page_title: Battle of Berlin
section_title: Opposing forces
hierarchical_section_title: Battle of Berlin / Opposing forces
caption_attribution_description: For documentary purposes the German Federal Archive often retained the original image captions, which may be erroneous, biased, obsolete or politically extreme. Im Hauptquartier der Heeresgruppe Weichsel Personen hinter Hitler von links: Generalleutnant Wilhelm Berlin; General der Artillerie im OKW Generalfeldmarschall Robert Ritter von Greim; Kommandeur der Luftflotte 6 Generalmajor Franz Reuß; Kommandeur einer Flieger-Div. General der Flakartillerie Job Odebrecht, Kommandierender General des II. Flak-Korps (mot) Generalleutnant Theodor Busse&#160;; Oberbefehlshaber der 9. Armee
context_page_description: The Battle of Berlin, designated the Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation by the Soviet Union, and also known as the Fall of Berlin, was one of the last major offensives of the European theatre of World War II.
  Following the Vistula–Oder Offensive of January–February 1945, the Red Army had temporarily halted on a line 60 km east of Berlin. On 9 March, Germany established its defence plan for the city with Operation Clausewitz. The first defensive preparations at the outskirts of Berlin were made on 20 March, under the newly appointed commander of Army Group Vistula, General Gotthard Heinrici.
  When the Soviet offensive resumed on 16 April, two Soviet fronts attacked Berlin from the east and south, while a third overran German forces positioned north of Berlin. Before the main battle in Berlin commenced, the Red Army encircled the city after successful battles of the Seelow Heights and Halbe.
context_section_description: Northern Sector
  
  
   
   
   German
  Third Panzer Army
  General of Panzer Hasso von Manteuffel
  4 infantry divisions
  3 naval divisions
  2 volksgrenadier divisions
   
   
   Soviet
  Second Belorussian Front
  Marshal Konstantin Rokossovsky
  31 rifle divisions
    7 guards rifle divisions
    1 motorized rifle battalion
    3 tank battalions
   
  Middle Sector
  
  
   
   
   German
  Army Group Vistula
  Colonel General Gotthard Heinrici
  15 infantry divisions
    6 panzer divisions
    2 motorized infantry divisions
  Ninth Army
  General of Infantry Theodor Busse
    5 infantry divisions
    4 panzergrenadier divisions
    1 panzer division
    1 SS grenadier division
    1 security division
    1 Jäger division
    1 parachute division
    1 Kampfgruppe
   
   
   Soviet
  First Belorussian Front
  Marshal Georgy Zhukov
  54 rifle divisions
  16 guards rifle divisions
    5 infantry divisions (Polish)
    3 guards cavalry divisions
    3 mechanized brigades
    6 guards mechanized brigades
    7 tank brigades
  10 guards tank brigades
    1 armored brigade (Polish)
    2 motorized rifle brigades
   
  Southern Sector
  
  
   
   
   German
  Army Group Centre
  Feldmarshal Ferdinand Schörner
  13 infantry divisions
    3 panzer divisions
    1 Reichsarbeitsdienst division
    1 SS police division
    1 SS grenadier division
    1 anti-aircraft division
    2 Kampfgruppen
   
   
   Soviet
  First Ukrainian Front
  Marshal Ivan Konev
  26 rifle divisions
  15 guards rifle divisions
    5 infantry divisions (Polish)
    3 guards cavalry divisions
    1 guards airborne division
    9 guards mechanized brigades
    3 mechanized brigades
    4 guards motorized rifle brigades
    1 armored corps (Polish)
    4 tank brigades
  10 guards tank brigades
    1 motorized rifle brigade
caption: Theodor Busse
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