Budapest offensive
The Red Army occupied Bucharest on the 31st of August 1944. This action secured Romania for the Soviet Union and opened a path into Hungary. Forces swept westward across the Carpathian Mountains to reach the Hungarian border. They also moved southward to join Yugoslav Partisans during the Belgrade offensive. These movements drew German reserves away from the central axis between Warsaw and Berlin. The maneuver encircled and destroyed the 6th Army for the second time in history. It forced the shattered 8th Army of Group South Ukraine to withdraw west into Hungary.
The first period ran from the 29th of October 1944 until the 3rd of November 1944. Rodion Malinovsky led the 2nd Ukrainian Front through these battles. The fighting was exceptionally bloody and fierce against strong German resistance. A second large offensive occurred between the 7th of November 1944 and the 24th of November 1944. The Red Army managed to gain considerable territory during this time. They failed to capture Budapest due to the fierce German resistance. Their own lack of offensive strength also contributed to the failure.
Fyodor Tolbukhin commanded the 3rd Ukrainian Front as it reached the Danube river. This happened after liberating Belge during the third period from the 3rd of December 1944 to the 26th of December 1944. Soviet fronts launched a two-pronged attack north and south of Budapest. These forces finally encircled the city and trapped about 79,000 German and Hungarian troops inside the pocket. Adequate forces allowed the Soviets to enhance their offensive power in Hungary significantly.
The fourth period lasted from the 1st of January 1945 until the 26th of January 1945. Strong counter-offensives launched by German reinforcements attempted to relieve the siege of Budapest. Some German units managed to penetrate deep into the outskirts of the city. The most successful ones reached only 25 km away from the Hungarian capital. The Soviets managed to withstand all the German attacks. They maintained their encirclement throughout this difficult month of fighting.
Soviet forces mustered their strength for the fifth period between the 27th of January 1945 and the 13th of February 1945. They eliminated the besieged defenders in the city over these final weeks. German troops fought for about half a month more before surrendering on the 13th of February 1945. This ended four months of bloody fighting in the Budapest area. Out of the estimated 79,000 defenders, fewer than 1,000 managed to avoid death or captivity.
Most of the German forces in the region were destroyed after the offensive concluded. Troops rushed in from the Western Front to launch Operation Spring Awakening in March. This ill-fated operation targeted the Lake Balaton area with expansive goals. It aimed to protect one of the last oil producing regions available to the Axis powers. Neither goal was achieved by the Germans. The road to Vienna, Czechoslovakia and the southern border of Germany opened widely for Soviet allies.
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Common questions
When did the Red Army occupy Bucharest during the Budapest offensive?
The Red Army occupied Bucharest on the 31st of August 1944. This action secured Romania for the Soviet Union and opened a path into Hungary.
Who led the 2nd Ukrainian Front in the first period of the Budapest offensive?
Rodion Malinovsky led the 2nd Ukrainian Front through the battles from the 29th of October 1944 until the 3rd of November 1944. The fighting was exceptionally bloody and fierce against strong German resistance.
How many German and Hungarian troops were trapped inside the pocket during the third period of the Budapest offensive?
Soviet forces encircled the city and trapped about 79,000 German and Hungarian troops inside the pocket. This occurred after liberating Belgrade during the third period from the 3rd of December 1944 to the 26th of December 1944.
On what date did German troops surrender at the end of the Budapest offensive?
German troops surrendered on the 13th of February 1945 after fighting for about half a month more. Out of the estimated 79,000 defenders, fewer than 1,000 managed to avoid death or captivity.
What operation did Germany launch in March following the conclusion of the Budapest offensive?
Troops rushed in from the Western Front to launch Operation Spring Awakening in March. This ill-fated operation targeted the Lake Balaton area with expansive goals but neither goal was achieved by the Germans.