Walking the Ground – Schönefeld near Beelitz

The location of the link-up between the German 9th and 12th armies.

The small village of Schönefeld, 3km outside of Beelitz (roughly 24 kilometres south-west of Berlin).

Here, on the 1st of May 1945, the shattered remnants of the German 9th Army linked-up with General Wenck’s 12th Army, representing the (successful) conclusion to the former’s escape from the Halbe Pocket.

Given the chaotic nature of the battlefield and the confusion that reigned, it’s impossible to know the precise location of where Busse’s breakout group linked up with the 12th Army. That said, the core breakout group led by Busse did make their final push through a 3-kilometre corridor of fields and forests between the villages of Rieben and Zauchwitz, towards the small village of Schönefeld outside of Beelitz. – Schönefeld was the closest point in the 12th Army lines, and it was a far more preferable target for the link-up because the town of Beelitz itself was still hotly contested between the 12th Army and the Soviets.

Whilst Busse’s group escaped towards Schönefeld, other small bands of German troops and refugees were able to slip through the Soviet defences and make contact with the German 12th Army at other points in this sector.

In any case, the field in the photo above is located south of the village of Schönefeld, so it’s my best bet at showing the area where the main link-up happened.

In one of these fields south of Schönefeld, General Wenck (12th Army) shook the hand of General Busse (9th Army) and supposedly said, “Thank god you’re here!”.

Bonus video: Me narrating the foggy field. Enjoy!