Which troops took vein. Liberation of Vienna from Nazi invaders. Reference. Losses for Nazi Germany

Vienna offensive, which was completed on April 13, 1945 with 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 heavy. These are the last, decisive battles.

The relative ease of capturing the capital of Austria, in comparison 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 the Victory, and it was impossible to stop them. Although it was especially difficult psychologically to fight at that time, people knew “a little more, a little more”, plus deadly fatigue.

It is clear that there was no easy walk: our total losses in this operation were 168 thousand people (of which more than 38 thousand people died). The Germans desperately resisted, but their forces were already undermined - before that, the Red Army and the Wehrmacht, in alliance with the Hungarian units, fought heavy battles in Hungary. Hitler ordered to keep the Hungarian oil fields at all costs - 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 did they reach Austria. The attitude of the population was also different, if the Hungarians for the most part supported the Nazis, were hostile to the Red Army, then the Austrians were neutral. Of course, they did not meet with flowers and bread and salt, but there was no hostility.

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

Our troops were opposed by part of the troops of Army Group South (commander General of the Infantry O. Wehler, from April 7, Colonel General L. Rendulich), part of the troops of Army Group F (commander Field Marshal M. von Weichs), from March 25 Army Group E (commanded by Colonel-General A. Lehr). The German high command attached great importance to the defense of the Vienna direction, planning to stop the Soviet troops on these lines and hold out in the mountainous and wooded regions of Austria, hoping to conclude a separate peace with England and the USA. However, on March 16 - 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 Austrian capital, the German command created a fairly strong grouping of troops, in its composition the remnants of the 8th Panzer and 1st Infantry Divisions from the 6th SS Panzer Army, which had withdrawn from the Lake Balaton area, were formed and about 15 separate infantry battalions and Volkssturm battalions. The entire composition of the Vienna military school was mobilized to defend Vienna, 4 regiments of 1.5 thousand people were created from the Vienna police. natural conditions the terrain around the city favored the German side. From the west, Vienna was covered by a mountain range, and from the northern and eastern sides by a powerful water barrier, the wide and abounding Danube. On the south side, on the outskirts of the city, the Germans created a powerful fortified area, which consisted of anti-tank ditches, a developed system of fortifications - trenches, pillboxes and bunkers. Ditches were dug in all tank-hazardous areas along the outer bypass of Vienna, anti-tank and anti-personnel barriers were installed.

The Germans prepared a significant part of their artillery for direct fire, to strengthen the anti-tank defense of the city. Firing positions for artillery were equipped in parks, gardens, squares and city squares. In addition, in the destroyed houses of the city (from strikes), guns were disguised and, 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, firing points were equipped in their windows, attics, basements. All bridges in the city were mined. The German command planned to make the city an insurmountable obstacle in the way of the Red Army, an impregnable fortress.

The commander of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, F.I. Tolbukhin, planned to take the city with the help of 3 simultaneous strikes: from the southeast side - by the troops of the 4th Guards Army and the 1st Guards Mechanized Corps, from the south and southwest sides - by troops 6th Guards Tank Army with the 18th Tank Corps and part of the 9th Guards Army attached to help it. The rest of the forces of the 9th Guards Army were 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.

On April 5, 1945, Soviet troops began an operation to take Vienna from the southeast and south. At the same time, mobile formations, including tank and mechanized units, began to bypass the Austrian capital from the west. The enemy responded with fire and furious 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 failed to break the resistance of the enemy, progress was insignificant.

The whole next day - April 6, there were fierce battles on the outskirts of the city. By the evening of that day, Soviet troops were able to reach the southern and western outskirts of the city and broke into the surrounding suburbs of Vienna. Stubborn fighting began already in the city. The forces of the 6th Guards Tank Army, made a detour, in the difficult conditions of the eastern spurs of the Alps and reached the western approaches of the city, and after that on South coast Danube. The German group was surrounded on three sides.

The Soviet command, trying to prevent unnecessary civilian casualties, to maintain beautiful city and its historical heritage, on April 5 appealed to the population of the capital of Austria with an appeal to stay in their homes, on the ground 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 the 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 Viennese outskirts of Pressbaum and continued to move - to the east, north and west. On April 8, stubborn battles continued in the city itself, the Germans created new barricades, blockages, blocking roads, set mines, land mines, and transferred guns and mortars to dangerous directions. During April 9-10, Soviet forces continued to fight their way to 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 the Soviet troops came to him, all German group in Vienna, would be completely surrounded. Danube landed troops to capture the Imperial Bridge, but heavy enemy fire stopped it 400 meters from the bridge. Only the second landing was able to capture the bridge without letting it blow up. By the end of April 10, the defending German group was completely surrounded, its last units offered resistance only in the city center.

On the night of April 11, our troops began to force the Danube Canal, the final battles for Vienna were underway. Having broken the resistance of the enemy in the central part of the capital and in the quarters that were located on the northern bank of the Danube Canal, the 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.

Operation results

As a result of the offensive of the Soviet troops in the Vienna Offensive Operation, a large Wehrmacht grouping was defeated. The forces of the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian fronts were able to complete the liberation of Hungary, 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 was opened from the south. The USSR initiated the restoration of the statehood of Austria.

The quick and selfless actions of the Red Army 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 prepared for the explosion or were set on fire by Wehrmacht units during the retreat, including St. Stephen's Cathedral, and the Vienna City Hall and other structures.

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

To commemorate this victory, 50 combat 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 on Schwarzenbergplatz in honor of Soviet soldiers who died in the battles for the liberation of Austria, a monument was erected.

On March 16, 1945, the Vienna offensive operation of the Red Army began, depriving the Nazis of last hopes to prolong the war...

In the spring of 1945, the outcome of the war was already obvious to all its participants. The main goal of senior leaders Nazi Germany there was a maximum delay in the inevitable outcome, counting on the possible conclusion of a separate peace with the United States and Great Britain. The priority task of the Soviet Union is the final defeat of the Third Reich, forcing it to unconditional surrender.
On February 17, 1945, by the directive of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian fronts were tasked with preparing an offensive against one of the European capitals that still remained in the hands of the Nazis - Vienna.


Austria, which lost its independence in 1938 as a result of the Anschluss, was in the final stage of the war in a dual position. On the one hand, the Austrians became one of the victims of Nazi aggression. On the other hand, Nazi sentiments were strong in Austria, and units of the Wehrmacht and the SS throughout the war were steadily replenished with ideological supporters from the homeland of the Fuhrer of the Third Reich.
The leaders of Nazi Germany, pushing the Austrians to resist the advancing units of the Red Army, promised them "the bloody horrors of the Stalinist occupation." The work of Hitler's propagandists made it possible to form Volkssturm detachments in Vienna, which were supposed to delay the final collapse of the Reich at the cost of their lives.

"Spring Awakening" Failed

Start Soviet offensive was scheduled for March 15th. Almost simultaneously with the decision to prepare the Vienna offensive operation, the Soviet command received information about the impending powerful strike of the Nazis in the Lake Balaton area.
It was decided to repel the German offensive in the Balaton area, without stopping preparations for an attack on Vienna.
The Wehrmacht operation "Spring Awakening" was the last offensive of the Germans in World War II and the last defensive operation of the Red Army in it.
During the nine-day offensive, the Nazis managed to advance 30 km in the direction of the main attack, but they did not succeed in achieving decisive success.
By March 15, the German offensive stopped, their reserves were depleted. There was an excellent situation for the transition of Soviet troops to their own offensive.


The plan of the operation provided for the main attack by the forces of the 4th and 9th Guards Armies from the area north of Szekesfehervar to the southwest in order to encircle 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, part of the forces to advance on Szombathely and Zalaegerszeg in order to cover the Nagykanizsa enemy grouping from the north.
The 26th and 27th armies were supposed to launch an offensive later and contribute to the destruction of the enemy surrounded by that time. The 57th and 1st Bulgarian armies, operating on the left wing of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, were to go on the offensive south of Lake Balaton with the task of defeating the opposing enemy and capturing the oil-bearing region with a center in the city of Nagykanizha.

Escaped from the cauldron

Marshal Fyodor Tolbukhin commanded the 3rd Ukrainian Front, Marshal Rodion Malinovsky commanded the 2nd Ukrainian Front, and General Vladimir Stoychev commanded the Allied 1st Bulgarian Army.
The offensive of the Soviet troops began on March 16, 1945 at 15:35. The artillery preparation turned out to be so powerful that both the 4th and 9th Guards armies of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, which were the first to go on the offensive, at first did not meet resistance at all. Then, however, the enemy began to hastily transfer fresh units towards the guardsmen.
At the first stage, fierce battles unfolded for the Hungarian Szekesfehervar, major center the defense of the Germans, the occupation of which by the Soviet troops threatened their access to the rear of the Nazis and the complete encirclement of the German group.


Photo by Aron Zamsky. Author's signature: “On the roads of war. Attack on Vienna on German technology.
By the end of March 18 Soviet troops managed to advance to a depth of about 18 km and expand the breakthrough to 36 km along the front. The 6th Guards Tank Army of the 3rd Ukrainian Front was introduced into the gap, however, the Germans also pulled up units from other sectors to repel the offensive: three tank and one infantry division. Despite this, the Soviet troops managed to advance another 8 kilometers. On March 20, the time came for the strike of the 26th and 27th armies.
The threat of complete encirclement and defeat loomed over the Balaton grouping of the Nazis. The main force of the Germans in this area - the 6th SS Army - was withdrawn through the corridor that remained in their hands, about two and a half kilometers wide.

Bulgarians and cavalrymen deprived the Wehrmacht of fuel

The Germans managed to avoid encirclement, but they failed to stop the Soviet troops. Immediately crossing the line of the Raba River, the Red Army rushed to the Hungarian-Austrian border.
On March 25, the 2nd Ukrainian Front launched an offensive against Bratislava, which deprived the German command of the opportunity to transfer reserves to the Vienna direction.


On March 29, 1945, on the left wing of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, the 57th and 1st Bulgarian armies went on the offensive in the direction of Nagykanizha. A day later, the raid of the 5th Guards Cavalry Corps began in the rear of the German group in the Nagykanizsa area.
Soon, Soviet and Bulgarian troops captured Nagykaniz - the center of one of the last oil-bearing regions remaining in the hands of the Germans. Thus, the Wehrmacht found itself in an acute fuel crisis.
On April 1, 1945, the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command clarifies the task - the main forces of the 3rd Ukrainian Front were ordered to capture the capital of Austria and reach the Tulln, St. Polten, Neu-Lengbach line no later than April 12–15.

"Alpine fortress"

After heavy March battles, the offensive of the Red Army in the first days of April is developing rapidly. Already by April 4, the shock group of the 3rd Ukrainian Front reached the approaches to Vienna.
The German command intended to defend Vienna to the end. The most important objects of the city, its main sights were mined, houses were turned into fortified firing points.
The city was defended by units of the 6th SS Panzer Army, which retreated from Balaton, 15 separate infantry battalions and Volkssturm battalions, cadets of the Vienna military school, 4 combined regiments of the Vienna police of 1500 people each.


The defense of Vienna was also facilitated by her geographical position- from the west, Vienna was covered by a mountain range, and from the northern and eastern sides - by a powerful water barrier, the wide and high-water Danube. On the south side, on the outskirts of the city, the Germans created a powerful fortified area, which consisted of anti-tank ditches, a developed system of fortifications - trenches, pillboxes and bunkers. The Nazis dubbed Vienna the "Alpine Fortress".
The Soviet command faced a difficult task - it was not easy to take the city in the shortest possible time, but also to prevent large-scale destruction of the ancient pearl of Europe.

Appeal of Marshal Tolbukhin

The attack on Vienna began on 5 April. The original plan of Marshal Tolbukhin was to deliver simultaneous blows from three directions: from the southeast - by 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 Tank Corps attached to it and part of the forces of the 9th Guards Army . The remaining part of the forces of the 9th Guards Army was to bypass the city from the west and cut off the enemy's escape route.
On April 5 and 6, fierce battles unfolded on the southern and southeastern approaches to the city. The enemy tried to go into counterattacks and put up desperate resistance.
On April 6, Fyodor Tolbukhin on the radio appealed to the population of Vienna with an appeal to stay in place, in every possible way to prevent the Nazis from trying to destroy the city, its historical monuments and to provide assistance to the Soviet troops. Many Austrians responded to this call.


Fedor Tolbukhin - Soviet military leader, Marshal of the Soviet Union, Hero of the Soviet Union (posthumously), folk hero Yugoslavia, Hero of the People's Republic of Bulgaria (posthumously), Commander of the Order of Victory.
On April 7, the main forces of the 9th Guards Army and formations of the 6th Guards Tank Army, having overcome the mountain-forest massif of the Vienna Woods, reached the Danube. Thus, the German grouping was covered by Soviet troops from the east, south and west. With great difficulty, the Nazis held back the offensive of the 46th Army of the 2nd Ukrainian Front, which could slam the boiler.
Heavy street fighting unfolded in Vienna, which went on both day and night. On April 9, 1945, a tank battalion of the 6th Guards Tank Army under the command of Guard Captain Dmitry Loza broke through into the center of Vienna. During the day, the battalion held its positions until the main forces of the tank brigade approached. For this feat, Dmitry Fedorovich Loza was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

Landing on the Imperial Bridge

By the end of April 10, the German garrison in Vienna continued fierce resistance in the city center, keeping under its control the Imperial Bridge - the only surviving bridge over the Danube. The imperial bridge allowed the western and eastern nodes of Vienna's defense to interact.
The bridge was mined, and the German command, in a hopeless situation for themselves, intended to blow it up, which would force the Soviet troops to cross the full-flowing Danube and fight hard to capture and hold bridgeheads.
To capture the Imperial Bridge, it was decided to conduct an amphibious operation using the armored boats of the Danube military flotilla.


The landing force was tasked with landing from boats on both banks of the Danube near the bridge, capturing it and holding it until the main forces approached.
The landing force included about 100 fighters of a rifle company of the 80th Guards Rifle Division. In reinforcement, they were given one 45-mm cannon and four heavy machine guns. The artillery of the Danube flotilla and army gunners were supposed to cover the paratroopers.
The task was incredibly difficult - armored boats to the landing site had to pass along the coast controlled by the Nazis, past fortified firing points, bypassing destroyed bridges and sunken ships, and all this during daylight hours.

Three days of fire and blood

The operation began on the morning of 11 April. A group of five armored boats went on a breakthrough to the Imperial Bridge, the rest of the ships were supposed to suppress enemy firing points on the banks.
The daring plan of the Soviet command turned out to be a complete surprise for the Nazis, which allowed the boats with the landing force to reach the landing point without loss. With a swift attack, the Imperial Bridge was captured.
The command of the Vienna garrison realized the seriousness of what had happened. Tanks, self-propelled guns and infantry were urgently transferred to the bridge with orders to recapture the bridge at all costs. Enemy artillery fire fell on Soviet armored boats. With great difficulty they returned to base.
The Soviet landing force, holding the Imperial Bridge, was under continuous enemy fire. The attacks came one after another, but the company fought to the death.


Soviet sappers direct the crossing over the Danube Canal in the center of the city of Vienna. 2nd Ukrainian.
The bloody battle for the bridge, which became the key in the battle for Vienna, lasted three days. On the night of April 13, a battalion of the 7th Guards Airborne Division managed to break through to the bridge. In response, the Germans threw everything that was still in reserve to the bridge. Both sides suffered heavy losses.
On the morning of April 13, a combined assault detachment broke through to the bridge marines under the command of Senior Lieutenant Kochkin. In the breakthrough was introduced rifle regiment 80th Guards Rifle Division. After some time, the main forces of the division, supported by self-propelled guns of the 2nd Guards Mechanized Brigade, cut through the eastern group of Germans and reached the bridge.
16 self-propelled artillery mounts crossed the bridge at high speed and took up all-round defense on the west bank. The sappers of the approaching units removed from the bridge all the explosives left by the Nazis. The bridge completely came under the control of the Soviet troops, the threat of its destruction was eliminated. It was all over for the Vienna group of Germans. Its eastern part, devoid of communication with the western, cut into several isolated groups, was finally defeated by the end of April 13. Western part The group began a hasty retreat from the city.
On the night of April 14, Vienna completely came under the control of Soviet troops.
Among those who fought with the Nazis on the Imperial Bridge was the 19-year-old Red Navy Georgy Yumatov, the future star of Soviet cinema, who played a brilliant role in the film "Officers".


The landing participants were presented with orders and medals, and six soldiers who prevented the undermining of the Imperial bridge were awarded the title of Heroes of the Soviet Union.
At the expense of the inhabitants of Vienna, an obelisk was erected in front of the Imperial Bridge in honor of the Soviet soldiers who saved this priceless historical relic of the city from destruction.
50 Soviet units and formations that distinguished themselves in the battles for Vienna received the honorary title of "Vienna". The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR established the medal "For the Capture of Vienna". In August 1945, a monument was erected in Vienna on Schwarzenbergplatz Soviet soldiers who died in the battles for the liberation of the country.

Berlin was ahead

During the Vienna Offensive, Soviet troops lost 167,940 people killed and wounded. The irretrievable losses of the Red Army amounted to 38,661 people. The losses of the allied Bulgarian army amounted to 9805 people killed and wounded, of which 2698 people were irretrievable losses.
There is no exact data on German losses. The fact is that since the beginning of 1945, complete chaos reigned in the documents of the Wehrmacht, similar to what happened in the Red Army in the tragic summer of 1941.


It is known that more than 400,000 German troops in western Hungary and eastern Austria actually ceased to exist. About 130 thousand German soldiers and the officers were taken prisoner.
With the defeat of the Nazi group in Austria and the capture of Vienna, the plans of the leaders of the Third Reich to drag out the war finally collapsed.
Three days remained before the start of the attack on Berlin ...

The Headquarters of the Supreme High Command outlined the initial plan of the offensive in the direction of Vienna in a directive dated February 17, 1945. However, it was not possible to implement it due to the dramatically changed situation. In the last ten days of February, German troops liquidated the bridgehead of the 7th Guards Army of the 2nd Ukrainian Front on the river. Gron, and also began to concentrate tank divisions against the 3rd Ukrainian Front. Under the circumstances, the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command ordered the commander of its troops, Marshal of the Soviet Union, to gain a foothold on the reached line and repel enemy attacks on it.

Three days after the start of the Balaton defensive operation, on March 9, the Supreme Commander specified the tasks of the two fronts. Unlike the original plan, the main role in the upcoming offensive operation, which later became known as the "Vienna", was assigned to the 3rd Ukrainian Front. He was ordered no later than March 15-16 to move from defense to offensive without an operational pause and strike in the direction of Papa, Sopron. On March 17-18, the 46th Army and the 2nd Guards Mechanized Corps of the 2nd Ukrainian Front were to start active operations, which had the task of conducting an offensive with the support of the Danube military flotilla and the 5th air army in the direction of Gyor.

The commander of the troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front allocated the 9th (came from the reserve of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command) and the 4th Guards Army, Colonel General V.A. Glagolev and Lieutenant General N.D. Zakhvataev - a total of 18 rifle divisions, 3900 guns and mortars, 197 tanks and self-propelled artillery mounts. At the first stage, they were to surround and defeat the enemy grouping in the area south and southwest of Szekesfehervar, as well as cut possible ways withdrawal of the main forces of the 6th SS Panzer Army, which, after the localization of their wedging in the area of ​​Lake. Balaton were in the operational "bag". The destruction of the latter was assigned to the 27th and 26th armies of lieutenant generals and the 18th and 23rd tank and 1st guards mechanized corps (a total of 217 tanks and self-propelled guns). The task of the 57th and Bulgarian 1st armies of lieutenant generals and V. Stoichev was to defeat the German 2nd tank army in the Nagykanizha area. Ground forces were supported by the 17th Air Army (Colonel-General of Aviation V.A. Sudets), which numbered 837 aircraft.

On most axes, the enemy in mid-March hastily carried out the transition from offensive to defensive on previously reached lines and sought to prepare them in engineering terms. The exception was the section Esztergom, Szekesfehervar, occupied by him in advance. Here, in the main defense zone 5-7 km deep, there were two or three lines of trenches with wood-and-earth firing points, the approaches to which were covered with barbed wire and minefields. At a distance of 10-20 km from the front line, the second lane passed. It housed separate strongholds and nodes of resistance. In the operational depth, the line was equipped along the western bank of the river. Slave, which already represented a difficult natural obstacle to overcome. A large number of different defensive structures, built using the advantages of rugged terrain, was also on the outskirts of the capital of Austria - Vienna. Their density increased as they approached the city.

The offensive of the main strike force of the 3rd Ukrainian Front began in the afternoon of March 16 after artillery and aviation preparation. Formations of the 9th and 4th Guards Armies successfully overcame the first position of the enemy defense, but later the pace of their advance slowed down. First of all, this was due to the lack of direct infantry support tanks and self-propelled guns in combat formations, as well as the backlog of escort artillery. As a result, the penetration of Soviet troops into the defense by the end of the day was from 3 to 7 km. They did not fulfill the task of the first day of the offensive. In order to increase the force of impact, the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command transferred the 6th Guards Tank Army, Colonel General, to the 3rd Ukrainian Front, which until that time was part of the 2nd Ukrainian Front and was located in the Budapest area. Entering it into battle after regrouping could be carried out no earlier than two days later.

During March 17 rifle divisions The 9th and 4th Guards Armies continued to slowly push the enemy and increased the penetration into his defenses only up to 10 km. Did not make a turning point in the course of hostilities and the next day. On the morning of March 19, the entry into battle of the 6th Guards Tank Army began, the task of which was to complete the encirclement of the groupings of German troops southeast and southwest of Szekesfehervar. However, its tank corps met stubborn resistance from numerous tactical groups of the enemy (several tanks and assault guns), could not break away from the rifle units and, as a result, did not have a significant impact on the overall pace of the offensive. In such a situation, the command of the Army Group "South" was able to increase efforts against the formations of the right wing of the 3rd Ukrainian Front due to maneuver from non-attacked sectors and began the withdrawal of the 6th SS Panzer Army from the area southeast of Szekesfehervar.

In an effort to exclude her exit from the emerging environment, Marshal of the Soviet Union F.I. Tolbukhin decided to strike with the 4th Guards, 27th and 26th armies in order to cut the enemy grouping into two isolated parts. At the same time, the 9th Guards and 6th Guards Tank Armies were to continue the offensive in the same direction in order to exclude the approach of enemy reserves.

In the next two days, March 20 and 21, heavy fighting was fought on the right wing of the front. German tank divisions, using numerous rivers, canals, defiles and minefields, held back the advance of Soviet troops with fire and counterattacks, inflicting significant damage to them in people and military equipment. Only by the end of March 21, the main forces of the 6th SS Panzer Army were blocked in the Szekesfehervar, Berhida, Polgardi area. True, they soon made a powerful blow along the northern shore of the lake. Balaton broke through to the west.

On the direction of another strike, the 46th Army of Lieutenant General A.V. Petrushevsky, going on the offensive on March 17, broke through the enemy’s defenses on the very first day and ensured the entry into battle of the 2nd Guards Mechanized Corps, Lieutenant General K.V. Sviridov. By the end of March 20, his brigades reached the Danube and deeply engulfed the Esztergom-Tovarosh grouping of the enemy from the south-west, numbering about 17 thousand people. In general, in the period from March 16 to March 25, the troops of the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian fronts broke the resistance of the German and Hungarian army formations between the river. Danube and lake. Balaton, overcame the mountains Verteshkheldsheh and the Bacon forest, advanced to a depth of 80 km and created the conditions for the development of an offensive against Vienna.

During the pursuit of the enemy, which unfolded from March 26, the 46th Army, together with the Danube military flotilla (Rear Admiral G.N. Kholostyakov), liquidated the Esztergom-Tovarosh grouping, captured the cities of Komar and Gyor, completely cleared the southern bank of the Danube from enemy troops from Esztergom to the mouth of the river. Slave. At the same time, the divisions of the 9th and 4th Guards Armies crossed this river on the move and continued the offensive in the direction of Sopron. As they approached the Hungarian-Austrian border, the resistance of the Hungarian units began to weaken significantly. Only for three days south of the river. Danube from their composition surrendered about 45 thousand soldiers and officers. On March 30, formations of the 6th Guards Tank Army broke through the border fortifications south of Sopron on the move and invaded Austria on a 20-kilometer stretch. By April 4, the main forces of the shock group of the 3rd Ukrainian Front had reached the approaches to Vienna.

In connection with the deep advance of the armies of its right wing in the direction of Sopron, and the 27th and 26th armies towards Zalaegerszeg and Sombatel, the German 2nd Panzer Army, which was defending in the Nagykanizsa area, was deeply engulfed from the north. Fearing to be cut off from communications with Germany, on March 28, her command began to withdraw its troops. The next day, the 57th and Bulgarian 1st armies, operating on the left wing of the front, went on the offensive. On April 1, their formations with battles captured the center of the oil-bearing region of Hungary - the city of Nagykanizsa.

On the same day, the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command issued a directive to develop a further offensive. She ordered the 3rd Ukrainian Front to capture Vienna no later than April 10-15 with the forces of the right wing, and the armies of the center and left wing to gain a foothold at the turn of the Muri, Mur and Drava rivers. The 46th Army with the 2nd Guards Mechanized and 23rd Tank Corps (transferred from the 3rd Ukrainian Front) had to cross from the right bank of the Danube to the left and cut off the enemy’s Vienna grouping retreat to the north.

On the outskirts of the capital of Austria and in the city itself, units of eight tank and one infantry divisions, which retreated from the area of ​​​​Lake Lake, took up the defense. Balaton, as well as up to fifteen separate infantry and Volkssturm battalions. Numerous defensive positions and engineering structures were prepared in advance here. German troops blocked the streets with barricades and mined blockages, fire points were placed in houses, carefully camouflaged tanks and guns designed for direct fire were placed in destroyed buildings, all bridges across the Danube were prepared for an explosion.

Marshal of the Soviet Union F.I. Tolbukhin decided to inflict several simultaneous attacks from various directions in order to capture Vienna: from the southeast - by the forces of the 4th Guards Army and the 1st Guards Mechanized Corps (85 serviceable tanks and self-propelled guns); from the south, west and northwest - by the forces of the 6th Guards Tank and 9th Guards Armies, for which they had to bypass the city through the eastern spurs of the Alps.

Fighting on the immediate outskirts of Vienna began on 5 April. But throughout the day, rifle formations only slightly pressed the enemy. Using numerous water barriers prepared for defense and settlements, which extremely limited the maneuver of tanks, he did not allow the shock group of the front to break through to the city. This result was achieved only by the evening of the next day, when the formations of the 4th and part of the forces of the 9th Guards Armies, with the support of the 1st Guards Mechanized Corps, Lieutenant General I.N. Russiyanova went to the southern and western outskirts of Vienna and started fighting on its streets. At the same time, the 6th Guards Army and two rifle corps of the 9th Guards Army maneuvered across the eastern spurs of the Alps, reached the western approaches to the city, and cut off the enemy's retreat.

During April 7-9, Soviet troops, widely using assault groups, which included rifle units, tanks and self-propelled guns, escort guns and sappers, fought for each quarter and a separate house. The fighting did not stop at night, for which reinforced rifle battalions were allocated from the divisions. On April 10, units of the 4th Guards Army captured the central quarters of Vienna and threw back the opposing enemy over the Danube Canal.

This channel was a serious artificial obstacle. Its depth reached 3 m, and its width - 40-60 m. Vertical, granite-lined banks 6-7 m high made forcing extremely difficult. In addition, the German units destroyed all crossings during the withdrawal and raised the locks. In stone buildings along the canal, they equipped firing points and observation posts, which allowed them to control all approaches to the front line.

In order to fire at the enemy, it was necessary to undermine the walls of houses and install guns and mortars in the gaps made. Their low densities made it impossible to reliably suppress enemy firepower. The assault sapper groups, who crossed the canal using improvised means and set fire to buildings with bottles of combustible mixture, could not break his resistance either. And only the approach of the 1st Guards Mechanized Corps was able to make a change in the situation. Using the fire of tank guns, rifle units of the 4th Guards Army crossed the Danube Canal on the night of April 11 and began to move towards the railway bridge.

By 2 p.m. on April 13, that is, on the seventh day of the fighting, the troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front had completed the defeat of the Vienna garrison and completely captured the capital of Austria. Two days later, the 46th Army, the 23rd Tank and 2nd Guards Mechanized Corps of the 2nd Ukrainian Front, after crossing the northern bank of the river. Danube, went to the area northwest of the city. However, delays in crossing the river and in the course of the advance did not allow timely interception of the withdrawal routes of the enemy's Vienna grouping to the north. Therefore, part of her forces was able to avoid destruction and captivity.

As a result of the operation, the troops of the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts defeated the main forces of the German Army Group South, completely cleared the territory of Hungary from the enemy, liberated a significant part of Czechoslovakia and the eastern regions of Austria with its capital. They captured more than 130 thousand soldiers and officers, destroyed and captured over 1300 tanks and assault guns, more than 2250 field guns, a large number of another military equipment. At the same time, the losses of the two fronts amounted to 167,940 people, of which 38,661 were irretrievable, 603 tanks and self-propelled guns, 764 guns and mortars, 614 aircraft. For courage, heroism and high military skill shown during the Vienna operation, 50 formations and units were awarded the honorary title "Viennese". By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of June 9, 1945, the medal "For the Capture of Vienna" was established, which was awarded to more than 268 thousand Soviet soldiers.

Sergey Lipatov,
researcher at the Research Institute
(military history) Military Academy
General Staff of the RF Armed Forces

The medal "For the Capture of Vienna" is awarded to servicemen of the Red Army, the Navy and the NKVD troops who directly participated in the assault and clearing of the German invaders of the capital of Austria - Vienna in March - April 1945.

Description of the medal for the Capture of Vienna

Dimensions 32 mm.
Brass materials.
Artist Zvorykina.
To whom is awarded all participants in the assault and capture of the capital of Austria.
Grounds for awarding Participation in the storming of Vienna.

The price of the medal for the capture of Vienna

To date, prices for the medal For the Capture of Vienna start at 3,000 rubles.
Price updated as of 03/27/2020

Awarded with the medal "For the Capture of Vienna"

The medal was established by the Decree of the Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces on June 9, 1945. The same Decree approved the description of the medal and its Regulations. Total medal "For the Capture of Vienna" awarded approximately 278,000 people.

Medal for the Capture of Vienna in the award system of the USSR

"For the capture of Vienna" medal of the USSR

The medal for the capture of Vienna was established along with other medals for the capture of the largest European cities, its development was carried out in connection with the decree of the head of the rear of the Red Army Khrulev, from the many works the project of the artist Zvorykina won. The assault on the capital of Austria took place from 03/16/1945 to 04/13/1945. As a result of the Vienna operation, the Reich lost control over Austrian industry in the Vienna region, and also lost one of the last sources of oil in the Nagykanizsa region, which by and large practically paralyzed the German motorized troops. Particularly distinguished parts were called "Viennese". The medal bears the inscription "for the capture of VIENNA" under the inscription a laurel branch, and above it a five-pointed star, the reverse is also decorated with a five-pointed star and the date "APRIL 13, 1945".

Description of other awards of the Second World War of the USSR: Medal for the defense of Sevastopol for the defense of the city of the hero of Sevastopol and a medal for the victory over Japan in honor of final defeat last enemy in World War II.

Capture of Vienna

The capture of the capital of Austria - Vienna was one of the stages of the Vienna Offensive, the purpose of which was the final liberation of Hungary, the capture of the Nagykanizsa oil region and the Vienna industrial regions. The operation was carried out by the forces of the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian fronts, and involved the encirclement of the enemy in Vienna, and his destruction.

By the time of the offensive, the city was well prepared for a long-term defense, anti-tank ditches, anti-personnel and anti-tank barriers were dug in dangerous areas, firing points were equipped in all stone buildings in the city. To strengthen the defending group, the Hitlerite command created 4 separate regiments from the Vienna police, numbering about 6,000 people.

The first battles for the capture of Vienna broke out on April 5, 1945, but the fiercely defending German troops did not contribute to the rapid capture of the city. On April 7, 1945, the forces of the Ninth Guards Army, together with the Sixth Guards Tank Army of the USSR Armed Forces, overcame the mountain forest massif of the Vienna Woods, approaching Vienna from the west. As a result of fierce fighting, by April 10, the fascist group was tightly clamped on three sides, for the withdrawal of troops from the German command there was one surviving bridge - the "Imperial".

To capture the bridge, the command of the USSR army landed on April 11, 1945, but it did not succeed due to heavy enemy fire, and was forced to lie down, not reaching the bridge only 400 meters. In the current situation, the Soviet command decides on a simultaneous strike by all the forces fighting for Vienna, in addition, another landing force is landed in the area of ​​​​the Imperial Bridge, consisting of the 21st Infantry Regiment.

As a result of this strike, by lunchtime on April 13, 1945, the city was cleared of enemy troops, the Imperial Bridge was mined, but the blow of the USSR troops was so swift that the Germans did not have time to blow it up. In order to mark all the fighters who fought for the liberation of the Austrian capital, a Medal "For the Capture of Vienna" established on June 9, 1945.

Austria and Hungary are those countries that, although they seem very similar, differ from each other in many ways. This also applies to mentality. So, upon arrival in Hungary, the Red Army of the Secular Union was received extremely coldly, hostilely, while the Austrians were neutral and even loyal to the military.

There is still no common opinion about the preparation and conduct of the operation. This is due to the rivalry between Soviet ideology and Austrian neutrality, pro-fascist views and common sense. Nevertheless, the liberation of Vienna is an interesting, exciting and awe-inspiring topic before the might of soldiers and inextinguishable patriotism. Especially considering the fact that it was possible to liberate the Austrian capital not only very quickly, but also with minimal human losses.

Preparing for the operation

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

The main danger for them was that if the Soviet troops were to gain a foothold on the new frontier, the capture of Hungary could be forgotten for a long time. And if this country is lost, Austria too will soon be under the control of the Russians.

At this time, the fighters of the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian fronts face 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 to inflict a crushing blow on the enemy and by April 15th reach the Tulln, St. Polten, Neu-Lengbach line.

offensive resources

Since not only the command, but also ordinary soldiers had high hopes for the liberation of Vienna, 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 receipt of new copies, but also thanks to the soldiers who restored weapons as far as possible.

At the time when the operation to liberate Vienna began, in the arsenal of the 3rd Ukrainian Front were:

• 18 rifle divisions;
• about two hundred tanks and self-propelled guns (self-propelled artillery mounts);
• almost 4,000 guns and mortars.

Overall assessment of the operation

As already mentioned, we cannot unambiguously speak about the ease or complexity of actions. On the one hand, the liberation of Vienna in 1945 is one of the fastest and most spectacular operations. On the other hand, these are significant human and material losses. It is possible to say that the capture of the capital of Austria was simple, only with a discount to the fact that most of the 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 already had successful capture schemes.

We should not forget about the special high spirits of our soldiers, which also played a 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 each step forward is a direction to a quick return home lifted my spirits.

Tasks before the onset

The liberation of Vienna, in fact, dates back to February, when the option of cleaning up Hungary and then expelling the Nazis from Vienna began to be developed. The exact plan was ready by the middle of March, and already on the 26th of the same month, the Soviet offensive grouping (Russian and Romanian soldiers) was tasked with 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, the enemy was forced out across the Nitra River.

Red Army forces

The gradual advance continued until April 5 (it was on this day that the liberation of Vienna by Soviet troops began). At 7:00 a.m. that 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, the Soviet-Romanian troops 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, battles were fought on this front local importance, which prevented a relatively calm crossing to the other side. Already on April 9, the forcing 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 connect with separate units of the 4th Guards Airborne Division a little later.

10 T-34 tanks, 5 Romanian self-propelled guns and 15 tanks were also transferred here.

Forces for the defense of the capital of Austria

A rather powerful German group opposed. Thus, the liberation of Vienna in 1945 would have been possible subject to victory over:

• 8 tank and 1 infantry divisions;
• 15 infantry battalions for the Volkssturm (foot attack);
• the entire staff of the capital's military school;
• police, from which 4 regiments were created (this is over 6,000 people).

In addition, do 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 impassable Danube, and the Germans fortified the south with anti-tank ditches, various pillboxes, trenches, and bunkers.

Vienna itself was literally crammed with weapons hidden in the ruins, the streets were blocked by barricades, and ancient buildings served as a kind of bastions.

Capture plan

Objectively assessing the situation and realizing that the liberation of Vienna by the Soviet troops will not be the easiest, F. I. Tolbukhin plans to direct strikes from 3 sides, thereby creating panic among the command due to surprise. The three attack wings were to look like this:

1. The 4th Guards Army, together with the 1st Guards Corps, fought in the southeast.
2. The southwestern side would be attacked by the 6th Guards Army along with the 18th TC.
3. West like the only way withdrawal, cut off 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 to the values ​​of the city: it was planned to minimize the destruction in the capital.

The plan was approved immediately. The capture of the position and the clearing of the city would have taken place at lightning speed, if not for the strongest resistance.

First half of the attack

On the 5th, the operation began, which lasted until April 13th. Nevertheless, the liberation of Vienna ended relatively quickly and without catastrophic human losses, but such battles cannot be called a walk either.

The first day did not bring success to the Red Army due to fierce resistance German forces. Even despite the active offensive of the Soviet troops, the progress remained miserable. The Nazis understood that they had nowhere to run and fought to the last.

April 6th was marked by fierce fighting near the city, on its outskirts. On this day Soviet army managed to walk more, and by evening even reach the western and southern outskirts, then find themselves in the Viennese suburbs.

The other wing made a detour along the Alps and went to the western approaches, and then to the Danube.

Such actions led to the fact that the enemy group was surrounded.

city ​​capture

The liberation of Vienna from the Nazis enters an active phase already from the evening of April 7, when the right wing of the 3rd UV captures Pressbaum and moves on in three directions: west, east and north.

From the 9th, the most bloody part of the capture begins. The Germans are especially resisting near the Imperial Bridge, since its capture would mean complete encirclement. The end of the fifth day of the operation was marked by the success of the Red Army - the aggressor grouping was in the ring, although the central units were still trying to fight and counteract.

On April 11, the crossing of the Danube Canal begins, as well as the last battles, the liberation of Vienna from the Nazis is coming to an end.

To make it easier to deal with the enemy, the German garrison was divided into four parts, and then neutralized.

The cleansing of the city begins, which continues until lunch on April 13th. It is on this date that the Liberation Day of Vienna is celebrated.

Relationship with the locals and the city

The command of the Soviet Army showed respect for the history and culture of the Austrian capital. Confirmation of this is the appeal to the call to help the Red Army. The essence of such help was that the townspeople were simply asked not to leave their houses, preventing the Germans from destroying buildings and destroying monuments. Such words were accepted with a bang.

In fact, it was a tactical move, the essence of which is: if you want to be helped, save a person a thing dear to the heart. After such a statement, the initially neutral attitude of the Austrians changes into better side, and therefore active cooperation begins.

The victory in this city became symbolic, because the first country captured by the Nazis was Austria. Throughout the war, this event was the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany.

Union victory

The first thing worth noting, speaking of the results, is the destruction of a large Wehrmacht grouping, but, in addition, it cannot be said that Hungary was completely liberated in the course of preparations for the operation, which was facilitated by the fighters of the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian fronts. Each participant received a medal for the liberation of Vienna.

Then the eastern regions of the country and the capital were occupied.

The path to Prague was also opened, which made it possible to move on as quickly as possible.

The cultural and historical heritage of one of the most picturesque capitals of Europe has been preserved, and the restoration of Vienna has begun.

The Austrian people were literally impoverished after robbery, bombing and destruction, therefore, in the same 1945, a firm decision was made to provide food assistance to the population.

Losses for Nazi Germany

As for the losses for Berlin, this is the loss of control over the largest industrial center - the Vienna industrial region, as well as the battle for the Nagykanizsa oil field. Without it, nearby fuel plants were left without raw materials. Thus, German equipment lost its mobility, and the command was forced to withdraw it deep into the conquered territories, which allowed the Soviet troops to move forward quickly. Resistance was provided only by infantry formations, which could not give a serious rebuff to the enemy, being under artillery fire.

There is a direct threat of the defeat of Germany, and, as a result, the surrender of the Nazi troops.

The behavior of the German command was deprived. The soldiers showed themselves as a crowd of barbarians and vandals who destroyed the most beautiful and largest cathedrals of the city, and also tried to blow up maximum amount monuments. And leaving the city, they mined the Imperial Bridge.

Memory and celebration

Since 1945, Vienna has been celebrating the Day of the Liberation of the city from the German invaders on April 13 every year. On one of the streets, the Museum of the Liberation of Vienna was established.

And on the day when the enemies left the city, 24 volleys from three hundred guns were fired in Moscow. After a while, it was decided to establish a new award for the participants in these events - the medal "For the Liberation of Vienna".

Today, in addition to the museum, these fierce battles are reminiscent of the monument to the fallen soldiers on Schwarzenbergplatz, which was installed in the same 1945 at the very beginning of the restoration of the city and the whole country. It is made in the form of an evenly standing fighter. In one hand, the soldier holds a banner, the other he put on the shield in the form of some details, modern masters painted yellow.

To commemorate this victory, 50 combat formations that distinguished themselves in the battle for Vienna were given the honorary name "Vienna".