Walking the Ground – Panzersperre Halbe

In order to stop the German breakout through Halbe (and kill or capture as many of the breakout force as possible), the Soviets placed multiple anti-tank barriers (Panzersperre) on the main roads leading in – and out – of the town.

These barricades were crudely designed but highly effective. They consisted of two rows of chopped-down pine trees filled with sand in between, and they spanned the entire width of the road.

To the sides and rears of the barricades; Soviet troops, assault guns, and tanks lay in wait to stop anyone from breaking through.

Two of the most notable Soviet anti-tank barricades in Halbe were placed on Kirchstrasse and Lindenstrasse. – Both locations would see unimaginable scenes of horror as wave after wave of desperate German tanks, troops, and refugees, made repeated assaults on the barricades, trying to break through and escape to the west.

Photos 1-2: The barricade placed on Kirchstrasse was designed as a fall-back barricade, intending to trap any survivors who had managed to punch through the first barricade guarding the entrance to the town (located near the main train crossing).

Photo 3-4: Here’s a before & after of the church on Kirchstrasse, which was heavily damaged in the fighting.

Photos 5-6: The barricade at the end of Lindenstrasse was one of the final obstacles that the breakout groups had to overcome before they could proceed with their escape out of the town.

Photo 7: This map highlights where these barricades were located in the town.

Today, fittingly, the location of the barricade along Kirchstrasse is only a stone’s throw away from the offices of the German War Graves Commission. – Given the staggeringly high number of war dead still being found in the Halbe area, it’s unsurprising the Commission has based themselves in the town.

Meanwhile, the exact spot where the barricade was placed on Lindenstrasse is now home to a florist.