1418
Illustration: The Vistula–Oder offensive
LiberationJoyful

· Day 1306 of 1418

The Vistula–Oder offensive

Warsaw

in 20 days, from the Vistula to the Oder
≈ 500 km
in 20 days, from the Vistula to the Oder

On 12 January 1945 a rapid offensive began from the Vistula to the Oder. On 17 January ruined Warsaw was liberated. In three weeks the troops advanced about 500 km and reached the Oder, 70 km from Berlin.

The offensive was launched ahead of schedule to help the Allies, whom the enemy was pressing hard in the Ardennes. The tank armies moved so fast that the enemy had no time to take up defences.

Warsaw was almost completely destroyed: after crushing the uprising the enemy had blown up building after building. Soldiers of the Polish 1st Army entered the capital together with Soviet troops.

See it on the map

Chapter 44 · January 1945

500 kilometres in 20 days

On 12 January the Vistula–Oder offensive began. Warsaw was freed on 17 January, the prisoners of Auschwitz on 27 January. Soviet troops reached the Oder: Berlin was only about 70 kilometres away.