Race for the Reichstag: The 1945 Battle for Berlin (Soviet (Russian) Military Experience) [Hardcover]

Tony Le Tissier MBE (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1999 | ISBN-10: 0714649295 | ISBN-13: 978-0714649290 | Edition: 1

The soldiers of the Red Army identified the Reichstag as the victor's prize to be taken in Berlin. This account of the battle lays the many myths created by Soviet propaganda after the event to rest and details what exactly happened as the Red Army and the Allies raced to be the first at the Reichstag.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (September 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0714649295
• ISBN-13: 978-0714649290
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,840,860 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Last Days of the Third Reich, December 27, 2009

By 

Dave Schranck "Dave" (Anaheim Ca) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: Race for the Reichstag: The 1945 Battle for Berlin (Soviet (Russian) Military Experience) (Paperback)

Tony Le Tissier is a Berlin specialist; he has written a series of books dealing with the Soviet offensive of crossing the Oder, encircling 9th Army near Halbe and finally capturing Berlin. The book in review begins for the most part with Konev and Zhukov approaching the suburbs of Berlin. It continues with battle action almost on a street by street basis and ends at the battle to take the Reichstag, the defunct symbol of the Third Reich. The operational coverage is very good, giving good tactical coverage of the fighting as well describing the desperate orders Hitler gives his staff to save the city. Much of the time his orders were outdated, useless; the battle was moving so fast and the communications were so poor that usually the Soviets had already moved beyond the intended order. The author also gives insight, to a lesser degree, on the two main Soviet commanders, leading the armies against Berlin. Konev and Zhukov had been rivals for years and each were desperate to beat the other for the Reichstag. Stalin inflamed the rivalry for his own amusement as well as to quicken the end of battle.

There is mention of 9th Army's plight from the Oder as well as other units but the predominate coverage is near and in Berlin. Names of streets, canals, bridges as well as the outfits of both sides are identified. The author does a good job of not only covering the fighting but also shows just how much the OKH, Wehrmacht and Hitler had disintegrated by April 1945. It was complete chaos and it was exacerbated by key commanders, knowing of the coming doom, tried to save their troops by disobeying ridiculous orders.

There are 14 maps which were good, showing the Soviet progress as they squeezed the German Army back to the Reichstag. There are also 54 photos, showing key officers, soldiers, the infamous Zoo flak tower and the wreckage that was Berlin. There is also an impressive Appendix that shows detailed Orders of Battle among other pertinent details, a professional Notes section, Bibliograpy and Index.
Mr Le Tissier has written a number of other books on the Soviet invasion of Germany; I would recommend reading "Zhukov at the Oder" and "Slaughter at Halbe" to get a more complete picture of the last couple months of the Third Reich.

5 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Le Tissier is the man., January 9, 2007

By 

Ronald E. Klages "Ron K." (Lynnwood, Wa. USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Race for the Reichstag: The 1945 Battle for Berlin (Soviet (Russian) Military Experience) (Paperback)

Le Tissier is the author to read for this period of the war between Germany and Russia.

He tells an excellent story with sufficient detail to make even the most ardent historian happy..