The ruins of the Reichstag in Berlin at the end of WWII; interior photos show graffiti left by men of the Red Army.
This day in history:
A flag of the Soviet Union is raised atop the Reichstag by two Soviet soldiers in a photograph captured by Yevgeny Khaldei, signifying an end to the Battle of Berlin. Although a flag had been raised two days earlier, it had been too dark to take a photo; it wasn’t until the 2nd of May that the opportunity arose again.
By the end of the battle there were well over one million casualties combined, and the city laid in ruins. Less than a week later came the unconditional surrender of Germany and the end of WWII in Europe.
May 2, 1945 - 67 years ago today.
Damage to the Reichstag building following the Battle of Berlin.
Berlin in ruins almost two months after the Battle of Berlin and subsequent German surrender to Allied forces.
July 3, 1945.
