The Battle of Breslau, otherwise known as the Siege of Breslau was a four months long siege of the city of Breslau (modern Wrocław) in Lower Silesia. The city was besieged by the forces of the 1st Ukrainian Front under Marshal Ivan Konev on February 13, 1945 and the siege lasted until the final days of the World War II.
History
On July 25, 1944 Adolf Hitler declared the city of Breslau a Festung, that is a fortress that was to be defended at all cost. On January 19, 1945, the Gauleiter of Silesia Karl Hanke ordered the civilian inhabitants of the city to evacuate to German heartland, mostly to Dresden. At the same time the Wehrmacht, aided by the Volkssturm and slave labourers started to convert the city into a military outpost, capable of lengthy defence against a possible Soviet assault. Much of the city centre was demolished and turned into an airfield. On February 13 the Soviet forces laid siege to the city and the battle started.
On February 15 of that year, the Luftwaffe started an air bridge to aid the besieged garrison. For 76 days, until May 1, the German air forces made more than 2000 sorties with supplies and food, more than 1638 tons of supplies were delivered. During the battle in the heavily-bombarded city, both sides resorted to setting entire districts on fire. Finally, on May 6, only two days before the unconditional surrender of Germany in World War II, Gen. Hermann Niehoff, the German commander of the Festung Breslau surrendered the city to the Soviets.
Reference
- (Polish) Festung Breslau
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