Berlin in May in 1945 saw fierce fighting, it was certainly not the final battle of the World War II but it did bring VE day just that little bit closer. 71 years after the battle, photographer Fabrizio Bensch went back to those iconic sites and took modern day images.
Russian army vehicle at Gruenberger Street

Russian soldiers in front of the Reichstag building

Russian soldiers taking position in front of a burning building at Frankfurter Allee

Russian soldiers next to a cannon at August Street

Russian soldiers took aim on top of the Reichstag

People walk on Borsig Street

Russians soldiers stand next to a sign at an entrance of the Neue Reichskanzlei (New Reich Chancellery), the Chancellery of Adolf Hitler at Voss Street,

Russian soldiers in front of the Reichstag building

A Russian army vehicle next to the Neue Reichskanzlei (New Reich Chancellery), the Chancellery of Adolf Hitler at Voss Street,

A Russian armoured vehicle at Ritter Street or Alexandrinen Street

Russian soldiers in front of the Reichstag building

Russian tanks at Proskauer Street or Frankfurter Allee

Russian soldiers next to their cannons at August Street or Rosenthaler Street

Georgiy Samsonov, Fabrizio Bensch