Halbe, 1945 Audiobook Libro.fm

Description

In April 1945 German troops withdrawing from the Seelow Heights were encircled by the Soviet Army near the small town of Halbe southeast of Berlin Rather than surrender their orders were to attempt to break out westward and join up with the German twelfth Army A brutal battle ensued with an estimated 30000 German and 20000 Russian soldiers killed along with thousands of civilians

This collection of firsthand accounts tells the story of the battle and its aftermath from the German perspective It is an eclectic mix containing the recollections of ordinary soldiers SSmen and men of the Panzer Divisions as well as civilians caught up in the battle as they attempted to flee ahead of the advancing armies It brings to life the grim realities of this onesided engagement revealing the brutal vengeance of the Soviets and the desperation to escape the slaughter

Translated into English for the first time this is an important insight into this devastating and littleknown aspect of World War II history