The Wehrmacht anticipated a Soviet offensive in January 1945, but Adolf Hitler refused to listen to their warnings. When the offensive begin, the Nazi government was slow to allow civilians to flee the approaching Red Army, despite Nazi propaganda that emphasized the cruelty of Soviet solders.
The Red Army’s treatment of German civilians in East Prussia was brutal. Hundreds of thousands died, many killed deliberately by Soviet soldiers. Hundreds of thousands of German women were raped.
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Playlist:
Fanfare
Opening War Theme
Overture to Tannhäuser
Composed in 1845 by Richard Wagner. Public domain.
Performed by the United States Marine Band. Public domain recording.
Closing War Theme
Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.