Impitoyable ETO (id:#59009)

Vae Victis (Vae Victis # 33 ID: VV25)   [next]   [previous]

Near Schlepzig, Germany 1945-04-24 (10 others)

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Overview:

"Ruthless" -- On 16th April 1945, the 1st Ukrainian Front and the 1st Belorussian Front launched the final attack on Berlin. After hard fighting, they break the German defenses on the Oder, encircling a portion of the defenders southwest of the capital, near Halbe. This pocket contained the 9th Army of General Busse and a part of the 4th Panzer Army. On 21st April, the lead Soviet elements entered Berlin. On the next day, Busse decided to break out and thrust towards the Western Allies with his 7 divisions. Among these is the unit of SS General Dirlewanger, composed originally of ex-poachers, criminals and SS misfits. Normally involved in anti-partisan warfare, this unit was responsible for countless atrocities in Eastern Europe. Reinforced by Army units to achieve divisional size, this SS unit nonetheless had showed signs of disintegration. Indeed, by this time, many of its members were former concentration camp inmates with little desire to die for the Reich, and dozens deserted. Somehow, the remainder managed to hold a sector in the south of the pocket.

Defender: German (SS) (Elements 36th SS Waffen Grenadier Division “Dirlewanger”)  

Errata (source)