Operation “Morning Watch"

Operation Morning Watch ‘Fruhlingserwachen’ was Hitler's plan to relieve the IX SS Mountain Corps which was trapped in the besieged city of Budapest. Often called the "Ardennes of the East', this operation was to be the German's last attempt to …

1945-03-07

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Operation Morning Watch ‘Fruhlingserwachen’ was Hitler's plan to relieve the IX SS Mountain Corps which was trapped in the besieged city of Budapest. Often called the "Ardennes of the East', this operation was to be the German's last attempt to halt the Russian advance in this area. The VI SS Panzer Army, its four SS Panzer Divisions had spearheaded the German assault in the Battle of the Bulge, was transferred to the eastern Front in late January, 1945. Its II SS Panzer Corps, Das Reich and Hohenstaufen, was to lead the operation and attack southeast towards the Sarviz Canal. The III Panzer Corps and the I SS Panzer Corps were to advance along the II SS's left and right flanks respectively. The Russians were aware of what was coming, and moved in additional troops including the crack 6th Guards Tank Army. As the jump off time of March 6, approached, the weather conditions turned for the worst, and II SS Panzer Corps was unable to reach Its attack position. The flank units were forced to attack without the benefit of the central forces. The 1st SS Panzer Division, of I SS Corps, was able to advance nearly 20 miles, the main force, II SS Corps, was only able to gain 5 miles in six days of combat. Russian counterattacks and the building Soviet forces in the immediate north forced General Wohler, Commander of Army Group South, to stop the offensive short of its goal. This German offensive was the swan song of the cast.

Siofok, Hungary

The Siege of Budapest or Battle of Budapest was the 50-day-long encirclement by Soviet and Romanian forces of the Hungarian capital of Budapest, near the end of World War II. Part of the broader Budapest Offensive, the siege began when Budapest, defended by Hungarian and German troops, was encircled on 26 December 1944 by the Red Army and the Romanian Army. During the siege, about 38,000 civilians died through starvation, military action, and mass executions of Jews by the far-right Hungarian nationalist Arrow Cross Party. The city unconditionally surrendered on 13 February 1945. It was a strategic victory for the Allies in their push towards Berlin.

Wikipedia: Siege of Budapest

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