The invasion of the Red Army in East Prussia brought unspeakable suffering to the population. Almost unimaginable atrocities were the order of the day. Hundreds of thousands of people died.The ominous influence of Hitler, which "this man, addicted to his delusions, exercised on the course of the fighting through his orders, which often mocked all operational considerations" (according to the authors), made the situation for the troops and residents drastically worse. Likewise, the criminal, unscrupulous behavior of Gauleiter Koch and most of his brown Nazi party bosses, which prevented civilians from escaping in time, led to thousands upon thousands of senseless victims.This gripping and comprehensive documentary report on the course of the war in East Prussia is based on a unique collection of material from eyewitnesses. It enabled the authors to systematically and almost completely reconstruct the course of the fighting. The book depicts the events from the first effects of the collapse of Army Group Center to the shocking end in Samland.