Siege of Budapest 194445: The Brutal Battle for the Pearl of the Danube (Campaign Book 377)

A gripping and detailed study of the brutal urban battle for Budapest, which saw German and Hungarian troops struggling to halt the joint Soviet-Romanian offensive to take the key city on the Danube. The 52-day-long siege of Budapest witnessed some of the most destructive urban fighting of the war. The Transdanubia region was strategically vital to Nazi Germany for its raw materials and industry, and because of the bridgehead it allowed into Austria. As a result, Hitler declared Budapest a fortress city in early December 1944. The battle for the city pitted 90,000 German and Hungarian troops against 170,000 Soviet (2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts) and Romanian attackers. The operations to take the city ran across several phases, from the initial Soviet approach to Budapest commencing in late October 1944, through the encirclement of city first on the Pest side of the Danube, and then on the Buda bank, and on to the savage urban fighting that began in December 1944 for the Hungarian capital. This superbly detailed work analyses the background, chronology and consequences of the siege from both a military and political perspective, and documents the huge losses in military and civilian casualties and material damage. A Gripping And Detailed Study Of The Brutal Urban Battle For Budapest, Which Saw German And Hungarian Troops Struggling To Halt The Joint Soviet-romanian Offensive To Take The Key City On The Danube. The 52-day Siege Of Budapest Was One Of The Most Significant Urban Battles Of World War Ii, The Brutality And Savagery Of Which Has Earned It The Moniker Of The 'second Stalingrad'. The Transdanubia Region Was Strategically Vital To Nazi Germany For Its Raw Materials And Industry, And Because Of The Bridgehead It Allowed Into Austria. As A Result, Hitler Declared Budapest A Fortress City In Early December 1944. The Battle For The City Pitted 90,000 German And Hungarian Troops Against 170,000 Soviet (2nd And 3rd Ukrainian Fronts) And Romanian Attackers. The Operations To Take The City Ran Across Several Phases, From The Initial Soviet Approach To Budapest Commencing In Late October 1944, Through The Encirclement Of City First On The Pest Side Of The Danube, And Then On The Buda Bank, And On To The Savage Urban Fighting That Began In December 1944 For The Hungarian Capital. This Superbly Detailed Work Analyses The Background, Chronology And Consequences Of The Siege From Both A Military And Political Perspective, And Documents The Huge Losses In Military And Civilian Casualties And Material Damage. Cover Contents Origins Of The Campaign Chronology Opposing Commanders Axis Soviet And Romanian Opposing Forces Axis Soviet And Romanian Orders Of Battle Opposing Plans Axis Soviet And Romanian The Siege Of Budapest The First Soviet Attack: 29 october–6 november 1944 Budapest Surrounded: 11 november–24 December 1944 Taking Pest: 24 December 1944–18 January 1945 German Relief Operations: Konrad I–III Buda: 18 January–10 February 1945 Breakout: 11–13 February 1945 Aftermath Bibliography The Battlefield Today Index Imprint