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Fall of Berlin

Fall Of Berlin

There on the wall hangs a mixture of paint on linen,
Leaving the impression of a city besieged, encased in ice;
Purposely frozen in horror to remind the living,
Of blood oozing from the rubble into the streets.

The Red Army has encircled Berlin during the second world war: 1, 2
With artillery guns, howitzers, and Katyusha rocket launchers, 3
And outnumber the German defenders ten to one in manpower,
Rendering ‘Operation Clausewitz’ inadequate against Soviet forces. 4

April morning,—orders are given to unleash a barrage with nonstop salvo:
Of shells, rockets, and aerial bombardment; screaming to explode,
Buildings crumble, fires roar, and people are slaughtered running for cover.
A pall of smoke, ashes, and dust blankets the destruction void of oxygen.

Then, the city is overrun by Soviet tanks and troops pouring into the streets;
Who in a frenzy race for the Reichstag and Hitler’s bunker in revenge, 5, 6
To find he has committed suicide leaving the German nation devastated,
Indicative of the ‘hammer and sickle’ atop the Quadriga on the Brandenburg Gate. 7, 8, 9

On May 1st, 1945, Berlin surrenders ending the ‘Thousand Year Third Reich’ reign of terror. 10, 11
VE Day is celebrated in the streets of Paris, London, New York, Toronto, and Moscow; 12
While Berliners weep as they emerge from shelters to witness their city in turmoil,
Where looting and raping are rampant, and suffering by civilians is horrendous.
                                              ***

Notes:
1) Red Army:  Red Army is the shortened form used for the creation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics army and air force in 1918, ‘The Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army. The name ‘Red Army’ was discontinued in 1946.

2) Battle of Berlin (aka Fall of Berlin, April 16,1945 to May 2, 1945): The Battle of Berlin was named the ‘Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation’ by the Soviet Union (Soviet 1st Belorussian Front of approximately 1 million troops).

3) Katyusha (Multiple Launch Rocket System–MLRS): The Soviet Multiple Launch Rocket System was nicknamed ‘Stalin’s Organ’ by German soldiers (Stalinorgel) because the portable launch system looked like a pipe organ, and the howling sound made by the self-propelled rocket motors. The weapons were called Kostikov guns and marked with a ‘K’ when manufactured for secrecy. Russian troops nicknamed the rocket launcher Katyusha after a patriotic song (Katyusha means Katie in English).

4) Operation Clausewitz: Operation Clausewitz (named after the Prussian military theorist, General Carl von Clausewitz, who stressed the importance of defense) was the code word used by Nazi Germany for the defense of Berlin on March 9, 1945.

5) Reichstag: Reichstag is the shortened German word for parliament buildings. The Nazi Parliament building was captured by the Soviet’s on April 30, 1945.

6) Adolf Hitler (1889-1945): On April 30, 1945, from inside his bunker, Hitler wed Eva Braun (1912-1945); then, he poisoned her and his dog; and then, he committed suicide. Upon the release of Hitler’s teeth (seventy-years later) by the Russians from the Russian state archives, forensic science determined that Hitler’s dental records and teeth x-rays matched them, thus proving Adolf Hitler did die in 1945.

7) Hammer and Sickle:  The hammer and sickle are gold coloured symbols represented on the flag of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The ‘Sickle’ is used to harvest crops, and the ‘Hammer’ is used to make a sharp edge on the sickle (scythe).

8) Quadriga: A quadriga is a chariot drawn by four horses abreast. The Brandenburg Quadriga depicts the Roman goddess ‘Victoria’ (the goddess of victory) at the reins.

9) Brandenburg Gate: The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, was built in the late 18th century by the Prussian King Frederick William II (1744-1797) to represent peace. It was built on the site of the former Berlin city gate beginning the road from Berlin to the town of Brandenburg an der Havel.

10) Berlin Surrender: On May 1, 1945, German Generaloberst Hans Krebs (1898-1945) approached Soviet General  Vasily Chuikov (1900-1982) with the flag of surrender. On May 2, 1945, the Soviets announced the fall of Berlin.

11) Thousand Year Third Reich: ‘Reich’ in German means ‘Realm or Empire.’ First Reich-Holy Roman Empire, 800-1806; Second Reich-German Empire, 1871-1918; Weimar Republic, 1918-1933 and; Third Reich-Nazi regime, 1933-1945.

12) VE Day (Victory Europe): On May 8, 1945, Central European Time (May 9, 1945, Moscow Time), the war in Europe was officially over.

Copyright © Dennis Spilchuk | Year Posted 2020

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