As the final month of fighting in Europe in 1945 began the Allies embarked upon a series of mopping-up operations, destroying the last remnants of the once-mighty Wehrmacht. While defeat was inevitable, the explicit no surrender order issued by Hitler forced the Germans to fight on in increasingly desperate conditions. Yet at the same time the relationship between the western Allies and the Soviet Union was already on shaky ground. As German resistance was crushed the Allies began to eye each other nervously across a battle-torn Europe. This book traces the final operation of the war and the political agendas that guided them, whilst also analysing how the strategies adopted by the Allies at this time fostered the intense feelings of suspicion that would later drive the Cold War.

The strategic solution -- Opposing commanders -- Opposing armies -- Opposing plans -- The campaign -- The campaign in perspective -- The battlefield today.