In January 1945, the Soviet Red Army launched an offensive against German forces, and tanks invaded Silesia in Poland. The snow-covered streets of Silesia, which had been invaded by the Soviet Red Army, were littered with the bodies of German soldiers and civilians.

 　In January 1945, the Soviet Red Army launched an offensive against German forces, with tanks advancing into Silesia within Poland. The snow-covered streets of Silesia, which had been invaded by the Soviet Red Army, were littered with the bodies of German soldiers and civilians. Soviet tanks caught up with German soldiers and civilians, firing on them as unprotected targets. The Soviet Red Army advanced 480 kilometers from the Vistula River to the Oder River in just over two weeks, coming within 69 kilometers of the unprotected city of Berlin.

　　German Army Corps Commander Rendulic was relieved of his command by Hitler on January 23, 1945, and replaced by Reinhard. The German Army Corps North was incorporated into the Kurland Army Corps. On January 24, Hitler and others approved a widespread retreat of German forces to the Beskids Mountains, resulting in the abandonment of most of Slovakia. Himmler was tasked with constructing an improvised front line in the large gap between Silesia and East Prussia as commander of the new large unit “Vistula.” On January 25, Hitler made personnel changes and renamed the units. General Schurner, who had been commander since January 18, also took over as commander.

　　On January 26, Infantry General Hossbach, acting on his own authority, launched an operation to break through from East Prussia, which had been cut off from all land communication routes, toward the west. Infantry General Hossbach was relieved of his command by Hitler on January 30 and replaced by Infantry General Fritz W. Müller.General Müller was strictly ordered by Hitler to hold East Prussia. On January 30, the Soviet Red Army reached the Oder River between Frankfurt an der Oder and Küstrin. Berlin, the German capital, was now under threat from the Soviet Red Army, just 69 km away from the unprotected city. Due to continued German resistance on the northern flank, the Soviet Red Army was ordered to halt its advance on Berlin, and the assault on the city was postponed until April 16.