Berlin Falls: Red Army Salutes Victory from the Roof of the Reichstag

June 5, 2025 - Reading time: 2 minutes

Soviet troops fire their weapons in a celebratory salute atop the Reichstag, May 1945 — a symbol of final victory in Berlin.

Location: Berlin, Germany  

Date: May 1945  

Photographer: Ivan Shagin  

Atop the shattered dome of the Reichstag, Red Army soldiers from the battalion commanded by Hero of the Soviet Union S. Neustroev fire into the air in a spontaneous victory salute following the defeat of Nazi Germany.

With Berlin in ruins below, these warriors unleash rounds from captured Walther P38s, Parabellum P08s, and Mauser K96s, as well as their trusty PPSH-41, PPD-40, and PPS-43 submachine guns — a roaring celebration echoing above a fallen empire.

This powerful image, captured by Ivan Shagin, embodies the joy, relief, and triumph of soldiers who bore the brutal weight of the Eastern Front and emerged victorious.

Source:  

Ivan Shagin, war photography archives

• "fall of Berlin celebration"

• "WWII victory photos Soviet troops"

• "Reichstag flag raising Red Army"