May 1945

Eastern Front

The German High Command gives its consent to the evacuation of forces from Kurland. Over the next few days 26,000 soldiers are to be evacuated. Over 190,000 will be left behind.

The advance of the 2nd Belorussian Front along the Baltic coast is brought to an abrupt halt as the 70th Army contacts leading elements of the British 2nd Army near Wismar, the British winning the race to secure the approaches to Denmark. On the line of the Elbe the American 1st and 9th Armies join hands in force with the 1st Belorussian and 1st Ukrainian Fronts. The 61st Army reaches the river south of Wittenberge, the 1st Polish Army near Sandau, the 47th just to its south, the 3rd south of Stendal and the 69th and 33rd Armies north and south of Magdeburg. The remnants of the 12th Army begin to fall back to the west to surrender to the US 1st Army.

The battle for Berlin is over, the 1st Ukrainian Front begins to redeploy its forces to the line between the Elbe and Niesse to strike the German forces in Bohemia.

Croatia declares independence and raises and defense force of 12,000 men. Tito directs 14 divisions against them.