The Red Army in Berlin

18th May 1945: Civilians who survived the Battle of Berlin must adjust to a new ordeal - the Soviet occupation

Knocked-out tanks sit amid the rubble of Berlin. It is estimated that the battle for the city cost the Soviets more than 300,000 casualties, including 70,000 dead. German military losses are estimated at 150,000-175,000 killed and wounded, with more than 125,000 civilians dead.

The scene of devastation in the centre of Berlin.

The reality of the Soviet occupation of Germany now became all too apparent. In days and weeks of lawlessness following their victory the Red Army was to indulge in an epic of rape and pillage, much of it officially sanctioned. The Soviet authorities moved swiftly to dismantle and remove whole factories to the East.

Any man who had served in the military, and many who were merely suspected of having done so, were marched off to Russia where they would spend many years labouring to rebuild what had been destroyed. Many would not survive the hardships.

Berliners returning to their homes, soon after 8th May 1945.

Queueing for water in the centre of Berlin

Werner Harz¹ had narrowly avoided being marched off to the east on more than one occasion when his Volkssturm unit disbanded. He escaped and made his way back to his home in Berlin - he was lucky that it had survived. For him and many others the ordeal of the Soviet occupation was only just beginning:

The atmosphere during the next few days was incredibly complicated and perplexing. We could scarcely realise our joy that the war was over because we had perpetually to be on the watch.The Russians were celebrating everywhere: in our house, in the streets, in the gardens, their victory celebrations lasting night and day for weeks. Unluckily a huge store of wine and spirits had been found just down the road, and an unending stream of keen-eyed soldiers flowed up the street, while on the other side a rolling flood of paralytic conquerors staggered back.