:''This is an article about the 1945 battle. For the 1807 siege, see Siege of Kolberg (1807).''

{{Infobox Military Conflict
|conflict=Battle of Kolberg (Kołobrzeg)
|partof=the Eastern Front of World War II
|image=300px
|caption=Kołobrzeg (Kolberg) in 1945. 80% of the city was destroyed during the war
|date=14, 1945
|place=Kolberg (now Kołobrzeg)
|casus=
|territory=
|result=Soviet and Polish victory
|combatant1=
|combatant2=<br>
|commander1=Fritz Fullriede
|commander2=Stanislav Poplavsky
|strength1=10,000
|strength2=over 28,000
|casualties1=KIA: unknown<br>~8,000 captured
|casualties2=1206 killed and missing
|notes=
}}

The '''Battle of Kolberg''' or '''Kołobrzeg''' (also, battle for '''Festung Kolberg''') was the taking of the city of Kolberg (now Kołobrzeg) by the Polish allies from Nazi German forces during the Soviet and Polish forces against the German army for the control over the city. The Germans succeeded in evacuating much of their military personnel and refugees from the city via sea before it was taken by the Poles on March 18.

==Background==
In November 1944 Kolberg, a large Baltic seaport in the a stronghold as ''Festung Kolberg''. It was one of the key German positions in the Pomeranian Wall, a vital link between Pomerania and Prussia. The German High Command planned to use the seaport to supply nearby German forces, and hoped that the stronghold would draw off Soviet forces from the main thrust towards Berlin.

The Soviet Paul Hermann, but due to illness he was transferred in February to a less demanding post. The command was taken by Solonel Gerhard Troschel. After March 1 the city was under the command of a former ''Afrika Korps'' officer, Colonel Fritz Fullriede.

==Opposing forces==
The German defence forces represented various formations from Third Panzer Army; the Lützow'' and ''Admiral Scheer'').

The Soviet forces attacking the city can be divided into two waves: one of units of the 45th Tank Brigade (engaged from 272nd Rifle Division (Polish 3rd Infantry Division (from March 9); Polish 4th Infantry Division (from March 12), and various support units. The personnel of the Polish units numbered over 28,000.

==The battle==
thumb|right|400px|Map of the assault
The first attack was led on Köslin (now Koszalin) fell and Soviets started to gather reinforcements to take Kolberg.

On Polish People's Army, the 6th, the 3rd Polish Infantry Division and support units. The Polish First Army was now tasked with taking the city; however their first attack was also repulsed. The German forces held stubbornly to the city, protecting the ongoing evacuation. Due to a lack of anti-tank weapons, German battleships used their guns to support the defenders of Kolberg.

On 12 March a new assault was launched, with heavy tanks, additional artillery units and the 4th Polish Infantry Division. The attack advanced but at the cost of very heavy casualties, and was broken off on 14 March. The Germans refused a proposal to surrender.

On Swinemünde (now Świnoujście) &mdash; the ''Kell'' battalions. However, they failed to stop the Polish forces, which took the barracks, part of the railway station and the Salt Island. 

{{Batalla|
nom_de_la_batalla='''Batalla de Kolberg'''|
imatge=300px|
peu_de_foto= La ciutat de Kolberg al 1945, de la qual va quedar destruït un 80%|
conflicte= Front Oriental 2GM)|
data=4 a 14 de març de 1945|
localitat =  Kolberg (avui Kołobrzeg) |
resultat = Victòria soviètica i polonesa |
bàndol1 = 25px Alemanya Nazi |
bàndol2 = 25px 25px Polònia|
general1 = 25px Fritz Fullriede |
general2 = 25px Stanislav Poplavsky |
força_numèrica1 = 10.000 homes |
força_numèrica2 = 28.000 homes |
baixes1 = morts desconeguts <br> 8.000 capturats |
baixes2 = 1.206 morts i desapareguts |
batalla_anterior=  |
batalla_posterior= |
}}

La '''Batalla de Kolberg''' va ser la captura de la ciutat de Kolberg (avui Kołobrzeg) per l'aliats polonesos de l'4 i el via marítima abans de que aquesta fos conquerida pels polonesos el 18 de març.

== Rerafons ==
Al novembre de 1944, Kolberg, un gran port de mar a fortalesa, anomenada ''Festung Kolberh''. Era una de les posicions clau alemanyes a la muralla de Pomerània, un enllaç vital entre Pomerània i Alt Comandament alemany planejava fer servir aquest port per portar subministraments a les forces alemanyes de la rodalia, i esperava que les fortaleses podrien allunyar a les forces soviètiques de Berlín.

L'Ofensiva alemanya sobre la Pomerània Oriental, iniciada el Paul Hermann, però va ser traslladat al febrer a un destí menys exigent donada una malaltia. Va ser reemplaçat pel Coronel Gerhard Troschel. Després de l'1 de març, el comandant de la ciutat passà a ser un veterà de l'Afrika Korps, el Coronel Fritz Fullriede. 

== Exèrcits Oposats ==

Les forces alemanyes defensores representaven diverses formacions originàries del 33a Divisió de Granaders SS ''Charlemagne'' (1a Francesa) i la 15a Divisió Waffen SS de Granaders (1a Letona). Les estimacions sobre el nombre de defensors, incloent la milícia local i els voluntaris són entre 8.000 i 15.000 homes, reforçats per artilleria (unes 60 peces), un tren blindat, uns 18 tancs i una dotzena de vehicles de suport de diversos tipus. Les unitats alemanyes també reberen algun suport naval i aeri (incloent foc artiller provinent dels cuirassats de butxaca ''Lützow'' i l'''Admiral Scheer'').

Les forces soviètiques que van atacar la ciutat poden dividir-se en dues onades: unitats de l'4 i el 8 i el 45a Brigada Blindada i la 272a Divisió de Fusellers. Entre les unitats poloneses hi ha elements del  6a Divisió d'Infanteria  polonesa, la 3a Divisió d'Infanteria i diverses unitats de suport. En total, les unitats poloneses sumaven uns 28.000 efectius.