April 30 – May 2, 1945General source · 2 sourcesWell documented
The Fall of Berlin and Hitler's Death
On the timeline · around April 30 – May 2, 1945 ·
What happened
As the Red Army fought through Berlin, Adolf Hitler killed himself in his bunker on April 30, 1945, alongside Eva Braun, whom he had married the day before. Berlin's defenders surrendered to Soviet forces on May 2.
Why it matters
The death of the Nazi dictator and the fall of the German capital brought the Third Reich to its end and cleared the way for Germany's surrender.
Sources
- Imperial War Museums. The Battle of Berlin: Germany's downfall on the Eastern Front · General source
- Holocaust Encyclopedia, USHMM. Hitler Commits Suicide · General source