Battles for Lake Balaton 1945. “Spring Awakening”

Balaton operation

Berlin direction and ease the pressure on Breslau.
To achieve these goals, the enemy decided to launch a counteroffensive in the Budapest direction, entrusting this task to the 6th SS Panzer Army, urgently transferred from the Western European theater.
The German counteroffensive plan was to launch three attacks simultaneously. The main blow in the direction between lakes Velence and Balaton The 6th SS Panzer Army, consisting of five tank, two infantry and two cavalry divisions, as well as the 3rd Panzer Corps of the 6th Army, consisting of two tank and one infantry divisions, attacked the Danube. The Nazi command concentrated here up to 1,600 tanks and assault guns, more than 1,600 guns of various calibers.
The auxiliary attack was carried out by the 2nd Tank Army with seven infantry divisions, reinforced by a significant number of assault and anti-tank guns in the area between Lake Balaton and the Drava River in the direction of Nagybajom - Kaposvár.
The third blow by part of the forces of the German group “F” of General Weichs was delivered from the southern bank of the Drava River in the general direction of Pecs.
Nazi units, especially units of the 6th SS Panzer Army, received reinforcements and were equipped with tanks and self-propelled guns
. A large tank group was concentrated in the direction of the main attack by the enemy, with a density of up to 76 tanks per kilometer of front.

In the second half of February 1945, Soviet intelligence established the concentration of a large German tank group in the western part of Hungary. Soon information was received about the enemy's plans. Having revealed the intentions of the German command, the Supreme High Command Headquarters set the task for the troops of the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts to conduct a defensive operation and defeat a group of enemy troops in the area of ​​Lake Balaton.
The 3rd Ukrainian Front began to prepare for defense. Using the experience of the Battle of Kursk, a deep-in-depth anti-tank defense was created in the direction of the intended main attack. Under the leadership of the chief of the front engineering troops, L. Z. Kotlyar, a large amount of defensive work was carried out to provide sheltered accommodation for people and equipment, equip roads to allow reserves to maneuver, and mine dangerous areas. Particular attention was paid to the fight against enemy tanks. For this purpose, 66 anti-tank areas were created in the 83-kilometer section from Gant to Lake Balaton and 65% of all front artillery was concentrated. In the most dangerous directions, the artillery density reached 60-70 guns and mortars per kilometer of front. The depth of defense in some areas reached 25-30 km.
The success of defensive actions largely depended on the timely delivery of ammunition and fuel to the troops. Therefore, when preparing the operation, much attention was paid to its logistics. Since front-line warehouses were located on the eastern bank of the Danube, and river crossings were disrupted by the actions of German aviation and spring ice drift, additional cable cars and a gas pipeline were built across the Danube for uninterrupted supply of the defending troops.

German self-propelled gun Ferdinand.

The German offensive began on the night of March 6 with attacks on the troops of the 1st Bulgarian and 3rd Yugoslav armies. German troops managed to cross the Drava River and capture two bridgeheads, each up to 8 km deep along the front and up to 5 km in depth. To strengthen the defense in this sector, the 133rd Rifle Corps under the command of Major General P. A. Artyushchenko and a division of guards mortars were advanced from the front reserve. The soldiers of the 1st Bulgarian Army, fighting shoulder to shoulder with Soviet soldiers, showed exceptional courage, perseverance and endurance.
In the zone of the 57th Army, the enemy launched an attack with the forces of the 2nd Tank Army in the direction of Nagybajom and Kaposvár. At the cost of enormous losses, the enemy managed to penetrate our defenses on a narrow section of the front.
However, Army Commander M.N. Sharokhin brought in the second echelon of the army and counterattacked the enemy from the flanks with the support of massive artillery fire. Further advance of Nazi troops in this direction was also stopped. The enemy command’s calculations that an offensive in the south would be able to divert our attention and weaken the defenses in the inter-lake region were a complete failure.

The enemy struck the third, main blow between lakes Velence and Lake Balaton at 8:40 am. After a 30-minute artillery preparation, the 6th SS Panzer Army went on the offensive. From the very first minutes the defensive battle acquired the character of extreme ferocity. By the end of the day, enemy troops managed to advance to a depth of 4 km and capture the Sheregeyesh stronghold. To eliminate the breakthrough, the 18th Tank Corps was moved to this area.
The next morning, German attacks resumed with renewed vigor. In the zone of the 26th Army, with the support of aviation, about 200 tanks and assault guns advanced. Continuously maneuvering along the front, the German command persistently looked for weak points in the defense of the Soviet troops. The Soviet command, in turn, promptly transferred anti-tank reserves to threatened areas.

In the following days, trying to achieve success, the German command used massive tank attacks, in which 100 or more heavy tanks took part in 1-1.5 km sections. The fighting did not subside around the clock. Counting on the low effectiveness of Soviet artillery in the dark, the Germans continued to attack at night, using night vision devices. As a result of fierce fighting, in five days of offensive, German troops managed to break through the main and second lines of defense. However, this did not ensure their success, since the rear army and front lines of defense still lay in front of them.
On March 10, the Germans threw their last reserves into battle. There were already 450 enemy tanks and assault guns operating between lakes Velence and Lake Balaton. On this day the enemy fought with particular ferocity. It was on March 10, as the prisoners showed, that fascist German troops, at Hitler’s request, were supposed to reach the Danube and decide the fate of the entire battle.
From March 6 to 15, the enemy lost up to 45 thousand soldiers and officers, about 500 tanks and assault guns, up to 300 guns and mortars, about 500 armored personnel carriers and over 50 aircraft. The losses suffered forced the Germans to stop attacks. And they had nothing to attack with. Thus ended the last offensive ingloriously

By the beginning of the new year 1945, the troops of the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts under the command of Marshals Malinovsky and Tolbukhin, having broken through the Margarita line (position along the line of Lake Balaton - Székesfehérvár - Lake Velence - Budapest), completed the operation to encircle the Budapest group German troops. Taking advantage of the frosts that shackled the ground, the Soviet mobile units of the 4th Guards. The armies of General Zakharov (3rd UV) made a deep breakthrough, reaching the shore of the lake. Velence, and captured the city of Szekesfehervar. Units of the 57th (General Sharokhin) and 27th (General Trofimsnko) armies operating to the south reached the lake. Balaton and further to the Drava River.

"Jagdpanther", destroyed by an internal explosion, presumably from a heavy shell.

This Jagdpanther was destroyed by an internal explosion, possibly after the direct hit of a heavy shell.

The crew of the Hetzer self-propelled gun abandoned their vehicle after both tracks were destroyed by artillery fire.

The crew of this Hetzer left the vehicle when both tracks were broken.

The hits of 45- and 57-mm shells caused an explosion of the ammunition of the Hummel self-propelled gun.

Hits of 45mm and 57mm shells caused the ammunition explosion in this Hummel.

Self-propelled gun "Vespe", abandoned by the crew in good condition.

This Wespe SP gun was abandoned in good working order.

The German command attempted to release the group encircled in Budapest and, on January 2–18, launched three consecutive counterattacks against the troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front.

By this time, Soviet troops in most sectors of the front were on the move and only in some areas began to go on the defensive. The situation was especially difficult in the 4th Guards. army, which was the first to be attacked by the Germans. This was aggravated by the fact that during the previous offensive the army suffered heavy losses of personnel and equipment and, nevertheless, was focused on further offensive actions in the direction of Mor. The artillery units of the army had only 55–69% of the required amount of materiel, and for motorized means even less - 41–49%.

According to front intelligence, the army expected the activation of German tank units on January 3–5, 1945, but the direction of their main attack was determined incorrectly - in the zone of the 20th Infantry Division. Under these conditions, the 4th Guards. the army was supplemented by two anti-tank brigades (IPTABr) and two anti-tank regiments (IPTAP), a total of 8 regiments, and in the expected directions of German counterattacks, it basically completed the creation of 39 anti-tank strong points (PTOP), which included 524 guns caliber 45–122 mm. However, since the front command did not expect the Germans to use large forces in this area, the depth of the defensive lines of the 4th Guards. The army was small and, in the event of a threat of a breakthrough, could be strengthened by front-line reserves and the transfer of artillery from non-dangerous sectors of the front. However, the use of attached anti-tank regiments during the formation of the PTOP was not effective enough, since they were “torn apart” battery by battery (and in some cases, by gun).

As already noted, the direction of the German main attack was determined incorrectly by the command, and therefore the anti-tank defense in the 31st Guards zone. The rifle corps, in the sector of which the Germans delivered the main blow, turned out to be extremely weak. Among the 217 guns of 45–122 mm caliber available in the corps, which occupied a front of 42 km, there were absolutely no 57 mm ZIS-2, 85 mm anti-aircraft and self-propelled guns, as well as 100–152 mm self-propelled guns. The average artillery density in the corps' defense sector was 4.7 guns per kilometer of front, while on average along the front this density was almost twice as high.

German troops struck the first blow on the night of January 2, 1945 in the Dunalmash-Bankhida sector. The IV SS Panzer Corps under the command of SS-Obergruppenführer Gille went on the offensive with the support of units of the 6th Army of General Balck. The counterattack on the Soviet troops involved up to 7 incomplete tank divisions and two motorized divisions, including the 3rd SS Totenkopf TD and the 5th SS Viking TD. 2nd Hungarian TD, as well as the 503rd and 509th battalions of the Tiger and Tiger B tanks (as stated in the army report). The group quickly broke through the front of the 31st Guards Rifle Corps and, bypassing most of the PTOP, advanced into the defense of the 4th Guards Army by 27–31 km ( Rice. 1).

Here the division artillerymen bore the brunt of the fight against the advancing German troops on their shoulders. Having come under powerful attacks from German tanks, the infantry units of the corps, which were on the march and resting, retreated in disarray, creating a crisis situation for the entire direction. Left without infantry cover, and also finding themselves in partial or complete encirclement, most of the PTOP nevertheless fought for 1–3 days in conditions of an almost complete absence of air cover, supply of ammunition and food. By the end of 3 days of continuous fighting, surrounded by artillery of the 31st Guards. The rifle corps lost more than 70% of its equipment and 46–66% of personnel, but many surrounded units went to the location of their troops, taking out and rolling out serviceable guns in their hands.

A fierce struggle also unfolded over the battlefield. The attacks of the German tank groups were supported by the aircraft of the 4th Luftwaffe Air Fleet. The Soviet 17th Air Army (General Sudets), having superiority in the skies over Balaton, concentrated its efforts on fighting enemy tank wedges, while also striking at enemy airfields (671 sorties versus 450 for the Germans on January 2) .

With the entry of German troops into the Tat region, a real threat of their breakthrough to Budapest was created. Oppose them with the 4th Guards. the army was no longer able to accomplish anything. Therefore, the 46th Army of the inner ring of the encirclement of Budapest threw its anti-tank reserve - the 12th IPTABr - against the German group. On January 4, the brigade entered into battle with the advanced units of the German group. Here the situation with infantry cover was repeated again, when after the first attacks by German and Hungarian tanks, units of the 86th Infantry Division abandoned the artillerymen and retreated in disorder. Left alone, the 1255th IPTAP was forced to fight back for three hours with all available firepower, being semi-surrounded. Having used up all the ammunition, the regiment retreated, losing 14 guns, 4 vehicles, 12 tractors and 45 people killed and wounded. The other two regiments of the brigade fought successful defensive battles, but could not be used to close the gap at Tat.

However, the gained time was used to transfer reserves to threatened areas in order to cover the roads to Budapest. Thus, east of Tokod, the command of the 46th Army concentrated two cannon regiments, a howitzer, a mortar and a regiment of guards mortars, as well as a combined battalion of tanks. Particularly strong reserves, including those transferred from the 2nd Ukrainian Front, were concentrated in the Zhambek - Bichke sector. As a result of numerous regroupings, by January 5, 31 artillery regiments of the RVGK (including 13 IPTAP and 2 LAP), 8 artillery divisions and up to 8 regiments of heavy and guards mortars were concentrated in the offensive zone of the German group. All serviceable tanks of the 1st Guards were also transferred to the second line of defense. mechanized corps of General Russiyanov, 18th Tank Corps of General Govorunenko and 5th Guards. Cavalry Corps of General Gorshkov. In total, 1,305 guns and large-caliber mortars were concentrated here, as well as about 210 tanks (of which more than 70 were M4 General Sherman medium tanks) and light self-propelled guns (SU-76).

Long-range artillery is ready to open fire. At the 152 mm position is an ML-20 howitzer gun. March 1945

Soviet heavy artillery is ready to fire. AML-20 152mm gun at a firing position. March 1945.

A damaged Tiger in winter camouflage.

A destroyed Tiger I in winter camouflage.

"Tiger B", thrown into the city, Sharashd.

A Tiger II abandoned in Sharashd.

The crew of the SU-76 self-propelled gun loads ammunition.

All roads were blocked by batteries of heavy and anti-aircraft artillery, capable of penetrating the frontal armor of German tanks, and 76-mm divisional and 57-mm anti-tank guns were buried on the flanks of positions facing the enemy, intended for sudden fire on the sides of advancing columns from short distances . Thanks to this concentration of forces, the German offensive was stopped by the evening of January 5. After the battles, the captured team of the 4th Guards. The army discovered and recorded the presence of burnt and destroyed 5 Tiff B tanks, 2 Tiger tanks, 7 Panther tanks, 19 PzKpfw IV tanks, 6 PzKpfw III tanks, 5 self-propelled guns (75-mm Ferdinand in the report) ) and 19 armored personnel carriers and armored vehicles. In addition, several piles of scrap metal made it impossible to identify the type of former combat vehicle. In total, according to reports from Soviet artillerymen, during the battles of January 2–5, about 120 tanks and self-propelled guns and up to 100 armored personnel carriers and armored vehicles were knocked out and destroyed, about 30% of which could not be restored.

Having failed to achieve success in the zone of the 31st Guards. page of the corps, the command of the German troops tried to make a breakthrough to Budapest through the positions of the 20th Guards. Rifle Corps of General Biryukov. Two full-blooded German tank divisions were concentrated here, as well as parts of two heavy tank battalions, the 2nd Hungarian tank division and several tank battalions and assault gun brigades taken from the reserve. On the morning of January 7, the lead group of 110 tanks launched an attack on the advanced units of the 5th Guards. airborne division of the 20th Guards. rifle corps, trying to break into Zamol. Despite the fact that the corps’ defense was well equipped with artillery (including anti-tank and heavy), with the start of the fighting, two additional cannon regiments were transferred to cover the Zamol-Chakvar road. In addition, units of the 7th MK and 1st Guards were brought into battle. mk.

The competent and massive use of artillery and tanks by the defenders, which were used as fixed firing points, forced the attacking group to go on the defensive by the end of the day. In one day of battle, 38 tanks and assault guns were destroyed in this area. The result was only the abandonment of Zamol and the withdrawal of the 20th Guards. rifle corps 4–5 km in the area north of Székesfehérvár.

On January 12–13, Soviet intelligence noticed the withdrawal of large tank columns from the Esztergom and Bichke area to the west. The prisoners confirmed receipt of the order to withdraw troops to strengthen the Western Front and Army Group Center. This seemed logical, but was only a demonstration designed to hide the regrouping of forces before the third decisive attempt to relieve Budapest.

K. On January 17, in the area between Lake Balaton and the Bakonsky forest, the Germans managed to concentrate five tank divisions, albeit incomplete. The grouping had as its goal a breakthrough of the front of the 4th Guards. army between the lakes, after which it was supposed to reach Budapest from the south. It should be noted that this offensive had a great chance of success, since the attack again fell on the positions of the 4th Guards. an army that had suffered heavy losses during previous operations and had smaller reserves of anti-tank artillery and tanks.

On the morning of January 18, the German group knocked down the weak barriers of the 135th Rifle Corps and launched an offensive, covering the city of Székesfehérvár from the south and north. As soon as the direction of the main attack of the German group became clear, the command of the 4th Guards. The army began to transfer artillery reserves and units from unattacked areas to the threatened areas. Often the deployed batteries had to engage in battle directly from the march, turning around under fire from German tanks. Most of these batteries were crushed by the tracks of German tanks and assault guns, but for some time they stopped the German advance in the Charviz Canal area. By the end of January 18, the infantry units of the 135th Corps had completely retreated beyond the Charviz Canal, leaving only the artillerymen on the opposite bank, fighting in complete encirclement.

Aviation of the 17th Air Army, despite the difficulties associated with bad weather, whenever possible, impeded the advance of German troops. She stormed columns and concentrations of enemy military equipment and covered the maneuvers of her troops. During the first day of the German offensive, 718 sorties were flown, while, in addition to attacks on the ground forces of enemy troops, up to 50 enemy aircraft were destroyed at airfields and in the air.

It is interesting to note that starting from January 10–12, German troops began to widely practice offensive operations at night, demonstrating their excellent preparation for this type of combat. This was unexpected for the Soviet troops, and therefore at first nothing was done to make it easier to repel night attacks. At night, the Germans operated in extremely small units (1–3 tanks or self-propelled guns), supporting them with cars, armored personnel carriers or tractors with their headlights on, in order to create the illusion of a large tank unit among the defenders. In some cases, at dusk, they used dummy tanks with headlights mounted on them to call artillery fire on them.

For several days, Soviet tank crews could not understand the reason for the effectiveness of enemy fire in complete darkness. But on January 18–19, in the defense zone of the 18th Tank Regiment, a knocked out German self-propelled gun with a night sight installed on it was captured. After this, some units began to prepare fires in the directions of a likely night attack, which the scouts were supposed to light when they heard approaching enemy vehicles. This practice has justified itself and has been recommended everywhere.

On January 19, the Germans tried to cross the Charviz Canal, and in the Shoponya area they succeeded. To cover the direction to Aba, the command of the 3rd Ukrainian Front advanced from the reserve the 133rd Rifle Corps with two IPTAPs, as well as the 18th Tank Corps, supported by the SU-76 regiment. These formations, without preparation, entered into battle with advancing German tanks. As a result of insufficiently competent command, this group found itself surrounded by the end of the day, and German troops reached the Danube. However, on January 21, with a blow to the south, parts of the two encircled corps were able to break through the German ring and reach the location of the 57th Army. The exit, as always, was covered by the artillerymen of the divisional artillery and IPTAP, who, due to the lack of “draft force” taken for the needs of the retreating infantry, fired until the last shell, after which they undermined the materiel and broke through to their own as best they could. The 18th Tank Corps lost up to half of its tanks in these battles, and a significant part of them was abandoned due to the lack of fuel and tractors to evacuate damaged vehicles.

Damaged flamethrower tank Pz Kpfw III (Flamm).

A destroyed PzKpfw III (Flamm).

Destroyed by a heavy PzKpfw III (Flamm) shell.

This PzKpfw III (Flamm) was destroyed by a heavy shell hit.

A German collection point for emergency vehicles captured on the banks of the Charviz Canal.

A German repairing station captured on the bank of the Sharviz channel.

A captured Ausf D Panther used by Soviet forces. The antenna of an installed Soviet radio station is visible in the front of the case. The original coloring of the skating rinks is of interest.

This Panther Ausf D was used by Soviet troops. The antenna of a Soviet radio station can be seen. Note the unusual color of the road wheels.

A damaged Ausf G Panther whose hull burst as a result of a fire.

The hull of this fully destroyed Panther Ausf G cracked due to the heat of the fire.

Abandoned during the retreat of a late modified Bergspanther.

This late version Bergepanther was abandoned by retreating troops.

Broken tank destroyer Pz IV/70 (V).

A destroyed Pz IV/ 70 (V).

"Panther" Ausf G, abandoned by the Germans due to a malfunction. Please note the use of a non-standard roller.

An abandoned Panther Ausf G. Note the non-standard road wheel.

T-34/76 tanks of the 181st Tank Brigade on the attack.

Tanks T-34/76 of 181st tank brigade attacking the enemy.

A damaged German self-propelled gun Panzer IV/70 (V) is on fire.

A German Pz IV/70 (V) in flames.

Panzer IV/70 (V) self-propelled gun abandoned in the mud. It's a rare case that a car still has side screens.

An abandoned Panzer IV/70 (V). All protective screens a good order.

PzKpfw IV Ausf H, shot by Soviet artillery.

A PzKpfw IV Ausf H des by Soviet artillery.

Heavy tanks "IS" on the approach to Szekesfehervar, March 1945.

US heavy tanks approaching Sekeshfekhervar, March 1945.

A broken German tank of forward artillery observers with a torn-off gun model.

This destroyed PzBeobWg III has lost its dummy gun.

Captured in good working order and strangely painted with white paint, "Tiger B".

A Tiger II captured in working order and overpainted in white.

Self-propelled gun Stug 40 Ausf G, which exploded as a result of being hit by an anti-tank shell. The crew used the thirty-four tracks as additional protection.

This StuG 40 Ausf G blew up after an AP shell hit. The crew have used T-34 track links to additional protection.

A pile of charred scrap metal remaining from a PzKpfw IV Ausf H.

A heap of burned iron - the I remains of a PzKpfw IV Ausf H.

Early production PzKpfw IV Ausf J, fitted with tracks for additional protection.

This early production PzKpfw IV Ausf J carries an unusual shield of track links.

The reserves of the 27th Army are sent to the front line, March 1945 (Photo from the authors’ collection).

The reserves are moving to the front. 27 Army, March 1945.

Tiger B hit by a mine and abandoned by its crew.

This Tiger II was damaged by a mine and abandoned dy the crew.

Tiger B hit by artillery.

A Tiger II destroyed by artillery.

"Jagdpanther" in winter camouflage, abandoned by the crew.

An abandoned Jagdpanther painted in white.

With the entry of German troops to the Danube, an extremely difficult situation developed for the 3rd Ukrainian Front. The front was cut in two, and the planned attack by German troops in the Budapest area created a threat of encirclement for our troops in the Székesfehérvár area. Maneuver by parts of the northern section of the front to the southern was excluded, since the activation of German troops was also noticed here. Moreover, ice drift began on the Danube, destroying all bridges and ferry crossings, making it difficult to transport food and ammunition. Only the cable cars built by sappers served to supply troops on the right bank of the Danube. However, this ice drift prevented the German group from immediately crossing the river and seizing bridgeheads on its left bank.

To avoid the German advance to the south, the troops of the 57th Army were regrouped and deployed to the north. At the same time, between the lake. Maintaining and r. The Danube hastily deployed the 5th Guards. Cavalry Corps and units of the 1st Guards. mechanized corps are the last unused reserves of the front. 13 artillery and mortar regiments (counting three divisions as a regiment), collected from all sectors of the 3rd and 2nd Ukrainian Fronts, also rushed here. Two brigades of the 1st Guards. The mechanized corps, armed with M4 Sherman tanks, immediately entered the battle, but suffered heavy losses (up to 70%), despite the fact that they fired mainly from ambushes. The situation with them was complicated by the fact that the Shermans were unable to maneuver in conditions of intermittent frosts and mud thaws. By the end of January 21, part of the 1st Guards was transferred to this area. The mechanized corps essentially turned into an understaffed IPTAP, which was also left with almost no ammunition. The situation was to some extent saved by the SU-100 regiment transferred to this area, whose active actions prevented the defeat of the last units of the 1st Guards. mechanized corps.

A column of PzKpfw IV tanks shot by artillerymen from an ambush. In the background is a Dodge WC-51 of the Soviet captured team (Photo by AFOT).

A column of PzKpfw IV tanks destroyed during an ambush The Dodge WC-51 of a Sovie trophy team is seen in the background.

Cavalrymen of the 5th Guards. The nearby cavalry corps constantly maneuvered and skillfully defended their positions, acting in close connection with suitable artillerymen. Despite numerous attempts by German tanks to break through the positions of the 5th Guards. cavalry corps, they failed. A group of 15 heavy tanks tried to bypass the main centers of resistance of the cavalrymen and attack them from the rear, but, having traveled 4 km to the rear of the defenders, they were blocked and then completely destroyed by an approaching engineering assault brigade with the support of a howitzer battalion and two batteries of the SU-76 regiment 5 -th Guards cavalry corps. In this battle, the crew of the SU-76 under the command of junior lieutenant Trushin especially distinguished himself, destroying two Panther tanks and damaging one. As a result of skillful defensive battles of the 5th Guards. cavalry corps and approaching artillery units, the advance of German troops between the lake. Velence and the Danube were significantly slowed down.

On the night of January 22, the Germans made a new attempt to unblock Budapest. To do this, they launched several attacks in converging directions, the target of which was the outskirts of Budapest. The direction of their main attack lay through Székesfehérvár. However, now the German mobile groups were moving not from the north-west, where Soviet troops had stable anti-tank defense, but from the south-east. This allowed them to knock down infantry barriers on the outskirts of the city and break through to the central part of Székesfehérvár. Here their tanks were partially knocked out and partially set on fire, but the infantry infiltrated to the northern outskirts, threatening to encircle all Soviet units located in the northern part of the city. To avoid this, the front command ordered the withdrawal of units from the city to the Chal area. The 338th IP-TAP, two combined infantry battalions and a combined company of captured tanks were left to cover the withdrawal of troops. However, it turned out that part of the battered infantry units and convoys of the 4th Guards. The army got lost and stuck to the rearguard, which had to not only cover the retreat of the main units, but also make a way for the convoys. Reflecting flank attacks by the Germans, the regiment set fire to one tank and one armored personnel carrier during the retreat, losing four guns and three tractors during the retreat. Parts of the combined company of captured tanks were abandoned within the city after the battle due to lack of fuel.

By the end of January 22, Soviet troops left Szekesfehervar and retreated to the Zamol - Chala - Lake line. Decree. Due to the deterioration of the situation in the lake area. Balaton in the zone of the 3rd Ukrainian Front. Headquarters on January 21 entrusted the coordination of the actions of the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts to Marshal Timoshenko (freeing him from coordinating the actions of the 4th UV). With his assistance, part of the aviation of the 5th Air Army (General Goryunov) of the 2nd Ukrainian Front was switched to support units of the 3rd Ukrainian Front repelling the counterattack of German troops. The joint efforts of the 17th and 5th Air Armies carried out 1,034 sorties to strike the enemy. Despite the increased activity of Soviet aviation, on January 23 the Germans began to attack the Zamol-Lake line. Decree, trying in small groups of infantry and tanks to find ways to bypass artillery positions in the area of ​​​​the station. Chala, where the batteries of the 338th IPTAP deployed here. At approximately 10 a.m., two groups of German machine gunners (50–60 people each), with the support of 4 tanks, managed to break through to the rear of the positions of the 338th IPTAP. At the same time, the infantry cover, which consisted of scattered units that had retreated here from Székesfehérvár, fearing a new encirclement, hastily withdrew and, in panic, crossed the canal located in the near rear. During the panic, the bridges across the canal were blown up by our sappers, and therefore the artillerymen retreating from the battle were doomed. Nevertheless, thanks to the help of a self-propelled gun that came from nowhere, in which several sappers drove up, one of the walkways was partially repaired, and the self-propelled guns towed three guns and nine tractors to their shore. The Germans' attempts to cross the canal at 16:00 were stopped by the 762nd IPTAP that arrived here.

At the same time, German troops again began attacks between the lake. Velence and R. Danube in a northern direction. They brought about 100 tanks into battle and up to an infantry division. Over the course of two days, this group was able to advance 3–4 km in the direction of Barachka, but was stopped and turned to the northwest.

Top photo - Ausf G Panther shot down in the stern.

This Panther Ausf G was the rear.

Bottom photo - Destroyed "Panther" Ausf G.

A destroyed Panther Ausf G.

In order to force the Soviet command to withdraw part of their forces from the directions of the main attack, on January 25, the Germans organized a tank attack from the Zamol area to Miklos. At 9 am, two groups of German tanks such as “Panther” (12 tanks) and “Tiger B” (10 tanks) advanced respectively to the southern and northern outskirts of Zamol. On the eastern outskirts, battalion-sized infantry accumulated in armored personnel carriers and half-tracks, and self-propelled guns were concentrated behind the village. At 9:20, this group began an attack on Soviet troops, the basis of which was the 1172nd IPTAP. The regiment commander decided to lure the German tanks into a fire bag, and this attempt was a success. Having lost 16 guns broken and damaged in 6 hours of continuous battle, as well as 39 people killed and 47 wounded, the regiment destroyed 10 Panther and Tiger B tanks, and also knocked out 6 self-propelled guns and three medium tanks. There were 119 corpses of German soldiers left on the battlefield.

January 26 fighting between the lake. Velence and R. The Danube reached a crisis, since the success of the German offensive in the direction of Val could lead to a breakthrough of German tanks bypassing the accumulated Soviet reserves along the Danube River and would open the way for them to Budapest. However, as soon as the breakthrough of two German infantry regiments with the support of 60 tanks in the Kapolnash-Barachka area became a reality, the front command advanced the 104th Rifle and 23rd Tank Corps to Val Vertesacha, reinforced by the SU-100 regiment, as well as the 1501- m and 184th IPTAP and 1669th SAP (SU-76). These troops were able to quickly and secretly occupy their assigned positions and met the advancing German column with sudden fire. During the ensuing battles, the group that broke through suffered heavy losses and was stopped ( Rice. 2).

Rice. 2. Diagram of the artillery grouping of the 4th Guards Army in the area of ​​the lake. Velence - r. Danube 26 January 1945

Fig. 2. The scheme of 4 Guards Army artillery disposition in the lake Velentse - Dunai river region, 26 January 1945.

On January 27, when the advanced units of the German troops were only 29–26 km from Budapest and they were regrouping to make the final push to their goal, fresh forces of the 3rd Ukrainian Front began an offensive from the south from the Dunapentele and Nagy areas. This offensive led to the fact that the communications of the German group, rushing to Budapest, were cut. The German offensive was stopped, and their troops began another regrouping, turning the front to the south. But the Soviet reserves brought up to the Budapest direction also went on the offensive and, breaking through the barriers, hit the German military columns on the march. Despite the difficult situation in which the German and Hungarian troops found themselves, they retreated slowly, constantly counterattacking, and after three days of fighting they stopped at the line of Lake. Velence - lake Balaton.

During the January defensive battles in the lake area. Balaton, the Soviet divisional, anti-tank and self-propelled artillery was actually able to stop the German counterattacks on its own, inflicting heavy losses on the attackers in material and manpower. The actions of the artillery units earned the highest praise from the front command.

The use of tanks by the defenders was not of a massive nature and consisted mainly in their use as mobile armored firing points for firing from ambushes and shelters, but sometimes also for counterattacks of groups that had broken through. However, during the analysis of the battles, it was noted that the commanders of the tank units poorly linked their actions with the actions of the artillery and infantry units. So, during the battles in the Zamol area, tanks of the 1st Guards. MK crushed five of their guns, mistaking them for German ones, and near Bischke the infantry knocked out four Shermans that suddenly appeared from the enemy, mistaking them for enemy tanks.

In addition, tank units conducted virtually no reconnaissance, relying mostly on data received from the infantry or from higher authorities. For this reason, the command of the 110th Tank Brigade (18th Tank Tank) drove 20 of its tanks into a swamp, where they stayed for several days. On January 27, the same tank brigade ran into an ambush by German tanks and self-propelled guns, losing seven tanks in a short time, and the next day - eight more.

Contrary to existing orders, the commanders of the 18th and 23rd Tank Tank, instead of fighting enemy tanks with the anti-tank weapons they had - artillery and self-propelled artillery, got involved in unequal tank battles without proper preparation and suffered unnecessary losses. The use of self-propelled artillery instead of tanks was also widely practiced - as a mobile shield during attacks on German strongholds, which, in the absence of self-propelled guns, made them easy prey for German “faustniks”.

Among the best units that distinguished themselves in the January battles, the order of the front commander named: 20th Guards. sk (5th and 7th airborne divisions), 31st guards. sk (4th, 34th and 40th Guards Infantry Division), 18th Tank Tank (170th and 181st Tank Brigade), 2nd Guards. MK, 42nd IPTABr, 9th IPTABr, 49th IPTABr, 9th adp, 60th rear, 306th shad, 288th ad.

Front aviation made a significant contribution to repelling enemy counterattacks. During January, the 17th Air Army flew 16,501 sorties, with 280 enemy aircraft shot down in 327 air battles.

Notes:

Pz Kpfw VI Ausf B "Tiger II", better known as the "Royal Tiger".

The ending of the Second World War was predetermined after the Battle of Stalingrad, when, at the cost of incredible efforts, the Soviet Army managed not only to push back the Nazis from offensive positions, but also to capture the enemy’s sixth army, which he commanded. And although there were still more than two years left before victory, there was still a long way to go great battles, this battle made a turning point in the war. The last major battle of the most terrible war in human history was the Balaton defensive operation. During the war, battles took place near Lake Balaton. January - March 1945 finally determined the finale of the Wehrmacht.

Balance of power

In the winter of 1945, the troops of the anti-Hitler coalition conducted successful offensive operations, creating a real threat to Berlin. Hitler, feeling a real preponderance of forces not in his favor, decided on the last offensive in his military career and “victorious march” across Europe to the East against the Soviet forces, already united with the second front.

On the part of the Red Army, the main blow was carried out by units of the Third Ukrainian Front under the command of Marshal Fyodor Tolbukhin. Support was provided from Bulgaria by the First Bulgarian Army, and from Yugoslavia by the Third Yugoslav Army.

The offensive was carried out by the forces of Army Group South, reinforced by the army corps and the fourth air fleet. In addition, the Nazis represented Hungary, represented by the Third

Hitler's goals

The Balaton defensive operation, which unfolded in western Hungary, was determined by very practical goals. Even though Berlin was already under direct threat, Hitler decided to organize a counterattack in Hungary. The headquarters planned to push their opponents back across the Danube. Thus, it was expected that during the operation Vienna and southern Germany would be removed from attack. However, there was another reason. It was here that the key oil fields for the Nazis were located. The loss of these resources for the fascist army meant the bleeding of armored and air forces.

The operation, which was codenamed “Spring Awakening,” was designed for three strikes, the purpose of which was to divide the defense of the Third Ukrainian Front and then destroy the enemy.

Disclosure of German plans

The grouping of fascist tank forces in western Hungary was discovered by Soviet intelligence officers back in February. A little later, intelligence obtained information revealing the enemy’s plans for the upcoming offensive operation. Thanks to the data obtained, the Balaton defensive operation was carefully developed and prepared. The task assigned to the command of the second and third Ukrainian Front by the Supreme High Command boiled down to the destruction of groups of fascist troops. It was precisely because the intelligence officers intercepted that the Balaton defensive operation turned into another nail for Hitler in the coffin of his world power.

In parallel, the Soviet military leadership continued preparations for the Vienna offensive operation.

Preparing the operation

The Balaton defensive operation was built taking into account the experience of the battle. In particular, anti-tank defense was carefully developed, shelters were prepared for people and equipment, roads were equipped to provide opportunities for maneuvering, in addition, artillery was concentrated as much as possible in particularly dangerous areas - in In some directions, the density was increased to 60 - 70 units of equipment per kilometer.

The material and technical part was under special control during preparation. Success largely depended on how well the front would be supplied with fuel and ammunition. The delivery of goods located on the eastern bank of the Danube was complicated by German air raids and the onset of ice drift. Therefore, it was decided to install a gas pipeline and suspended

Progress of hostilities

German troops began the operation on the night of March 6th. Within a few hours, German units managed to capture two bridgeheads and advance eight kilometers along the front. To strengthen defensive positions, the Soviet command decided to send a reserve rifle regiment. At about nine in the morning the enemy launched his main attack, which unfolded in the area between lakes Balaton and Velence. With the help of powerful attacks by tank forces, he managed to take strong positions by evening, going four kilometers deep into the defense.

The next day, the enemy continued to make continuous attempts to break through the Soviet defenses with massive attacks. The maneuvering of the Red Army units did not allow the fascist troops to pass further than seven kilometers deep into their tactical zone. Aviation in the Balaton defensive operation faced a number of difficulties caused, namely, by the often descending impenetrable fogs.

The battle lasted ten days in total. During this time, the Nazis managed to advance a maximum of 30 kilometers. The battle was incredibly intense in terms of the amount of equipment (from reports it follows that there were up to 60 tanks per kilometer of the front), as well as in the amount of combat time: the Germans launched an offensive almost around the clock, using night vision devices. However, the fascist soldiers failed to break through to the Danube. The losses turned out to be too great, and the German command had no choice but to curtail the offensive. The operation ended on March 15. And almost without respite she began an offensive operation on Vienna.

Results of the battle

The losses of one of the milestone battles numbered in the tens of thousands. According to the Soviet side, the Red Army lost about 33 thousand people, of which about 8.5 thousand died. The losses of the German side amounted to more than 40 thousand people, as well as 800 various units and more than 200 aircraft.

From the very beginning, 1945 (including the Balaton defensive operation) demonstrated the inexhaustible thirst for Victory of the people who suffered the most from the fascist invaders. Fortunately for us, these terrible days are behind us, but the memory of the exploits of our fathers and grandfathers lives in the hearts and souls of people to this day. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Balaton defensive operation - a fierce and furious struggle on the last frontiers. The equipment that took part in it and remained in more or less intact condition is now exhibited as exhibits in the Moscow region.

Tankers!

From March 4 9:00 (Moscow time) to March 7 8:30 (Moscow time) The game will host a promotion during which you can expect:

Discounts

Discount30% on Soviet and German researchable vehicles of tiers VI-VII.

30% discount on Soviet and German premium vehicles of tiers VI-VII (in the in-game and Premium stores).

IN Premium store packages The discount applies only to the tank without taking into account the slot or other property.

And also:

50% discount on equipment (rammers, reinforced aiming drives, etc.).

Combat mission

"Defense above all"

Good luck on the battlefields!

Historical background

From March 6 to 15, 1945, Red Army troops, together with Bulgarian and Yugoslav allies, repelled the last major offensive of Nazi Germany and Hungary. The battle took place in Hungary, near Lake Balaton.

On the German side, the forces of Army Group South, consisting of the 6th and 2nd Tank Armies, the 6th Combined Arms Army and the 91st Army Corps, took part in the offensive. The Hungarian 3rd Army also took part in the battle. Air support for the offensive was provided by the Luftwaffe's 4th Air Fleet.

Soviet forces were represented by the armies of the 3rd Ukrainian Front: the 26th, 27th, 57th, 4th Guards, as well as the 1st Guards fortified area and two air armies: the 5th and 17th. Together with the Soviet troops, the Bulgarian 1st and Yugoslav 3rd armies took part in the battle.

The German command's plan included three simultaneous strikes. The main blow was delivered by the 6th Tank Army in the area between lakes Balaton and Velence. Here the Nazis concentrated a large tank group, armed, among other things, with heavy King Tiger tanks and medium Panther tanks. The German 2nd Panzer Army advanced between the Drava River and Lake Balaton towards Kaposvár and Nagybayom. The third blow by part of the forces of Army Group F was delivered along the southern bank of the Drava in the direction of Pecs.

Thanks to Soviet intelligence, the upcoming Nazi offensive was discovered. The command of the Red Army decided to accept the battle, defeat the enemy, and then launch a counter-offensive on Vienna.

The Germans began to act on the night of March 6. They managed to cross the Drava and capture two fairly large bridgeheads in the zone of action of the Bulgarian and Yugoslav armies. To strengthen the defense, additional forces were transferred here. In the direction of Kaposvar, the German 2nd Tank Army was able to break into the defense held by the Bulgarian units. But after fierce fighting and the introduction of a second echelon of troops into the battle, the enemy’s offensive was stopped. In the area of ​​the main German attack, fighting began at about 9 o'clock in the morning. The Germans managed to advance to a depth of about 4 kilometers and capture the city of Sheregeyesh.

For several days, in the main attack area, the Germans went on the attack over and over again, throwing a large amount of heavy equipment into battle. The battle went on almost around the clock. In night battles, German tank crews used night vision devices. During the ten-day battles, the Germans managed to penetrate the Soviet defenses to a depth of 6-30 km. However, the enemy forces were not enough for more. On March 15, the German offensive stopped, and on March 16, the Red Army began the Vienna offensive operation.