The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1945-04-26
Soviets Enter Potsdamer Platz;
Overrun Tempelhof Airdrome;
Nazi Leaders Escape Prevented
BY ROBERT MUSEL

!
London, April 26. = (UPl
The German radio said to-
day Red Army troops had
broken into the Potsdamer
Platz area in the heart OF
Berlin, only 400 yards from
the central headquarters
where Adolf Hitler was re-
ported directing the defense
of his ruined capital.
If Hitler was in Berlin -
as the Nazis have insisted
for four days-time was run
ming short for him. Berlin
was surrounded by Red Army
troops and rescue by land
was all but impossible. The
Berlin garrison was being
pressed into a tight pocket In
the center Of the city.
And Moscow dispatches said Rus
sian troops had overrun the Tenn
pelhof airdrome and captured Q
number of planes with warmed.up
motors, apparently preventing .
last-minute escape flight by NaA
leaders.
The Hamburg radio reported tho
fighting In the Potsdamer Piats
area and In the middle Of Ber-
Inns Tiergarten.
Faltering Nazi radio reports Inc
sisted that Adolf Hitler himself a10
a prize lot Of his henchmen were 70
Berlin, and a Moscow dispatch s9id
that If Hitler Is there. THE RPS
slams will have him dead or alive.
The Russian army organ Red star
referred to the battle Of Berlin qs .
"mopup'. Soviet front dispatches
said there no longer was any con-
tinuous front line In the ruins OF
the German capital. Russian sspear-
heads were gouging into the heart
of the city, and wild fighting swirl
ed deep behind the Nazi barTicades.
Airdrome Overrun
Moscow reported that the Tempel-
hof airdrome had been virtually
overrun, blocking the last hazardous
escape hatch from the city. Soviet
dispatches said the struggle swiftly
approached its climax and RED
ARMY assault forces were driving
into the heart of the city from east
west, north and south.
South of Berlin, other Russian
F.! forces burst across the Elbe river
F.! and were within about 20 miles ~
delayed official account Of the Amer
lean First Army.
Radio Hamburg, one OF the few
remaining NaN broadcasting OUT
lets. proclaimed that every Berlin-
er knows that the battle Of Berlin
will decide the future Of the Reich
and our people"
The Nazis admitted that bloody
fighting was going on at Barricades
athwart the eastern approaches OF
the Alexanderplatz This constituted
an acknowledgement that the very
nerve center of the capitals histor.
ic business district was under siege.
The German-controlled Scandi-
navian telegraph bureau reported
that thousands Of policemen from
the Alexanderplatz headquarters
! had been thrown into the battle.
They were manning the barbados
which were crumbling under the
Soviet assault.
The Germans said Russian adj
vance along the Frankfurter Alice
was checked Eat cost OF tremen-
douS casualties" A fierce tank bat
tie ragged on the famous Berlin
speedway called Avus In the west
part Of the capital. The Russians
were reported closing from north
and south on the Olympic Stadium,
and also threatening Charlottenburg
and the Tiergarten.
Under the mighty assault Of our
warriors" Red Star said, "Berlin's
defenses are cracking at all the
seams. We are hopping up district
after district"
With some wo-thirds Of the city
in Soviet hands, Moscow said small
units Of Elite guards still were APP
pearing, apparently from nowhere,
in the rear of Russian battalions,
firing their last cartridges In a SUE
cidal burst.
In the occupied area the Russians
had seized all subway stations
mounting machine guns over them,
and were making short shrift q
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