中歐會戰

中歐會戰
	第二次世界大戰西方戰線的一部分
	; 1945年4月期間，美軍士兵在一輛M4雪曼戰車的支援下衝進位於德國韋恩貝格一條滿布濃煙的街道
日期	1945年3月22日—1945年5月11日
地點	德國本土西部及南部、奧地利、捷克斯洛伐克
結果	盟軍決定性勝利德意志第三帝國覆滅; 第二次世界大戰歐洲戰場結束;
參戰方
美國; 英國; 法國; 加拿大自治領 ; 波蘭	德國 ; 俄羅斯解放軍; 匈牙利
指揮官與領導者
德懷特·艾森豪; 伯納德·蒙哥馬利; 奧馬爾·布拉德利; 雅各布·L·德弗斯	阿道夫·希特勒（自殺）; 阿爾貝特·凱塞林; 瓦爾特·莫德爾 †; 保羅·豪塞爾; 約翰內斯·布拉斯科維茨
傷亡與損失
美國:; 62,704人; (包含14,507人死亡或失蹤); 法國:; 18,306人; (包含4,967人死亡); 英國:; 17,930人; (包含4,878人死亡或失蹤); 加拿大:; 6,490人; (包含1,747死亡或失蹤); 其他盟軍:; 715人; (包含207人死亡或失蹤)	1945年1月-5月:; 265,000-400,000人; (所有防線); 200,000人被俘; (1月-3月); 4,400,000人投降; (4月-6月)

中歐會戰（英語：Central Europe Campaign）是第二次世界大戰盟軍為在中歐地區擊退德軍及攻入納粹德國本土所發動的一連串軍事行動，時間是自1945年3月22日到5月11日東線蘇軍攻佔德國首都柏林為止，盟軍統稱取名為「中歐會戰」。

在1945年春天歐洲戰場局面轉為對盟軍有利，德軍在突出部之役中受創。阿登攻勢是德軍在西線最後一次最大反攻作戰，但卻以失敗告終並消耗德軍剩餘戰力，殘存的德軍撤退至萊茵河東岸堤防防守。到3月中旬盟軍推進至萊茵河，美軍第1集團軍成功攻佔雷瑪根市魯登道夫大橋，並在此橋東岸建立小面積橋頭堡。

東線方面全面反攻的蘇聯紅軍已經佔領波蘭大部份地區，而德軍已全線崩潰，因此蘇軍有如潮水般擁入匈牙利及捷克東境，並攻入德國本土東面暫時抵逹「奧德河-尼斯河線」。蘇軍在東線的快速推進，消滅了德軍不少兵力，導致防衛萊茵河區的德軍明顯兵力缺乏。而西方盟軍已經完成了他們的準備工作，準備隨時攻入德國總司令部，盟軍似乎勝利在望。

戰鬥部隊序列

盟軍序列

盟軍部隊共有90個滿編的師，包括25個坦克師及5個傘兵空降師。戰線沿著萊茵河南北延伸450公里，北至荷蘭北境北海、南至瑞士國界。

盟軍沿著這條線被劃分為3個集團軍：在北方自荷蘭北海邊到德國科隆市，由英軍元帥蒙哥馬利統領英軍第21集團軍負責。其中加拿大第1軍團負責盟軍戰線左翼，緊接是英軍第2軍團居正中，美軍第9軍團居戰線南段。

由美軍第9軍團右翼至德國美因茨一段，由美軍上將奧馬爾·布拉德利領導的美軍第12集團軍負責。第12集團軍轄下有美軍兩個軍團：考特尼·霍奇斯將軍美軍第1軍團及喬治·巴頓將軍的美軍第3軍團。美軍第1軍團在戰線的左翼（北方），而第3軍團在戰線的右翼（南邊）；

在南方則是由雅各布·L·德弗斯上將統領美軍第6集團軍負責。其中美國第7軍團在北方，而法軍第1軍團在南（戰線右側）。

德軍序列

迎戰的是當時德國西線總指揮官是阿爾貝特·凱塞林元帥。他自1945年3月10日才剛接格特·馮·倫德施泰特老元帥職缺。雖然他才從義大利防禦戰改調任至此，有著在義大利成功防守盟軍事蹟，被讚譽為「防守戰略家」。但他嚴重缺乏所需要軍事資源保衛以建立防線，例如：此時兵力缺乏的萊茵河德軍防衛兵力只剩下26個師。它們分屬於德軍三個集團軍H、B、G。德軍總司令部優先集中所有兵力在東線對抗蘇聯紅軍，因而只能補撥少量的援兵到「西線」德軍。

3月21日「德軍H集團軍」司令部改編為「德軍西北司令部」（Oberbefehlshaber Nordwest）由恩斯特·布施元帥統領。約翰內斯·布拉斯科維茨的「德軍H集團軍」改編組為德軍駐荷蘭集團軍。恩斯特·布施將軍的主力軍是德軍第1空降軍團則負責擔任「帝國保衛戰」防線的右翼。在德軍防線的中央莫德爾元帥的德軍B集團軍（下轄：德軍第15軍團與第5裝甲軍團）以保衛魯爾區。而保羅·豪塞爾的德國G集團軍（下轄：德軍第7軍團、第1軍團與第19軍團）駐守在防線的南方。

艾森豪戰略

在攻佔魯爾區同時，艾森豪計劃以第21集團軍向東邊挺進，橫越德國北部平原攻至柏林，而美軍第12軍團與第6軍團將發動牽制性攻勢，減少盟軍推進的阻力。

有幾個原因理由讓艾森豪在3月底重新調整這些軍事計劃，首先他的司令部收到情報說：蘇軍在奧得河已經建立渡江橋頭堡，距柏林只有距離30英里（48公里），而盟軍自萊茵河畔到柏林還超過 300英里（480公里），即便更向德國內陸推進至易北河畔離柏林仍有 200英里（320公里）遠，似乎再清楚不過蘇軍會被比盟軍更快的攻佔柏林。艾森豪從而把注意力轉向了其他目標，其中最重要的是美軍儘快與蘇軍會師，以將德軍截成兩段。再將殘存的德軍各個擊破^[7]。

另外「魯爾工業區」仍舊聚集大批德軍防守。而且工業區是德國作戰動力所在，因此盟軍將其列為第一攻佔目標謀略不變。此時盟軍情報單位發現：魯爾地區許多軍事武器製造重工業已經在迅速悄悄拆卸移轉至德國南部更內陸地區，這增加了發動橫跨萊茵河南部攻勢的重要性^[7]。

但也許調整軍事計劃更多是基於美國人，當英軍蒙哥馬利元帥小心翼翼地謀略在北德發動大規模推進德國本土攻勢，打算動員大規模空軍和空降兵協同，相對而言南方美軍展示出簡單的進取是艾森豪更想看到的。

3月7日考特尼·霍奇斯中將率領美軍第1集團軍攻佔雷瑪根市魯登道夫大橋橫越萊茵河並很快建立橋頭堡。南德薩爾普法爾茨（Saarpfalz-Kreis）地區，美軍喬治·巴頓中將率領美軍第3軍團給乎德軍第7軍團毀滅性的打擊，並聯合美軍第7軍幾近消滅德軍第1軍團。在5天戰鬥時程內，3月18至22日巴頓軍虜獲超過68,000名德軍。這些大膽的行動，瓦解萊茵河西岸所有德軍陣地。

儘管蒙哥馬利仍在謀略渡河後大舉攻德，艾森豪認為不應把美軍的勢頭浪費，僅發動有限的牽制性攻勢。在3月底艾森豪因此決定讓美軍擔當更重要的角色，攻德戰役的最先幾天已經足以令艾森豪確信這是正確的。

軍事行動

美軍越過萊茵河

3月19日艾森豪告訴布萊德雷準備第1軍團於3月22日以後隨時自「雷瑪根大橋」突破。同日為響應第3軍團的強勁表現在薩爾—普法爾茨地區，並且令萊茵河東岸能部置一支守護第1軍團側翼的強大的部隊，布拉德利給予巴頓的不須顧忌儘快越過萊茵河的許可。

這些進攻命令正投巴頓所好，美國人一般認為，如果一個足夠強大的美軍部隊衝過萊茵河並打出大勝仗，艾森豪就有足夠理由把奪佔德國的主力作戰，自英軍蒙哥馬利英軍第21集團軍那裡轉移給布萊德雷美軍第12集團軍。巴頓也感謝這個機會，他現在計劃比蒙哥馬利更快過河，以為第3軍團贏得了在現代歷史上第一個越過萊茵河過路的榮譽，為了要做到這一點，他必須快速行動。

21日巴頓命令屬下美軍第12軍在22日凌晨渡過萊茵河，比蒙哥馬利排訂渡河時間早一日。巴頓馬上調集在從去年秋天美軍開始囤積在洛林倉庫裡所有攻擊艇，迫不及待想提早渡河。

3月22日深夜美國第3軍團開始度河，第5步兵師的第11步兵團最先在尼爾斯泰因過河，德軍只是零星的抵抗^[8]。到了3月23日下午第5步兵師全師以及第90步兵師的1個團到達了橋頭堡。到了午夜步兵部隊已經推進至超過8公里的邊界內陸，3月25日清晨美軍第8軍的兩個師也越過了萊茵河。

3月26日在第6裝甲師支援下第5步兵師向美因河畔法蘭克福進動攻擊，3月29日佔領了該城。

美國第6軍團橫渡萊茵河

美國第6軍團在3月26日開始度河，第7軍團的第15軍在美因茨以南約40公里的沃爾姆斯展開了攻擊。

蒙哥馬利啟動戰利品行動

掠奪行動（Operation Plunder）於3月23日晚至24日黎明展開，盟軍轟炸機及炮兵展開了極為猛烈的轟炸。隨後英軍第51高地師、第15蘇格蘭師、英軍第1突擊旅及美軍第30和79步兵師展開渡河，並建立5個橋頭堡。

大學校隊行動（Operation Varsity）於3月24日清晨開始由英軍第6空降師和美軍第17空降師組成的第18空降軍負責。傘兵於韋塞爾北部展開空降以抵擋德軍對橋頭堡的反擊，最終第21集團軍成功在里斯與韋塞爾一帶建立穩固的橋頭堡。

艾森豪切換美國第12集團軍為主力

艾森豪威爾調整了盟軍的進攻計劃，儘管受到邱吉爾的抗議，艾森豪將柏林由盟軍進攻目標上清除，把柏林留給蘇軍，第12集團軍將成為先頭部隊向易北河並與蘇軍會師。

魯爾口袋掃清

美軍第9集團軍改往東南推進與美軍第1集團軍夾擊德國B集團軍，在1945年4月1日兩個集團軍在接近利普斯塔特的地方會師。4月4日的包圍圈完成，第9軍重回第12集團軍指揮，德國B集團軍受困於魯爾口袋內，最終德軍B集團軍共320,000人向美軍投降，而莫德爾元帥也於不久後自殺。

易北河會師

4月25日美國第1集團軍於穆爾德河和蘇軍進行第一次會師，在托爾高附近美國第69步兵師的巡邏部隊與蘇聯第5近衛集團軍最先進行了接觸。兩軍會師意味著德軍被截成南北兩段，盟軍的東、西兩條戰線從此聯接，歐戰的勝利將近，成為世界反法西斯戰爭的歐洲戰場出現勝利的曙光，也是希特勒的納粹政權即將覆亡的象徵之ㄧ，後來4月25日被記念為易北河日。

盟軍進入奧地利

1945年4月19日至5月7日期間，西方盟軍的最終推進

美國第3步兵師於4月20日攻入了紐倫堡

在美國第12集團軍右方，美國第6集團軍向德國南部阿爾卑斯地區和奧地利西部推進。亞歷山大·帕奇中將指揮的第7集團軍於3月28向南推進，德國G集團軍嘗試作出抵抗，於海布隆的美國第6軍遇到較激烈的抵抗，經9日激戰後於4月12日才攻克了該市。其後在5日的激戰後美軍於4月20日又攻克了紐倫堡。而美國第21軍相繼攻下了施韋因富特及奧格斯堡，美國第15軍則於4月30日攻佔了慕尼黑。

隨後美國第6軍與法軍第1集團軍在4月22日越過多瑙河攻入奧地利。而在美國第7集團軍左面巴頓所率領的美國第3集團軍也於4月24渡河。美國第21軍及美國第15軍則於5月3日渡河。當盟軍進入奧地利時，許多城鎮立刻舉起白旗投降。5月4日美國第3集團軍最終到達了捷克斯洛伐克邊界，而美國第6軍也與義大利戰區的美軍會師，至此美軍停止了進攻，德國G集團軍也於5月初投降。

英軍群越過易北河

正當美軍向南部阿爾卑斯山推進，第21集團軍開住東北部和北部地區。英國第2軍團的右翼於4月19日到達了漢堡。在遭到德軍第1空降軍激烈的抵抗後，終於在5月2日攻克了漢堡，而其左翼則於4月27日攻佔了不萊梅。

德國投降

5月8日德國投降，宣告了第二次世界大戰歐洲戰場的結束。

參考注釋

^ Dept of the Army 1953，第92頁.
^ Grandes Unités Françaises, Vol. V-III, p. 801
^ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 Notes on the Operations of 21st Army Group （頁面存檔備份，存於網際網路檔案館） p. 55, Retrieved 5/14/2021
^ Stacey & Bond 1960，第611頁.
^
* US General George Marshall estimated about 263,000 German battle deaths on the Western Front for the period from 6 June 1944 to 8 May 1945, or a longer period (George C Marshall, Biennial reports of the Chief of Staff of the United States Army to the Secretary of War : 1 July 1939-30 June 1945. Washington, DC : Center of Military History, 1996. Page 202 （頁面存檔備份，存於網際網路檔案館）).
- West German military historian Burkhart Müller-Hillebrand (Das Heer 1933–1945 Vol 3. Page 262) estimated 265,000 dead from all causes and 1,012,000 missing and prisoners of war on all German battlefronts from 1 Jan 1945 – 30 April 1945. No breakdown of these figures between the various battlefronts was provided.
- US Army historian Charles B. MacDonald (The European Theater of Operations: The Last Offensive, Center of Military History, United States Army, Washington D.C., 1993, page 478) holds that "exclusive of prisoners of war, all German casualties in the west from D-day to V–E Day probably equaled or slightly exceeded Allied losses". In the related footnote he writes the following: "The only specific figures available are from OB WEST for the period 2 June 1941–10 April 1945 as follows: Dead, 80,819; wounded, 265,526; missing, 490,624; total, 836,969. (Of the total, 4,548 casualties were incurred prior to D-day.) See Rpts, Der Heeresarzt im Oberkommando des Heeres Gen St d H/Gen Qu, Az.: 1335 c/d (IIb) Nr.: H.A./263/45 g. Kdos. of 14 Apr 45 and 1335 c/d (Ilb) (no date, but before 1945). The former is in OCMH X 313, a photostat of a document contained in German armament folder H 17/207; the latter in folder 0KW/1561 (OKW Wehrmacht Verluste). These figures are for the field army only, and do not include the Luftwaffe and Waffen-SS. Since the Germans seldom remained in control of the battlefield in a position to verify the status of those missing, a considerable percentage of the missing probably were killed. Time lag in reporting probably precludes these figures' reflecting the heavy losses during the Allied drive to the Rhine in March, and the cut-off date precludes inclusion of the losses in the Ruhr Pocket and in other stages of the fight in central Germany."
- German military historian Rüdiger Overmans (Deutsche militärische Verluste im Zweiten Weltkrieg, Oldenbourg 2000, pp.265–272) maintains, based on extrapolations from a statistical sample of the German military personnel records.(see German casualties in World War II), that the German armed forces suffered 1,230,045 deaths in the "Final Battles" on the Eastern and Western fronts from January to May 1945. This figure is broken down as follows (p. 272): 401,660 killed, 131,066 dead from other causes, 697,319 missing and presumed dead. According to Overmans the figures are calculated at "todeszeitpunkt" the point of death, which means the losses occurred between January to May 1945. The number of POW deaths in Western captivity calculated by Overmans, based on the actual reported cases is 76,000 (p. 286). Between 1962 and 1974 by a German government commission, the Maschke Commission put the figure at 31,300 in western captivity.(p. 286) Overmans maintains (pp. 275, 279) that all 1,230,045 deaths occurred during the period from January to May 1945. He states that there is not sufficient data to give an exact breakout of the 1.2 million dead in the final battles (p.174). He did however make a rough estimate of the allocation for total war losses of 5.3 million; 4 million (75%) on the Eastern front, 1 million (20%) in the West and 500,000 (10%) in other theaters. Up until Dec. 1944 losses in the West were 340,000, this indicates losses could be 400,000 to 600,000 deaths in the Western theater from January to May 1945 (p.265). Overmans does not consider the high losses in early 1945 surprising in view of the bitter fighting, he notes that there were many deaths in the Ruhr pocket (p.240) According to Overmans the total dead including POW deaths, in all theaters from Jan–May 1945 was 1,407,000 (January-452,000; February-295,000; March-284,000; April-282,000; May-94,000) No breakout by theater for these losses is provided.(p.239)
^ Rüdiger Overmans, Soldaten hinter Stacheldraht. Deutsche Kriegs-gefangene des Zweiten Weltkrieges. Ullstein Taschenbuchvlg., 2002. p.273 During the period January to March 1945 the POW's held Western Allies increased by 200,000; During the period April to June 1945 the number increased to 5,440,000. These figures do not include POWs that died or were released during this period. (see Disarmed Enemy Forces).
^ ^7.0 ^7.1 Bedessem 1996，第6頁.
^ Anderson, Duncan. the fall of the Reich [第三帝國的滅亡]. Argun. 2007: p.239. ISBN 9578320795.

外部連結

Bedessem, Edward M. Central Europe, 22 March - 11 May 1945. CMH Online bookshelves: The U.S. Army Campaigns of World War II. Washington: US Army Center of Military History. 1990? [2008-01-26]. CMH Pub 72-36. （原始內容存檔於2015-05-22）. 請檢查|date=中的日期值 (幫助)
Keegan (editor), John. The Times Atlas of the Second World War. London: Times Books. 1989. ISBN 0-7230-0317-3.

[FOOTNOTEDept_of_the_Army195392-1] Dept of the Army 1953，第92頁.

[2] Grandes Unités Françaises, Vol. V-III, p. 801

[#1-3] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 Notes on the Operations of 21st Army Group （頁面存檔備份，存於網際網路檔案館） p. 55, Retrieved 5/14/2021

[FOOTNOTEStaceyBond1960611-4] Stacey & Bond 1960，第611頁.

[5] * US General George Marshall estimated about 263,000 German battle deaths on the Western Front for the period from 6 June 1944 to 8 May 1945, or a longer period (George C Marshall, Biennial reports of the Chief of Staff of the United States Army to the Secretary of War : 1 July 1939-30 June 1945. Washington, DC : Center of Military History, 1996. Page 202 （頁面存檔備份，存於網際網路檔案館）).
West German military historian Burkhart Müller-Hillebrand (Das Heer 1933–1945 Vol 3. Page 262) estimated 265,000 dead from all causes and 1,012,000 missing and prisoners of war on all German battlefronts from 1 Jan 1945 – 30 April 1945. No breakdown of these figures between the various battlefronts was provided.

US Army historian Charles B. MacDonald (The European Theater of Operations: The Last Offensive, Center of Military History, United States Army, Washington D.C., 1993, page 478) holds that "exclusive of prisoners of war, all German casualties in the west from D-day to V–E Day probably equaled or slightly exceeded Allied losses". In the related footnote he writes the following: "The only specific figures available are from OB WEST for the period 2 June 1941–10 April 1945 as follows: Dead, 80,819; wounded, 265,526; missing, 490,624; total, 836,969. (Of the total, 4,548 casualties were incurred prior to D-day.) See Rpts, Der Heeresarzt im Oberkommando des Heeres Gen St d H/Gen Qu, Az.: 1335 c/d (IIb) Nr.: H.A./263/45 g. Kdos. of 14 Apr 45 and 1335 c/d (Ilb) (no date, but before 1945). The former is in OCMH X 313, a photostat of a document contained in German armament folder H 17/207; the latter in folder 0KW/1561 (OKW Wehrmacht Verluste). These figures are for the field army only, and do not include the Luftwaffe and Waffen-SS. Since the Germans seldom remained in control of the battlefield in a position to verify the status of those missing, a considerable percentage of the missing probably were killed. Time lag in reporting probably precludes these figures' reflecting the heavy losses during the Allied drive to the Rhine in March, and the cut-off date precludes inclusion of the losses in the Ruhr Pocket and in other stages of the fight in central Germany."

German military historian Rüdiger Overmans (Deutsche militärische Verluste im Zweiten Weltkrieg, Oldenbourg 2000, pp.265–272) maintains, based on extrapolations from a statistical sample of the German military personnel records.(see German casualties in World War II), that the German armed forces suffered 1,230,045 deaths in the "Final Battles" on the Eastern and Western fronts from January to May 1945. This figure is broken down as follows (p. 272): 401,660 killed, 131,066 dead from other causes, 697,319 missing and presumed dead. According to Overmans the figures are calculated at "todeszeitpunkt" the point of death, which means the losses occurred between January to May 1945. The number of POW deaths in Western captivity calculated by Overmans, based on the actual reported cases is 76,000 (p. 286). Between 1962 and 1974 by a German government commission, the Maschke Commission put the figure at 31,300 in western captivity.(p. 286) Overmans maintains (pp. 275, 279) that all 1,230,045 deaths occurred during the period from January to May 1945. He states that there is not sufficient data to give an exact breakout of the 1.2 million dead in the final battles (p.174). He did however make a rough estimate of the allocation for total war losses of 5.3 million; 4 million (75%) on the Eastern front, 1 million (20%) in the West and 500,000 (10%) in other theaters. Up until Dec. 1944 losses in the West were 340,000, this indicates losses could be 400,000 to 600,000 deaths in the Western theater from January to May 1945 (p.265). Overmans does not consider the high losses in early 1945 surprising in view of the bitter fighting, he notes that there were many deaths in the Ruhr pocket (p.240) According to Overmans the total dead including POW deaths, in all theaters from Jan–May 1945 was 1,407,000 (January-452,000; February-295,000; March-284,000; April-282,000; May-94,000) No breakout by theater for these losses is provided.(p.239)

[6] West German military historian Burkhart Müller-Hillebrand (Das Heer 1933–1945 Vol 3. Page 262) estimated 265,000 dead from all causes and 1,012,000 missing and prisoners of war on all German battlefronts from 1 Jan 1945 – 30 April 1945. No breakdown of these figures between the various battlefronts was provided.

[7] US Army historian Charles B. MacDonald (The European Theater of Operations: The Last Offensive, Center of Military History, United States Army, Washington D.C., 1993, page 478) holds that "exclusive of prisoners of war, all German casualties in the west from D-day to V–E Day probably equaled or slightly exceeded Allied losses". In the related footnote he writes the following: "The only specific figures available are from OB WEST for the period 2 June 1941–10 April 1945 as follows: Dead, 80,819; wounded, 265,526; missing, 490,624; total, 836,969. (Of the total, 4,548 casualties were incurred prior to D-day.) See Rpts, Der Heeresarzt im Oberkommando des Heeres Gen St d H/Gen Qu, Az.: 1335 c/d (IIb) Nr.: H.A./263/45 g. Kdos. of 14 Apr 45 and 1335 c/d (Ilb) (no date, but before 1945). The former is in OCMH X 313, a photostat of a document contained in German armament folder H 17/207; the latter in folder 0KW/1561 (OKW Wehrmacht Verluste). These figures are for the field army only, and do not include the Luftwaffe and Waffen-SS. Since the Germans seldom remained in control of the battlefield in a position to verify the status of those missing, a considerable percentage of the missing probably were killed. Time lag in reporting probably precludes these figures' reflecting the heavy losses during the Allied drive to the Rhine in March, and the cut-off date precludes inclusion of the losses in the Ruhr Pocket and in other stages of the fight in central Germany."

[8] German military historian Rüdiger Overmans (Deutsche militärische Verluste im Zweiten Weltkrieg, Oldenbourg 2000, pp.265–272) maintains, based on extrapolations from a statistical sample of the German military personnel records.(see German casualties in World War II), that the German armed forces suffered 1,230,045 deaths in the "Final Battles" on the Eastern and Western fronts from January to May 1945. This figure is broken down as follows (p. 272): 401,660 killed, 131,066 dead from other causes, 697,319 missing and presumed dead. According to Overmans the figures are calculated at "todeszeitpunkt" the point of death, which means the losses occurred between January to May 1945. The number of POW deaths in Western captivity calculated by Overmans, based on the actual reported cases is 76,000 (p. 286). Between 1962 and 1974 by a German government commission, the Maschke Commission put the figure at 31,300 in western captivity.(p. 286) Overmans maintains (pp. 275, 279) that all 1,230,045 deaths occurred during the period from January to May 1945. He states that there is not sufficient data to give an exact breakout of the 1.2 million dead in the final battles (p.174). He did however make a rough estimate of the allocation for total war losses of 5.3 million; 4 million (75%) on the Eastern front, 1 million (20%) in the West and 500,000 (10%) in other theaters. Up until Dec. 1944 losses in the West were 340,000, this indicates losses could be 400,000 to 600,000 deaths in the Western theater from January to May 1945 (p.265). Overmans does not consider the high losses in early 1945 surprising in view of the bitter fighting, he notes that there were many deaths in the Ruhr pocket (p.240) According to Overmans the total dead including POW deaths, in all theaters from Jan–May 1945 was 1,407,000 (January-452,000; February-295,000; March-284,000; April-282,000; May-94,000) No breakout by theater for these losses is provided.(p.239)

[6] Rüdiger Overmans, Soldaten hinter Stacheldraht. Deutsche Kriegs-gefangene des Zweiten Weltkrieges. Ullstein Taschenbuchvlg., 2002. p.273 During the period January to March 1945 the POW's held Western Allies increased by 200,000; During the period April to June 1945 the number increased to 5,440,000. These figures do not include POWs that died or were released during this period. (see Disarmed Enemy Forces).

[FOOTNOTEBedessem19966-7] 7.0 ^7.1 Bedessem 1996，第6頁.

[8] Anderson, Duncan. the fall of the Reich [第三帝國的滅亡]. Argun. 2007: p.239. ISBN 9578320795.

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