Battle of Berlin: Difference between revisions

The roots of the [[Battle]] of [[Berlin]] could be traced back to [[Operation Barbarossa]], [[Nazi]] [[Germany]]'s invasion of the [[Soviet Union]] in [[July]] [[1941]]. The offensive moved at a staggering pace, with the Germans advancing hundreds of [[mile]]s in a matter of [[day]]s and capturing thousands of [[Russia]]n [[prisoner of war|prisoners of war]]. However, by [[December]], the onset of the harsh [[winter]] drove the offensive to a halt and they were fought back outside [[Moscow]]. This setback cost Germany the initiative in the [[war]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Just War (novel)|Just War]]'')

After reorganising in [[1942]], the Germans turned their attention towards the [[city]] of [[Stalingrad]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Night Witches (audio story)|The Night Witches]]'') They reached Stalingrad that [[autumn]] and [[Battle of Stalingrad|laid siege to the city]] which lasted throughout a second harsh winter, ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Beast of Stalingrad (novel)|The Beast of Stalingrad]]'') stretching on into [[1943]] and claiming the [[Life|lives]] of [[1000000 (number)|a million]] Russian defenders. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Happy Endings (novel)|Happy Endings]]'') The [[Sixth Doctor]] had told [[Adolf Hitler]] on the eve of the battle that the victor of Stalingrad would "win the war". Indeed, for the victorious Russians, Stalingrad taught many valuable lessons about close-quarter city fighting that were later to be put to great use. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Shadow in the Glass (novel)|The Shadow in the Glass]]'')

By [[1944]], the [[Third Reich]] was on the retreat on both the [[Western Front (World War II)|Western]] and [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Fronts]]. Some of the senior Nazis began to realise that Germany was losing the war. In [[August]], ''[[Reichsleiter]]'' [[Martin Bormann]] began secretly stockpiling huge amounts of financial resources for use by the Reich even in the even of defeat ([[Operation Eagle Flight]]). In [[September]], ''[[Reichsfuhrer]]'' [[Heinrich Himmler]] ordered the [[Concentration camp|Nazi death camps]] to be shut down but his instructions were ignored. Nevertheless, Himmler still invested hopes of eventual [[victory]] though [[Magic|mysticism and occult]] [[ritual]]s. In particular, he was banking on the arrival of supernatural forces he believed he had witnessed in [[vision]]s shown to him by the [[Scrying Glass]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Shadow in the Glass (novel)|The Shadow in the Glass]]'')

The Germans attempted to fight back with the [[V1 flying bomb]]s and [[V2 rocket]]s launched against [[Great Britain|Britain]] the previous [[year]]. Though destructive, they were unable to bring the Western Allies into submission. The [[Seventh Doctor]] noted that German [[rocket]]ry research was far in advance of anything their enemies were capable of and may still have proved decisive even so late in the conflict. However, the Allies overran the rocket sites, ending the threat. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Timewyrm: Exodus (novel)|Timewyrm: Exodus]]'') Since [[Normandy landings|landing]] in [[France]] on [[D-Day]], the Western Allies intended to march on to Berlin. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Scorched Earth (audio story)|Scorched Earth]]'') However, the Soviets got there first. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Shadow in the Glass (novel)|The Shadow in the Glass]]'')

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 [[6 (number)|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 [[20 April]], Hitler celebrated his [[56 (number)|56th]] [[birthday]]. This was the last day Hitler was known to have spent time outside the Bunker, as he refused suggestions that he flee Berlin to [[South]]ern Germany. He looked almost [[20 (number)|20]] years older than he actually was. A physical wreck and a far cry from his condition at the height of Nazi power, the [[Führer]] was suffering badly from [[Parkinson's disease]]. His left [[arm]] shook uncontrollably and he was constantly taking several different [[medication]]s, including [[strychnine]] and [[cocaine]]. Goebbels ordered that the Führer only be filmed and [[photograph]]ed from certain angles to hide his frailty. Hitler addressed the Hitler Youth Brigade, preparing them to defend Berlin. Despite the inevitability of the Reich's [[defeat]], Hitler continued to order [[military]] operations to proceed. Himmler, once Hitler's closest and most trusted ally, saw the insanity in this and left the Bunker during the sombre [[birthday party]], never to return. He sought to begin secret [[negotiation]]s with the Allies in order to sue for [[peace]]. However, he chose to make his escape in the [[uniform]] of a Sergeant-Major of the [[Gestapo]] and was made an Allied prisoner. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Shadow in the Glass (novel)|The Shadow in the Glass]]'')

On [[22 April|22]] and [[23 April]], the Soviets reached the outskirts of Berlin. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Shadow in the Glass (novel)|The Shadow in the Glass]]'', ''[[Just War (novel)|Just War]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Just War (audio story)|Just War]]'') Hitler declared "All is lost," and made clear his intention to commit [[suicide]]. He showed signs of both [[emotion]]al and physical breakdown. Eva Braun expressed her intention to kill herself with him, but in fact planned to escape, as she was secretly [[Pregnancy|pregnant]] with Hitler's child. Hitler tested [[cyanide]] [[pill]]s on Blondi. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Shadow in the Glass (novel)|The Shadow in the Glass]]'')

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]]ren in the Hitler Youth so young that they were dressed in ill-fitting [[uniform]]s. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Shadow in the Glass (novel)|The Shadow in the Glass]]'') The [[age]] of conscription had been reduced to as low as [[10 (number)|ten]] years. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Just War (novel)|Just War]]'')

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]]-[[General]] [[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.

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]]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.

Hitler and Eva finally locked themselves in their room and sat down, both holding a [[Firearm|gun]] and a cyanide pill. Hitler bit unto his pill and shot himself in the [[mouth]] at the same time. The bullet shot out of his head. Eva did not use her gun. When she was found, she appeared dead as if she had taken the pill. However, she and Bormann both knew that she was pregnant and had [[Operation Eagle Flight|made arrangements]] to save the child for the [[Fourth Reich|future of the Reich]]. Secretly aware of this, the Doctor pronounced both Hitler and Eva dead. Bormann made to dispose of both of their bodies.

Eva, Bormann and another man secretly boarded a [[Aeroplane|plane]] in the [[Tiergarten]] and were flown out of Berlin by [[Hans Baur]]. The plane landed in [[Hamburg]] where Eva and Bormann boarded a [[submarine]] which departed for [[Neuschwabenland]], before the British Army advancing in the region reached the city. Baur was captured by the Allies after the British arrived.

Joseph and Magda Goebbels murdered their own children and killed themselves shortly after. [[General]] [[Hans Krebs]] also died. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Shadow in the Glass (novel)|The Shadow in the Glass]]'')

Many of the senior Nazis who fell into Allied captivity were [[Nuremberg Trials|put on trial]] for [[war crime]]s at [[Nuremberg]] between [[1945]] and [[1946]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Just War (novel)|Just War]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Just War (audio story)|Just War]]'') Among the accused were Himmler, who committed suicide before his trial, and Speer, who was the only one to plead guilty. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Shadow in the Glass (novel)|The Shadow in the Glass]]'')

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]]'')