Battleplan 13. Urban Warfare (19 of 20)

Battleplan

Von Paulus failed to realise the extent and purpose of the Soviet build-up.
Giap did not need to watch his back, as he knew the targets would soon be re-taken.
Exit strategy.
Von Paulus did not have an exit strategy.
When he proposed one, to withdraw from Stalingrad, Hitler refused.
At first, General Giap's exit strategy included a popular uprising.
When this failed to happen, his exit strategy was to allow his troops to withdrew because they had fulfilled their part of his overall battleplan.
In 1945, two years after Stalingrad, the Soviets were again locked in urban warfare - the battle to take Berlin.

On April 1st, Stalin summoned to the Kremlin his top soldiers, including Marshal Zhukov, architect of the Stalingrad campaign.
He read them an intelligence report that the Western Allies were preparing to launch a race for Berlin, and gave them their orders.
Win the race for Berlin at all costs.
Get there before the Western Allies.
Take the city and end World War Two in Europe.
The Soviets' objective was unequivocal.
In the race to take Berlin, surprise was not a factor.
Soviet Marshal Zhukov launched his attack at dawn on April 16th with a massive bombardment.
Zhukov was held at the Seelow Heights, but managed to break through.
Other Soviet forces to the south, and with easier terrain, advanced quicker.
By April 24th, the Soviets had surrounded Hitler's capital.
Unlike the Germans at Stalingrad, they maintained momentum.
The Soviets began their final assault on April 26th, preceded by heavy air attacks.
The street fighting which followed was savage.