Contents

Abbreviations

Introduction

 1  Preparing for ‘Operation Berlin’

 2  Breaching the Oder–Neisse Defences

 3  9th Army Encircled – 21 April 1945

 4  Destroy the 9th Army – 22 April 1945

 5  12th Army to the Rescue – 23 April 1945

 6  The Soviets Close In – 24 April 1945

 7  No Luck for von Luck – 25 April 1945

 8  Preparing the Break-Out – 26 April 1945

 9  The Pocket Shrinks – 27 April 1945

10  The Eye of the Needle – 28 April 1945

11   Breaching Koniev’s Lines – 29 April 1945

12  12th Army Waits – 30 April 1945

13  The Last Leg – 1 May 1945

14  Retreat to the Elbe

15  Aftermath

 Appendices

 A  Soviet Forces Engaged Against the HalbePocket

 B  Order of Battle: German 9th Army

 C  Order of Battle: German 12th Army

 Bibliography