Soviet Soldier Directing Traffic in Postwar Berlin, May 1945

August 11, 2025 - Reading time: 4 minutes

A Soviet Red Army soldier directs traffic in Berlin’s Schlossplatz shortly after the city’s capture in May 1945, with the monument to Emperor Wilhelm I in the background.

This historic photograph captures a Soviet Red Army soldier directing road traffic in Berlin in May 1945, shortly after the end of fierce fighting against Nazi forces. The image was taken at Schlossplatz (Palace Square), a significant location in the heart of the German capital. In the background stands the monument to Emperor Wilhelm I, a prominent Berlin landmark of the era.

The photograph reflects the immediate postwar atmosphere in the city — a mix of destruction, military presence, and the slow transition to peace. Berlin, reduced to ruins after weeks of intense combat during the Battle of Berlin, was now under the control of the Allied powers, with the Soviet Union occupying the eastern sector. Traffic regulation was crucial to restoring basic order amid the chaos, as military convoys, supply trucks, and civilian vehicles moved through the devastated streets.

The presence of the Soviet traffic controller symbolizes both the Red Army’s decisive role in capturing Berlin and the broader shift in power that marked the final chapter of World War II in Europe. Scenes like this were common in the immediate aftermath of the German surrender on May 8, 1945, as occupying forces began the enormous task of rebuilding infrastructure, managing displaced civilians, and securing the city.

This photograph, taken by Soviet war correspondent Oleg Knorring, offers a poignant glimpse into Berlin’s first days under Soviet administration — a moment when the echoes of war were still fresh, but the machinery of peace was beginning to turn.

Technical photo data:
📝 Source of information: Newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda, No. 123 (6111), May 27, 1945
📍 Location: Berlin, Germany
📅 Date of photo: May 1945
📷 Photographer: Oleg Knorring

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Battle of Berlin aftermath
Schlossplatz Berlin WWII
Wilhelm I monument Berlin
Red Army traffic control
Soviet occupation of Berlin
Berlin postwar reconstruction
WWII Berlin photographs
May 1945 Berlin Soviet Union
Soviet military administration Berlin