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
![1](https://www.thevintagenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2015/05/113.jpg)
Russian soldiers in front of the Reichstag building
![2](https://www.thevintagenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2015/05/213.jpg)
Russian soldiers taking position in front of a burning building at Frankfurter Allee
![3](https://www.thevintagenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2015/05/39.jpg)
Russian soldiers next to a cannon at August Street
![4](https://www.thevintagenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2015/05/43.jpg)
Russian soldiers took aim on top of the Reichstag
![5](https://www.thevintagenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2015/05/52.jpg)
People walk on Borsig Street
![6](https://www.thevintagenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2015/05/63.jpg)
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,
![7](https://www.thevintagenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2015/05/73.jpg)
Russian soldiers in front of the Reichstag building
![8](https://www.thevintagenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2015/05/83.jpg)
A Russian army vehicle next to the Neue Reichskanzlei (New Reich Chancellery), the Chancellery of Adolf Hitler at Voss Street,
![9](https://www.thevintagenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2015/05/92.jpg)
A Russian armoured vehicle at Ritter Street or Alexandrinen Street
![10](https://www.thevintagenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2015/05/102.jpg)
Russian soldiers in front of the Reichstag building
![11](https://www.thevintagenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2015/05/114.jpg)
Russian tanks at Proskauer Street or Frankfurter Allee
![12](https://www.thevintagenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2015/05/122.jpg)
Russian soldiers next to their cannons at August Street or Rosenthaler Street
![The Battle for Berlin and 70 Years Later (1)](https://www.thevintagenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2015/05/The-Battle-for-Berlin-and-70-Years-Later-1.jpg)
Georgiy Samsonov, Fabrizio Bensch