ABSTRACT
The nominal close of the so-called Vistula-Oder Operation meant little in real terms. Zhukov had certainly come to a halt against the lower-middle Oder, but further south in Silesia Konev and his 1st Belorussian Front were merely drawing breath before they launched themselves into the intended two-Front offensive on Berlin. The plans as they affected the 1st Ukrainian Front had been sent by Konev to STAVKA on 28 January. Konev was going to approach the German capital from the south, while Zhukov attacked head-on fron the east. However, Konev’s immediate objective was to encircle the city of Breslau in Silesia by a pincer movement. He could then push west and align himself with Zhukov’s army group, thereby setting himself up for the grand offensive on Berlin.
