[citation needed] In March 1945, Reymann was appointed commander of the Berlin Defence Area and replaced General Bruno Ritter von Hauenschild.

Senior Nazi Party officials, who readily condemned members of the army for retreating, rushed to Reymann's headquarters for the necessary authorisations to leave.

[3] On 22 April, Hitler relieved Reymann of his command for his defeatism and replaced him with the newly-promoted Generalleutnant Ernst Kaether, who was the former Chief-of-Staff to the chief political commissar of the German Army (Heer).

[3] Reymann's group could not then link up with General Walther Wenck's unit, just south of Potsdam, because of the strong Soviet Red Army forces.

[6] On 28/29 April, Wenck's 12th Army held the area around Beelitz long enough for a force of about 20,000 of both Reymann's men and troops from other units to escape through the narrow route to the Elbe.