When the 9th Army was forced back from the Seelow Heights by the Russians it became trapped between the Armies of Marshal Zhukov (from the East) and Marshal Koniev(from the South). In order to join up with General Wencks 12th Army at Beelitz, it had to pas through the village of Halbe which witnessed some of the fiercest fighting of the campaign. Some 40,000 casualties were inflicted on the Germans as they tried to break out. Here are some pictures of the village: Alan Beadle Antique Arms & Militaria And here is a spanish site decribing the battle. Not that I can read Spanish but the photos are very interesting. Its another Falaise. The photos are almost identical to the photos taken at Falaise a year previously, only this time it was artillery and tanks that did the damage, not airpower. Der zweite Weltkrieg :: Ver tema - El Kessel de Halbe o la destrucción del 9º Ejército
Some fine shots of civillians harried by the course of the war too. The second link translates very well with Google. Translated version of http://www.zweiterweltkrieg.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=7956&sid=19d01983184f3a6917b519b6d0b6feb4
Just looking back over this album, the photos are still terrific and are well worth a browse. Unusual one of Guderian in a Black Panzer outfit, a fairly rare sighting indeed. He is shown with General Walther Wenck and also the photo below it show General Busse giving Hitler a briefing. Although he was Chief of Staff to Von Manstein when he was in command of Army Group South it does seem to be a late war briefing.
I think Wholesale death, destruction and carnage springs to mind in this instance. The desruction and loss of life reminds me of some early photographs taken during the American Civil War, especially the photograph of the german soldier with the massive beard with mobile field kitchen. Regards Tom
Tom, you are referring to Matthew Brady's photos I take it? I does have that look about it alright. One place I wouldnt have liked to have ended up in April/May 1945.
Hans-Dietrich Genscher, a well-known German Politician from the 70's and 80's was amongst the 12th Army that helped extricate the men from the Halbe Pocket Hans-Dietrich Genscher - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
don't think it's a beard, think it's his collar Correct, I should were my glasses more often. Regards Tom