A Devastating War Crime: The Mass Rapes Committed by the Red Army During the Fall of Berlin

‘The Russian soldiers raped every German female from eight to 80’

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Antony Beevor's acclaimed book, Berlin: The Downfall 1945, delves into the harrowing events that took place as the Red Army advanced into East Prussia in January 1945. This period was marked by a massive war crime where Soviet soldiers perpetrated widespread rape against German women, an atrocity that remains a dark chapter in history.
The advancing Soviet forces were a mix of modern and medieval elements, featuring tank troops, Cossack cavalry, and soldiers in horse-drawn carts. This diverse army also exhibited varied behaviors; while some soldiers committed heinous acts of rape and looting, others, including idealistic communists, were appalled by such actions.
Despite being aware of these atrocities through detailed reports, Soviet leaders Beria and Stalin did little to stop them. Marshal Rokossovsky's attempt to curb the violence through a direct order proved ineffective. Some commanders made arbitrary attempts to enforce discipline, but often faced insurmountable challenges, including officers' involvement in the crimes and the dangerous lack of control over drunken, armed soldiers.
The call for vengeance against the Germans, fueled by memories of the Wehrmacht's invasion, fostered an environment where extreme cruelty was tacitly permitted. Even female Soviet soldiers and medical staff sometimes condoned the behavior, with some finding amusement in the suffering of German women. However, there were also women who were deeply disturbed by the violence they witnessed.
Alcohol played a significant role in the violence, as Soviet soldiers often consumed large amounts of dangerous substances, further fueling their aggression. Many victims were brutally mutilated, with some soldiers resorting to using bottles when they were too intoxicated to perform the act of rape.
The issue of mass rape by the Red Army has been largely repressed in Russian history, with many veterans refusing to acknowledge the events. Those who do speak of it often remain unrepentant, viewing the atrocities as justified revenge for German war crimes.
The psychological contradictions among Soviet officers are striking, as many convinced themselves that the victims either welcomed their fate or accepted it as deserved retribution. This belief was pervasive despite evidence of the widespread sexual violence, including against Soviet women who had been liberated from forced labor by the Germans.
As the Red Army moved further into Germany, the nature of the rapes evolved. Initially driven by rage and a desire for revenge, the soldiers' actions became more systematic and calculated, with women being selected and violated as a perceived right of conquest. The psychological impact on the victims was profound, with many driven to suicide, and others forced into survival strategies such as offering themselves to one soldier to avoid being raped by many.
The estimates of victims are staggering, with figures suggesting that at least two million German women were raped, many multiple times. The violence extended to women of all ages, with some victims being as young as eight and as old as eighty.
The aftermath of the rapes saw a grim progression from enforced sexual servitude to forms of cohabitation, where Red Army officers took German "occupation wives." This development outraged Soviet authorities, especially when officers deserted to remain with their German partners.
Beevor's exploration of this dark period reveals how fragile the veneer of civilization can be when retribution is absent. The mass rapes committed by the Red Army during the fall of Berlin expose a disturbing aspect of male sexuality and the devastating impact of war on human behavior. This chapter in history serves as a stark reminder of the atrocities that can occur when power is unchecked and hatred is allowed to fester.

© Antony Beevor. For more information, visit www.antonybeevor.com.
Berlin: The Downfall 1945 is published by Viking Penguin. The BBC Timewatch film documenting the research for the book will air on BBC2 at 9pm on May 10.

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