Instead of attempting to defeat the invading Soviet forces during the Battle of Berlin, German general of the 12th Army, Walther Wenck, used his army to create an escape corridor out of Berlin. German general of the 12th Army, Walther Wenck, realised the end of the war was approaching. Instead of attempting to defeat the invading Soviet forces during the Battle of Berlin, which he was ordered to do, he used his army to create an escape corridor out of Berlin. He was responsible for up to 250,000 people escaping to safety.