Before the assault the Military Council of the 3d Shock army had given the divisions nine Red Banners alike to the USSR state flag. One of the banners under No. 5 also known as the Victory Banner was given to the Rifle Division No. 150. There were such self-made red banners, big and small flags in any foremost unit, formation and subdivision. They were usually passed to assault groups formed with volunteers. Their main task was to break through to the Reichstag and install the Victory Banner over it. The assault red banner was finally installed on the Reichstag roof at 22.30 Moscow time on the 30th of April 1945. It was for the first time placed on the Goddess of Victory sculpture by reconnaissance rifle-men from cannon artillery brigade No. 136. They were senior sergeants G. Zagitov, A. Lisimenko, A. Bobrov and sergeant A. Minin from assault group of the 79th rifle corps under the lead of captain V. Makov. The assault artillery group was acting together with captain S. Neustroev’s battalion. In two-three hours F. Zinchenko, the commander of 756th rifle regiment of 150th rifle division would order to install the Red Banner No. 5 on the Reichstag roof mounted knight sculpture of Kaiser Wilhelm. This Banner would enter the history as the Victory Banner. The Red Banner No. 5 was placed by reconnaissance sergeant M. Yegorov and junior sergeant M. Kantaria accompanied by lieutenant A. Berest and automatic riflemen from senior sergeant I. Syanov’s division.
The Battle of Reichstag ended only in the morning on the 1st of May. At 6.30 a.m. on the 2nd of May artillery general H. Weidling, head of Berlin Defence Campaign was captured and ordered to the rest of the Berlin post to cease resistance. After the Instrument of Surrender had been signed the 9th of May was declared the Victory Day.
