Berlin garrison surrendered to Soviet troops

The troops of the 1st Belorussian Front under the command of Marshal Zhukov, with the assistance of fighters of the 1st Ukrainian Front Ivan Konev, after stubborn fighting, completed the defeat of the Berlin group of the German army and completely captured Berlin, the German capital, Izvestia newspaper writes in its May 4 issue.

"The Berlin garrison, led by the Chief of defense, stopped resisting at 15:00, laid down their arms and surrendered," the publication says.

There were exactly 7 days left until the Great Victory.

On May 2, Soviet troops captured more than 70 German soldiers and officers, Izvestia writes. It is reported that those who distinguished themselves in the battles for the capture of the German capital will be presented with the designation "Berlin" and awarded orders. This historic event was the reason for two fireworks in Moscow — in honor of the troops of the 1st Belorussian and 1st Ukrainian fronts who took Berlin.

The material was published as part of the Izvestia special project "80 days to Victory."

All articles of Izvestia during the Great Patriotic War can be found in the electronic archive.