April 1945

Eastern Front

After a long and bloody battle the 1st Belorussian Front begins its general advance upon Berlin. The struggle for the Seelow Heights has cost Zhukov 30,000 killed and enabled the 1st Ukrainian Front to gain valuable time in the advance upon the city from the south. The race to Berlin is now on. Munchberg falls to the 8th Guards while the 3rd Shock and 47th Armies, now supported by the 2nd Guards Tank Army, start to advance to outflank Berlin from the north. Busse is not longer able to bar the road to the city as he has lost the bulk of his army in the fierce battle for the heights.

The 1st Ukrainian Front also advances rapidly, the 5th Guards Army pushing toward Torgau on the Elbe, the 13th Army toward Wittenberg also on the Elbe, while the 3rd Guards with the 3rd and 4th Guards Tank Armies push northwest toward Berlin. Elements of the 2nd Polish Army, on the southern wing, take Rothenberg.