The Battle for Germany

Overview

Soviet forces traverse Poland quickly as they encounter relatively few major army units. The volkssturm, national militia, that Hitler hoped would offer fanatical resistance, were poorly armed and surrendered quickly, on one occasion, without a shot fired. But on German soil Hitler's festung, fortress city, concept is taken seriously, in part due to the Soviet army's brutal retribution against the civilians. Then at Koenigsberg the Nazis commit several SS divisions in a fierce but unsuccessful defense.