How long did the Siege of Budapest last?
The Siege of Budapest lasted fifty days. The encirclement was completed on the 26th of December 1944, and the city surrendered on the 13th of February 1945.
Questions about Siege of Budapest
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How many civilians died during the Siege of Budapest?
According to historian Krisztián Ungváry, approximately 38,000 civilians died during the siege: about 13,000 from military action and 25,000 from starvation, disease, and other causes. Of that total, 15,000 were Jews killed in mass executions by the Arrow Cross Party.
Who was in command of the Budapest garrison during the siege?
Waffen SS General Karl Pfeffer-Wildenbruch commanded the IX Waffen SS Alpine Corps and was placed in charge of the city's defenses. He was captured by Soviet troops on the night of the breakout attempt on the 11th of February 1945.
What happened to Raoul Wallenberg during the Siege of Budapest?
Raoul Wallenberg served as Sweden's special envoy in Budapest from July to December 1944, issuing protective passports and sheltering Jews in buildings designated as Swedish territory, saving tens of thousands of lives. On the 17th of January 1945, Soviet authorities detained him along with his driver Vilmos Langfelder and took both men to Moscow. Wallenberg subsequently disappeared in the Soviet Union and his fate remains unknown.
What were Germany's relief attempts during the Siege of Budapest?
Germany launched a three-part counter-offensive called Operation Konrad. Operation Konrad I began on the 1st of January 1945 from Tata and was stopped near Bicske. Operation Konrad II targeted Budapest Airport on the 7th of January and was also halted. Operation Konrad III, beginning on the 18th of January, reached within roughly twenty-five kilometers of the encirclement ring before stalling from fatigue and supply shortages.
How many soldiers survived the Budapest breakout attempt in February 1945?
On the night of the 11th of February 1945, approximately 28,000 German and Hungarian troops attempted to break out northwest toward Vienna. Five to ten thousand people reached the wooded hills outside the city, but only 600-700 German and Hungarian soldiers made it back to the main German lines.