On January 31, 1945, the Red Army stood on a line along the Oder River, about thirty-five miles east of Berlin. They would not reach Berlin for another two months, after battles to cross the river, seize the fortress of Küstrin, and take the Seelow Heights.

Previous published: by Praeger, 1996. Includes maps of: Race to the Oder; Kustrin Factor; Initial Bridgeheads; Kienitz-Genschmar Sector; Karlsbiese-Kienitz Sector; Raegener Division in Action, 3-5 FEB 45; 33rd Army's Bridgehead; Soviet Attack of 2 MAR 45; Reitwein Spur; Frankfurt Bridgehead; Kustrin Battlefield; Closing the Corridor, 22-23 MAR 45; German Counteroffensive, 27-28 MAR 45; East Pomeranian Operation; Zhukov's Deception Plan; "Kurmark" Corner; Zhukov's Plan of 12 APR 45; Northern Battlefield, 16-17 APR 45; 47th Army's and 3rd Shock Army's Sectors, 16 APR 45; 5th Shock Army's Sector, 16 APR 45; 8th Guards Army's Sectors, 16 APR 45; Southern Battlefield; 47th Army's and 3rd Shock Army's Sectors, 17 APR 45; 5th Shock Army's Sector, 17 APR 45; Seelow Sector and the "Stein-Stellung", 17 APR 45; Way past Wriezen; Advance on Muncheberg; Northern Breach; Muncheberg Breach.

Part I: Deputy Supreme Commander--The Man--The Soviets--The Germans--Part II: The Bridgeheads--The Vistula-Oder Operation--The Struggle for the Bridgeheads I--The Struggle for the Bridgeheads II--The Kustrin Corridor and Fortress--The East Pomeranian Operation--Part III: Launching "Operation Berlin"--Planning and Logistics--Defense in Depth--Orders and Reconnaissance--Part IV: The Big Battle--First Day of Battle--Second Day of Battle--Third Day of Battle--Fourth Day of Battle--Part V: Beyond the Breakthrough--The Fate of the German 9th Army--Stalin Rules