Most recently, on April 15, 70 years have passed since the end of the Vienna offensive operation, during which the Nazi troops Austria was cleared, including its capital - Vienna.

The Vienna offensive operation was a strategic offensive operation of the Red Army against German troops during the Great Patriotic War. It was carried out from March 16 to April 15, 1945 by the troops of the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts with the assistance of the 1st Bulgarian Army (Bulgarian) in order to defeat German troops in western Hungary and eastern Austria. Vienna was taken on 13 April.

To this event, friends, I dedicate this photo selection.

1. Soviet officers lay flowers at the grave of the Austrian composer Johann Strauss son, buried in the central cemetery of Vienna. 1945 .

2. Sherman tanks of the 1st Battalion of the 46th Guards Tank Brigade of the 9th Guards Mechanized Corps of the 6th Tank Army on the streets of Vienna. 04/09/1945 .

3. Sherman tanks of the 1st Battalion of the 46th Guards Tank Brigade of the 9th Guards Mechanized Corps of the 6th Tank Army on the streets of Vienna. 04/09/1945 .

4. Soviet soldiers are fighting for the Imperial Bridge. 3rd Ukrainian Front. Vienna. April 1945

5. Rewarding Soviet soldiers who distinguished themselves in the battles for the capture of Vienna. 1945

6. Artillerymen of self-propelled guns of the Guard Lieutenant Colonel V.S. Shonichev, who were the first to enter Austrian soil, are passing along the street of one of the cities. 1945

7. Soviet self-propelled guns cross the border. 1945

8. Soviet tanks in the Vienna area. 1945

9. The crew of the M4A-2 "Sherman" tank, the first to break into Vienna, with its commander; on the left is Nuru Idrisov, a driver-mechanic. 1945

10. Machine gunners are street fighting in the central part of Vienna. 1945

11. Soviet soldiers are walking along one of the streets of liberated Vienna. 1945

12. Soviet troops on the street of the liberated city of Vienna. 1945

13. Soviet soldiers on the streets of Vienna. 1945

14. View of one of the streets of Vienna after its release. 1945

15. Residents of Vienna on the square in front of the ruined building of the Cathedral of St. Stephen. 1945

16. Dancing on the streets of Vienna on the occasion of the Victory Day. 1945

17. Soviet tanks on the outskirts of Vienna. April 1945

18. Soviet military signalmen on one of the streets of Vienna. April 1945

20. Residents of Vienna return to their homes after the end of street fighting and the liberation of the city by Soviet troops. April 1945

21. Cossack patrol on one of the streets of Vienna. 1945

22. Festivities on the occasion of the liberation of Vienna by Soviet troops on one of the squares of the city. 1945

23. Soviet self-propelled guns on the mountain roads of Austria. 1945

24. Soviet military equipment on the mountain roads of Austria. April 1945

25. Guards submachine gunners of the division of Senior Lieutenant Gukalov are fighting for the settlement. Austria. 1945

26. Meeting of Soviet soldiers with the inhabitants of one of the cities of Austria. 1945

27. Mortars of the Hero of the Soviet Union Nekrasov firing at enemy positions. Austria. March 31, 1945

28. Sergeant Pavel Zaretsky talks with residents of the Austrian village of Lekengauz. 1945

29. Soviet officers lay flowers at the grave of the Austrian composer Johann Strauss son, buried in the central cemetery of Vienna. .

30. Soviet mortars carry an 82-mm battalion mortar in Vienna. 1945

31. Soviet soldiers cross the bridge over the Danube Canal in Vienna. May 1945

32. Soviet officers lay flowers at the grave of Johann Strauss son. April 1945.

33. Soviet traffic controller N. Klimenko on the outskirts of Vienna. April 1945

34. A Soviet officer visits the grave of the German composer Ludwig van Beethoven, who is buried in the central cemetery of Vienna.

35. Soviet traffic controller on the streets of Vienna. May-August 1945

36. Soviet self-propelled artillery SU-76M in Vienna, Austria. 1945

37. Soviet mortars with a regimental mortar at the Hofburg Winter Palace in Vienna. 1945

38. Soviet armored personnel carrier M3A1 in battle on the streets of Vienna. April 1945

39. A column of Soviet T-34 tanks on the streets of Vienna. 1945

40. Before the arrival of the Soviet troops, the Nazi shot his family and committed suicide on the streets of Vienna. April 1945

41. Soviet traffic controller in liberated Vienna. May 1945

42. Soviet traffic controller in liberated Vienna. May 1945

43. Killed German soldier on the street of the liberated Vienna. April 1945

44. Tank "Sherman" of the 1st Guards Mechanized Corps on Vienna Street. April 1945

45. Human remains on the streets of liberated Vienna. 1945

46. ​​Human remains on the streets of liberated Vienna. 1945

48. Sherman tanks of the 1st Battalion of the 46th Guards Tank Brigade of the 9th Guards Mechanized Corps of the 6th Tank Army on the streets of Vienna. 04/09/1945 .

49. Soviet armored boats of the Danube military flotilla in Austria. April 1945

50. Soviet regimental military band in the Austrian village of Donnerskirchen on Victory Day. On the far right, Private Nikolai Ivanovich Pershin (in addition to playing in the orchestra, he also acted as a signalman). 05/09/1945

51. A column of Soviet T-34-85 tanks on the street of the Austrian town of St. Pölten. 1945

52. Aviation technicians of the 213th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment on the street of the Austrian town of Stockerau. 1945

April 15 is the date marked by the end of the Vienna operation in the fight against the German army during the 2nd World War. This operation put an end to fascist tyranny in the lands of Austria, including in its heart - Vienna.

Reference. The Vienna operation (03/16/1945 - 04/15/1945) is a strategically important offensive action by the USSR army against the enemy army during the 2nd World War. The participants in this operation were the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts with the support of the 1st Army of Bulgaria. The main task of the operation was to destroy the invaders in the west of Hungary and the east of Austria. The main center of Austria was liberated on 04/13/1945.

Dear friends, this event inspired us to create a selection of photos.

1. Soviet army officers lay flowers. Burial of Austrian composer Strauss I. Central Cemetery, Vienna, 1945.

2. 6th Tank Army 9th Mechanization Corps 46th Tank Brigade 1st Battalion, Sherman armored vehicles. Vienna street, April 1945

3. 6th Tank Army 9th Mechanized Corps 46th Tank Brigade 1st Battalion, Sherman armored vehicles. Vienna street, April 1945

4. Vienna, April 1945. 3rd Ukrainian Front. Red Army soldiers in the struggle for the Imperial Bridge.

5. Presentation of awards to the Red Army soldiers who proved themselves in the battles for Vienna. 1945

6. The first to cross the Austrian border of the war were gunners of self-propelled guns guards. Colony Shonicheva V.S. on the boulevards of one of the settlements. 1945

7. Crossing the line by the Red Army. 1945

8. Allied armored vehicles in the vicinity of Vienna. 1945

9. Vienna, 1945. The team of the Sherman M4A-2 vehicle with the commander, who broke into the city first. On the left side - Nuru Idrisov (mechanic driver).

10. Vienna, center, 1945 Machine-gun detachment, battle on one of the boulevards.

11. Vienna, 1945 Red Army soldiers on one of the liberated streets.

12. Vienna, 1945 Red Army soldiers on one of the liberated streets.

13. The Red Army on the streets of liberated Vienna. 1945

14. Vienna Boulevard after the fighting, 1945

15. Main square. Vienna, 1945 Residents against the backdrop of the ruins of the church of St. Stephen.

16. Vienna, 1945 Victory celebration on one of the boulevards.

17. Outskirts of Vienna, armored vehicles of the USSR. April 1945

18. One of the alleys of Vienna, signalmen of the USSR. April 1945

20. The return of residents after the release of city streets. Vienna, April 1945

21. Cossack patrol. Vienna street, 1945

22. Celebrating the liberation of the city on one of the squares. Vienna, 1945

23. Soviet armored vehicles on the slopes of the mountains. Austria, 1945

24. Combat armored vehicles of the USSR on the slopes of the Austrian mountains. April 1945

25. Austria, 1945 Lieutenant Gukalov in the battle for the city.

26. Meeting of tenants with the liberators. Austria, 1945

27. Firing from mortars at enemy positions. Detachment of the Hero of the USSR Nekrasov. Austria, 1945

28. Conversation of sir-that Zaretsky P. with residents of Lekenhaus. 1945

29. A Soviet officer lays flowers at the grave of the Austrian composer Johann Strauss. Central cemetery. Vienna, 1945

30. A detachment of Red Army mortarmen move the 82-mm gun of the battalion. Vienna, 1945

31. Vienna. May 1945. The passage of the Danube Canal by the Red Army.

32. Soviet officers lay flowers at the grave of the Austrian composer Johann Strauss. Central cemetery. Vienna, 1945

33. Outskirts of Vienna. April 1945 USSR traffic controller Klimenko N.

34. Soviet officer at the grave of composer L. Beethovin. Central Cemetery, Vienna

35. The traffic controller of the USSR at the fork in the Vienna roads. May-August 1945

36. Military equipment of the USSR SU-76M on the streets of Vienna. Austria, 1945

37. Red Army mortars with regimental weapons. Winter Palace Hofburg. Vienna, 1945

38. Armored vehicles of the USSR M3A1 in combat. Vienna, April 1945

39. Soviet armored vehicle T-34. Vienna, 1945

40. The suicide of a fascist in Vienna right on the street, who had shot his family before that in fear of retribution for what he had done in April 1945.

41. Soviet girl regulates traffic on the streets of Vienna after liberation in May 1945.

42. Soviet girl regulates traffic on the streets of Vienna after liberation in May 1945.

43. Reich soldier who died in the battle for Vienna in the spring of 1945.

44. First Guards fur. frame. American "Sherman" in Vienna in the spring of 1945.

45. The horrors of war on the streets of Vienna after liberation in the spring of 1945.

46. ​​The horrors of war on the streets of Vienna after liberation in the spring of 1945.

47. Liberators on the streets of Vienna in May 1945. Foreground - seventy-six-millimeter gun ZiS-3.

48. Sherman tanks of the 1st Battalion of the 46th Guards Tank Brigade of the 9th Guards Mechanized Corps of the 6th Tank Army on the streets of Vienna. 04/09/1945

49. Combat boats of the Danube flotilla in the spring of forty-fifth in Austria.

50. Orchestra of Soviet troops in the village of Donnerskirchen, Austria, May 9, 1945. In the photo on the right, signalman and orchestra member Pershin N.I.

51. The Soviet division of T-34-85 tanks in the city of St. Pölten, Austria, in the victorious spring of forty-fifth.

52. Aircraft repair brigade of the 213th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment in Stockerau in Austria in 1945

53. A pair of medium armored vehicles Turan II40M of the Hungarian army, left by the retreating on the railway. stations near Vienna in March 1945.

54. In the photo, Hero of the Soviet Union, guardsman, Major General Kozak S. A. - commander of the 21st Guards Motorized Rifle Corps (years of life from 1902 to 1953). Next to him is S. F. Yeletskov, a colonel of the guard.

55. The long-awaited connection of two groups of troops of the USA and the USSR in the area of ​​​​the bridge over the Enns River in the spring of 1945 near the city of Liezen in Austria.

56. The long-awaited connection of two groups of troops of the USA and the USSR in the area of ​​​​the bridge over the Enns River in the spring of 1945 near the city of Liezen in Austria.

57. The offensive of our infantry, accompanied by British tanks "Valentine" in the vicinity of Vienna in April of the victorious forty-fifth year of the last century.

58. Soviet military against the background of the T-34-85 tank greet the American division of armored vehicles at a parade near the city of Linz on May 2, 1945.

59. Attack of the Austrian city by the troops of the Soviet Union and the US M3 Scout Car armored car in the victorious forty-fifth.

60. Soldiers of the Soviet troops at the post on the Austrian road from May to August 1945.

61. Guards Sergeant Zudin and his 120-mm mortar mortar fighters.

62. After the fall of the defense of Vienna, the soldiers-guards of the 80th division in the spring of 1945.

63. Monument to the Soviet soldiers-liberators of Vienna. Nowadays.

64. Monument to the Soviet soldiers-liberators of Vienna. Nowadays.

On April 13, 1945, after bloody battles, Vienna was liberated from the Nazi invaders. Soviet and Austrian flags fluttered everywhere in the city, and among them on the parliament building was the largest red flag, which was hoisted by paratroopers of the 351st Guards Regiment under the command of Lieutenant A.E. Stomakhin.

As a result of the Vienna offensive operation, carried out from March 16 to April 15, 1945, by the 9th Guards Army, consisting of the 37th Guards Corps (98th, 99th, 103rd Guards Divisions), the 38th Guards Corps ( 104th, 105th, 106th Guards Divisions), 39th Guards Corps (100th, 107th, 114th Guards Divisions) a large enemy grouping was defeated.

In commemoration of the victory won in the battles for Vienna, and for the massive heroism shown in the Vienna offensive operation, the 100th, 105th, 106th and 107th guards divisions were awarded orders, the 38th and 39th corps were awarded the honorary title of "Viennese".

Participation of paratroopers in the capture of Vienna (March-April 1945)

The fighting of the 9th Guards. army in the Vienna offensive operation March-April 1945

After repelling the Nazi counteroffensive under Lake Balaton, the Soviet troops went on the offensive. Artillery preparation began at 14:55. At the same time, our aviation began hostilities, and exactly an hour later the infantry went on the attack. Stunned by the unexpected and powerful fire strike, the Germans were so confused that in a number of sectors they could not offer organized resistance, and by the end of the day on March 16, the advanced units of 9 Guards A managed to advance 3, and in some sectors up to 7 km. The fighting did not stop at night. On March 17, after fierce fighting, units of the army managed to advance 10 km into the depth of the enemy’s defense and expanded the breakthrough to 30 km.

In the course of the successful development of the offensive, formations of the first echelon of the 37th and 38th guards sk crossed the rivers Sharviz and Gaya and captured the city of Mor, as a result of which the enemy, fearing the encirclement of the main forces of 6 TA CC, began to urgently pull up reinforcements to the breakthrough areas. Under these conditions, the Front Commander decided to bring into battle the 6th Guards TA, which received the task of crossing the Sharviz River, entering the gap on March 19 and, developing a swift offensive, complete the encirclement of the enemy operating southeast, and south and southwest of Szekesfehervar.

Stubborn fighting continued on March 21, 22 and the following days. Reflecting repeated counterattacks by German tanks and motorized infantry, the paratroopers won back kilometers from the enemy, and by the end of March 25, in cooperation with the 6th Guards Tank Army, they completely overcame the mountains of Bakonsky Les. This ended the first stage of the Vienna offensive operation of the Soviet troops.

After the defeat of the main forces of the 6th TA SS, it was necessary to quickly build up efforts in order to prevent the enemy from gaining a foothold on the next defensive lines. Therefore, without an operational pause, the Soviet troops moved on to the second stage of the Vienna Offensive—the pursuit of the enemy in the northwestern and western directions. In the first echelon of the front, there were still the 6th Guards Tank Guards of the 9th Guards Army.

In the offensive zone of the 9th Guards A lay the city of Papa, a large industrial and administrative center. The enemy turned it into a heavily fortified defense center. The city was prepared for all-round defense, covered with various obstacles and minefields. However, the army commander, Colonel General V.V. Glagolev decided, without slowing down the pace of the offensive, to take this city with a specially detached group, one division from each corps, with a blow from three directions.

As part of the decision made on March 27, units of the 9th Guards A, having overcome the resistance of the enemy on the Martsal Canal, crossed the canal and three mountain streams, and reached the strong enemy stronghold and the industrial center of the city of Sharvar, the approaches to which were covered by the Raba River. The Raba River presented a serious obstacle. Its width in some places reached 45-50 m, the depth was up to 3.5 m, the banks were high and steep. Along the coast, the Germans prepared defensive positions in advance.

The crossing of the Raba River began on the move, after a short 30-minute artillery preparation. Soldiers and officers on improvised means, and in some places on fishing boats we set fire to the enemy, rushed forward. Having quickly overcome the water barrier, the guards moved on the enemy and started a fight in the first trench. When crossing the Raba River, the guards' ingenuity was shown by the artillerymen of the 346th Guards Rifle Division of the 104th Guards Rifle Division. Since the fascists blew up the railway bridge in the area where the regiment was crossing, and the sappers had not yet had time to build it, the gunners decided to drag their guns along the bottom of the river with the help of cables. Having removed the sights from the guns and stuffed the muzzles with rags, the fighters dragged 24 guns to the opposite bank in four hours.

With their forward units, 98, 104 and other guards rifle divisions captured bridgeheads on the opposite bank of the Raba River. On the night of March 28, this water barrier was forced by all troops of the front.

Having crossed the Raba River, formations of the 9th Guards A continued to successfully pursue the enemy, who was retreating to the Austro-Hungarian border. The high rate of advance did not slow down for a single day.

So only on March 28 - 30, units of the 9th Guards A in difficult conditions of a mountainous and wooded area fought 65 km.

On March 29, units of the 9th Guards A entered the territory of Austria. On the territory of Austria, the enemy began to offer even more stubborn resistance, using the spurs of the Alps, a heavily rugged inaccessible terrain.

The enemy could, even with small forces, create serious difficulties in the way of the movement of our troops. Particularly stubborn resistance was provided by the German units. As for the Hungarian units, with the release of Soviet troops to the Austrian border, they preferred to surrender. And yet, breaking the resistance of the enemy, the advanced units of the army on March 31 reached the area of ​​the Vienna lowland on the direct approaches to the capital of Austria. Thus ended the second phase of the Vienna Offensive.

Fighting on the near approaches to Vienna began on April 5, 1945. The enemy put up fierce resistance. The maneuver of our troops was severely constrained by rugged and well-prepared for defense terrain. Relying on a network of water barriers and densely located settlements adapted for all-round defense, the enemy sought to prevent Soviet troops from entering the city with heavy fire and frequent counterattacks. Therefore, it was not possible to break the resistance of the enemy for several days.

In the same period, on April 15, a maneuver detachment of 72 people of the 300th Guards Rifle Regiment was formed to operate behind enemy lines. under the command of Captain N.A. Belousov. Covertly deepening 30 km. in the location of the enemy, the detachment approached the city of Pernitz and established contact with the Austrian partisans. With their help, the approaches to the city, the deployment of garrisons, military facilities, and the system of enemy firing points were reconnoitered. On the night of April 19, a group of N.A. Belousov broke into Pernitz, defeated the headquarters of the SS detachment and the local Gestapo, destroyed up to 100 Nazis, blew up a paper factory in which the ammunition depot was located, and mined the approaches to the city, safely left the enemy rear.

After the regrouping of units of the 6th Guards TA, which made the most difficult maneuver in the eastern spurs of the Alps in the offensive zone of the 38th Guards Rifle Corps, the formations reached the western approaches to Vienna, and then to the southern bank of the Danube in the Tulln region, cutting off the enemy grouping in Vienna all the way to the west . Thus, compound 39 GV SK. Together with the troops of the 4th Guards A, by the end of the day on April 6, they reached the southern and western outskirts of Vienna and began to storm the city. As a result of a week of fierce and bloody battles, by the end of April 13, Vienna was completely cleared of Nazi troops.

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. A surge of 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.

Do 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. The 25th Rifle Corps of the Red Army, the 27th Guards Tank Brigade, and the 2nd Romanian Tank Regiment took part in it. After a grueling battle, Bratislava was taken by the end of the day.

In parallel, the Soviet-Romanian troops began to force the Morava River, however, unlike the capture of the city, the task was not completed in the same time frame. Until April 8, local battles were fought on this front, which prevented a relatively calm crossing to the other side. Already on April 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. The West, as the only escape route, was cut off by the rest of the forces.

Thus, natural protection would turn into a death trap.

It is also worth noting the attitude of the Soviet military 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 started, 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 the fierce resistance of the 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, the Soviet Army managed to pass 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 for the better, 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 the maximum number of 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 erected 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".

Vienna offensive operation, which was completed on April 13, 1945 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.
Relative ease of capturing the Austrian capital , compared with other operations, was due to the fact that the Red Army had already worked out a scheme for the destruction of enemy groups. In addition, by April 1945, our troops already felt the proximity of 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 are 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 any cost - the battle for Budapest and the subsequent Balaton operation were among the bloodiest battles of the Great Patriotic War.

Our troops entered Hungary in October 1944 , having previously carried out the Belgorod operation, and only at the end of March 1945 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.
Preparing for the operation


By 1945 year, both warring parties were already exhausted: morally and physically - soldiers and rear forces, economically - every country that took part in this bloody struggle. A surge of 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”.

Main danger for them it 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 the liberation of Vienna high hopes were placed not only for the command, but also for ordinary soldiers, then preparations for the operation began immediately. The main blow was to be delivered by the fighters of the Third Ukrainian Front. Depressed, with many losses among people and equipment, they found the strength to prepare for the offensive. The replenishment of combat vehicles occurred not only due to the 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, the arsenal of the 3rd Ukrainian Front included: 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 unequivocally speak about the ease or complexity of actions. On the one hand, the liberation of Vienna in 1945 is one of the fastest and brightest operations. On the other hand, these are significant human and material losses. 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. Do 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

Liberation of Vienna in fact, it 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 group (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

Gradual promotion lasted 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. The 25th Rifle Corps of the Red Army, the 27th Guards Tank Brigade, and the 2nd Romanian Tank Regiment took part in it. After a grueling battle, Bratislava was taken by the end of the day.

In parallel, the Soviet-Romanian troops they began to force the Morava River, however, unlike the capture of the city, the task was not completed in the same time frame. Until April 8, local battles were fought on this front, which prevented a relatively calm crossing to the other side. Already on April 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 aircraft, SU-76 and Romanian self-propelled guns and 15 tanks were also transferred here.

Forces for the defense of the capital of Austria

For the forces of the Red Army opposed by a fairly powerful German group. 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;
* the police, from which 4 regiments were created (this is over 6,000 people).

Besides , 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 fortifications, pillboxes, trenches, and bunkers. Vienna itself was literally crammed with weapons hidden in the ruins, the streets were blocked by barricades, and the old buildings served as a kind of bastions.
Capture plan

Assessing the situation objectively 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 wings of the attack were to look like this: the 4th Guards Army, together with the 1st Guards Corps, hit the southeast. The southwestern side would be attacked by the 6th Guards Army along with the 18th TC. The West, as the only escape route, was cut off by the rest of the forces.

Thus , natural protection would turn into a death trap. It is also worth noting the attitude of the Soviet military 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.
Storming of Vienna (April 5 - 13, 1945)


Assault on the capital of Austria was the final part of the Vienna offensive operation, which went from March 16 to April 15, 1945 by the forces of the 2nd (commander Marshal of the Soviet Union Rodion Malinovsky) and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts (commander Marshal of the Soviet Union 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 opposed 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 ”(commander 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 capital of Austria 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 retreated 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. The natural conditions of the area 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.
significant portion the Germans prepared 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 air strikes), guns and tanks were disguised, 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.

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 the troops of the 6th Guards Tank Army with a dowry to it in assistance to the 18th Tank Corps and part of the troops of the 9th Guards Army. 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.

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.
All next day - On 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 adjacent suburbs of Vienna. Stubborn fighting began already in the city. The forces of the 6th Guards Tank Army made a roundabout maneuver in the difficult conditions of the eastern spurs of the Alps and reached the western approaches of the city, and then to the southern bank of the Danube. The German group was surrounded on three sides.

Soviet command trying to prevent unnecessary civilian casualties, to preserve the beautiful city and its historical heritage, on April 5 he 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 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 had reached it, the entire German group in Vienna would have been completely surrounded. The Danube Flotilla 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, there were final battles for Vienna. 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 onset 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.

-Quick and selfless actions of the Red Army troops did not allow the Wehrmacht to destroy one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Soviet soldiers were able to prevent the explosion of the Imperial Bridge over the Danube River, as well as the destruction of many other valuable architectural structures that the Germans 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 another brilliant victory Soviet troops April 13, 1945 at 21.00 in the capital of the USSR - Moscow was given a victorious salute with 24 artillery salvos from 324 guns.

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

As for the losses for Berlin , is the loss of control over the largest industrial center of Western Europe - 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 of honor and dignity. The soldiers showed themselves as a crowd of barbarians and vandals who destroyed the most beautiful and largest cathedrals in the city, and also tried to blow up the maximum number of monuments. And leaving the city, they mined the Imperial bridge. Remembrance and Celebration Since 1945, Vienna has been celebrating the Day of the Liberation of the city from 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 some time, it was decided to establish a new award for the participants of these events - 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 erected 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 a shield in the form of the coat of arms of the USSR. Some details were painted yellow by modern masters. To commemorate this victory, 50 combat formations that distinguished themselves in the battle for Vienna were given the honorary name "Vienna".
Memoirs of Ivan Nikonovich Moshlyak , became a soldier of the Red Army in 1929. For thirty-eight years of service, he went from private to general. For heroism and courage shown in the battles on Lake Khasan, I.N. Moshlyak received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. During the Great Patriotic War, I.N. Moshlyak commanded the 62nd Guards Rifle Division. Under his command, the soldiers of the division participated in the crossing of the Dnieper, in the Korsun-Shevchenkovsky and Yassy-Kishinev operations, in the liberation from the Nazi invaders of Hungary and Austria. About all this - about the hard work of his headquarters, about the exploits of the fighters, commanders, political workers of the division - Major General I. N. Moshlyak tells in his book.

Liberation of Vienna


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

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