The Capitulation of German Heeresgruppe Kurland and the End of World War II in Europe
The Capitulation of Heeresgruppe Kurland
Generaloberst Carl Hilpert (1888-1947), the commander of Heeresgruppe Kurland, surrendered to Generaloberst Ivan Bagramyan of the Soviet Red Army on May 11, 1945, bringing an end to the last major battle on the Eastern Front of World War II. The German surrender occurred on the Courland Peninsula in Latvia, where Heeresgruppe Kurland had been isolated and cut off from the rest of the German forces since July 1944.
The End of World War II in Europe
The capitulation of Heeresgruppe Kurland marked the end of World War II in Europe. The war had begun on September 1, 1939, when Germany invaded Poland, and had spread to other parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia. The war had cost millions of lives and had caused widespread destruction.
With the surrender of Heeresgruppe Kurland, the fighting in Europe came to an end. The war in the Pacific continued for another three months, until Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945.
Comments