During the duration of the war, the Luftwaffe had superior air power which gave the German people a sense of security. During the battle of Berlin, it’s outstanding that the causalities and displacement remained as low as it did. According to Moorhouse, under ten thousand people were homeless and less than four thousand had died.
The shelling was around the clock and this was an effort from the allied powers in order to bring the war in Europe to an end. RAF and USAAF commanders realized that while the anti-aircraft armament in Berlin was superior, sacrificing a few hundred planes was necessary to hasten the end of the war.
During these final raids, the sense of loss and community became universal and as Moorhouse put it, “the walls fell that divided communism from Nazi–”
What’s important to understand is that Berliner’s lost almost everything during this raid. The constant round-the-clock bombardment from US and British forces made living conditions almost intolerable throughout the city. It was this oppression that the German people sought resolve and community in order to survive. It is clear that had they not had as much anti-aircraft support the damage would have been far greater. What is true is that this aggressive offensive from the Allied forces did hasten the end of the war and altered the German mindset from “when we win” to “if”.
I agree with Connor. The Battle at Berlin had tremendous consequences for the Berlin population. The bombing raids took so much from the German people. Their homes, livelihood, and resolve were crushed by bombs. The casualties were only low, not for lack of air raids, but for strong defenses. This was the moment when Germany were uncertain of their future in World War II.