Flag over the Reichstag planted when? Who raised the flag over the Reichstag?

Many are interested in how and when the flag over the Reichstag was planted by Soviet soldiers. Let's work it out together. Before describing those who installed the flag above the Reichstag, we will describe in the order the events of the last days of April 1945, which preceded this significant event.

The battle for Berlin, strictly speaking, began on April 16. The operation lasted from this date to May 8. Its goal was to complete the rout of Germany, unite with its allies, and seize Berlin. We will not describe the whole operation in detail. We will tell only about the events that immediately preceded the storming of the Reichstag, which interests us.

What was the Reichstag?

On April 29, fighting began for the Reichstag of the 3rd Shock Army. One of the main points in the central sector of the Berlin defense was this building. It was surrounded on three sides by the river Spree. Only one bridge through it remained intact. 25 meters was the width of the river. The Reichstag on the fourth side was covered by stone buildings located along the perimeter. The Nazis turned them into fortresses, including the "Himmler House" - the building where the Reichsministerice of the Interior was located.

What were the approaches to the building?

Approaches to the building were open areas. They were fire through machine-gun fire, as well as heavy guns and numerous anti-aircraft artillery from the park. All the windows and doors were barricaded. Only narrow embrasures were left for firing artillery guns and automatic weapons. The trenches encircling the building in several rows joined with its cellars.

Who defended the Reichstag?

Thousands of soldiers and officers from various parts defended the Reichstag. They were mostly cadets of the naval school, parachuted to the fortress area. In addition, there were detachments of SS, artillerymen, pilots, folkshturm. They were armed with a large number of machine guns, submachine guns and faust patrons. Hitler ordered the officers to keep the Reichstag by any means.

The storm was assigned to the units of the seventy-ninth infantry corps. He was strengthened by artillery, automatic control and tanks.

Preparing for the assault of the Reichstag

On April 29, closer to midnight, preparations for the assault were over. The river was rushed under the cover of artillery and mortar fire of the 525th Infantry Regiment. They are entrenched on the opposite bank. On April 29, an artillery and mortar shelling was opened in the "Himmler's house" in the morning. Divisions of 756, 380 and 674 regiments fought for the whole day throughout the ministry. Persistent resistance was provided by the Hitlerites, who fought fiercely for each room, for every floor.

April 30 at 4 o'clock 30 minutes the house was cleaned completely from the enemy. Breaking his resistance, subdivisions of 171 and 150 divisions occupied by 12 o'clock the starting position in the trench (for the storming of the Reichstag). It had high bulk walls, which allowed the Russians to hide from the fire. Repeatedly the Germans made violent counterattacks supported by artillery and tanks. However, the Soviet units repulsed these attempts.

Giving battle to Berlin exceptional military and political significance, the Military Council of the Third Shock Army established red flags before the offensive began . They were handed to all rifle divisions.

The First Assault of the Reichstag

Around 13:30, the assault began. The enemy opened the heavy fire on the attackers from the Tiergarten. They were pressed to the ground by storming units, which could not therefore advance to the Reichstag. Many Soviet soldiers were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for this fight.

But the first storm of the Reichstag failed. In addition to the retired officers and fighters, replenishment was sent to the units. Artillery was tightened, objects of attack were specified.

The next assault

The assault was repeated at 18 o'clock. The soldiers of Neustroev's battalion, under the cover of artillery, rushed into the attack in a single impulse. It was headed by I. Ya. Syanov, party organizer of the company, AP Brest, deputy for political affairs, KV Gusev, adjutant of the battalion. Also, the soldiers of the battalions of Samsonov and Davydov rushed forward.

The enemy of the heroic impulse of Soviet soldiers could not stand the enemy. They reached the Reichstag in a few minutes, at which red flags appeared. Here appeared the flag of the 756th Infantry Regiment, the party organizer Pyotr Pyatnitsky, however, while running up the stairs, the warrior was struck by an enemy bullet. The sergeant PD Shcherbina picks up the banner, on one of the pillars it strengthens him. So for the first time the flag over the Reichstag was planted by Soviet soldiers.

Fights inside the building

From the upper floors, from the embrasure, with heavy fire, the Hitlerites poured Soviet soldiers. However, the soldiers who broke through to the walls of the building found themselves in a dead fire zone. The brick door was the door of the front door. Soviet soldiers had to break their way through a log. In the building of the Reichstag stormed, already inside the battle. Battalion fighters swiftly worked: in the halls and corridors they entered into hand-to-hand fights with the Nazis. With hand grenades, automatic fire, and faust patrons, the Soviet soldiers forced the enemy to weaken the fire and seized the premises that were adjacent to the entrance vestibule. Meter per meter assault battalions cleared the first floor of the Germans. One part of the Hitlerites was driven into vast basements, and the other - to the upper floors.

In extremely difficult conditions for Soviet soldiers, a battle took place in the building of the Reichstag. From the explosions of hand grenades and faust patrons a fire broke out in the rooms. It began to intensify when Soviet units began to use flamethrowers for smoking Fritz. Fierce fighting began on the second floor.

Bordering the Banner

The soldiers of Neustroev's battalion (Lysimenko, Zagitov, Makov, and Sergeant Minin) broke through to the roof, paving the way for one of the staircases with automatic fire and grenades. The flag above the Reichstag was hoisted by them now. Particularly noted in this case, two soldiers. Their names are usually called when they answer the question of who hanged the flag over the Reichstag. Let us describe these events in more detail.

Two noted heroes were MA Egorov and MV Kantaria (scouts of the regiment). They were the ones who erected the flag over the Reichstag. The soldiers were instructed to hoist the banner of the Military Council of the Third Shock Army. They, with the support of Sianov's company, together with a group of soldiers led by Lieutenant Brest, on April 30, climbed to the roof at 21:50. The flag over the Reichstag was planted by these Soviet soldiers. For heroism and skillful leadership of the battle, K. Ya. Samsonov, SA Neustroev, and VI Davydov were awarded the honorary title of Hero of the Soviet Union. It was also received by MV Kantaria and MA Egorov (those who raised the flag above the Reichstag). However, the fighting did not end there.

Continuation of fighting inside the Reichstag

So, we figured out who raised the flag over the Reichstag. When it was, we also found out. The Soviet flag over the Reichstag rose on April 30, at 21:50. We now describe the following events. Inside the Reichstag, the battle continued until the morning of May 1 with great tension. Separate groups of Hitlerites who settled in the basement of the building, resistance did not stop until May 2, until they were finished with Soviet soldiers.

At 6:30 am on May 2 G. Weidling, a general of artillery (chief of the defense of Berlin) surrendered. He ordered the remnants of the garrison troops to stop resistance. This was realized in the middle of the day. On the same day, the German forces grouping south-east of Berlin were liquidated.

Up to 2,500 enemy soldiers were wounded and killed in the battles for the Reichstag. 2604 people were captured.

In total, from the side of the USSR, losses in the Berlin operation amounted to 78 thousand people. The enemy lost about one million people, including 150 thousand were killed. In Berlin, Soviet field kitchens were served everywhere , treating the hungry Berliners.

Victory

In the same year, May 3, photos of the burning Reichstag, on which the banner of the Victory fluttered, were published in Pravda, a Moscow newspaper. Raising the flag over the Reichstag has ushered in the country that the enemy has been defeated.

In 1945, on June 24, the first parade was held in Moscow to mark the victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War.

It was decided to bring the Victory Banner from Berlin to this parade. It is kept to this day in the Central Museum of the Armed Forces. Those who installed the flag over the Reichstag will never be forgotten in our country. The names of these heroes we recall every year, on May 9, when the anniversary of the Victory is celebrated. It was the erection of the flag over the Reichstag that marked her.

Why is Victory Day celebrated on May 9?

You may ask: "Why is Victory Day celebrated on May 9, that is, somewhat later?" The fact is that at that time, at 0:43 Moscow time, the German surrender act was signed. This was carried out by Wilhelm Keitel, Field Marshal General, and representatives of the German Navy, who received appropriate authority from Denitz. From the Soviet side, Georgy Zhukov was present. The brilliantly conducted operation led to the capture of the Reichstag, as well as the courage of Soviet officers and soldiers fighting for the cessation of the nightmare of the war, which lasted long and terrible for four years.