The Soviet occupation of Berlin
After Germany's surrender to Allied forces in May 1945 Soviet soldiers occupied the German capital Berlin. For ordinary German citizens it was a time of fear and uncertainty.
After Germany's surrender to Allied forces in May 1945 Soviet soldiers occupied the German capital Berlin. For ordinary German citizens it was a time of fear and uncertainty. The city had been reduced to rubble and for women in particular, the presence of Soviet troops was terrifying. In 2011 one German woman told her story of rape by a Red Army soldier to Steve Evans.
This programme is a rebroadcast.
Photo: A young Soviet soldier and a German woman struggle over a bicycle - Berlin 1945. Credit: Keystone/Getty Images.
Last on
Broadcasts
- Thu 7 May 202007:50GMTBBC World Service
- Thu 7 May 202011:50GMTBBC World Service
- Thu 7 May 202017:50GMTBBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Fri 8 May 202003:50GMTBBC World Service
Podcast
![]()
Witness History
The story of our times, told by the people who were there

