Siege of Breslau
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The Battle of Breslau, also known as the Siege of Breslau, was a three month long siege of the city of Breslau in Lower Silesia, Germany (now Wrocław, Poland), lasting to the end of World War II in Europe. From 13 February to 6 May 1945, German troops in Breslau were besieged by the Soviet forces which encircled the city as part of the Lower Silesian Offensive Operation. The German garrison's surrender on 6 May was followed the next day by the surrender of all Nazi German forces.
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[edit] Garrison commanders
- Major General (Generalmajor) Hans von Ahlfen - 2 February 1945 to 27 February 1945
- Infantry General (General der Infanterie) Hermann Niehoff - 2 March 1945 to 6 May 1945
[edit] Preparations
On 25 July 1944, German dictator Adolf Hitler declared the city of Breslau to be a fortress (festung). He further indicated that Breslau was to be defended at all costs. Hitler named Karl Hanke to be the city's "Battle Commander" (Kampfkommandant). Hanke was already the Regional Party Leader (Gauleiter) of Silesia for the National Socialist German Workers Party (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei).
On 19 January 1945, Hanke ordered the civilian inhabitants of the city to evacuate to the German heartland. Most of the civilians were evacuated to the Dresden area. The German Army (Wehrmacht Heer), aided by the Home Guard (Volkssturm) and slave labourers, then started to convert the city into a military fortress. Breslau needed to be capable of a lengthy defence against a long-term Soviet assault. A large area of the city centre was demolished and turned into an airfield. Late in January, a regiment of Hitler Youth (Hitler-Jugend) was sent to aid in the defense of Festung Breslau.
On 2 February, Hanke presented colors to the newly formed Home Guard units in Breslau. On the same day, Major General Hans von Ahlfen became the garrison commander of Fortress Breslau. Ahlfen was personally selected by the Commander-in-Chief of Army Group Centre (Heeresgruppe Mitte), Ferdinand Schörner. Ahlfen held this position until 27 February.
On 2 March, Infantry General Hermann Niehoff replaced Ahlfen as garrison commander. Niehoff held the position until the final surrender.
[edit] The siege
The city was besieged as a result of the Lower Silesian Offensive Operation (8 February 1945 - 24 February 1945) during 13 February, by the 6th Army of the 1st Ukrainian Front commanded by Marshal Ivan Konev, and completed the encirclement of Breslau the next day. The 1st Ukrainian Front forces besieged the city with the 22nd and 74th Rifle Corps, and the 77th Fortified Region, as well as other smaller units. Even approximate estimates vary greatly concerning the number of German troops trapped in Breslau. Some sources claim that there were as many as 150,000 defenders, some 80,000, and some 50,000.[citation needed] The Siege of Breslau consisted of destructive house-to-house street fighting. The city was bombarded to ruin by the 6th Army artillery, as well as the 2nd and 18th Air Armies. During the siege , both sides resorted to setting entire districts of the city on fire.
On 15 February, the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) started an airlift to aid the besieged garrison. For 76 days, until 1 May, the Luftwaffe made more than 2000 sorties with supplies and food. More than 1638 tons of supplies were delivered.
On 22 February, the 6th Army occupied three suburbs of Breslau, and during the next day, the 6th Army troops were in the southern precincts of the city itself.
By 31 March, there was heavy artillery fire into the north, south, and west of Breslau suburbs. The 6th Army witnesses noted that much of the city was in flames.
On 20 April, where possible, General Niehoff had chocolates distributed to the troops in honor of Hitler's 56th birthday.
On 4 May, the clergy of Breslau -- Pastor Hornig, Dr. Konrad, Bishop Ferche, and Canon Kramer -- demanded that Niehoff surrender the town. Niehoff dismissed the clergy without a definitive answer. In the afternoon of the same day, Pastor Hornig repeated his demand in an address to the troop commanders. Hanke ordered Niehoff not to have any further dealings with the clergy.
[edit] Surrender
On 6 May, after an 82-day siege and shortly before the unconditional surrender of Germany in World War II, General Niehoff surrendered Festung Breslau to the Soviets. During the siege, the Soviet forces inflicted approximately 29,000 civilian and military casualties and took more than 40,000 prisoners. Estimates vary. The "Achtung Panzer" article referenced below indicates that 6,000 German soldiers and 170,000 German civilians were killed and that 45,000 troops were taken prisoner.
Gauleiter Hanke had fled to Prague by the time of the city's surrender.
[edit] See also
[edit] External references
- (Polish) Festung Breslau
- Achtung Panzer Article
- Duffy, Christopher 'Red Storm on the Reich'
- Contemporary Time Magazine Article
