The liberation of Czechoslovakia in 1945

The battles for the liberation of Czechoslovakia began in September 1944. At that time the Soviet army entered the territory of the country. Let us consider further how the liberation of Czechoslovakia passed in 1945. A photo of the battles will also be shown in the article.

Historical background

The Soviet army has already liberated virtually the entire territory of Slovakia. The fascists were expelled from the capital of the country of Bratislava, large industrial centers of Brno and Moravsk-Ostrava. The grouping of the Wehrmacht was defeated, and Berlin fell. All this led to the collapse of the military machine of Germany. The fascist forces operating on the Italian and Western fronts ceased resistance. The German soldiers began to surrender. It was the spring of 1945. The liberation of Czechoslovakia was the next step towards the universal goal of destroying fascism. The German troops were still on its territory and continued their stubborn defense.

Liberation of Czechoslovakia in 1945: the position of the Germans

At the beginning of May, troops from the "Center" group were on the line 1, 3, 4 and 2 of the Ukrainian fronts at the line Sternberk, Krnov, Strigau, Kaments, Wurzen, west of Stockerau, Glognitz, Brno. Commanded them by Field Marshal Scherner. Together with them, resistance was provided by part of the troops from the "Austria" group. They were headed by General Rendulich. In all, 65 divisions, fifteen separate regiments and three brigades held the defense. The main enemy forces were in front of the left flank and the center of the First Ukrainian Front. They acted on the basis of a powerful defense prepared in advance. Before the right flank, the enemy's resistance was weaker, the line of contact between the armies was unstable. On the tracks of the second and fourth Ukrainian fronts, enemy field-type fortifications were formed, formed in a tactical depth. Using powerful prepared positions, the fascists continued their stubborn resistance. In some sectors, German forces even launched counterattacks.

The general political position of Germany

By the end of the war, the fascist leadership still had large enough forces. Not wishing under no circumstances to recognize the hopelessness of the situation, the monopoly circles and the ruling elite continued to follow the previously planned political course. The German leadership tried to conclude a separate deal with the United Kingdom and the United States. Thus, it was intended to sever allies, having won the time for the preservation of their state. The Deniz government intended to delay the advance of the Soviet army to western territories. This would open an unhindered passage to the west, followed by the liberation of Czechoslovakia in 1945 by Americans and Englishmen. In addition, US and British troops could occupy most of the territory of Austria and Germany. In this connection, an order was given to the fascist armed forces. It said that due to the fact that the struggle against the Western countries became meaningless, it is necessary to lay down arms in Holland, Denmark and North-West Germany. Together with this, the struggle on the eastern fronts was ordered to continue.

Meeting of the fascist leadership

The people's liberation movement was growing in Moravia and the Czech Republic. That significantly complicated the position of the fascist army in these territories. The liberation of Czechoslovakia in 1945. Accompanied by active guerrilla struggle of the local population. So, by early March, there were 20 people's liberation associations, detachments and brigades in the country. More than 7,700 volunteers participated in them. The fascist leadership repeatedly discussed the situation in Czechoslovakia. On May 3, another meeting was convened. It was attended by Jodl, Keitel, Frank (the governor of Moravia and the Czech Republic), as well as the Chief of Staff of the Army Group Center Nazmer, in addition to the members of the Denik government. The position of the troops was hopeless. However, contrary to common sense, the fascist leadership considered that the surrender of troops on the eastern front is impossible. At the meeting, discussing the plight of the army of Scherner, agreeing that the situation compels him to lay down his arms, nevertheless decided to continue resistance. The German leadership understood that if the troops capitulate, then all the forces of Germany will be in the hands of the Russians. In this regard, the earlier decision to take a wait-and-see attitude was confirmed at the meeting. Together with this, it was planned to begin training the Army Group Center to withdraw to the West and surrender to US troops.

The Liberation of Czechoslovakia in 1945 (briefly)

The situation that developed in the military-political arena by the end of April and the beginning of May required emergency measures. The liberation of Czechoslovakia in 1945 began even before the defeat of the enemy grouping in Berlin was over. The headquarters of the Supreme Command decided to launch the Prague operation. May 1-2, in some cities of Czechoslovakia, spontaneous attacks against the fascists took place. Gradually they began to acquire a more organized form. The liberation of Czechoslovakia in 1945 was facilitated by the very favorable position of the Soviet troops. The enemy group operating on the territory of the country was surrounded from the south-east, east and north. Here the armies of the 1st, 2nd and 4th Ukrainian fronts acted. Troops of the First were on a 650-kilometer line between Krnov and Potsdam.

Right flank and center

They began regrouping and preparing for an offensive in the Prague direction. The troops included the forces of the Second Army of the Polish Army, 3rd and 4th Panzers, 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th Guards, 7th Mechanized Corps, and 52, 28, and 13th Armies. At the same time, the forces of the left flank held defense at the border north of Krnov, west of Levenberg. The Sixth Army continued to block the garrison of the fortress of Breslau. The ground forces were supported by the Second Air Army. It was commanded by Krasovsky. The main forces of aviation were also redirected to the liberation of Czechoslovakia. In 1945, acting between Krnov and Vsetin in the 220 kilometer strip, the Fourth Ukrainian Front, consisting of the 31st Panzer Corps, 1, 38, 60th Guards Regiment and 18th Army, completed the Moravian-Ostrava operation. On this line, the ground forces were supported by the 8th Air Army. In its composition was the 1st mixed Czechoslovak air division. Since March 26, the front forces were under the command of Eremenko. In the 350 km wide belt from Vsetin to Korneiburg, the liberation of Czechoslovakia in 1945 was conducted by the army of the 2nd Ukrainian Front. In the right wing there were 6th, 53rd, 40th Guards Tank, 1st and 4th Romanian armies under the command of Atanasiu and Daskalescu. The army advanced towards Olomouc, towards the army of the 4th Ukrainian Front. The remaining forces (the 1st horse-mechanized Guards group of Pliev, the 46th Army and the 7th Guards Army) were sent to the defense. The reserve of the front was the 23rd Tank Corps. From the air, the ground forces, which liberated Czechoslovakia in 1945 on the right flank, were supported by the 5th Air Army.

End of operation

The liberation of Czechoslovakia in 1945 was conducted on a 1220-kilometer strip. By the beginning of May, three Ukrainian fronts participated in the operation, consisting of 20 combined-arms (including Romanian and two Polish), 3 air and 3 tank armies, 5 tank, cavalry and mechanized corps, as well as a horse-mechanized group. The number of Soviet soldiers exceeded the fascist more than twice. The number of tanks was approximately the same. The decisive superiority of the domestic army was in aviation and artillery. Here our superiority was threefold. Due to a favorable overall military and political situation, thanks to advantageous positions on the front line, the Soviet troops in a short time carried out the liberation of Czechoslovakia in 1945.