Raising a Flag over the Reichstag

Soldiers Raqymzhan Qoshqarbaev and Georgij Bulatov raise the Soviet Union flag on the roof of the Reichstag building in Berlin

Historical Context

Instantly popular, this photograph of soldiers raising the flag of the conquering Soviet Union over the German parliament came to be regarded around the world as one of the most significant and recognizable images of World War II.

The photograph was later significantly altered for propaganda purposes with additional smoke added for dramatic effect and multiple wristwatches were removed from the lower soldier's wrist, as they would imply that he had been looting.

Photo Info

Photographer: Yevgeny Khaldei
Date taken: May 2, 1945
Location taken: Berlin, Germany

Related Events

1945-04-16 Battle of Berlin: Red Army begins its attack on the capital of Nazi Germany
1945-04-22 Battle of Berlin: Upon being informed that a planned counter-attack never happened, Adolf Hitler flies into a rage, denounces the German Army and concedes World War II is lost
1945-04-25 Soviet forces complete their encirclement of Berlin, cutting off all access points west of the German capital
1945-04-30 Red Army opens attack on German Reichstag building in Berlin
1945-05-02 Battle of Berlin ends as the Soviet army storms the capital, forcing German commander of the city general Helmuth Weidling to surrender