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Vienna assault. Vienna operation




	Western Hungary and Eastern Austria
	Victory of the USSR
Opponents
	Germany
Bulgaria
Commanders
F. I. Tolbukhin
R. Ya. Malinovsky	L. Rendulic
V. Stoychev
Strengths of the parties
410,000 people, 5,900 guns and mortars, 700 tanks and assault guns, 700 aircraft	Red Army: 644,700 people, 12,190 guns and mortars, 1,318 tanks and self-propelled guns, 984 aircraft Bulgarian troops: 100,900 people

Prisoners 130,000, Losses of the Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe, SS, Volksturm, police, Todt organization, Hitler Youth, Imperial Railway Service, Labor Service (total 700-1,200 thousand people) - unknown.	non-refundable 41,359, (including 2698 Bulgarian), sanitary 136,386, (including 7107 Bulgarian)

Strategic offensive Red Army against German troops during the Great Patriotic War. Conducted from March 16 to April 15, 1945 by troops of the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts with the assistance of the 1st Bulgarian Army ( Bulgarian) with the aim of defeating German troops in western Hungary and eastern Austria.

Situation

The task of preparing and conducting an offensive operation to capture Vienna was assigned to the commanders of the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts on February 17, 1945 in a directive from Headquarters Supreme High Command No. 11027. About a month was allotted for preparing the offensive. March 15 was determined as the start date for the operation. Soon the Soviet command learned that the Wehrmacht was preparing a major counteroffensive in the area of Lake Balaton. In connection with this, the troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front were ordered, while continuing preparations for the offensive, to temporarily go on the defensive and wear down the enemy’s tank group on pre-prepared defensive lines. Then it was necessary to go on the offensive in the Vienna direction. Subsequent events confirmed the correctness decision taken. The German offensive, which unfolded in the first half of March near Lake Balaton, was repelled by Soviet troops during the Balaton defensive operation. The goal set by the German high command was not achieved, but in the main direction, German troops managed to penetrate the Soviet defense to a depth of 30 km. The front line that emerged as a result of the battle gave the Soviet command the opportunity to encircle the wedged enemy tank group, and the serious losses suffered by the Wehrmacht changed the overall balance of forces in favor of the Red Army.

Operation plan

The plan of the operation included delivering the main attack with the forces of the 4th and 9th Guards armies from the area north of Székesfehérvár to the southwest with the aim of encircling the 6th SS Panzer Army. In the future, the main forces were supposed to develop an offensive in the direction of Papa, Sopron and further to the Hungarian-Austrian border, with part of the forces attacking Szombathely and Zalaegerszeg with the aim of enveloping the enemy’s Nagykanizsa group from the north. The 26th and 27th armies were supposed to launch the offensive later and contribute to the destruction of the enemy, who was surrounded by that time. 57th and 1st Bulgarian ( Bulgarian) the armies operating on the left wing of the 3rd Ukrainian Front were supposed to go on the offensive south of Lake Balaton with the task of defeating the opposing enemy and capturing the oil-bearing region centered in the city of Nagykanizsa.

46th Army of the 2nd Ukrainian Front, reinforced by the 6th Guards Tank Army and two artillery divisions breakthrough, was supposed to launch an offensive south of the Danube on March 17-18, together with the troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, defeat the opposing enemy group and develop an offensive in the direction of the city of Gyor.

Composition and strengths of the parties

USSR

3rd Ukrainian Front (commander Marshal Soviet Union F. I. Tolbukhin, Chief of Staff Colonel General S. P. Ivanov):

9th Guards Army (Colonel General V.V. Glagolev)
4th Guards Army (Lieutenant General N.D. Zakhvataev)
27th Army (Colonel General S. G. Trofimenko)
26th Army (Lieutenant General N.A. Gagen)
57th Army (Lieutenant General M. N. Sharokhin)
6th Guards Tank Army (Colonel General of Tank Forces A. G. Kravchenko, transferred to the front on the evening of March 16)
1st Bulgarian Army ( Bulgarian) (Lieutenant General V. Stoychev)
17th Air Army (Colonel General of Aviation V.A. Sudets)
1st Guards Mechanized Corps (Lieutenant General I. N. Russiyanov)
5th Guards Cavalry Corps (Lieutenant General S.I. Gorshkov)
23rd Tank Corps (Lieutenant General of Tank Forces A. O. Akhmanov, transferred to the 2nd Ukrainian Front)
18th Tank Corps (Major General of Tank Forces P. D. Govorunenko)

Part of the forces of the 2nd Ukrainian Front (commander Marshal of the Soviet Union R. Ya. Malinovsky, chief of staff Colonel General M. V. Zakharov):

46th Army (Lieutenant General A. V. Petrushevsky)
2nd Guards Mechanized Corps (Lieutenant General K.V. Sviridov)
5th Air Army (Colonel General of Aviation S.K. Goryunov)
Danube Military Flotilla (Rear Admiral G. N. Kholostyakov)

18th Air Army ( chief marshal aviation A. E. Golovanov) Total: Red Army 644,700 people. 1st Bulgarian Army: 100,900 people, 12,190 guns and mortars, 1,318 tanks and self-propelled guns, 984 aircraft.

Germany

Part of the forces of Army Group South (Infantry General O. Wehler, since April 7, Colonel General L. Rendulic):

6th SS Panzer Army (Colonel General of the SS J. Dietrich)
6th Army (General of Tank Forces G. Balk)
2nd Tank Army (Artillery General M. Angelis)
3rd Hungarian Army (Colonel General Gauser)

Part of the forces of Army Group F (Field Marshal M. von Weichs), from March 25 of Army Group E (Colonel General A. Löhr)

Air support was provided by the 4th Air Fleet.

Total: 410,000 people, 5,900 guns and mortars, 700 tanks and assault guns, 700 aircraft

Progress of hostilities

Combat operations in the zone of the 3rd Ukrainian Front

On March 16, at 15:35, after an hour-long artillery preparation, the troops of the two guards armies of the right wing of the 3rd Ukrainian Front went on the offensive. The sudden and powerful artillery fire stunned the enemy so much that in some areas he initially offered no resistance. However, soon, having restored command and control of the troops and taking advantage of favorable terrain conditions, the German command was able to organize resistance in intermediate defensive positions and stop the advance of Soviet troops. Counterattacks were launched in some areas. Before the onset of dusk, the troops of the front’s strike group managed to wedge themselves into the German defenses only 3-7 km. To develop the offensive and strengthen the attack on the evening of March 16, the 6th Guards Tank Army was transferred to the front from the neighboring 2nd Ukrainian Front. While the tank corps were regrouping in a new direction, units of the 4th and 9th Guards Armies fought to overcome the tactical defense zone. German troops offered fierce resistance to the attackers. To prevent the encirclement of the main forces of the 6th SS Panzer Army, the German command began to strengthen the threatened direction with troops from other sectors.

Particularly intense fighting broke out for Székesfehérvár, a powerful center of resistance lying on the way to the flank and rear of the German tank group. By the end of March 18, Soviet troops managed to advance only to a depth of about 18 km and expand the breakthrough to 36 km along the front. By this time, the 6th Guards Tank Army had concentrated in the intended area, receiving from the commander of the 3rd Ukrainian Front the task of entering the breakthrough and, together with the 27th Army, encircling the enemy’s Balaton grouping. But by that time the German command had already transferred reinforcements to the combat area: three tank and one infantry divisions. The fighting flared up with renewed vigor. However, the introduction of a large tank group into the battle accelerated the advance of the Red Army. On March 19, the troops of the 6th Guards Tank and 9th Guards Armies advanced another 6-8 km. The 27th and 26th armies attacked them on March 20. Under the threat of encirclement, the Wehrmacht command began to withdraw its troops from the ledge. By the end of March 22, a corridor about 2.5 km wide remained in his hands, along which units of the 6th SS Panzer Army hastily emerged under fire from Soviet troops. Timely withdrawal and fierce resistance on the flanks allowed the German troops to avoid another disaster.

In the following days, the main forces of the 3rd Ukrainian Front began fighting on the line of the Bakonsky mountain range. Soon, under the blows of the Red Army, the German command began to withdraw its troops to a previously prepared line on the Raba River. Powerful defensive structures along the western bank of the river were supposed to stop the Soviet offensive. However, the rapid advance of the troops of the right wing of the 3rd Ukrainian Front did not allow this plan to be realized. Having reached the river, the Soviet divisions crossed it on the move and continued their advance towards the Hungarian-Austrian border.

On March 23, the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command approved the plan further actions 3rd Ukrainian Front. The front was ordered with the main forces (4th, 9th Guards and 6th Guards Tank Armies) to develop an offensive to the northwest in the direction of Papa, Sopron. The 26th Army was to strike at Szombathely, and the 27th Army at Zalaegerszeg. The 57th and 1st Bulgarian armies were given the task of capturing the Nagykanizsa area no later than April 5-7.

In the battle near Veszprém, the tank battalion of the 46th Guards Tank Brigade, under the command of Senior Lieutenant D.F. Loza, knocked out and destroyed 22 enemy tanks. For skillful battalion management and courage, Senior Lieutenant D. F. Loza was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

On March 25, the 2nd Ukrainian Front launched the Bratislava-Brnov offensive operation, thereby depriving the commander of Army Group South of the opportunity to withdraw troops from the sector north of the Danube to transfer them against the troops advancing on Vienna.

In order to hold the front south of Lake Balaton, the German command began to reinforce this area with troops from Army Group E. In addition, a reorganization of the command and control structure was carried out with the aim of centralizing it. To do this, from March 25, command of Army Group F was transferred to the commander of Army Group E, General A. Löhr.

On March 29, on the left wing of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, the 57th and 1st Bulgarian armies went on the offensive in the direction of Nagykanizh. To the north, along Lake Balaton, the 27th Army was advancing with the 18th Tank and 5th Guards Cavalry Corps. Its advance threatened the flank and rear of the 2nd German Tank Army. In order to quickly capture the rich oil-bearing region of Nagykanizh and save it from destruction, F.I. Tolbukhin on March 30 ordered the 5th Guards Cavalry Corps to move there. The cavalrymen had to make a 70-kilometer raid through difficult terrain and go to the rear of the defending German group, thereby forcing it to retreat. This maneuver paid off and soon Soviet and Bulgarian troops immediately captured the oil-bearing area centered in the city of Nagykanizsa.

On April 1, a directive from the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command clarified the offensive tasks. The main forces of the 3rd Ukrainian Front were ordered to capture the capital of Austria and reach the line of Tulln, St. Pölten, Neu-Lengbach no later than April 12-15; The 26th, 27th, 57th and 1st Bulgarian armies - no later than April 10-12, liberate the cities of Glognitz, Bruck, Graz, Maribor from German troops and gain a foothold at the border of the Mürz, Mur and Drava rivers.

In early April, the offensive of the Soviet troops developed rapidly. The strike force of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, having captured the cities of Sopron and Wiener-Neustadt and immediately breaking through the fortifications on the Austro-Hungarian border, reached the approaches to Vienna on April 4.

In connection with the defeat, the commander of Army Group South, General O. Wöhler, was removed from office. General L. Rendulic, who was considered a major specialist in defense, was appointed instead.

Combat operations in the zone of the 2nd Ukrainian Front

On the 2nd Ukrainian Front, the offensive in the Vienna direction began on March 17. Advance detachments During the day of fighting, the 46th Army advanced to a depth of 10 km and reached the second line of enemy defense. The next day, the main forces of the 46th Army crossed the Altal River and, overcoming stubborn resistance, began to move west. On the morning of March 19, to develop the offensive, the 2nd Guards Mechanized Corps was introduced into the battle, which the next day reached the Danube west of Tovarosh and enveloped a large enemy group, numbering more than 17 thousand soldiers and officers, from the southwest. The following were surrounded: the 96th and 711th German infantry divisions, the 23rd Hungarian infantry division, the Fegelein cavalry division and the 92nd motorized brigade.

From March 21 to 25, the enemy command made many attempts to break through to the encircled troops. He almost succeeded in this on the evening of March 21, when a large group of German infantry, supported by 130 tanks and assault guns, launched an attack from the Tarkan area. As a result, the units of the 18th Guards Rifle Corps defending in this direction were pushed back. There was a threat of a breakthrough of the external front of the encirclement. To restore the situation, the Soviet command was forced to bring two rifle divisions from reserve into the battle. The measures taken made it possible to stabilize the front. All subsequent attempts to break through the ring were also repulsed by troops of the 46th Army in cooperation with paratroopers of the Danube Military Flotilla. By the end of March 25, the Esztergom-Tovaros group of the enemy was completely eliminated.

Simultaneously with the destruction of the encircled enemy, the 46th Army continued its attack on Gyor with part of its forces. From March 26, the troops began to pursue the enemy along the entire front and on March 28 captured the cities of Komar and Gyor, clearing the right bank of the Danube from the enemy to the mouth of the Raba River. On March 30, Komarno was captured. In the following days, the 46th Army reached the Hungarian-Austrian border, and then crossed it between the Danube and Lake Neusiedler See. On April 6, in the directive of the Supreme Command Headquarters No. 11063, the 46th Army was ordered to cross to the northern bank of the Danube to bypass Vienna from the north. The same task was assigned to the 2nd Guards Mechanized and 23rd Tank Corps. The Danube military flotilla carried out a great deal of work in transporting troops: in within three days, she transported about 46 thousand people, 138 tanks and self-propelled guns, 743 guns and mortars, 542 vehicles, 2,230 horses, 1,032 tons of ammunition. Subsequently, when trying to advance to Vienna, the army encountered stubborn resistance from German troops. Fearing that the attackers would cut the last road leading from Vienna, the Wehrmacht command took all measures to prevent this. Defense in this direction was strengthened by the transfer of reserves and additional units from the Austrian capital.

The allies made their contribution to the defeat of the Wehrmacht anti-Hitler coalition. In the second half of March 1945, Anglo-American aircraft carried out a series of air strikes against important targets in southern Austria, western Hungary and southern Slovakia. A number of airfields, railway junctions, bridges and industrial facilities were bombed. According to the German command, some air raids caused significant damage to fuel production. On March 15, the diary of the Wehrmacht High Command wrote: “As a result of air raids on oil refineries in Komarno, fuel production here ... decreased by 70 percent.” And further: “...due to the fact that Army Groups South and Center were still supplied with fuel from Komárno, the consequences of air strikes will also affect operational decisions.”

Assault on Vienna

The initial plan of the commander of the 3rd Ukrainian Front F.I. Tolbukhin to capture Vienna was to launch simultaneous attacks from three directions: from the southeast - with the forces of the 4th Guards Army and the 1st Guards Mechanized Corps, from the south and southwest - by the forces of the 6th Guards Tank Army with the 18th Guards Tank Army attached to it tank corps and part of the forces of the 9th Guards Army. The remaining forces of the 9th Guards Army were to bypass the city from the west and cut off the enemy's escape route.

The city itself and the approaches to it were prepared in advance for defense. In tank-hazardous directions along the outer perimeter of the city, anti-tank ditches were dug and anti-tank and anti-personnel barriers were installed. The streets of the city were intersected by numerous barricades; almost all stone buildings were adapted for long-term defense; firing points were equipped in windows, basements, and attics. All bridges were mined. The city was defended by the remnants of eight tank and one infantry divisions from the 6th SS Panzer Army, personnel of the Vienna military school and up to 15 separate battalions. In addition, to participate in street battles, the Nazi command formed four regiments of 1,500 people from the Vienna police.

On April 5, Soviet troops began fighting on the southern and southeastern approaches to Vienna. From the very beginning, the fighting became extremely fierce. The defenders put up stubborn resistance, often launching counterattacks from infantry and tanks. Therefore, on April 5, the 4th Guards Army, advancing on Vienna from the south, did not achieve great success. At the same time, the troops of the 38th Guards Rifle Corps of the 9th Guards Army, advancing southwest of the city, managed to advance 16-18 km. In the current situation, the commander of the 3rd Ukrainian Front decided to use the emerging success and transfer the 6th Guards Tank Army to this direction with the task of bypassing the city and striking Vienna from the west and north-west.

On April 7, the main forces of the 9th Guards Army and formations of the 6th Guards Tank Army, having overcome the mountain forest of the Vienna Woods, reached the Danube. Now the defending troops were covered from three sides: east, south and west. The complete encirclement of the city was to be completed by the 46th Army of the 2nd Ukrainian Front, which crossed the Danube and advanced in a northwestern direction. However, on the way to Vienna the enemy offered stubborn resistance. To avoid a new encirclement, the German command strengthened its troops operating against the 46th Army by transferring additional forces from the depths and even from the Austrian capital itself.

On April 8, fighting in the city flared up with renewed vigor. There were fierce battles for each block, often for individual houses. During the day of fighting, the troops of the 4th and 9th Guards armies advanced deeper into the city, where they entered into tactical cooperation. On the same day, the 1st Guards Mechanized Corps occupied Schweiner Garten in the southern part of the city. Over the next two days, troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front continued to fight towards the city center. The fighting did not stop day or night. By the end of April 10, the enemy garrison was squeezed on three sides, continuing to offer resistance only in the center of the city. In the current situation, the German command took all measures to hold the only bridge across the Danube that had not been blown up - the Imperial Bridge, which allowed them to withdraw their remaining units to the northern bank of the river. The Soviet command, in turn, tried to capture the bridge in order to prevent the enemy from retreating. To do this, on April 11, in the area of the bridge, the Danube military flotilla landed troops as part of a reinforced battalion of the 217th Guards rifle regiment. However, after landing, the paratroopers encountered strong fire resistance and were forced to lie down before reaching the target 400 meters.

Having analyzed the current situation, the Front Military Council decided to conduct a simultaneous assault by all forces participating in the battles for the city. Special attention focused on suppressing German artillery before and during the assault. The corresponding tasks were assigned to the commander of the front artillery, Colonel General of Artillery M. I. Nedelin, and the commander of the 17th Air Army, Colonel General of Aviation V. A. Sudts.

By mid-day on April 13, as a result of a well-prepared assault, Vienna was cleared of German troops. During the battle, a second landing force was landed in the area of the Imperial Bridge as part of a battalion of the 21st Guards Rifle Regiment of the 7th Guards Airborne Division. The bridge was mined by German troops, but the swift and courageous actions of the paratroopers prevented an explosion. After the capture of the city, the commander of the 33rd Guards Rifle Corps, Lieutenant General N.F. Lebedenko, was appointed military commandant of the city. Lieutenant General Lebedenko replaced Lieutenant General Blagodatov, who was the first commandant, as commandant of the city of Vienna.

Results of the operation

As a result of the Soviet offensive, a large enemy group was defeated. The troops of the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts completed the liberation of Hungary and liberated the eastern regions of Austria with its capital, Vienna. Germany lost control over a large industrial center - the Vienna industrial region, as well as the economically important Nagykanizska oil region. The beginning of the restoration of Austrian statehood was laid. During the offensive, hundreds of settlements were liberated. Among them in Austria are the following cities: Bruck, Wiener-Neustadt, Glognitz, Korneuburg, Neunkirchen, Floridsdorf, Eisenstadt; in Hungary: Bögen, Vaszvár, Veszprém, Devecser, Esztergom, Zalaegerszeg, Zirc, Kapuvar, Körmend, Köszeg, Kestel, Komarom, Magyaróvár, Mór, Marzaly, Nagybajom, Nagykanizsa, Nagyatad, Nesmey, Papa, Székesfehérvár, Szentgotthárd, Szombathely, Felsjögalla (now part of the city of Tatabanya), Tata, Chorna, Churgo, Sharvar, Sopron, Enying.

Memory

50 units and formations that distinguished themselves in the battles for Vienna received the honorary title “Viennese”. The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR established the medal “For the Capture of Vienna.” In August 1945, a monument to Soviet soldiers who died in the battles for the liberation of the country was erected in Vienna on Schwarzenbergplatz.

Losses

Germany

There is no exact data on the losses of German and Hungarian troops suffered while repelling the Soviet offensive on Vienna. It is known that in 30 days, the troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front and the 2nd Ukrainian Front, which during the same period led an offensive in Czechoslovakia, captured more than 130,000 people, captured and destroyed over 1,300 tanks and assault guns, and 2,250 field guns.

USSR

The total losses of the Red Army during the operation amounted to 167,940 people, of which 38,661 were irrecoverable, as well as 600 tanks and self-propelled guns, 760 guns and mortars, 614 combat aircraft. Bulgarian troops lost 9,805 people, of which 2,698 were irretrievable.

Vienna offensive operation, which was completed on April 13, 1945 the liberation of the capital of Austria from the Wehrmacht was one of the brilliant offensive operations that ended the Great Patriotic War. Therefore, at the same time it was both quite simple and incredibly difficult. These are the very last, decisive battles.
The relative ease of capturing the Austrian capital , compared with other operations, was due to the fact that the Red Army had already worked out a scheme for the destruction of enemy groups. In addition, by April 1945, our troops already felt the proximity of Victory, and it was impossible to stop them. Although it was especially difficult psychologically to fight at this time, people knew “a little more, a little more,” plus mortal fatigue.

It is clear that it was not an easy walk : ours total losses in this operation there were 168 thousand people (of which more than 38 thousand people died). The Germans desperately resisted, but their strength was already undermined - before that, the Red Army and the Wehrmacht, in alliance with Hungarian units, fought heavy battles in Hungary. Hitler ordered to hold the Hungarian oil fields at any cost - the battle for Budapest and the subsequent Balaton operation were among the bloodiest battles of the Great Patriotic War.

Our troops entered Hungary in October 1944 , having previously carried out the Belgorod operation, and only at the end of March 1945 they reached Austria. The attitude of the population also differed; while the Hungarians mostly supported the Nazis and were hostile to the Red Army, the Austrians were neutral. Of course, they weren’t greeted with flowers or bread and salt, but there was no hostility.
Preparing for surgery

By 1945 By this year, both warring parties were already exhausted: morally and physically - the soldiers and the rear, economically - each country that took part in this bloody struggle. A surge of new energy appeared when the German counter-offensive near Lake Balaton failed. The forces of the Red Army literally wedged themselves into the Nazi defense, which forced the Germans to quickly take measures to eliminate such a “hole.”

Main danger for them, the idea was that if the Soviet troops had gained a foothold on the new frontier, the capture of Hungary could be forgotten for a long time. And if this country is lost, Austria will also soon be under Russian control. At this time, the fighters of the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts are faced with the task of defeating the Germans in the area of Lake Balaton no later than March 16th. At the same time, the forces of the 3rd UV were supposed to deliver a crushing blow to the enemy and by April 15 reach the line of Tulln, St. Pölten, Neu-Lengbach.
Offensive Resources

Since the liberation of Vienna high hopes were placed not only by the command, but also ordinary soldiers, then preparations for the operation began immediately. The main blow was to be delivered by the fighters of the Third Ukrainian Front. Depressed, with many losses among people and equipment, they found the strength to prepare for the offensive. The replenishment of combat vehicles occurred not only due to the arrival of new units, but also thanks to the soldiers who restored weapons whenever possible. At the time when the operation to liberate Vienna began, the 3rd Ukrainian Front had in its arsenal: 18 rifle divisions; about two hundred tanks and self-propelled guns (self-propelled artillery); almost 4,000 guns and mortars.

Overall assessment of the operation

As already stated , we cannot speak unequivocally about the ease or complexity of actions. On the one hand, the liberation of Vienna in 1945 is one of the fastest and brightest operations. On the other hand, these are significant human and material losses. To say that the capture of the Austrian capital was simple can only be done with a discount for the fact that most other assaults were associated with significantly greater human losses. The almost instantaneous liberation of Vienna is also the result of the experience of the Soviet military, since they had already developed successful capture schemes. We should not forget about the special high spirits of our soldiers, which also played a role significant role in the successful resolution of the struggle for the capital of Austria. The fighters felt both victory and mortal fatigue. But the understanding that every step forward is a direction towards a quick return home lifted my spirit.

Tasks before the onset

Liberation of Vienna in fact, it dates back to February, when the option of cleaning up Hungary and then expelling the fascists from Vienna began to be developed. The exact plan was ready by mid-March, and already on the 26th of the same month, the Soviet offensive group (Russian and Romanian soldiers) was given the task of attacking and occupying the Veshi-Pozba line.

By the evening of that day the operation was only partially completed. In fierce battles, our army suffered many losses, but even with the onset of darkness the fire did not stop. The very next day they managed to push the enemy beyond the Nitra River.
Red Army forces

Gradual promotion lasted until April 5 (it was on this day that the liberation of Vienna by Soviet troops began). At 7.00 in the morning of this day, the attack on Bratislava began. It was attended by the 25th Rifle Corps of the Red Army, the 27th Guards Tank Brigade, as well as the 2nd Romanian Tank Regiment. After a grueling battle, Bratislava was taken by the end of the day.

In parallel, Soviet-Romanian troops They began to cross the Morava River, however, unlike the capture of the city, the task was not completed in the same time frame. Until April 8, local battles were fought on this front, which prevented a relatively calm crossing to the other side. Already on April 9th the crossing was completed. At three o'clock in the afternoon our troops were able to cross to the other side. The military was assembled in Zwerndorf in order to a little later link up with individual units of the 4th Guards Airborne Division. 10 T-34 tanks, 5 aircraft, SU-76 and Romanian self-propelled guns and 15 tanks were also transferred here.

Forces for the defense of the capital of Austria

Red Army forces was opposed by a fairly powerful German group. Thus, the liberation of Vienna in 1945 would have become possible subject to victory over:
*8 tank and 1 infantry divisions;
*15 infantry battalions for Volkssturm (foot attack);
*the entire staff of the capital's military school;
*police, from which they created 4 regiments (over 6,000 people).

Besides , we should not forget about the advantage on the fascist side due to natural resources. The west of the city was covered by mountains, the eastern and northern sides were washed by the almost insurmountable Danube, and the Germans fortified the south with anti-tank ditches, various fortifications, pillboxes, trenches, bunkers. Vienna itself was literally crammed with weapons hidden in the ruins, the streets were blocked off with barricades, and ancient buildings served as bastions of sorts.
Capture plan

Objectively assessing the situation and realizing that the liberation of Vienna by Soviet troops will not be the easiest, F.I. Tolbukhin plans to direct attacks from 3 sides, thereby creating panic among the command due to surprise. The three wings of the attack should have looked like this: the 4th Guards Army, together with the 1st Guards Corps, attacked the southeast. The southwestern side would be attacked by the 6th Guards Army along with the 18th Tank Corps. The West, as the only escape route, was cut off by the rest of the forces.

Thus , natural protection would turn into a death trap. It is also worth noting the attitude of the Soviet military towards the values of the city: it was planned to minimize destruction in the capital. The plan was approved instantly. The capture of the position and the clearing of the city would have happened at lightning speed if not for the strongest resistance.
Assault on Vienna (April 5 – 13, 1945)

Assault on the Austrian capital was the final part of the Vienna offensive operation, which lasted from March 16 to April 15, 1945 by the forces of the 2nd (commander Marshal of the Soviet Union Rodion Malinovsky) and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts (commander Marshal of the Soviet Union Fedor Tolbukhin) with the help of the 1st Bulgarian Army (Lieutenant General V. Stoychev). Its main goal was the defeat of German troops in western Hungary and eastern Austria.

Our troops were opposed part of the troops of Army Group South (commander General of the Infantry O. Wöhler, from April 7 Colonel General L. Rendulic), part of the troops of Army Group F (commander Field Marshal M. von Weichs), from March 25 Army Group " E" (commander Colonel General A. Löhr). The German High Command attached importance to the defense of the Vienna direction important, planning to stop Soviet troops at these lines and stay in the mountainous and forested regions of Austria, hoping to conclude a separate peace with England and the United States. However, between March 16 and April 4, Soviet forces broke through the German defenses, defeated the forces of Army Group South and reached the approaches to Vienna.

For the defense of the capital of Austria The German command created a fairly strong group of troops, consisting of the remnants of the 8th tank and 1st infantry divisions from the 6th SS Panzer Army, which had withdrawn from the Lake Balaton area, and about 15 separate infantry battalions and Volkssturm battalions were formed. The entire composition of the Vienna military school was mobilized to defend Vienna; 4 regiments of 1.5 thousand people each were created from the Vienna police. The natural conditions of the area around the city favored the German side. From the west, Vienna was covered by a ridge of mountains, and from the northern and eastern sides by a powerful water barrier, the wide and high-water Danube. On the southern side, on the approaches to the city, the Germans created a powerful fortified area, which consisted of anti-tank ditches, a developed system of fortifications - trenches, pillboxes and bunkers. In all tank-dangerous directions along the outer circumference of Vienna, ditches were dug and anti-tank and anti-personnel barriers were installed.
Substantial part The Germans prepared their artillery for direct fire to strengthen the city's anti-tank defense. Firing positions for artillery were equipped in parks, gardens, squares and squares of the city. In addition, in the destroyed houses of the city (from air strikes) guns and tanks were camouflaged, which were supposed to fire from an ambush. The streets of the city were blocked by numerous barricades, many stone buildings were adapted for long-term defense, becoming real bastions, with firing points equipped in their windows, attics, and basements. All bridges in the city were mined. The German command planned to make the city an insurmountable obstacle to the Red Army, an impregnable fortress.

Commander of the 3rd Ukrainian Front F.I. Tolbukhin planned to take the city with the help of 3 simultaneous attacks: from the south-eastern side - by troops of the 4th Guards Army and 1st Guards Mechanized Corps, from the southern and south-western sides - by troops of the 6th Guards Tank Army with assistance from the 18th Tank Corps and part of the troops of the 9th Guards Army. The remaining part of the forces of the 9th Guards Army was supposed to bypass Vienna from the west and cut off the Nazis' escape route. At the same time, the Soviet command tried to prevent the destruction of the city during the assault.

April 5, 1945 Soviet troops began an operation to capture Vienna from the southeast and south. At the same time, mobile formations, including tank and mechanized units, began to bypass the capital of Austria from the west. The enemy responded with fire and fierce infantry counterattacks with reinforced tanks, trying to prevent the advance of Soviet troops into the city. Therefore, on the first day, despite the decisive actions of the Red Army troops, they were unable to break the enemy’s resistance, and progress was insignificant.
The whole next day - On April 6, there were fierce battles on the outskirts of the city. By the evening of this day, Soviet troops were able to reach the southern and western outskirts of the city and broke into the adjacent suburbs of Vienna. Stubborn fighting began within the city limits. The forces of the 6th Guards Tank Army made a roundabout maneuver in the difficult conditions of the eastern spurs of the Alps and reached the western approaches of the city, and then to the southern bank of the Danube. The German group was surrounded on three sides.

Soviet command Trying to prevent unnecessary casualties among the civilian population, to preserve the beautiful city and its historical heritage, on April 5, it appealed to the population of the capital of Austria with an appeal to stay in their homes, locally, and thereby help the Soviet soldiers, preventing the Nazis from destroying the city. Many Austrians, patriots of their city, responded to this call from the command of the 3rd Ukrainian Front; they helped Soviet soldiers in their difficult struggle for the liberation of Vienna.

By the end of the day on April 7 The forces of the right wing of the 3rd Ukrainian Front partly took the Vienna outskirts of Pressbaum and continued moving - to the east, north and west. On April 8, stubborn fighting continued in the city itself, the Germans created new barricades, blockages, blocking roads, laid mines, land mines, and transferred guns and mortars to dangerous directions. During April 9-10, Soviet forces continued to fight their way towards the city center. The Wehrmacht offered especially stubborn resistance in the area of the Imperial Bridge across the Danube, this was due to the fact that if Soviet troops reached it, the entire German group in Vienna would be completely surrounded. The Danube Flotilla landed troops to capture the Imperial Bridge, but heavy enemy fire stopped them 400 meters from the bridge. Only the second landing was able to capture the bridge without allowing it to be blown up. By the end of April 10, the defending German group was completely surrounded; its last units offered resistance only in the center of the city.

On the night of April 11, our troops They began to cross the Danube Canal, and the final battles for Vienna were underway. Having broken the enemy's resistance in the central part of the capital and in the neighborhoods that were located on the northern bank of the Danube Canal, Soviet troops cut the enemy garrison into separate groups. The “cleansing” of the city began - by lunchtime on April 13, the city was completely liberated.
Results of the operation

- As a result of the offensive Soviet troops in the Vienna offensive operation defeated a large Wehrmacht group. The forces of the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts were able to complete the liberation of Hungary and occupied the eastern regions of Austria along with its capital, Vienna. Berlin lost control over another major industrial center of Europe - the Vienna industrial region, including the economically important Nagykanizsa oil region. The road to Prague and Berlin from the south was opened. The USSR marked the beginning of the restoration of Austrian statehood.

-Quick and selfless actions of the Red Army troops did not allow the Wehrmacht to destroy one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Soviet soldiers were able to prevent the explosion of the Imperial Bridge over the Danube River, as well as the destruction of many other valuable architectural structures that the Germans had prepared for the explosion or were set on fire by Wehrmacht units during the retreat, including St. Stephen's Cathedral, the Vienna City Hall and other buildings.

- In honor of another brilliant victory Soviet troops on April 13, 1945 at 21.00 in the capital of the USSR - Moscow, a victorious salute was given with 24 artillery salvoes from 324 guns.

- To commemorate this victory 50 military formations that distinguished themselves in the battle for Vienna received the honorary name “Viennese”. In addition, the Soviet government established the medal “For the Capture of Vienna,” which was awarded to all participants in the battles for the capital of Austria. In Vienna in August 1945, a monument was erected on Schwarzenbergplatz in honor of Soviet soldiers who died in the battles for the liberation of Austria.
Losses for Nazi Germany

Regarding losses for Berlin , is the loss of control over the largest industrial center Western Europe- Vienna industrial region, and also lost the battle for the Nagykanizskoe oil field. Without it, nearby fuel factories were left without raw materials. Thus, German equipment lost mobility, and the command was forced to withdraw it deep into the conquered territories, which allowed the Soviet troops to quickly move forward. Resistance was provided only by infantry formations, which could not seriously repel the enemy while under artillery fire. There is a direct threat of the defeat of Germany, and, as a consequence, the surrender of fascist troops.

Behavior of the German command was deprived of honor and dignity. The soldiers showed themselves to be a crowd of barbarians and vandals who destroyed the most beautiful and largest cathedrals of the city, and also tried to blow up the maximum number of monuments. And leaving the city, they mined the Imperial Bridge. Memory and Celebration Since 1945, Vienna has celebrated the liberation of the city from German invaders every year on April 13th. The Museum of the Liberation of Vienna was established on one of the streets. And on the day when the enemies left the city, 24 salvos from three hundred guns were fired in Moscow.

After some time, it was decided to establish a new award for participants in these events - Medal "For the Liberation of Vienna" . Today, in addition to the museum, the monument to fallen soldiers on Schwarzenbergplatz, which was erected in the same 1945 at the very beginning of the restoration of the city and the entire country, reminds of these fierce battles. It is made in the form of a straight-standing fighter. In one hand the soldier holds a banner, the other is placed on a shield in the form of the coat of arms of the USSR. Modern craftsmen painted some parts in yellow. To commemorate this victory, 50 military formations that distinguished themselves in the battle for Vienna were given the honorary name “Viennese”.
Memoirs of Ivan Nikonovich Moshlyak , became a fighter in the Red Army in 1929. During his thirty-eight years of service, he rose from private to general. For heroism and courage shown in the battles on Lake Khasan, I.N. Moshlyak received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. During the Great Patriotic War, I.N. Moshlyak commanded the 62nd Guards Rifle Division. Under his command, the division's soldiers took part in the crossing of the Dnieper, in the Korsun-Shevchenko and Iasi-Kishinev operations, and in the liberation of Hungary and Austria from the Nazi invaders. Major General I. N. Moshlyak talks about all this - about the hard work of his headquarters, about the exploits of the soldiers, commanders, and political workers of the division - in his book.

Liberation of Vienna

in autumn When the division crossed the Danube without hindrance and began to quickly advance to the northwest, it seemed to many of us that the enemy had been broken and was no longer able to seriously resist us. But life showed the opposite. The closer our troops came to the borders of the Reich, the more stubborn the enemy’s resistance became.
Within two weeks of the offensive the division was exhausted by rapid marches and intense battles. But despite this, the offensive impulse of the troops increased every day, the morale of the guards was unusually high.
...It was warm April days . The sky is solid blue, not a cloud. At night it became cooler: snow from the nearby Eastern Alps made itself felt.
Departing from Sopron the enemy was pursued by two regiments of the division along two parallel roads. The 186th Regiment had the task of preventing the Nazis from breaking away from us and organizing the defense of the town of Eisenstadt. The 182nd Regiment moved with a forced march towards this town, hurried to bypass it and cut off the Germans' escape route. On the shoulders of the enemy, Kolimbet's regiment burst into the first Austrian city that lay on its way and captured it. The enemy infantry regiment was defeated by a blow from the front and rear. More than three hundred German soldiers and officers were killed, up to two hundred Nazis, including the wounded, surrendered.
Inspired by the first successes on Austrian soil, the division's regiments rushed forward. But the enemy had already managed to cover the approaches to Vienna with defensive lines.
On the way of the division there was a heavily fortified defense center - the town of Schwechat, which was a southern suburb of Vienna. After intensive artillery preparation, all three regiments attacked the enemy and penetrated their defenses for three kilometers. To the west of the breakthrough site was the town of Ebepfurt. I ordered Mogilevtsev and Kolimbet to bypass the city from the north and block all roads. Grozov's regiment was advancing on the town from the east.
And now Kolimbet reported, that his regiment captured the town of Werbach northeast of Ebepfurt with battle. The enemy, sensing the threat of encirclement, began to retreat. By evening Ebepfurt was in our hands.
...Ahead, along the heights , - the defensive contour of Schwechat, a suburb of Vienna. At eleven o'clock, after powerful artillery preparation, the 186th and 182nd regiments - the first echelon of the division - with the support of a division of self-propelled guns, went on the offensive. Our artillery continued to fire at enemy positions, covering the attacking infantry with fire. The first and second trenches were taken after a short hand-to-hand fight. The regiment of the 252nd German Infantry Division opposing us could not withstand the pressure of the guards and began to hastily retreat. In the afternoon, the regiments of Kolimbet and Grozov, having immediately captured several strong points, advanced eight kilometers, breaking through the entire depth of the enemy’s defenses. The 7th Infantry Division, our right neighbor, also successfully moved forward.
Everything seemed to be going well. But by the end of the day, the Nazis pulled up the SS unit and counterattacked the 182nd Regiment, pushing back its right flank.
There was no time to hesitate: enemy tanks could break through at the junction of the 182nd and 186th regiments. We had to throw Mogilevtsev’s regiment, which was in the second echelon, into battle. And I really wanted to keep it fresh for the assault on Schwechat. At midnight I learned: the 184th Regiment stopped the enemy, in cooperation with the 186th Regiment, hit the Germans in the flank and forced them to retreat. During the night, all three regiments advanced seven kilometers and reached Schwechat.
In the morning I brought out the 184th regiment from the battle and ordered Mogilevtsev to make a deep outflanking maneuver, cut off the roads north of the city, bring up artillery and hold the occupied line, thereby blocking the enemy’s path to retreat.
In the morning the battle for Schwechat began. The city was surrounded by two lines of trenches, houses were turned into firing points. Under the cover of tanks and self-propelled guns, the 182nd and 186th regiments went on the attack. The Germans fired intensely, especially in the sector of the 182nd regiment. The first two attempts to approach the enemy trenches failed. After a short fire raid, the 182nd Regiment began its offensive again. Major Danko personally led the attack of his battalion, and his soldiers were the first to break into the trench.
In this battle he distinguished himself again - for the umpteenth time! - commander of the submachine gunner squad Tretyakov. The soldiers of his squad, having got out of the first trench, firing from machine guns as they walked, quickly reached the second trench. And at this time, Private Voronets, sent forward by Tretyakov, crawled up to the bunker and threw a grenade into the embrasure. The machine gun fell silent. The machine gunners covered the last ten meters to the second trench and drove the Germans out of there. Soon a platoon under the command of Lieutenant Mamedov and a platoon of anti-tank guns arrived. The guards managed to capture a village not far from the outskirts of the city. However, the Germans counterattacked the village and surrounded the units that had rushed forward. Mamedov ordered to take up a perimeter defense.
And at this time the main forces of the regiment Having occupied the first trench, they came across a powerful defense center covering the city from the east. The offensive stalled. I went to Grozov. When he arrived at the regiment’s OP, Grozov reported that he had moved the 3rd battalion to bypass the defense center. But from the east the road was covered by a trench with machine gun nests. From the regiment's OP it was visible how the companies, pinned down by dense fire from machine guns and mortars, lay down.
Grozov, always calm and self-possessed, bit his lip . Without looking up from the stereo tube, he said to the messenger: - Lieutenant Krapivinsky, quickly!
"Familiar name" , I thought. A tall, ruddy lieutenant descended into the trench. Well, of course, the same one who was once looked after by the elderly sergeant Ivanov near Korsun-Shevchenkovsky. On the lieutenant's chest there were two stripes for wounds, the Order of the Patriotic War, II degree, and the Order of the Red Star. Krapivinsky’s face no longer had that youthful roundness, and the fluff with upper lip disappeared under the razor, leaving only a blush and an embarrassed smile.
Introducing himself to me , the lieutenant reported to Grozov that he had arrived. The lieutenant colonel invited him to look through the stereo tube and, while he looked, explained the situation to him in a nutshell. - Take a platoon of machine gunners, go to the rear of the enemy covering the road, and destroy him. The last reserve was put into action... - Grozov sighed.
Soon we saw , as machine gunners led by Krapivinsky - he stood out for his height - came out to the road and, firing from machine guns, threw grenades into the trench. Immediately the 3rd battalion occupied the road and attacked the defense center from the rear, the 1st battalion attacked from the front. Half an hour later, the Nazis defending the strong point laid down their arms.
Tretyakov Department, The artillery platoon and Mamedov's platoon, taking up a perimeter defense, fought surrounded until they were released by Danko's battalion. By noon, the 182nd Regiment broke into the eastern outskirts of Schwechat. At this time, the 184th Regiment, having bypassed the city, blocked the roads and began to create a strong defense on the occupied line.
All day and all night The soldiers were hammering away at the stubborn, dry earth. And at dawn the next day, enemy columns with tanks and self-propelled guns leaving Schwechat and other towns under attacks from our and neighboring divisions were forced to stop in front of the defensive positions of the regiment, which met them with destructive fire. The Nazis immediately turned into battle formation and attacked, trying to break through the regiment's defenses on the move. They failed. But enemy attacks continued throughout the day. The Germans threw more and more into battle larger number tanks and armored personnel carriers with infantry. Despite the enemy's numerical superiority, the guards held firm. Direct fire artillery hit the tanks and scattered enemy infantry with rapid fire. Convinced that nothing could be achieved by frontal attacks, the next day the enemy began to cover the positions of the 184th Regiment from the flanks and closed an encirclement ring around it. The guards took up a perimeter defense. They perfectly understood their task: to tie up enemy units in battle.
By the evening of the second day The surrounded people ran out of ammunition. Mogilevtsev decided to fight his way out of the enemy ring. At night, with an unexpected attack, the regiment broke through the Nazi positions and escaped the encirclement. In the morning, the regiment's units linked up with the main forces of the division.

It was a sunny April day. Even in just a tunic it was hot. Probably, the larks are now ringing above the arable fields... And from my OP I looked at the gentle heights occupied by the enemy, the river valley, the trembling haze over the fields. I was thinking about how to reach the height of 220 without major losses. Its greenish-red hump stood out clearly against the blue sky. Last night I was summoned by the corps commander, General Kozak. The conversation began in a joking tone: “Ivan Nikonovich, do you want to see Vienna?” “Who doesn’t want that?” The whole army is dreaming. - So give yourself and the army this pleasure - tomorrow by nine o’clock, take height two hundred and twenty, followed by Vienna. Then, abandoning jokes, General Kozak discussed with me issues of interaction with other units.
And now, Looking first at the height, then at the map, I decide the question: how? Gradually clarity comes. The 184th Regiment must go around the ridge of heights at night and end up at the northern foot of Height 220. The plan for the upcoming battle was discussed with Mogilevtsev. We decided that we would send Zubalov’s battalion forward. He would have to begin the encircling movement in the afternoon. The battalion set out in the afternoon. I was at the Mogilevtsev NP and was looking forward to the first messages. And finally Zubalov is on the radio. “I’ve knocked the enemy out of a populated area, a village looms ahead, I’m attacking...
Zubalov's battalion one after another captured three more along the way settlements. The latter was located on the river bank. Retreating, the Germans rushed across the bridge. Zubalov instantly realized that the bridge was mined and would fly into the air as soon as the Germans were on the other side. Without wasting a second, the battalion commander gave the order to pursue the fleeing Nazis. Having burst into the enemy's position on the opposite bank, the sappers immediately cut the wire and began clearing mines. Leaving a barrier at the bridge, Zubalov led the battalion to a large village, which turned out to be an enemy stronghold. The appearance of our soldiers on the northern bank of the river was so unexpected, and their onslaught so swift, that the enemy fled. But further progress slowed down. The Nazis sent a company with two tanks to Zubalov’s battalion. With four shots, the artillerymen knocked out both tanks, and the infantry retreated. An hour and a half later, an infantry battalion with a dozen tanks and self-propelled guns moved towards Zubalov’s guards. The battle lasted until the evening, and again the enemy retreated, leaving up to a hundred dead and wounded and four burning tanks on the battlefield. Soon the entire regiment came to the aid of the battalion. Meanwhile, the 182nd and 186th regiments, knocking down enemy barriers, began to advance to the heights from the front. By eight o'clock in the morning, height 220 was taken. From the captured height, a panorama of the Austrian capital opened in front of us. In the light haze, piles of sharp Gothic roofs, cathedral spiers, factory chimneys loomed... To the right, the Danube glowed blue. Light bridges hung over the canals. To capture Vienna, the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command attracted the 46th Army of the 2nd Ukrainian Front, the 4th, 9th Guards Combined Arms and 6th Guards Tank Armies of the 3rd Ukrainian Front. The 9th and 6th Tank Guards Armies bypassed the city from the southwest and west, the 46th Army moved from the east and southeast. Our 4th Guards Army was advancing from the south and southeast.
62nd Guards Rifle Division made its way to Vienna through a narrow valley between the spurs of the Eastern Alps and Lake Neusiedler See. The 1st Guards Mechanized and 20th Guards Rifle Corps were advancing next to us. Assault groups of our division and neighboring formations, under the cover of tanks and self-propelled guns, rushed into the outskirts of Vienna. Shooting, grenade explosions, shouts of “Hurray!”...
Factory and factory buildings The Germans left quickly, because between them there were vacant lots that were inconvenient for defense. And in the narrow streets and alleys they offered strong resistance. The exception, perhaps, was the automobile plant. The Nazis sat down behind the railway embankment in the basements of the factory building and fired machine guns from there, preventing our assault groups from advancing. Major Pupkov climbed with machine gunner Luzhansky onto the flat roof of a low house on this side of the embankment and saw voluminous tanks near the factory building, similar to oil tanks. “Well, hit them!” - he shouted to Luzhansky. The machine gunner set the Maxim and fired a burst at the tanks. Water splashed out of them. “Hit the tanks,” the battalion commander ordered the machine gunner, “we will drown the Nazis.” When the water poured into the basements in a strong stream, the Nazis began to jump out of there and began to run. The Germans began to roll back to the center, to densely populated neighborhoods.
Assault Troops Danko's battalion approached tall building, in the second floor of which a German machine gunner was holed up. He kept two streets leading to the center under fire.
Guardsmen decided to outwit the fascist. While the armor-piercing gunner Kuliev was firing at the machine gunner, they climbed up the fire escape onto the roof of the house

April 13, 2010 marks the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Vienna from the Nazi invaders.

On April 13, 1945, after the Vienna offensive operation, the capital of Austria, Vienna, was liberated by the Soviet Army. The Vienna offensive operation was carried out by troops of the 2nd (commander Marshal of the Soviet Union Rodion Malinovsky) and 3rd (commander Marshal of the Soviet Union Fyodor Tolbukhin) Ukrainian fronts.

The German command attached great importance to the defense of the Vienna direction, hoping to stop Soviet troops and hold out in the mountainous and forested regions of Austria in the hope of concluding a separate peace with England and the United States. However, on March 16 - April 4, Soviet troops broke through the enemy defenses, defeated Army Group South and reached the approaches to Vienna.

To defend the Austrian capital, the fascist German command created a large group of troops, which included 8 tank divisions that withdrew from the lake area. Balaton, and one infantry and about 15 separate infantry battalions and Volkssturm battalions, consisting of youth 15-16 years old. The entire garrison, including fire brigades, was mobilized to defend Vienna.

The natural conditions of the area favored the defending side. From the west the city is covered by a ridge of mountains, and from the north and east by the wide and high-water Danube. On the southern approaches to the city, the Germans built a powerful fortified area, consisting of anti-tank ditches, a widely developed system of trenches and trenches, and many pillboxes and bunkers.

A significant part of the enemy artillery was installed for direct fire. Artillery firing positions were located in parks, gardens, squares and squares. In the destroyed houses, guns and tanks were camouflaged, intended for firing from an ambush. Hitler's command intended to make the city an insurmountable barrier to the Soviet troops.

Plan of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command Soviet army ordered the liberation of Vienna to the troops of the right wing of the 3rd Ukrainian Front. Part of the troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front was supposed to cross from the southern bank of the Danube to the northern. After which these troops were supposed to cut off the retreat routes for the enemy’s Viennese group to the north.

On April 5, 1945, Soviet troops began an assault on Vienna from the southeast and south. At the same time, tank and mechanized troops began to bypass Vienna from the west. The enemy, with heavy fire from all types of weapons and counterattacks by infantry and tanks, tried to prevent the Soviet troops from breaking through into the city. Therefore, despite the decisive actions of the troops of the Soviet Army, they failed to break the enemy’s resistance on April 5, and they only advanced slightly.

All day on April 6 there were stubborn battles on the outskirts of the city. By evening, Soviet troops reached the southern and western outskirts of Vienna and broke into the adjacent part of the city. Stubborn fighting began within Vienna. The troops of the 6th Guards Tank Army, having made a roundabout maneuver, difficult conditions eastern spurs of the Alps, reached the western approaches to Vienna, and then to the southern bank of the Danube. The enemy group was surrounded on three sides.

Wanting to prevent unnecessary casualties among the population, preserve the city and save its historical monuments, the command of the 3rd Ukrainian Front on April 5 appealed to the population of Vienna with calls to stay in place and help the Soviet soldiers, and not allow the Nazis to destroy the city. Many Austrian patriots responded to the call of the Soviet command. They helped Soviet soldiers in their difficult struggle against the enemy entrenched in fortified areas.

By the evening of April 7, the troops of the right wing of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, part of their forces, captured the Vienna outskirts of Pressbaum and began to fan out - to the east, north and west.

On April 8, the fighting in the city became even more intense. The enemy used large stone buildings for defense, erected barricades, created rubble in the streets, and laid mines and landmines. The Germans widely used “roaming” guns and mortars, tank ambushes, anti-aircraft artillery, and Faust cartridges to fight Soviet tanks.

On April 9, the Soviet government published a statement in which it confirmed its decision to implement the Moscow Declaration of Austrian Independence.
(Military encyclopedia. Chairman of the Main Editorial Commission S.B. Ivanov. Military Publishing House. Moscow. in 8 volumes - 2004 ISBN 5 - 203 01875 - 8)

During April 9-10, Soviet troops fought their way towards the city center. Fierce battles broke out for each block, and sometimes even for a separate house.

The enemy offered especially fierce resistance in the area of the bridges across the Danube, since if Soviet troops reached them, the entire group defending Vienna would be surrounded. Nevertheless, the force of the blow of the Soviet troops continuously increased.

By the end of April 10, the defending Nazi troops were captured. The enemy continued to resist only in the center of the city.