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|commander2 = Festung Breslau: |strength1 =87,334 soldiers |strength2 =approximately 50,000 soldiers〔Duffy, p. 254〕 |casualties1 =approximately 60,000 soldiers |casualties2 =approximately 30,000 soldiers and civilians |notes = |campaignbox = }} The Battle of Breslau, also known as the Siege of Breslau, was a three-month-long siege of the city of Breslau in Lower Silesia, Germany (now Wrocław, Poland), lasting to the end of World War II in Europe. From 13 February 1945 to 6 May 1945, German troops in Breslau were besieged by the Soviet forces which encircled the city as part of the Lower Silesian Offensive Operation. The German garrison's surrender on 6 May was followed by the surrender of all German forces two days after the battle. ==Preparations== In August 1944, Adolf Hitler declared the city of Breslau to be a fortress (''Festung''), ordering that it must be defended at all costs. He named Karl Hanke (''Gauleiter'' of Silesia since 1941) to be the city's "Battle Commander" (''Kampfkommandant''). On 19 January 1945, the civilian population was forced to leave (many thousands died in the bitter cold of the makeshift evacuation;〔HITLER'S FINAL FORTRESS - BRESLAU 1945 (2012) -- Richard Hargreaves〕 many more arrived in Dresden 〔HITLER'S FINAL FORTRESS - BRESLAU 1945 (2012) -- Richard Hargreaves〕 to be bombed a few weeks later). The German Army (''Wehrmacht Heer''), aided by the Home Guard (''Volkssturm'') and slave labourers, then turned the city into a military fortress: Breslau was to be capable of a lengthy defense against the advancing Soviets. A large area of the city center was demolished and turned into an airfield. Late in January, a regiment of Hitler Youth (''Hitler-Jugend'') was sent to reinforce the garrison of ''Festung Breslau''. SS regiment "Besslein" (which included volunteers from France and the Netherlands) also took part. On 2 February 1945, Hanke presented colors to the newly formed Home Guard units in Breslau. On the same day, Major General Hans von Ahlfen became the garrison commander of Fortress Breslau. Ahlfen, who commanded for only three weeks, had been personally selected by the Commander-in-Chief of Army Group Center (''Heeresgruppe Mitte''), Ferdinand Schörner. On 2 March 1945, Infantry General Hermann Niehoff replaced Ahlfen as garrison commander. Niehoff held the position until the final surrender on 6 May 1945. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Siege of Breslau」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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