The Great Race Begins

"From the moment Stalin heard that the Americans were across the Rhine, he knew that the race for Berlin was on.”—Antony Beevor. 

WIth the Allies on the Elbe, and the Red Army on the Oder, nazi Germany was being terminally squeezed by April 1945. But before they can drive on the prize, Berlin, the Red Army must take Vienna. 

Map 1: The Red Army’s advance, 1944–1945

 

Map 2: The Red Army on the Oder and Niesse

 

Map 3: Advance into Vienna

Map 4a: European front line, 1 April 1945

Map 4b: European front line, 15 April 1945

Historical photos

Georgy Zhukov, Marshal of 1st Belorussian Front

 

Ivan Konev, Marshal, 1st Ukrainian Front

 

Rodion Malinovsky, Marshal, 2nd Ukrainian Front

 

Fyodor Tolbukhin, Marshal, 3rd Ukrainian Front