Europe At War: A WW2 Podcast

The battle of Berlin begins in earnest when 1st Belorussian Front forces advance into the northern and eastern outskirts of the capital.

In a desperate ploy to save Berlin, Hitler comes up with a preposterous counterattack plan involving Steiner’s forces to the north of the city.

Map: Here is a map giving an overview of the important locations featured in the series.

If you have any comments or questions about the show, please get in touch via davidsumner.podcast@gmail.com

You can also follow me on instagram at davidsumnerhistory or visit my site davidsumnerhistory.com

The Führer’s birthday celebrations are interrupted by a huge Allied bombing raid on the capital. Plus, Marshal Zhukov’s 1st Belorussian Front launches their first artillery barrages on Berlin from their positions just outside the city.

Map: Here is a map giving an overview of the important locations featured in the series.

If you have any comments or questions about the show, please get in touch via davidsumner.podcast@gmail.com

You can also follow me on instagram at davidsumnerhistory or visit my site davidsumnerhistory.com

Peter Graham was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and he is an independent historian and researcher specialising in the history of Berlin during WW2.

In 2018 Peter founded the popular Facebook page "Berlin Battle Damage" which currently has over 15,000 followers and focuses on the tangible remains of WW2 to be found in Berlin today.

In 2023 Peter launched a series of specialised walking tours which deal with different aspects of Berlin during WW2 and the Soviet assault on the city in April 1945.

Peter is based in Ireland and Berlin.

You can find Peter on Bluesky and Twitter.

You can also follow me on instagram at davidsumnerhistory or visit my site davidsumnerhistory.com

An in-depth look at Berlin in 1945, with a focus on how the city prepared itself physically and mentally for the impending Soviet assault.

Plus, an outline of the Berlin defence strategy, the Berlin garrison forces, and the attacking Soviet forces.

Map: Here is an overview of the German and Soviet forces on the eve of the assault on Berlin, including the various major offensives which are launched as part of ‘Operation Berlin’.

Map: Here is a map giving an overview of the important locations featured in the series.

If you have any comments or questions about the show, please get in touch via davidsumner.podcast@gmail.com

You can also follow me on instagram at davidsumnerhistory or visit my site davidsumnerhistory.com

Matthew Menneke is a military historian and former serviceman in the Australian Army. Matthew is also the founder of On The Front Tours, which is a tour guide company specialising solely in Second World War tours in and around Berlin.

One of the tours Matthew runs is a tour of the Halbe Pocket, so naturally I was curious to hear his views on the battle, and to hear why he thinks the Halbe Pocket story has been so overlooked within the historiography of the Second World War - especially in the English-speaking world.

You can also follow me on instagram at davidsumnerhistory or visit my site davidsumnerhistory.com

Scott Bury, producer and host of the Beyond Barbarossa podcast, joins me for a chat about the peculiarities, vastness and horrors of the Eastern Front of the Second World War.

If you want to learn about the history of the Eastern Front from start to finish then I highly recommend you check out the excellent Beyond Barbarossa podcast.

You can also follow me on instagram at davidsumnerhistory or visit my site davidsumnerhistory.com

The fighting has ended, but who won?

Plus, a look at how the legacy of the battle is still hotly-contested to this day.

Map: Here is a map giving an overview of the important towns, cities, and locations featured in the series. 

If you have any comments or questions about the show, please get in touch via davidsumner.podcast@gmail.com

You can also follow me on instagram at davidsumnerhistory or visit my site davidsumnerhistory.com

The Germans have lifted the siege of Bautzen, and are now poised to take the fight to the Polish-Soviet forces with the intention of driving them out of Saxony completely.

However, a rapidly-strengthened Polish-Soviet defence line seeks to halt the German advance.

Dates covered: April 25th-onwards.

Map: Here is an overview of the German, Polish, and Soviet forces, during the final days of fighting. 

Map: Here is a map giving an overview of the important towns, cities, and locations featured in the series.

If you have any comments or questions about the show, please get in touch via davidsumner.podcast@gmail.com

You can also follow me on instagram at davidsumnerhistory or visit my site davidsumnerhistory.com

The Germans launch their counterattack, hoping to recapture Weißenberg, lift the siege of Bautzen, and potentially threaten the entire Soviet assault on Berlin.

Meanwhile, the Bautzen garrison awaits rescue.

Dates covered: April 22nd - April 24th.

Map: Here is an overview of the German counterattack in Saxony.

Map: Here is a map giving an overview of the important towns, cities, and locations featured in the series.

If you have any comments or questions about the show, please get in touch via davidsumner.podcast@gmail.com

You can also follow me on instagram at davidsumnerhistory or visit my site davidsumnerhistory.com

The Soviet vanguard forces launch their assault on Bautzen, leading to deadly street battles and house-to-house fighting between the Soviet attackers and the German defenders.

Meanwhile, the fragility of the Polish-Soviet advance is exposed, offering the Germans a chance to re-take the initiative and break through the enemy lines.

Dates covered: April 19th - April 21st.

Map: Here is a map giving an overview of the important towns, cities, and locations featured in the series.

If you have any comments or questions about the show, please get in touch via davidsumner.podcast@gmail.com

You can also follow me on instagram at davidsumnerhistory or visit my site davidsumnerhistory.com

The combined Polish-Soviet forces launch “Operation Lausitz” - their assault on Saxony and the subsequent drive towards Weißenberg & Bautzen.

Dates covered: April 16th - April 18th.

Map: Here is a map giving an overview of the important towns, cities, and locations featured in the series.

If you have any comments or questions about the show, please get in touch via davidsumner.podcast@gmail.com

You can also follow me on instagram at davidsumnerhistory or visit my site davidsumnerhistory.com

An in-depth look at the strategic significance of Bautzen, with a particular focus on how the city featured prominently in the Soviet & German campaign plans for April 1945.

Plus, let’s meet the forces and personalities who will be key players in the upcoming fighting.

Map: Here is an overview of the German, Soviet & Polish forces on the eve of the assault on Berlin, including the major offensives which are launched as part of ‘Operation Berlin’. (E.g. the Polish-Soviet offensive into Saxony, towards Bautzen & Dresden.)

Map: Here is a map giving an overview of the important towns, cities, and locations featured in the series.

If you have any comments or questions about the show, please get in touch via davidsumner.podcast@gmail.com

You can also follow me on instagram at davidsumnerhistory or visit my site davidsumnerhistory.com

What to look forward to in the series on Bautzen.

Map: Here is a map giving an overview of the important towns, cities, and locations featured in the series.

If you have any comments or questions about the show, please get in touch via davidsumner.podcast@gmail.com

You can also follow me on instagram at davidsumnerhistory or visit my site davidsumnerhistory.com

Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end…

If you have any comments or questions about the show, please get in touch via davidsumner.podcast@gmail.com

You can also follow me on instagram at davidsumnerhistory or visit my site davidsumnerhistory.com

In this episode we wrap-up the series on The Halbe Pocket by looking at the aftermath of the fighting, with a particular focus on the legacy of the battle and how it continues to shape Halbe and the surrounding area to this day. 

If you have any comments or questions about the show, please get in touch via davidsumner.podcast@gmail.com

You can also follow me on instagram at davidsumnerhistory or visit my site davidsumnerhistory.com

The combined 9th & 12th armies, along with thousands of German refugees, march towards the Elbe in order to cross the river and surrender to the Americans at Tangermünde. 

The Soviets will stop at nothing to prevent them from escaping…

If you have any comments or questions about the show, please get in touch via davidsumner.podcast@gmail.com

You can also follow me on instagram at davidsumnerhistory or visit my site davidsumnerhistory.com

The battered remnants of Busse’s breakout group finally reach the Beelitz area and link-up with General Wenck’s 12th Army.

If you have any comments or questions about the show, please get in touch via davidsumner.podcast@gmail.com

You can also follow me on instagram at davidsumnerhistory or visit my site davidsumnerhistory.com

Busse’s breakout group reaches the final rendezvous point, and there, they prepare to make the final push towards the 12th Army’s lines. 

Meanwhile, the remaining 9th Army forces trapped in the Halbe Pocket are eliminated by the Soviets.

If you have any comments or questions about the show, please get in touch via davidsumner.podcast@gmail.com

You can also follow me on instagram at davidsumnerhistory or visit my site davidsumnerhistory.com

After surviving the carnage in Halbe, Busse’s breakout group continues their escape westwards.

If you have any comments or questions about the show, please get in touch via davidsumner.podcast@gmail.com

You can also follow me on instagram at davidsumnerhistory or visit my site davidsumnerhistory.com

The final breakout attempt is launched as the 9th Army seeks to smash through the Soviet defences in Halbe. 

Meanwhile, the 12th Army successfully evacuates the Potsdam Garrison.

If you have any comments or questions about the show, please get in touch via davidsumner.podcast@gmail.com

You can also follow me on instagram at davidsumnerhistory or visit my site davidsumnerhistory.com