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Battle of Berlin: Difference between revisions
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==== The Soviet advance on Berlin ==== | ==== The Soviet advance on Berlin ==== | ||
On the Eastern Front, Marshal [[Georgi K Zhukov]] led the Soviets on the hard-fought advance to Berlin and effectively sealed off the city. To shelter from the coming onslaught, the Nazi leadership retreated to the safety of the [[Führerbunker]] beneath the [[Reichschancellery]]. Those involved included: Hitler | On the Eastern Front, Marshal [[Georgi K Zhukov]] led the Soviets on the hard-fought advance to Berlin and effectively sealed off the city. To shelter from the coming onslaught, the Nazi leadership retreated to the safety of the [[Führerbunker]] beneath the [[Reichschancellery]]. Those involved included: Hitler; Himmler; Bormann; [[Hermann Goering]] with his [[wife]] and six [[child]]ren; [[Joseph Goebbels]] with his wife [[Magda Goebbels|Magda]] and their six children; [[Albert Speer]]; [[Hermann Fegelein]] and his wife [[Gretl Fegelein|Gretl]]; [[Otto Gunsche]]; Hitler's [[valet]] [[Heinz Linge]]; [[Hitler Youth]] leader [[Arthur Axmann]]; together with Hitler's beloved [[Alsatian]] [[Blondie|Blondi]] and other Nazis. | ||
On [[15 April]], Hitler's [[girlfriend]] and Gretl's [[sister]] [[Eva Braun]] joined them in the Bunker. For many Nazis, Eva's arrival was a sign that their days were numbered, with many referring to her as "The [[Angel]] of [[Death]]". | On [[15 April]], Hitler's [[girlfriend]] and Gretl's [[sister]] [[Eva Braun]] joined them in the Bunker. For many Nazis, Eva's arrival was a sign that their days were numbered, with many referring to her as "The [[Angel]] of [[Death]]". | ||
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==== Battle in Berlin ==== | ==== Battle in Berlin ==== | ||
Berlin became the centre of ferocious fighting as the [[Red Army]] painfully pushed forward in a costly advance towards the [[Reichschancellery]]. German and Soviet [[artillery]] tore apart [[street]]s and [[building]]s in murderous exchanges highly reminiscent of the fighting at Stalingrad | Berlin became the centre of ferocious fighting as the [[Red Army]] painfully pushed forward in a costly advance towards the [[Reichschancellery]]. German and Soviet [[artillery]] tore apart [[street]]s and [[building]]s in murderous exchanges highly reminiscent of the fighting at Stalingrad — the Russians' experience of close-quarter city fighting gained in that battle was readily put to use against the German [[Capital city|capital]]. So desperate was the German situation that the Soviets found themselves battling against [[child]]<nowiki/>ren in the Hitler Youth so young that they were dressed in ill-fitting [[uniform]]<nowiki/>s. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Shadow in the Glass (novel)|The Shadow in the Glass]]'') The [[age]] of conscription had been reduced to as low as ten years. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Just War (novel)|Just War]]'') | ||
On [[24 April]], Albert Speer left the Bunker and was later brought into Allied captivity. | On [[24 April]], Albert Speer left the Bunker and was later brought into Allied captivity. | ||
On [[25 April]], the Soviets captured [[Tempelhof Airport]], the main [[airport]] of Berlin and advanced on the inner ring of the city, known as the Zitadelle. The area designated by the Russian [[general]]s as Sector Nine held the [[government]] buildings, including the Reichschancellery. The soldiers began hunting for Hitler,spurred on by rumours that whoever found him would be proclaimed a [[Hero of the Soviet Union]]. | On [[25 April]], the Soviets captured [[Tempelhof Airport]], the main [[airport]] of Berlin, and advanced on the inner ring of the city, known as the Zitadelle. The area designated by the Russian [[general]]s as Sector Nine held the [[government]] buildings, including the Reichschancellery. The soldiers began hunting for Hitler, spurred on by rumours that whoever found him would be proclaimed a [[Hero of the Soviet Union]]. | ||
Himmler ordered his [[Tibet]]an occultist followers to [[sacrifice]] themselves in mystic rituals in order to conjure forth the forces shown by the Scrying Glass to fight for the Reich. Dressed in German uniforms, groups of Tibetans took cyanide pills in various locations around the city but Himmler had misread the visions (the Glass only sought to be returned to its ship) and nothing happened. [[Captain]] [[Yazov]]'s Soviet [[Soldier|troops]], among them [[Ilya Petrova]], found the [[corpse]]s of seven Tibetans in a cellar after fighting their way through inner-Berlin streets with [[flamethrower]]s. Unaware of their purpose, the Soviets mistook them for [[China|Chinese]] or [[Japan]]ese troops in the German Army, but a [[Mongolia]]n soldier known as [[Vlad (The Shadow in the Glass)|Vlad]] identified them as Tibetan. By the end of the same day, Yazov was dead. | Himmler ordered his [[Tibet]]an occultist followers to [[sacrifice]] themselves in mystic rituals in order to conjure forth the forces shown by the Scrying Glass to fight for the Reich. Dressed in German uniforms, groups of Tibetans took cyanide pills in various locations around the city but Himmler had misread the visions (the Glass only sought to be returned to its ship) and nothing happened. [[Captain]] [[Yazov]]'s Soviet [[Soldier|troops]], among them [[Ilya Petrova]], found the [[corpse]]s of seven Tibetans in a cellar after fighting their way through inner-Berlin streets with [[flamethrower]]s. Unaware of their purpose, the Soviets mistook them for [[China|Chinese]] or [[Japan]]ese troops in the German Army, but a [[Mongolia]]n soldier known as [[Vlad (The Shadow in the Glass)|Vlad]] identified them as Tibetan. By the end of the same day, Yazov was dead. | ||
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On [[28 April]], the same day [[Italy]]'s [[Benito Mussolini]] was [[Death sentence|executed]], ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Just War (novel)|Just War]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Just War (audio story)|Just War]]'') Hitler found out about Himmler's secret surrender negotiations and branded him a traitor. He had Fegelein, one of Himmler's closest aides, executed for attempting to leave the Bunker. | On [[28 April]], the same day [[Italy]]'s [[Benito Mussolini]] was [[Death sentence|executed]], ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Just War (novel)|Just War]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Just War (audio story)|Just War]]'') Hitler found out about Himmler's secret surrender negotiations and branded him a traitor. He had Fegelein, one of Himmler's closest aides, executed for attempting to leave the Bunker. | ||
On [[29 April]], Hitler [[Marriage|married]] Eva Braun. Goebbels was sent out into the streets of Berlin to find an official to conduct the ceremony. Eva signed her name on the marriage certificate as "Eva Hitler". Afterwards, Hitler dictated [[Will and Political Testament of Adolf Hitler|his Will and Political Testament]] to | On [[29 April]], Hitler [[Marriage|married]] Eva Braun. Goebbels was sent out into the streets of Berlin to find an official to conduct the ceremony. Eva signed her name on the marriage certificate as "Eva Hitler". Afterwards, Hitler dictated [[Will and Political Testament of Adolf Hitler|his Will and Political Testament]] to [[Adolf Hitler's secretary|a secretary]]. Denouncing both the [[Wehrmacht]] and [[Luftwaffe]] for their [[failure]], he named the highest ranking [[Kriegsmarine]] [[commander]], [[Admiral]] [[Donitz]], as his successor, and blamed the start of the war on a [[Jew]]<nowiki/>ish [[conspiracy]]. In the [[afternoon]], Joseph and Magda Goebbels held a [[party]] for their six children. | ||
==== The death of Hitler ==== | ==== The death of Hitler ==== | ||
On the [[morning]] of [[30 April]], Eva visited the [[garden]] of the Reichschancellery for the final time. Hitler and Eva then made their formal farewells in the main [[corridor]] of the Bunker. By some accounts, it was still morning, but the farewells were made after [[lunch]]. If a nearby [[clock tower]] was still working, it indicated that the fateful events took place at around 3 o'clock in the afternoon. | On the [[morning]] of [[30 April]], Eva visited the [[garden]] of the Reichschancellery for the final time. Hitler and Eva then made their formal farewells in the main [[corridor]] of the Bunker. By some accounts, it was still morning, but the farewells were made after [[lunch]]. If a nearby [[clock tower]] was still working, it indicated that the fateful events took place at around 3 o'clock in the [[afternoon]]. | ||
The [[Sixth Doctor]], [[Brigadier]] [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart]] and [[Claire Aldwych]] were forced to [[Time travel|travel back]] to the bunker on that day by [[Adolf Hitler, Jr.]] and his [[bodyguard]] [[Hanne Neumann]] so Hitler Jr. could meet his [[father]]. After an escape, the Brigadier apprehended and killed Neumann using some of the leftover cyanide pills used on Blondi. Claire returned outside to [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]]. | The [[Sixth Doctor]], [[Brigadier]] [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart]] and [[Claire Aldwych]] were forced to [[Time travel|travel back]] to the bunker on that day by [[Adolf Hitler, Jr.]] and his [[bodyguard]] [[Hanne Neumann]] so Hitler Jr. could meet his [[father]]. After an escape, the Brigadier apprehended and killed Neumann using some of the leftover cyanide pills used on Blondi. Claire returned outside to [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]]. | ||
The Doctor, the Brigadier and Hitler Jr. then met Hitler as Bormann escorted the Führer to his [[room]]s. Hitler recognised the time travellers as [[Major]] [[The Doctor's aliases|Johann | The Doctor, the Brigadier and Hitler Jr. then met Hitler as Bormann escorted the Führer to his [[room]]s. Hitler recognised the time travellers as [[Major]] [[The Doctor's aliases|Johann Schmidt]] of the [[Fifth Medical Corps]] and Brigadier-General Braun from the Eastern Front (having met them in [[August]] [[1942]]) and assumed they had come to pay their final respects. Hitler Jr. presented himself as Hitler's [[son]], which his father scarcely believed and thought his unknown visitor to be an over-enthusiastic follower. Hitler Jr. pleaded for his news about the visions in the Scrying Glass to be heard and suggested they seek Himmler's advice. At the mention of Himmler, Hitler flew into a rage castigating all the time, effort and resources wasted by the treacherous ''Reichsführer'' on mystic projects when Germany should have been seeking to modernise. The endorsement of Himmler by Hitler Jr. had lost him any standing he may have had with his father. | ||
Eva Braun entered and Hitler Jr. appealed to her. However, neither of them believed he was who he said he was. Hitler shot Hitler Jr. in the [[head]] which left [[blood]] on the [[bed]] behind him. The shot was heard by some people in the bunker, including Heinz Linge. Overhearing a mutter from the Brigadier, Hitler ordered Bormann to dump the body in the [[water tower]]. | Eva Braun entered and Hitler Jr. appealed to her. However, neither of them believed he was who he said he was. Hitler [[Shooting|shot]] Hitler Jr. in the [[head]] which left [[blood]] on the [[bed]] behind him. The shot was heard by some people in the bunker, including Heinz Linge. Overhearing a mutter from the Brigadier, Hitler ordered Bormann to dump the [[body]] in the [[water tower]]. | ||
Linge and Otto Gunsche were instructed to turn away anyone who tried to see them. A hysterical Magda Goebbels tried to speak with Hitler in the | Linge and Otto Gunsche were instructed to turn away anyone who tried to see them. A hysterical Magda Goebbels tried to [[Speech|speak]] with Hitler in the [[hope]]<nowiki/>s of convincing him to spare his [[life]], meaning she and her [[family]] would not have to kill themselves as well. She managed to speak to him despite the security but was unsuccessful in her plea. Arthur Axmann also tried to have some final words with Hitler, but he was unsuccessful. | ||
Claire witnessed Bormann's disposal of the body of Hitler Jr. in the water tower. A future [[journalist]] who had studied this event, she began to piece together the missing information she had learned while in the company of the Doctor. The garden suddenly came under fire from Soviet artillery and Bormann, noticing Claire, ushered her inside. He caught her and then threw her into the path of one of the shells which left a crater in the garden. Claire survived but Bormann forced a cyanide pill into her mouth and clamped her [[teeth]] shut, killing her. | Claire witnessed Bormann's disposal of the body of Hitler Jr. in the water tower. A future [[journalist]] who had studied this event, she began to piece together the missing information she had learned while in the company of the Doctor. The garden suddenly came under fire from Soviet artillery and Bormann, noticing Claire, ushered her inside. He caught her and then threw her into the path of one of the shells which left a crater in the garden. Claire survived but Bormann forced a cyanide pill into her mouth and clamped her [[teeth]] shut, killing her. | ||
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Berlin was partitioned between the victorious powers, with the [[United Kingdom|British]], [[United States of America|Americans]], Soviets and [[France|French]] all controlling their own quarters. The city was eventually organised into [[East Berlin]] and [[West Berlin]], separated by the [[Berlin Wall]]. A similar partition occurred to Germany as a whole, which was divided into [[East Germany]] and [[West Germany]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Ancient Whispers (short story)|Ancient Whispers]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Protect and Survive (audio story)|Protect and Survive]]'') Soviet rule in the East remained harsh, with the [[Stasi]] constantly seeking to repress dissent. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Anachronauts (audio story)|The Anachronauts]]'', ''[[The Shadow Vortex (audio story)|The Shadow Vortex]]'') A similar fate also befell the [[Austria]]n capital of [[Vienna]], ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Quicksilver (audio story)|Quicksilver]]'') and large swathes of [[Eastern Europe|Eastern]] and [[Western Europe]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Endgame (novel)|Endgame]]'') | Berlin was partitioned between the victorious powers, with the [[United Kingdom|British]], [[United States of America|Americans]], Soviets and [[France|French]] all controlling their own quarters. The city was eventually organised into [[East Berlin]] and [[West Berlin]], separated by the [[Berlin Wall]]. A similar partition occurred to Germany as a whole, which was divided into [[East Germany]] and [[West Germany]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Ancient Whispers (short story)|Ancient Whispers]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Protect and Survive (audio story)|Protect and Survive]]'') Soviet rule in the East remained harsh, with the [[Stasi]] constantly seeking to repress dissent. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Anachronauts (audio story)|The Anachronauts]]'', ''[[The Shadow Vortex (audio story)|The Shadow Vortex]]'') A similar fate also befell the [[Austria]]n capital of [[Vienna]], ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Quicksilver (audio story)|Quicksilver]]'') and large swathes of [[Eastern Europe|Eastern]] and [[Western Europe]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Endgame (novel)|Endgame]]'') | ||
By [[January]] [[1948]], the Allies were airdropping supplies to the people of Berlin due to the Soviet refusal to provide them. Much of the city was still awaiting reconstruction. The district of [[Charlottenburg]], which fell under British jurisdiction, became a base for British Intelligence. One of their research centres were set up in a house previously owned by a high-ranking ''[[Schutzstaffel]]'' official. Berliners, for their part, appeared defeated and as such were resigned to whatever future their occupies bestowed upon them. [[Edward Grainger]] opined that only after they realised the consequences of Germany's actions would they be granted self-determination once more. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Ancient Whispers (short story)|Ancient Whispers]]'') | By [[January]] [[1948]], the Allies were airdropping supplies to the people of Berlin due to the Soviet refusal to provide them. Much of the city was still awaiting reconstruction. The district of [[Charlottenburg]], which fell under British jurisdiction, became a base for British Intelligence. One of their research centres were set up in a [[house]] previously owned by a high-ranking ''[[Schutzstaffel]]'' official. Berliners, for their part, appeared defeated and as such were resigned to whatever future their occupies bestowed upon them. [[Edward Grainger]] opined that only after they realised the consequences of Germany's actions would they be granted self-determination once more. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Ancient Whispers (short story)|Ancient Whispers]]'') | ||
==== Conspiracy theories ==== | ==== Conspiracy theories ==== | ||
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== Behind the scenes == | == Behind the scenes == | ||
In the historical note included with ''[[The Shadow in the Glass (novel)|The Shadow in the Glass]]'', [[Stephen Cole]] and [[Justin Richards]] clarify that while much of the novel, including the fighting in Berlin and its aftermath, was based on real-life documented evidence, a number of aspects | In the historical note included with ''[[The Shadow in the Glass (novel)|The Shadow in the Glass]]'', [[Stephen Cole]] and [[Justin Richards]] clarify that while much of the novel, including the fighting in Berlin and its aftermath, was based on real-life documented evidence, a number of aspects — aside from the obvious science-fiction elements and "speculative nonsense" — were naturally fictionalised for story purposes. Point addressed include: | ||
* Hitler's mysterious double whose body was discovered in the water tower was likely {{w|Gustav Weler}}, a Reichchancellery employee who had previously worked as a double for Hitler. In the novel, it is Adolf Hitler, Jr. | * Hitler's mysterious double whose body was discovered in the water tower was likely {{w|Gustav Weler}}, a Reichchancellery employee who had previously worked as a double for Hitler. In the novel, it is Adolf Hitler, Jr. | ||
* [[Hans Baur]] was never a prisoner of the Americans and his testimony was made up for the novel. In real life, the Russians considered him unreliable. This was the only historical documentation made up for the story. | * [[Hans Baur]] was never a prisoner of the Americans and his testimony was made up for the novel. In real life, the Russians considered him unreliable. This was the only historical documentation made up for the story. | ||
* Dr. {{w|Ludwig Stumpfegger}} pronounced Hitler an Eva Braun dead. In the novel, it is the Doctor, as "Major Johann | * Dr. {{w|Ludwig Stumpfegger}} pronounced Hitler an Eva Braun dead. In the novel, it is the Doctor, as "Major Johann Schmidt". | ||
* [[Martin Bormann]] died before he could escape Berlin. His body, alongside that of Stumpfegger, | * [[Martin Bormann]] died before he could escape Berlin. His body, alongside that of Stumpfegger, was discovered in [[West Berlin]] in 1972, ending years of rumours that they had successfully fled. | ||
Additionally, the novel reveals that the skull fragments believed to belong to Hitler are indeed his. However, in the years following its [[2001 (releases)|2001 release]], the remains were discovered not to belong to Hitler at all but to an unidentified woman. This was acknowledged in the [[2015 (releases)|2015 re-release]] for ''[[The History Collection]]''. | Additionally, the novel reveals that the skull fragments believed to belong to Hitler are indeed his. However, in the years following its [[2001 (releases)|2001 release]], the remains were discovered not to belong to Hitler at all but to an unidentified woman. This was acknowledged in the [[2015 (releases)|2015 re-release]] for ''[[The History Collection]]''. | ||
