In the course of his career, Weidling has distinguished himself on several occasions for his merits in the field and the command, coming to be awarded the Knight’s Cross with Oak fronds and Swords on November 28, 1944.

The name of Wiedling, however, remains inextricably linked to the Battle of Berlin, where he assumed the role of commander of the defense of the city until the capitulation of the German forces on May 2, 1945.

The Second World War

In November 1938, Weidling was promoted to the rank of Colonel (Oberst) in the reconstituted German Armed Forces and was assigned to the 56th Regiment of Artillery, with which he took part in ‘the invasion of Poland.

In April 1940, he was assigned to XL. Panzer-Korps, with whom he participated in the French campaign and the early stages of ‘Operation Barbarossa.

On 1 January 1942, he was given command of the 86—infantry Division, operating on the Eastern Front. The positive achievements on the field brought him in only one year before being promoted to the rank of Major General (Generalmajor), then to that of Lieutenant General (Generalleutnant).

The XLI. Panzer Korps

On October 15, 1943, as a reward for the vital role played in the battle of Kursk, Weidling commanded the XLI. Panzer Korps. Only two months later, he was promoted to the rank of General of Artillery (General der Artillerie).

He remained in command of this unit almost continuously until April 10, 1945, when he was removed from power and assigned to the reserve officers (Führerreserve) at the headquarters of the ‘High Command of the German Army in Zossen.

The LVI. Panzer Korps

The setting aside of Weidling, however, lasted only two days early as 12 April; in fact, she was placed in command of the LVI. Panzer korps, consistent with the Ninth Army under General Theodor Busse. Weidling was engaged, with the rest of the forces of Army Group Vistula, in the defense against the Soviet assault on the German defensive line along the ‘Oder.

The LVI. Panzer Korps took part in the Battle of the Seelow Heights: The unit of Weidling covered the center of the defensive line, protected on the flanks by the CI. Armee-Korps and XI. SS-Panzer-Korps. The start of the battle was positive for the German troops despite the inferiority of men and means (especially those armored), the Ninth Army successfully defended its positions.

Then, when the Army Group Center, which covered the right side of the German defensive line along the Seelow Heights, was smashed against the assaults of the 1st Ukrainian Front of Marshal Ivan Konev, the positions of the IX Army became untenable, thus leading to the defeat on the Seelow Heights.

General Gotthard Heinrici, commander of Army Group Vistula, was thus forced to withdraw a few combat units rimastegli available, including the LVI. Panzer-Korps, to Berlin.

Commander Of The Defense Of Berlin

On 22 April 1945, Hitler ordered that Weidling be brought before the firing squad. The Führer, in fact, was convinced that Weidling had moved the line of defense of the LVI. Panzer-Korps westward, in blatant violation of the order that prevented all officers from folding.

The belief of the Führer, however, was wrong: the LVI. Panzer-Korps was still struggling with its residual forces at the gates of Berlin, trying to resist Soviet assaults. So Weidling walked to the Führerbunker at the new Chancery. There, he had the opportunity to personally explain the situation to Hitler's troops under his command: this Thread greatly impressed the Führer. On 23 April, Weidling was appointed Commander of the Defense of Berlin.

Weidling accepted this new assignment with a sense of duty, though with deep disappointment. To General Hans Krebs told him that his appointment as commander of the defense of Berlin, he replied, “It would be better if she had given orders to shoot me because then this cup would be passed on to others.”

Weidling orders were simple: to defend Berlin to the last man, avoiding at all costs the yield.

The German Defenses

The forces available to Weidling for the defense of Berlin were very scarce: in all combat units of the Wehrmacht and the Waffen-SS amounted to just 45,000 men. To give a hand, however, were recruited members of the Berlin Police, approximately 40,000 volunteers from the Volkssturm (the Nazi militia), and many boys of the Hitler Youth.

When Weidling discovered that boys so young people were engaged in battle, ordered the Reichsjugendführer Artur Axmann to disband the Hitler Youth combat units. However, in the confusion of battle and of the moment, the order was never carried out, condemning many young boys to die on the streets of Berlin.

Weidling organized the defense system in eight areas identified by the letters “A” through “H”. Each of these areas was commanded by a Colonel or a General, even if the majority of these had little combat experience on the front.

These units were still available to Weidling:

•20. Panzergrenadier Division – western sector

•9. Fallschirmjäger Division (Division paratroopers) – the north

•Panzer Division “Müncheberg” – the north-east

•11. SS Panzergrenadier Division Nordland – the south-east.

The 18. Panzergrenadier Division (stationed in the center of Berlin) was the only reserve unit available to Weidling and established its operational command to Benderblock, once the seat of the ‘High Command of the army.

To protect the government district remained only the Kampfgruppe Mohnke, a unit of no more than 2,000 men of nine battalions (including the remains of the division of Charlemagne and the General in command of the SS (SS Brigadeführer) Wilhelm Mohnke.

The Defeat

The unequal struggle against an enemy far superior in terms of personnel and resources soon led Weidling to realize that the battle was no longer sustainable. Hopes that German units from West Berlin by the siege could save you faded every hour more, while also attempting to regain control of the airport in the city (essential to receive ammunition and supplies) was crushed by the weight of Soviet forces.

On the evening of 26 April, when the situation was clearly hopeless, Weidling presented to Hitler a detailed plan to escape from Berlin. The Führer, however, flatly refused the idea of leaving the city: it was his firm intention, in fact, to stay in the capital of the Reich at any cost.

On April 27, Hitler ordered the flood of the subway in Berlin so as to make the advanced Soviet troops: this decision led to the death by drowning of thousands of German soldiers and civilians who in those trenches, sought refuge and protection. This brutal order, however, did not affect the possibilities of defense of Berlin, just that April 27 was finally cut off from the rest of Germany.

The advance of the Soviets was unstoppable, and already on 29 April, most of the city was lost: the government district and the operational command of Weidling was now just a few meters from the front line.

Once again, then, Weidling tried to convince the Führer to organize a maneuver that breakthroughed conduces forces defending Berlin to the west so as to meet up with the Twelfth Army Walther Wenck. The answer to Hitler was at first once again negative when he was next to take his own life.

However, he authorized the commander of the defense of Berlin to organize a generalized flight of combat troops to the West. The situation, however, had become too desperate for managing such a maneuver.

Towards The Yield

On April 30, Hitler and his wife Eva Braun committed suicide. Weidling was summoned to the Führerbunker, where Goebbels, Bormann, and General Krebs informed him of the news, making him swear not to spread the word for the moment.

The next day, General Krebs was sent to the command of Soviet General Vasily Chuikov to treat the terms of surrender. However, the Soviets had no desire or interest in dealing with it; for them, there was only one way out the unconditional surrender of the German forces in Berlin.

The yield was now the only viable alternative given the conditions of the civilian population and the military engaged in battle; however, Goebbels, who had become Reichskanzler (Reich Chancellor) after the death of Hitler, strenuously objected to this solution. It is, therefore, expected that even Goebbels, at 20:30 on 1 May, take her life before accepting the surrender imposed by the Soviet command.

It would fall on Weidling to communicate the surrender of the Germans in Berlin.

The Meeting With Čujkov

2:50 pm May 2, 1945 Weidling, yet formally Commander of the defense of Berlin, went to the bridge in Potsdam to meet again Čujkov and communicate the successful surrender of the German armed forces operating in the city.

Later the same day, the order for unconditional surrender was communicated to the troops through numerous ads with the speakers. Only a few units continued the resistance against the Soviets, while other smaller groups (including some occupants of the Führerbunker) tried to escape the city through the Soviet lines.

This press release was sent to the Soviet troops: “Berlin, May 2, 1945. On 30 April the Führer committed suicide, leaving in this way, all those who had taken the oath of allegiance. Loyal to the Führer order, you German soldiers were ready to continue to fight for Berlin. However, your ammo was about to finish, and the overall situation would make further resistance senseless.

ARRANGE is now the cessation of all forms of war activity. Every hour that you were to continue fighting would only prolong the terrible sufferings of the civilian population and our wounded. In agreement with the supreme command of the Soviet troops, I ask you to lay down their arms immediately. Weidling, former commander of the defense of the square of Berlin”.

After the surrender, Weidling was taken into custody by the victors, waiting to be brought to trial.

Death

On February 27, 1952, Weidling was convicted by a Soviet court to 25 years in prison. Will not return to Germany since only a little over three years later (November 17, 1955), the German general died in Vladimir due to cardiovascular problems