Remnants of War – Zhukov’s Bunker and Command Post in Reitwein

80 years ago today, the Red Army launched “Operation Berlin” – AKA, the final Soviet assault on Berlin.

Last week, I visited the site where Zhukov’s command bunker was located during the initial phase of the Operation, as the 1st Belorussian Front spent 4 days battling through entrenched German defensive lines along the Seelow Heights.

Not much remains of the bunker itself, but you can still see the wooden ramparts along the perimeter and the blocked-off entrances to the bunker.

The hill upon which the command bunker was located is also pocketed by deep holes and grooves in the land, which must have been formed by incoming shell fire. (The bunker is in the town of Reitwein, which itself saw intense running battles in the weeks & months leading up to the start of Operation Berlin).

The subsequent fighting along the Seelow Heights would claim the lives of at least 30 thousand Soviet soldiers, which is a testament to the intensity of the battle (and the questionable tactics employed by Zhukov).

But once the German defensive lines were finally broken on the 19th of April, the path to Berlin was open for Zhukov’s forces…

P.S the battle for the Seelow Heights is covered in-depth in episode 1.2 of the Europe At War podcast, which you can find linked below.