Vienna offensive

Overview

The Vienna offensive was an offensive launched by the Soviet 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts in order to capture Vienna, Austria, during World War II. The offensive lasted from 16 March to 15 April 1945. After several days of street-to-street fighting, the Soviet troops captured the city on 13 April 1945.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Vienna offensive, conducted by the Soviet 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts between 16 March and 15 April 1945, resulted in the capture of Vienna on 13 April 1945. The operation brought one of Central Europe's major capitals under Soviet control in the final weeks of the war on the Eastern Front, extending the Red Army's reach deep into Austria. German forces numbering 270,000 faced a Soviet force of over 1.1 million, and the disparity in scale contributed to a German casualty toll of approximately 30,000 against Soviet losses of nearly 168,000—figures that reflect the intensity of the urban combat required to secure the city. The fall of Vienna eliminated a significant defensive anchor on Germany's southeastern flank and further compressed the shrinking perimeter of German-held territory as Allied forces closed from multiple directions in the war's closing phase.

Tactics

Forces & casualties

Commanders (4)