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Slaughter at Halbe: The Destruction of Hitler's 9th Army
Operation "Berlin", the Soviet offensive launched on April 16, 1945 by Marshals Zhukov and Koniev, isolated the German Ninth Army and tens of thousands of refugees in the Spreewald "pocket", southeast of Berlin. Stalin ordered its encirclement and destruction and his subordinates, eager to win the race to the Reichstag, pushed General Busse’s 9th Army into a tiny area east of the village of Halbe. To escape the Spreewald pocket the remnants of 9th Army had to pass through Halbe, where barricades constructed by both sides formed formidable obstacles and the converging Soviet forces subjected the area to heavy artillery fire. By the time 9th Army eventually escaped the Soviet pincers, it had suffered 40,000 killed and 60,000 taken prisoner. Teenaged refugees recount their experiences alongside Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS veterans attempting to maintain military discipline amid the chaos and carnage of headlong retreat. While army commanders strive to extricate their decimated units, demoralized soldiers change into civilian clothing and take to the woods. Relating the story day by day, Tony Le Tissier shows the impact of total war upon soldier and civilian alike, illuminating the unfolding of great and terrible events with the recollections of participants.
289 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 8, 2025
While the author has had the reputation of being "Mr. Berlin" for awhile, this book is not his best work, and the only reason that I'm even giving it three stars [at the time on Library Thing] is because this is basically the only study available on the destruction of the German 9th Army in 1945. What's most dubious is that Le Tissier takes seriously the presence of "Seydlitz Troops" in this battle, that is to say, turncoat Germans tasked with spreading chaos in the ranks in the way that Otto Skorzeny's 150th Panzer Brigade was supposed to during the Ardennes offensive of 1944. That no additional information has emerged about these troops in the almost 15 years since this book was published has to leave one skeptical that this was an actual Soviet tactic, and leaves one suspecting that this was only an overheated rumor in the German military; or a German excuse if you decided to take your chances and surrender to the Soviet tide. The bottom line is that the personal accounts of several survivors of the battle does not a monograph make. Perhaps it would take the skills of a first-class novelist to tell the emotional truth about this battle, say, a Gunter Grass; heh, heh.
Originally written: January 25, 2019.
P.S. My opinion has dropped about this book since my original review; just feeling less charitable.
Originally written: January 25, 2019.
P.S. My opinion has dropped about this book since my original review; just feeling less charitable.
March 13, 2009
Le Tissier's books are just about the best at chronicling the end of the Third Reich, and this one is a worthy addition to his list. If that era of WWII interests you at all, his books are a must-read.
October 6, 2017
Very technical
It will bore you at first until the actual breakout begins, then it gets you and you can't put it down. One of the few books to address what happened after the war and the treatment of the wounded and soldiers remains.
It will bore you at first until the actual breakout begins, then it gets you and you can't put it down. One of the few books to address what happened after the war and the treatment of the wounded and soldiers remains.
January 25, 2025
This one is a mixed bag. For me it is more 3.5 stars but will round it down because of the book structure.
I was not aware that Halbe was that important - as a matter of fact book ends on the USSR side of Elbe. Halbe was a small town through which 9th Army had to break through in order to link with remaining forces in the west direction. Again, east/west here are more about orientation inside Germany itself and more linked to the run of German armed forces to escape vengeful Soviet troops pushing towards the Berlin. So it is not east/west in where in west we have Berlin and in East we have Moscow. No, this is east/west in form of settlements east of the Berlin IN the Germany. So, much smaller territory is covered in this book.
If one is to write about the destruction of the 9th Army, it would be book maybe 70 pages long, because USSR absolutely annihilated the Germans, there was no doubt (except maybe in Hitler's mind) about how things will end.
Since this part would be very short, author decided to include testimonies of all of the survivors of German retreat. And this is what is in the essence of this book. Now, this is why this is somewhat mixed bag.
First, good number of troops retreating were SS. These guys had real reason to make sure Russians do not get them, because revenge is messy thing and it is weird listening to these people (author does not add or remove anything here, as far as I can see) without context that these same forces did horrendous things in USSR just a couple of years ago - and did it in cold determination. Now they are hunted and all of a sudden reader is to feel some sympathy? Wehrmacht was not any better but they could get some mercy but would end up deported to USSR for rebuilding effort. And in all of this we have civilians that started on with the retreating German army and then ended in the middle of the fire-fights that caused a lot of casualties amongst these refugees.
I understand that German army looked at this with sympathy but also as a burden - again, this is understandable. But as a consequence Soviet troops inflicted lots of damage and losses to these refugees - I mean who is to gamble that from within these refugees actual armed people will not suddenly pop up? And to make things even sadder, some of the refugees - at least by testimonies - also took part in charging the Soviet positions. So, it is bloody and extremely sad, but I do not see this going any other way, even in modern times, fighting was taking place almost at close quarters.
Second, I am getting rather tired of superior German troops that destroy hundreds of tanks (I think one of the Skorzeny's troops, Dora II, that was supporting the 9th Army break through is clear example of this) but are constantly on retreat because of .... I do not know what, I guess they die too? I mean, this myth of handful of man defeating at least a division worth of tanks .... gimme a break. We are talking here about at least dozens of thousands of German troops and all of them are veterans, and some with the tanks and armored vehicles, heading west. And small troop of maybe not 60 man manage to take almost an entire Soviet armored division - and I am talking about vehicles, who knows what they did to infantry - right? Give me a break.
Third, two examples notwithstanding, majority of the book is from the German point of view. Yes, we get comments from Zhukov and Konev, but there are only two eye-witness reports, one from the soldier at the beginning of battle and other from soldier after the battle while he passed through Halbe.
More balanced overview with more information from Soviet side would provide more information about this battle. As is, Germans give overview of the situation but all of it is still painted with we-mighty-over-all approach. Granted, few testimonies, especially at the end, make more sense as soldiers try to manage to break through on their own, but majority is still pretty biased. One wonders how Germans lost in the first place.
Interesting book, but mostly made of testimonies. What facts are presented are either from Soviet troops memoirs and US, German and Russian archives - and while interesting this is a very small part of the book (around a quarter in my opinion). Again, as mentioned, this is as expected because battle on itself was short.
Testimonies (from front-line troops and civilian refugees) are always welcome, but they cannot make the book about the military operations. They are good to paint the overall situation but nothing else.
But again - this was one of the smaller battles, it gives some details on how German forces where pushed to Berlin and ultimately destroyed and in this way it is a curiosity of sorts. For grander picture, it plays no role, except to show how deadly is to have civilian refugees joining retreating army under modern firepower conditions. Horror.
Recommended to people interested in military history so they can see how in modern times, where firepower is tremendous, mixing civilians and military can only bring extreme levels of destruction.
I was not aware that Halbe was that important - as a matter of fact book ends on the USSR side of Elbe. Halbe was a small town through which 9th Army had to break through in order to link with remaining forces in the west direction. Again, east/west here are more about orientation inside Germany itself and more linked to the run of German armed forces to escape vengeful Soviet troops pushing towards the Berlin. So it is not east/west in where in west we have Berlin and in East we have Moscow. No, this is east/west in form of settlements east of the Berlin IN the Germany. So, much smaller territory is covered in this book.
If one is to write about the destruction of the 9th Army, it would be book maybe 70 pages long, because USSR absolutely annihilated the Germans, there was no doubt (except maybe in Hitler's mind) about how things will end.
Since this part would be very short, author decided to include testimonies of all of the survivors of German retreat. And this is what is in the essence of this book. Now, this is why this is somewhat mixed bag.
First, good number of troops retreating were SS. These guys had real reason to make sure Russians do not get them, because revenge is messy thing and it is weird listening to these people (author does not add or remove anything here, as far as I can see) without context that these same forces did horrendous things in USSR just a couple of years ago - and did it in cold determination. Now they are hunted and all of a sudden reader is to feel some sympathy? Wehrmacht was not any better but they could get some mercy but would end up deported to USSR for rebuilding effort. And in all of this we have civilians that started on with the retreating German army and then ended in the middle of the fire-fights that caused a lot of casualties amongst these refugees.
I understand that German army looked at this with sympathy but also as a burden - again, this is understandable. But as a consequence Soviet troops inflicted lots of damage and losses to these refugees - I mean who is to gamble that from within these refugees actual armed people will not suddenly pop up? And to make things even sadder, some of the refugees - at least by testimonies - also took part in charging the Soviet positions. So, it is bloody and extremely sad, but I do not see this going any other way, even in modern times, fighting was taking place almost at close quarters.
Second, I am getting rather tired of superior German troops that destroy hundreds of tanks (I think one of the Skorzeny's troops, Dora II, that was supporting the 9th Army break through is clear example of this) but are constantly on retreat because of .... I do not know what, I guess they die too? I mean, this myth of handful of man defeating at least a division worth of tanks .... gimme a break. We are talking here about at least dozens of thousands of German troops and all of them are veterans, and some with the tanks and armored vehicles, heading west. And small troop of maybe not 60 man manage to take almost an entire Soviet armored division - and I am talking about vehicles, who knows what they did to infantry - right? Give me a break.
Third, two examples notwithstanding, majority of the book is from the German point of view. Yes, we get comments from Zhukov and Konev, but there are only two eye-witness reports, one from the soldier at the beginning of battle and other from soldier after the battle while he passed through Halbe.
More balanced overview with more information from Soviet side would provide more information about this battle. As is, Germans give overview of the situation but all of it is still painted with we-mighty-over-all approach. Granted, few testimonies, especially at the end, make more sense as soldiers try to manage to break through on their own, but majority is still pretty biased. One wonders how Germans lost in the first place.
Interesting book, but mostly made of testimonies. What facts are presented are either from Soviet troops memoirs and US, German and Russian archives - and while interesting this is a very small part of the book (around a quarter in my opinion). Again, as mentioned, this is as expected because battle on itself was short.
Testimonies (from front-line troops and civilian refugees) are always welcome, but they cannot make the book about the military operations. They are good to paint the overall situation but nothing else.
But again - this was one of the smaller battles, it gives some details on how German forces where pushed to Berlin and ultimately destroyed and in this way it is a curiosity of sorts. For grander picture, it plays no role, except to show how deadly is to have civilian refugees joining retreating army under modern firepower conditions. Horror.
Recommended to people interested in military history so they can see how in modern times, where firepower is tremendous, mixing civilians and military can only bring extreme levels of destruction.
December 6, 2022
Soviets in their final offensives surround the German 9th army south of Berlin at Halbe.
So begins a horrifying experience for all trapped as they attempt to escape out of the pocket to across the Elbe and into American captivity whilst fighting all the way.
The Russians though are hell bent on destroying everything within the pocket and commence their slaughter .
Hitler in his last days of madness from his bunker calls on the remnants of this trapped army and the 12th army further north to come to Berlin's rescue.
A terrifying chapter of the final days of WW2 in Europe.
So begins a horrifying experience for all trapped as they attempt to escape out of the pocket to across the Elbe and into American captivity whilst fighting all the way.
The Russians though are hell bent on destroying everything within the pocket and commence their slaughter .
Hitler in his last days of madness from his bunker calls on the remnants of this trapped army and the 12th army further north to come to Berlin's rescue.
A terrifying chapter of the final days of WW2 in Europe.
April 1, 2024
Excellent
February 16, 2010
The Three Stars are for me not the book.
I'm sure anyone who is into REAL military history would absolutely LOVE this very well written account of just another ghastly episode of WWII,
more specifically the Fall of Berlin a la Russe, and then only one part of that downfall.
I'm sure this book deserves more than 3 stars, I am just not knowledgable enough to judge it. I'm not into lists of fighting units and their pedigree, incomprehensible maps (believe me I tried!!),tank and gun types etc., whereas others would relish every word of it.
When I had blindly ploughed about one-third of the way into this book, I read Chapter 22 'Fighting In The Forest' on this episode in Anthony Beevor's great read "Berlin: The Downfall 1945" just to put me on the rails.
Having to 'blindly plough' was a good thing because all the poor bloody Germans were doing just that. Egotistical Hitler (to call him "mad' is just TOO generous a term) had ordered the 9th Army to come to the rescue of Besieged Berlin and more importantly His Highness Self.But these poor buggers were fighting for their own very existence in a forest on the city's outskirts and they were incapable of saving anyone, barely even themselves and the thousands of refugees who had joined them.
The first-person accounts are Un-believable as the Germans reap the wildwind and pay their dues for the carnage they have released on the rest of Europe. However, that in no way punctures the horror and pity one feels at what they endure. The casualties, so many simply blown to pieces by the point-blank barrage of the Russians and the splinters of wood from exploding trees are horrendous; but so are those of the Russians, about 300,000 killed, wounded or missing in the Battle for Berlin.
Surrounded in ever-shrinking pockets, the worst on the escape route being the tiny villlage of Halbe, the 9th Army fought to join up with the 12th army and escape to the West to surrender to the Americans who they knew would treat them better as prisoners than the Russians whom they had been brainwashed into thinking of as subhuman.In fact the Russians were vindictive but also very kind;and the Americans were to turn sour with the discovery of the concentration camps.
If ever there were people on a losing ticket it was those in Hitler's Germany.
This is a sobering read.Skip the over-militarized sections.
(I didn't...just wanted to expand my brain!!!)I could not even imagine having to endure such an experience. It only filled me with an admiration for the human spirit.
A resounding read, finally. And a nail in the coffin of War.
Alas, how sooon we forget. All our politicians should be put into such a situation.
I'm sure anyone who is into REAL military history would absolutely LOVE this very well written account of just another ghastly episode of WWII,
more specifically the Fall of Berlin a la Russe, and then only one part of that downfall.
I'm sure this book deserves more than 3 stars, I am just not knowledgable enough to judge it. I'm not into lists of fighting units and their pedigree, incomprehensible maps (believe me I tried!!),tank and gun types etc., whereas others would relish every word of it.
When I had blindly ploughed about one-third of the way into this book, I read Chapter 22 'Fighting In The Forest' on this episode in Anthony Beevor's great read "Berlin: The Downfall 1945" just to put me on the rails.
Having to 'blindly plough' was a good thing because all the poor bloody Germans were doing just that. Egotistical Hitler (to call him "mad' is just TOO generous a term) had ordered the 9th Army to come to the rescue of Besieged Berlin and more importantly His Highness Self.But these poor buggers were fighting for their own very existence in a forest on the city's outskirts and they were incapable of saving anyone, barely even themselves and the thousands of refugees who had joined them.
The first-person accounts are Un-believable as the Germans reap the wildwind and pay their dues for the carnage they have released on the rest of Europe. However, that in no way punctures the horror and pity one feels at what they endure. The casualties, so many simply blown to pieces by the point-blank barrage of the Russians and the splinters of wood from exploding trees are horrendous; but so are those of the Russians, about 300,000 killed, wounded or missing in the Battle for Berlin.
Surrounded in ever-shrinking pockets, the worst on the escape route being the tiny villlage of Halbe, the 9th Army fought to join up with the 12th army and escape to the West to surrender to the Americans who they knew would treat them better as prisoners than the Russians whom they had been brainwashed into thinking of as subhuman.In fact the Russians were vindictive but also very kind;and the Americans were to turn sour with the discovery of the concentration camps.
If ever there were people on a losing ticket it was those in Hitler's Germany.
This is a sobering read.Skip the over-militarized sections.
(I didn't...just wanted to expand my brain!!!)I could not even imagine having to endure such an experience. It only filled me with an admiration for the human spirit.
A resounding read, finally. And a nail in the coffin of War.
Alas, how sooon we forget. All our politicians should be put into such a situation.
December 28, 2008
I was intrigued by this story and what had happened in Halbe area in 1945. Little was know of this battle since it was shadowed by the major Battle of Berlin. At Halbe the German Ninth Army was encircled by the soviets. The Ninth Army decided to move west to join the German Twelfth Army and together end up at the river Elbe to surrender to the American forces. In this attempt 40.000 where killed, 60.000 taken prisoner not counting the many of thousands civilian refugees that perished alongside the soldiers. The book is filled with eyewitness accounts of those who survived the Halbe pocket describing the hellish scenes that occurred at the Halbe village and surrounding woods.
September 18, 2013
I did not find this as interesting or easy to read as some previous books by Le Tissier. As with his other books there is a lot of dense information about movement of fronts and units involved. The maps in this book were not that helpful or clear in my oppinion unless you are already very familiar with the subject. About half way through the book settles down into eyewittness and participant accounts of the particular hell being recounted. It is told mostly through the eyes of Wehrmacht/SS and is poorer for lacking much in way of the Soviet experience. Still aninteresting and worthwhile read for anyone with an interest in the subject matter.
June 17, 2018
Tony Le Tissier - Slaughter At Halbe
Revisited this publication. It is probably the most thorough account of the Battle of Halbe. Here is an excerpt of an account contained therein by SS Captain Krauss of the 30 Januar SS Division tank hunting battalion:
"The 9th Army in the area south of Berlin was already in a big pocket that had become split into several small ones at Mullrose, Pieros and elsewhere. The Pieros pocket was about 21 Kilometres across. In it were about 1000-14000 German soldiers of all arms of service and also about 20000 civilians with their herds of cattle, individual animals, household articles; there were families, women with children, some on foot, some with horse drawn carts, handcarts. All this under continuous artillery and mortar fire and air attack from the Russians, which could not fail to hit something each time. Conditions in the pocket were horrendous. Soldiers, civilians, children, women and vehicles moved round in a circle, trying to avoid the fire like a giant thousand legged worm biting itself in the tail. Officers, soldiers, civilians with their families, whole groups of German people were shooting themselves. I looked across at this spectacle shattered, stunned and helpless"
Revisited this publication. It is probably the most thorough account of the Battle of Halbe. Here is an excerpt of an account contained therein by SS Captain Krauss of the 30 Januar SS Division tank hunting battalion:
"The 9th Army in the area south of Berlin was already in a big pocket that had become split into several small ones at Mullrose, Pieros and elsewhere. The Pieros pocket was about 21 Kilometres across. In it were about 1000-14000 German soldiers of all arms of service and also about 20000 civilians with their herds of cattle, individual animals, household articles; there were families, women with children, some on foot, some with horse drawn carts, handcarts. All this under continuous artillery and mortar fire and air attack from the Russians, which could not fail to hit something each time. Conditions in the pocket were horrendous. Soldiers, civilians, children, women and vehicles moved round in a circle, trying to avoid the fire like a giant thousand legged worm biting itself in the tail. Officers, soldiers, civilians with their families, whole groups of German people were shooting themselves. I looked across at this spectacle shattered, stunned and helpless"
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