Battle of Berlin
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The Battle of Berlin, designated the Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation by the Soviet Union, was one of the last major offensives of the European theatre of World War II. After the Vistula–Oder Offensive of January–February 1945, the Red Army halted on a line 60 km east of Berlin. On 9 March Germany established Operation Clausewitz, and on 20 March General Gotthard Heinrici began defensive preparations. When the Soviet offensive resumed on 16 April, two Soviet fronts attacked Berlin from the east and south, while a third overran German forces north of Berlin. The Red Army encircled the city after the battles of Seelow Heights and Halbe. On 20 April 1945, Hitler's birthday, Zhukov's and Konev's fronts shelled the city centre and advanced toward the southern suburbs respectively. On 23 April General Helmuth Weidling took command of the forces within Berlin, whose garrison included depleted Army and Waffen-SS divisions, Volkssturm, and Hitler Youth. Over the next week, the Red Army gradually took the entire city. Hitler killed himself on 30 April. The city's garrison surrendered on 2 May, but fighting continued until 8 May (9 May in the Soviet Union), as some German units fought westward to surrender to the Western Allies rather than the Soviets.