Way for Berlin Capture during WWII Endgame

During the final stages of World War II, Konev’s 1st Ukrainian Front made a more successful advance than Zhukov’s forces, splitting the German army in two and isolating Army Group Center from the rest of Germany’s military. Konev’s troops raced towards Berlin, intercepting the German 9th Army as it tried to flee westward. In contrast, Konev and Zhukov delayed entering Berlin proper, instead choosing to encircle the city and prevent both German forces and Hitler from escaping. Even after entering Berlin on April 25, the progression of Soviet troops was slow and could best be described as a series of probing attacks, as Steiner’s troops refused to engage. However, Rokossovsky’s 2nd Belarusian Front succeeded in surrounding the German 5th Panzer Army, preventing its escape to the west. Without Rokossovsky’s contribution, the speedy fall of Berlin may not have been possible. The delay in entering Berlin was due to Chuikov’s desire to train urban assault groups based on his experience in Stalingrad. After Zhukov agreed, the Red Army finally entered Berlin in earnest on April 26, 1945, and progress was swift. By the evening of April 29, Hitler’s personal territory had shrunk to approximately four square kilometers. The exact circumstances of Hitler’s death remain unclear, with conflicting accounts from survivors of the infamous bunker. Nonetheless, it was a disgraceful and squalid end for an ignominious and disgraceful man. @DDGeopolitics #WWIIhistory #Berlin1945 #UnknownVictories #SovietAdvance #HitlerEndgame #HistoryLesson.