1945

2nd January
Ostdeutscher Beobachter, a magazine issued in Poznań, declared in an editorial that “Deutschland wird nie kapitulieren” (Germany will never surrender).

4th January
In Poznań, four unidentified men opened fire on a German patrol of two soldiers.

7th January
Arthur Greiser, Reich Lieutenant, ceremonially opened a narrow-gauge rail stretch Pleszew-Broniszewice.

11th January
During a meeting with Reich University students, Greiser announced its expansion.

17th January
Mass flight of Germans from Łódź.

18th January
On the night of 17th to 18th January and later, during the day, the Germans murdered about a thousand prisoners in Radogoszcz jail in Łódź.

The Germans organised the last killings of several dozen Jews in Chełmno upon Ner, then the unit fled to the West.

19th January
The Red Army took Kruszwica, Kutno, Łódź, Pabianice, Wieluń and Wieruszów.

20th January
The Soviet army took Kleczew, Koło, Konin, Ślesin and Włocławek. In Żabikowo camp, the Germans killed by firing squad about a dozen prisoners who were unable to walk. Several dozen people were burnt alive in a barracks, and several hundred prisoners were evacuated.

An AK unit from Pleszew attacked a Volkssturm unit stationed on the Baranówek estate and blew up the railway between Kowalew and Taczanów.

At 5:30pm Greiser left Poznań, together with a Volkssturm division. The authorities and officers of Wartheland moved to Frankfurt/Oder.

22nd January
The Soviet army liberated Kórnik and arrived in Antoninek, Czapury and Czerwonak.

A group of 33 prisoners from Ostrołęka, escorted by the SS, arrived at the camp in Żabikowo. When it turned out that the camp was being evacuated, the prisoners were killed by firing squad.

In Ostrów Wielkopolski there was a skirmish between AK soldiers and the Vlosov Army that was supposed to pacify the city.

23rd January
Further towns in Wielkopolska were liberated by the Soviet Army: Ostrów Wielkopolski, Pleszew, Śrem and Wągrowiec. In Pleszew, AK soldiers opened fire on retreating Germans.

24th January
Liberation of Kobylin and Szamotuły.

25th January
The Soviet Army finished surrounding Poznań. The Poznań Fortress was directly subordinated to Heinrich Himmler, commander-in-chief of the Vistula Army Group. There were 60,000 soldiers, police officers and members of political organisations in the fortress.

27th January
Fierce battles in Poznań. Liberation of Dębiec and Wilda.

28th January
The retreating Hermann Göring armoured SS division killed 8 Poles in Rydzyna for hanging out Polish flags to welcome the Red Army.

1st February
The Soviet Army took Sołacz. By this day, 1,700 German soldiers died in fighting for the city.

5th February
Fierce battles continued in Poznań. The Germans blew up Chwaliszewo bridge.

8th February
Soviet soldiers took the Zamek.

16th February
German resistance was basically limited to the Citadel area. Fierce fighting continued for the next few days.

23rd February
The Citadel garrison surrendered. During the battle for Poznań 25,000 Germans died and a further 23,000 were taken prisoner. The surrender ended the history of occupation in Wielkopolska.