Gotthard Heinrici

Heinrici commanded Army Group Vistula on the Oder River, tasked with defending Berlin from the Soviet offensive. He employed tactical withdrawals and defensive positions to delay the Red Army, but was ultimately unable to prevent the fall of Berlin.

Heinrici refused Hitler's order to destroy Berlin's infrastructure to slow the Soviet advance. He prioritized saving civilian lives over following the scorched-earth policy, a decision that spared the city from further destruction.