Agony of the Third Reich. 75 years ago, on March 6, 1945, the Wehrmacht offensive began near Balaton. The last major offensive of the German army in World War II. The last defensive operation of the Soviet troops.
Situation before surgery
The offensive of the Red Army on the southern wing of the Soviet-German front led to the liberation of Southeast and Central Europe from the Nazis and local Nazis. Offensive operations of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Ukrainian fronts (2nd, 3rd and 4th UV) in Hungary and Czechoslovakia pulled significant forces of the Wehrmacht from the main Berlin direction. Also, the Soviet armies went to the southern borders of Germany.
On February 17, 1945, after the capture of the Hungarian capital, the Soviet Headquarters ordered the troops of the 2nd and 3rd UV to conduct an offensive in order to defeat Army Group South and liberate the area of Bratislava, Brno and Vienna. The troops of the 2nd UV under the command of Rodion Malinovsky were to lead an offensive from the area north of Budapest to Bratislava and Vienna. The 3rd UV under the command of Fyodor Tolbukhin was supposed to launch an offensive from the area south of Budapest and north of Lake Balaton, bypassing the capital of Austria from the south. The operation was scheduled for March 15, 1945.
The troops of the 2nd UV were stationed north of the Danube, at the turn of the Hron River. In mid-February 1945, Malinovsky's armies fought in the southeastern part of Czechoslovakia and occupied part of Slovakia. On February 17, the Wehrmacht strike group (1st SS Panzer Corps) dealt a strong blow to Shumilov's 7th Guards Army. Soviet troops occupied a bridgehead on the western bank of the Hron River. During the fierce battle, our troops suffered heavy losses and were driven to the eastern bank of the river. The front command had to transfer additional forces to this sector to stabilize the situation. The German blow was parried. Troops of the 3rd UV and the 46th Army of the 2nd UV fought in the western part of Hungary on the line east of Esztergom, Lake Velence, Lake Balaton and the northern bank of the Drava. On the southern flank of Tolbukhin's front were the troops of the People's Liberation Army of Yugoslavia.
In the second half of February 1945, Soviet intelligence discovered that a powerful enemy armored grouping was being concentrated in Western Hungary. Initially, this information was met with distrust by the high command. It was strange that at the moment when Soviet troops in the central direction were 60-70 km from Berlin and were preparing an offensive on the German capital, and the German Headquarters removed the 6th SS Panzer Army from the Western Front and transferred it not to the Berlin area, and to Hungary. However, this information was soon confirmed. The Nazis were preparing a major offensive in the area of Lake Balaton. Therefore, the troops of Malinovsky and Tolbukhin were instructed to go on the defensive, wear down the enemy in defensive battles and then defeat the Wehrmacht strike group. At the same time, our troops continued to prepare for the Vienna operation.
Reconnaissance made it possible to identify the direction of the enemy's main attack. The troops of the 3rd UV, following the example of the battle on the Kursk Bulge, prepared a defense in depth. In some places its depth reached 25-30 km. The main attention was paid to anti-tank defense, the creation of various obstacles. In this area, 66 anti-tank areas were prepared and 2/3 of the front's artillery were concentrated. In some places, the density of guns and mortars reached 60-70 pieces per 1 km. Reserves were prepared. Much attention was paid to the possibility of maneuvering forces both along the front and from the depths.
In the sector where the main attack of the enemy was awaited, our troops were deployed in two echelons. The first housed Zakhvataev's 4th Guards Army and Hagen's 26th Army; in the second - Trofimenko's 27th Army (it was transferred from the 2nd UV). In the secondary direction to the south, the orders of Sharokhin's 57th army were located, the 1st Bulgarian army of Stoychev was adjacent to it. Then she occupied the positions of the troops of the 3rd Yugoslav Army. The front's reserves included the 18th and 23rd Tank, 1st Guards Mechanized and 5th Guards Cavalry Corps, separate artillery and other units. The 9th Guards Army also remained in reserve, it was intended for the Vienna operation, but in extreme cases it could join the battle.
Plans of the German command
The order to carry out an offensive in Western Hungary was given by Adolf Hitler. In mid-January 1945, the German Headquarters ordered the transfer of the 6th SS Panzer Army from the Western Front to Hungary. Also, troops for the upcoming operation were transferred from Italy. The Fuehrer believed that the last oil resources, which are located in Hungary, are of paramount importance for the Reich. This area gave at that time up to 80% of all oil production in Germany. Without these sources, it was impossible to continue the war for a long time, there was no fuel left for aviation and armored vehicles. Only two oil sources remained under the control of the Third Reich - in Zietersdorf (Austria) and in the region of Lake Balaton (Hungary). Therefore, the high command decided to transfer the last large mobile formations to Hungary, and not to Pomerania, where they originally planned to transfer tanks from the West. With the success of the offensive, the Nazis hoped to push the Russians across the Danube, restore the defensive line along this river, eliminate the threat of the enemy reaching the borders of southern Germany, defeat in Austria and Czechoslovakia. A major victory on the southern flank of the strategic front could bind the forces of the Red Army and delay the attack on Berlin.
As a result, the Hitlerite command continued to attach paramount importance to the retention of Hungary. The Hungarian strategic foothold was necessary for the defense of Czechoslovakia, Austria and southern Germany. The last sources of oil and oil refineries were located here, without the products of which the Air Force and mobile units could not fight. Also, Austria was important as a powerful industrial region (steel, engineering, automotive and military industries). Also, these areas were suppliers of soldiers for the army. Therefore, Hitler demanded at all costs to keep Western Hungary and Austria.
The Germans prepared a plan for Operation Spring Awakening. The Nazis planned to deliver three cleaving strikes. The main attack from the Velence area and the northeastern part of Lake Balaton was delivered by Joseph Dietrich's 6th SS Panzer Army and Balck's 6th Field Army. The same group included the 3rd Hungarian army of Hezleni. In some areas, the concentration of tanks and self-propelled guns reached 50-70 vehicles per 1 km. The Germans were going to break through to the Danube in the Dunaföldvar region. The Germans planned the second attack south of Lake Balaton in the direction of Kaposvar. Here the troops of the 2nd Panzer Army of Maximilian de Angelis attacked. The third blow was delivered by the Nazis from the area of Donji-Mikholyats to the north, to Pecs and to Mohacs. It was inflicted by the 91st Army Corps from Army Group E (fought in the Balkans). The troops of the 2nd Panzer Army and 91st Corps were to break through to meet the 6th SS Panzer Army.
As a result, three powerful blows were supposed to destroy the front of the 3rd UV, destroy the Soviet battle formations in Hungary. After the Wehrmacht broke through to the Danube, part of the shock group was supposed to turn north and liberate the Hungarian capital, part of the forces to develop an offensive to the south. This led to the encirclement and defeat of the main forces of the 3rd UV, the creation of a large gap in the Russian front, the restoration of the defensive line along the Danube and the stabilization of the entire southern flank of the Eastern Front. After the success of Operation Spring Awakening, the Nazis could defeat the 3rd UV with a blow on the left flank. This completely stabilized the situation on the southern sector of the Soviet-German front and made it possible to transfer tank formations to defend Berlin.
Forces of the parties
The Tolbukhin front consisted of the 4th Guards, 26th, 27th and 57th armies.
The front's troops consisted of 40 rifle and cavalry divisions, 6 Bulgarian infantry divisions, 1 fortified area, 2 tank and 1 mechanized corps. Plus the 17th Air Force and part of the 5th Air Force. In total, more than 400 thousand people, about 7 thousand guns and mortars, 400 tanks and self-propelled guns, about 1 thousand aircraft.
Our troops were opposed by Army Group South under the command of Otto Wöhler: 6th SS Panzer Army, Army Group Balk (6th Field Army, remnants of the 1st and 3rd Hungarian armies), 2nd Panzer Army; part of the forces of Army Group "E". From the air, the Germans were supported by the 4th Air Fleet and the Hungarian Air Force. These troops consisted of 31 divisions (including 11 tank divisions), 5 battle groups and 1 motorized brigade. In total, more than 430 thousand people, over 5, 6 thousand guns and mortars, about 900 tanks and self-propelled guns, 900 armored personnel carriers and 850 combat aircraft. That is, in manpower, the Nazis had a slight advantage, in artillery and aviation, the advantage was with the Soviet troops. In the main striking force - on armored vehicles, the Germans had a double superiority. It was on the powerful armored fist that the Hitlerite generals pinned their main hopes.
Forest Devil
On March 6, 1945, German troops launched an offensive. The first attacks were carried out on the southern flank. At night, the positions of the Bulgarian and Yugoslav troops were attacked. In the morning they hit the 57th Army. In the sector of Sharokhin's army, the Nazis conducted an artillery preparation for an hour, then went on the offensive and, at the cost of heavy losses, were able to wedge their way into our defenses. The command of the army brought in the troops of the second echelon, reserves, including artillery, and was able to stop the further advance of the enemy. As a result, in the southern sector, the Nazis advanced only 6-8 kilometers.
In the defense sector of the Bulgarian and Yugoslav armies, the Nazis were able to force the Drava and captured two bridgeheads. But the German troops failed to break through to Pecs and Mohacs further. The Soviet command transferred the 133rd Rifle Corps and additional artillery to the aid of the Slavic brothers. Soviet aviation intensified its actions. As a result, the front was stabilized. The Slavs, with the support of the Red Army, repulsed the enemy blow, and then went over to a counterattack. Enemy bridgeheads were eliminated. Fighting in this direction continued until March 22. As a result, the operation of the German army ("Forest Devil") in the area south of Lake Balaton did not lead to success.
Spring awakening
At 8:40, after a 30-minute artillery barrage, troops of the 6th tank and 6th field armies went on the attack in the northern sector. The battle immediately took on a fierce character. The Germans actively used their advantage in tanks. Used heavy tanks "Tiger-2" and medium tanks "Panther". By the end of the day, the Nazis advanced 4 km, took the Sheregeyesh stronghold. The Soviet command, to strengthen the defense, began to introduce the 18th Panzer Corps into battle. Also, the 3rd Airborne Division of the 35th Guards Rifle Corps from the 27th Army began to transfer to the dangerous area. On the same day, stubborn battles were fought in the defense zone of the 1st Guards Fortified Region from the 4th Guards Army.
On March 7, 1945, German troops, with active aviation support, renewed their attacks. A particularly dangerous situation developed in the defense zone of the 26th Army. Here the Germans assembled an armored fist from 200 tanks and self-propelled guns. The Nazis constantly changed the direction of their attacks, looking for weak spots in the enemy's defense. The Soviet command deployed anti-tank reserves here. The 26th Army of Hagen was reinforced with the 5th Guards Cavalry Corps and an ACS brigade. Also, to strengthen the battle formations of the armies of the first echelon, the troops of the 27th Army began to move to the second line of defense. In addition, the strong blows of the Soviet 17th Air Army played an important role in repelling the enemy's armored masses. As a result, in two days of tough fighting, the Germans were able to drive a wedge into the Soviet defense by only 4 - 7 km. The Nazis were unable to break through the tactical defense zone of the Soviet army. Timely determination of the direction of the main attack, the creation of a strong defense, stubborn and skillful resistance of our troops prevented the enemy from breaking through.
On March 8, the Hitlerite command threw the main forces into battle. The Germans were still looking for weak spots in the defense, throwing large masses of tanks into battle. In the direction of the main attack, 250 tanks and assault guns went forward. Trying to reduce the effectiveness of enemy artillery and aviation, the Germans attacked at night. On March 9, the Nazis threw new forces into battle, increasing the power of the strike group. Up to 320 combat vehicles piled on the army of Hagen. The German army was able to gnaw through the main and second line of defense of our troops and wedged in for 10 - 24 km in the main direction. However, the Nazis had not yet broken through the rear army and front line of defense. At the same time, the main forces had already been thrown into battle, and they suffered heavy losses in manpower and equipment. On March 10, the 5th Air Army began to participate in repelling the offensive of Army Group South, which supported the troops of the 2nd UV. In addition, the 3rd UV had at its disposal the 9th Guards Army (transferred at the direction of the Headquarters), which was deployed southeast of Budapest and could join the battle if the situation deteriorated. Also, the command of the 2nd UV began to transfer the troops of the 6th Guards Tank Army to the area of the Hungarian capital. That is, they had large reserves in case of an enemy breakthrough.
On March 10, the Germans brought their armored forces in the area between the Velence and Balaton lakes to 450 tanks and self-propelled guns. Stubborn battles continued. On March 14, the German command threw into the battle the last reserve - the 6th Panzer Division. For two days, the position of the 27th Soviet Army, Trofimenko stormed more than 300 German tanks and self-propelled guns. The Nazis wedged themselves into our defenses up to 30 km. This was the last success. The combat power of the German divisions was depleted, the equipment was knocked out. There were no new reserves for the development of the offensive.
Thus, the German armored fist never penetrated the Soviet defenses, although the situation was dire. By the end of March 15, many German units, including selected SS men, had lost their morale, broke down, and began to refuse to go into the attack. The offensive of the German troops was drowned out. Under the cover of mobile formations, which were still fiercely fighting, the Nazis began to retreat to their original positions and went on the defensive. The Fuehrer was furious, but nothing could be done. Hitler ordered the personnel of the SS Panzer Army to strip the honorary sleeve ribbons from their uniforms.
The last major offensive of the Wehrmacht in World War II ended in defeat. The Germans could not break through to the Danube and defeat the main forces of the Tolbukhin front. Russian troops exhausted the enemy with stubborn defense, actively used artillery and aviation. Soviet intelligence played a large role in this, detecting in time the preparation of the enemy for an offensive. In another case, the Germans could achieve short-term success and inflict heavy losses on our troops. During the Battle of Balaton, the Wehrmacht lost about 40 thousand people (our losses were about 33 thousand people), about 500 tanks and self-propelled guns, about 200 aircraft.
The morale of the Wehrmacht and selected SS units was broken. The fighting forces of the Nazis in Western Hungary were seriously weakened. SS Panzer Divisions lost most of their combat vehicles. With almost no pause on March 16, 1945, the troops of the 2nd and 3rd UV began the Vienna offensive.
