“If it was the US Army, we could have pretty much taken it without a shot, or with minimal resistance. “
I don’t buy that. Where was any offer from the Germans to surrender Berlin to the Americans? I haven’t seen that documented anywhere. Remember, the worst of the nazis were still there and in charge.
Adolph was still ordering around phantom divisions and killing jews as long as he could. He wasn’t rational.
It’s more likely we would have faced a very bitter and brutal battle, than that Hitler would have suddenly made his first good decision.
But even if we only lost 15 or 20 soldiers. Why should we destroy 20 American families back home to save Berlin from the red army fate it so well earned?
If the Russians wanted to lose 100,000 to take it, and we lose no Americans, that’s a fine deal in my book. There are honest to God living breathing Americans today out there who wouldn’t exist if they, or they father or grandpa would have died in the battle for Berlin.