For this purpose, it was planned to strike on both flanks of Army Group Center: from the area northwest of Dresden by troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front and from the area south of Brno by troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front, with their subsequent development in converging directions to Prague.
Simultaneously with the delivery of these attacks, it was intended that the center and left wing of the 1st Ukrainian Front would attack from the northeast, all the forces of the 4th Ukrainian Front from the east, and the armies of the right wing of the 2nd Ukrainian Front from the southeast would cut the encircled group into pieces , thereby ensuring its rapid defeat and capture. It was also planned to create an external encirclement front. The troops that formed this front were supposed to come into contact with American troops reaching the western border of Czechoslovakia.
The 1st Ukrainian Front received the task:“...No later than May 3, complete the liquidation of the encircled group of Nazi troops in the Luckenwalde area and clear the enemy from the territory of Berlin within its borders. The troops of the right wing of the front should be used for a rapid offensive in the general direction of Prague. The advanced units of the right wing reach the Mulde River."
May 2 we received a directive from the commander of the 1st Ukrainian Front to surrender our combat area to the troops of the 1st Belorussian Front and concentrate in the forests 35-50 km south of Berlin to prepare an attack on Prague. The directive stated: “The troops of the right wing should launch a rapid offensive along both banks of the Elbe River in the general direction of Prague with the goal of defeating the enemy’s Dresden-Görlitz group and with tank armies on the sixth day of the operation to capture the capital of Czechoslovakia, the city of Prague.”
To achieve this goal, the command envisaged delivering the main blow from the Riza area with the forces of three combined arms armies: the 3rd Guards Colonel General V.N. Gordov, the 13th Colonel General N.P. Pukhov and the 5th Guards Colonel General A S. Zhadov and two tanks: the 3rd Guards Colonel General P. S. Rybalko and the 4th Guards.
Our 4th Guards Tank Army was supposed to advance along the western banks of the Elbe and Vltava rivers in the general direction of Teplice-Shanov-Prague.
Tank armies were supposed to operate in battle formations of combined arms armies, striking simultaneously with them:
4th Guards Tank - in the zone of the 13th Army, and the 3rd Guards Tank - initially in the zone of the 3rd Guards, then in the zone of the 5th Guards combined arms army.
The 4th Guards Tank Army was ordered from the sector of the 13th Army, advance in the direction of Nossen - Teplice-Shanov - Prague and on the sixth day, from the west and southwest, together with the 3rd Guards Tank Army, capture Prague. On the first day of the operation, the area of Gosberg, Ober-Schar, and Nossen was to be occupied.
The tank armies were supposed to immediately after breaking through the enemy defenses, without being drawn into the battles for Dresden, to quickly, on the shoulders of the enemy, together with combined arms armies, capture the mountain passes and reach Czechoslovakia through the Ore Mountains to the rear of Army Group Center.
Readiness for the offensive was scheduled for the evening of May 6.
Our closest right neighbor, advancing on the city of Chemnitz (now Karl-Marx-Stadt), was the 25th Tank Corps of Major General E.I. Fominykh (after the capture of Prague, this formation came under our operational subordination). This tank corps finally defeated Vlasov’s gang, capturing him and his headquarters on May 11, 1945 in the area of Chemnitz. An important role in the capture of Vlasov was played by the commander of the motorized rifle battalion of the 181st Tank Brigade, Colonel Mishchenko, Captain Yakushev. For this feat he was awarded the Order of Suvorov, II degree.
Having received the directive, we, together with the headquarters, with the participation of the commander of the 1st Guards Assault Aviation Corps V. G. Ryazanov, carefully studied the concept of the upcoming operation and on the same day assigned tasks to the troops. The 6th Guards Mechanized Corps with reinforcements, together with the 13th Army, was ordered to break through the enemy’s defenses in the Mügeln, Naundorf sector and by the end of the first day, rapidly advancing in the direction of Katnitz-Nossen, seize the areas: with the main forces - Gross-Voigtsberg, Hirschfeld, Nossen, forward detachment - Freyberg. Conduct reconnaissance in the direction of Oderan - Mitelzeida. On the second day of the operation, develop the attack on Lichtenberg and, by the end of the day, capture the Friedebach, Nassau, and Ditterstbach area. The 10th Guards Tank Corps, together with units of the 13th Army, was to launch an offensive in the Kasabra-Reppen sector and, rapidly advancing in the direction of Nekkanitz-Rauslitz, capture the Ober-Schar, Mohorn, Tanneberg area by the end of the first day. On the second day of the operation, develop the offensive in the direction of Grilleburg-Schönfeld and, by the end of the day, capture the Hermsdorf, Hönnersdorf, Reichenau area.
The 5th Guards Mechanized Corps was given the task of moving in the second echelon behind the 6th Guards Mechanized Corps, being ready to repel enemy counterattacks from the southwest, and to develop the offensive of the 6th Guards Mechanized Corps. By the end of the first day of the operation, he was supposed to reach an area 8 km northwest of Nossen, and then advance to Weissenberg (6 km southeast of Freiberg).
All formations were ordered to develop rapid actions, especially in the first two days of the operation, in order to capture the passes of the mountain ridge before the enemy was able to organize a defense on them; do not stop attacking at night; take into account the peculiarities of action in rugged mountainous and forested terrain. The forward detachments included sapper units and transportation means.
The 68th Guards Tank and 70th Guards Self-Propelled Artillery Brigades, as well as a number of other army units, were intended for reserve. The operational group of the army headquarters was supposed to follow with the main forces of the 10th Guards Corps.
On May 3, the 4th Guards Tank Army handed over its combat area 69th Army of the 1st Belorussian Front and the next day concentrated in the forests in the Dame area south of Berlin.
The personnel of the units and formations worked hard to prepare the march at night. Crossing the Elbe in the Torgau area with the onset of darkness was supposed to ensure surprise of our appearance in front of the defending Nazi troops. K. I. Upman, S. S. Maryakhin, N. F. Mentyukov, A. Ya. Ostrenko, M. A. Poluektov, corps commanders E. E. Belov, were extremely attentive and thoughtful in the preparation of this final operation. I. P. Ermakov, S. F. Pushkarev and all other commanders of formations and units.
Before the start of the operation, an average of 2 ammunition loads, 3 fuel refills for tanks, 3.5 refills for vehicles, and 10 daily rations of food were supplied.
V.G. Gulyaev and I went to our neighbors and met with the commander of the 13th Army, General N.P. Pukhov, and member of the army military council, M.A. Kozlov, to coordinate our actions. The meeting was short, but businesslike.
On the night of May 5, army troops began to march. On May 5 we received instructions from the front commander to attack the enemy not on May 7, as originally prescribed, but a day earlier - on May 6. This was apparently determined by the entire military-political situation in the last days of the war, and in particular by the uprising in the Czech Republic, the preparation of which has already been mentioned. It unfolded with great force in Prague. Hitler's Gauleiter Frank, in order to gain time, began negotiations with the leadership of the rebels, and Scherner gave a categorical order to suppress the uprising by any means. We did not know about this before the attack on Prague, but the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, of course, had the relevant information.
Having crossed the Elbe in the Torgau region and slightly to the south, by the morning of May 6, the main forces of the army took the starting position for the offensive at the line Mügeln, Zeren (50 km northwest of Dresden). Some of our units were still on the road at that time.
There were formations of American troops near the army concentration area. We did not receive specific data about the nature and strength of the enemy's defense from the allies - it is difficult to say why. We had to conduct combat reconnaissance to establish the nature of the enemy’s defense and determine whether to conduct artillery preparations on the discovered targets or, if the enemy’s defenses were not strong enough, immediately after the combat reconnaissance, introduce strong forward detachments, which was possible since the enemy did not expect ours here offensive
Soon the commander of the 13th Army, N.P. Pukhov, arrived. Together we waited for the results of combat reconnaissance. They were gratifying for us - the enemy did not have a continuous defensive line, there were only isolated nodes of resistance. Having discussed the situation, we decided, without wasting time, to launch a five-minute artillery fire raid on the detected pockets of resistance and, without waiting for an air strike, to attack the enemy with strong forward detachments. We believed that if the enemy’s defense in depth turns out to be serious, then the battle of the forward detachments can reveal its character and strength, but if the enemy’s resistance can be broken immediately to the entire tactical depth, then without delay the main forces of the armies can be brought into battle to develop an offensive on Prague. Pukhov's troops were mostly on the march.
The forward detachments were assigned to: from the 10th Guards Tank Corps - the 63rd Guards Tank Brigade of Colonel M. G. Fomichev, reinforced by the 72nd Guards Heavy Tank Regiment of Major A. A Dementyev and motorized riflemen of the 29th Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade of Colonel A I. Efimova; from the 6th Guards Mechanized Corps - the 35th Guards Mechanized Brigade of Colonel P.N. Turkin, reinforced with artillery and a corps tank regiment. Soon the advance detachment from the 13th Army arrived.
The offensive was to be supported by the fighter air division of three times Hero of the Soviet Union, Colonel A. I. Pokryshkin, the attack aircraft of Lieutenant General V. G. Ryazanov and the bombers of General D. T. Nikishin.
At 8 o'clock. on the morning of May 6 we were at our observation post. At 8 o'clock. 30 min. after a short artillery attack, the advance detachments began to attack. We watched as our tanks (there were about 150 of them in both forward detachments) lined up in battle formation - angled forward. This formation order is beneficial in the event of sudden enemy anti-tank fire and in the presence of minefields. In addition, such a formation ensured effective firing, both frontal and flanking, while the battle formation in a line allowed fire to be carried out only in front of the front and did not guarantee against sudden surprises.
The tanks walked boldly, crushing the enemy with fire, armor and tracks. Enemy combat vehicles and other equipment were burning in full view of us. The enemy offered stubborn resistance. Separate groups of Nazis surrendered; apparently, they could not figure out what had happened or who was attacking. Americans? But why then do they strike “in Russian”?
Soon, 4 captured officers were brought to our outpost with maps showing the situation. It became absolutely clear that the enemy did not have a tough defense here, as we had expected. From the testimony of the prisoners, it became clear that the enemy command, which knew that American troops were located in the area, was convinced that they would not advance. Therefore, the attack by our advanced tank detachments came as a complete surprise to them.
At 10 o'clock 30 min. I reported to the commander of the front troops on the results of the battle of the advanced detachments, which were rapidly developing the offensive, briefly outlined the data on the nature of the enemy’s defense, his behavior and asked for permission to attack with all troops.
At 11 o'clock 20 minutes. Front commander I. S. Konev and member of the front military council, Lieutenant General K. V. Krainyukov, arrived at our NP. Convinced of our success, the front commander gave instructions to bring the main forces of the army into battle.
Every minute was precious to me, and I asked for permission to go forward with the operational group to the main forces, units of which were just passing near our OP, and from the open hatches of the tanks we could hear exclamations: “Give me Prague!”
About half an hour later, already on the way, we learned from radio messages that on May 5 an uprising of Czechoslovak patriots began in Prague. The core of the uprising was the work collectives of the large factories “Skoda-Smichov”, “Walter”, “Avia”, “Mikrofon”, “Eta”, “ChKD”.
Later details became known. The rebels achieved serious successes. They occupied the radio station, post office, telegraph office, central telephone exchange, central stations, city power station, and most of the bridges over the Vltava.
At the initiative of the communists, on the night of May 6, the Czech National Council appealed to residents of the capital to build barricades. During the night, 1,600 barricades were erected. About 30 thousand people fought on them.
The uprising in Prague was becoming increasingly widespread. To suppress it, the fascist command sent tanks and planes to help its garrison. The Nazi monsters brutally dealt with the population, sparing neither women nor children. The SS units were especially atrocious in the working-class areas of the city. The rebels fought with the greatest courage and bravery.
An important role in maintaining the steadfastness of the fighters was played by the newspaper “Rude Pravo”, published after six years of underground, where the appeal of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Communist Party to the communists was published, which said: “Communists! Our direct participation in the battles began yesterday. Prove that in open struggle against the enemy you will be as persistent, courageous and resourceful as during the six-year brutal struggle against the monsters of the Gestapo. Be the best of the best everywhere and gloriously carry your banner, soaked in the blood of thousands of your comrades, to the goal. The iron discipline of the Bolshevik Party and the enthusiasm of the fraternal Red Army serve as a shining example to you. Forward to the last battle for the free, people’s, democratic Czechoslovak Republic!”
Despite the heroism of the patriots who rebelled in Prague, the enemy managed to capture a number of barricades during May 6 after fierce fighting. The Nazis began to make their way to the city center. The crisis of the uprising was approaching.
From the basement of the Prague radio building besieged by the Nazis, a Czechoslovakian announcer cried out in Russian for help: “Attention! Attention! Czech Prague speaks! Czech Prague speaks! A large number of German tanks and aircraft are currently attacking our city from all sides. We make a passionate appeal to the heroic Red Army asking for support. Send tanks and planes to our aid, don’t let our city of Prague perish!”
The soldiers of the Red Army, having learned about the appeal of the Czechoslovak people on the radio, strove with even greater enthusiasm and energy to reach Prague as quickly as possible and help the rebels.
Troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front advanced from the north and northwest. Formations of the 4th Ukrainian Front were coming from the east, and from the southeast the 2nd Ukrainian Front was developing its success.
By the evening of May 6 The troops of our army, having covered 50 km, reached the Waldheim-Siebelen line, and advanced detachments advanced up to 65 km and captured an important railway junction - the city of Freiberg. Advance detachments captured road junctions, defiles and passes. They were ahead of the enemy, preventing him from occupying the lines prepared for defense on the German-Czechoslovak border and straddling mountain passes.
May 7 The 4th Guards Tank Army advanced another 50-60 km, to the Frauenstein-Zayda line. Soon all the passes through the Ore Mountains were in our hands. The 10th Guards Tank Corps occupied Teplice-Shanov, and the 6th Guards Mechanized Corps occupied Dukhtsev.
The enemy retreated fighting, clung to every advantageous line, and created rubble and minefields in narrow places, on passes and in gorges. The sappers of Major General M.A. Poluektov paved the way for tanks in the mountains covered with forests. Czechoslovakian friends showed us how best to get around obstacles.
The greatest difficulty was to overcome the steep rocky slopes covered with forest. We had to resort to the invention of the driver mechanics: the tracks on the caterpillars were turned over one at a time with the ridge outward, then grip on the ground was reliably ensured.
I cannot help but cite one interesting episode. Our task force found itself in a mountainous area rich in iron ore. The compass needle pointed anywhere but north. To better navigate the terrain, I climbed the border tower. Along the eastern slopes of the Ore Mountains, in the pre-dawn darkness, many factory chimneys could be seen. And on the map there was a forest and several villages. I was seriously upset, wondering if we had lost our direction. But, fortunately, at that moment the sun began to rise. It turned out that we were going in the right direction, exactly to the east, and the factories, as it later turned out, were built by the Nazis in recent years. The fascist German leadership built its defense enterprises here, taking into account that we would not bomb the territory of Czechoslovakia.
By the end of May 7, the 4th Guards Tank Army with its main forces crossed the Ore Mountains and was already 150-160 km northwest of Prague. The 13th Army advanced behind them. On the left was the 3rd Guards Tank Army and other troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front. The 1st Guards, 38th, 60th and 18th armies of the 4th Ukrainian Front moved from the east. From the southeast, the 2nd Ukrainian Front developed its success.
Operating in difficult mountainous conditions, guardsmen of the 16th mechanized brigade of G. M. Shcherbak on the morning of May 8 broke into the city of Most, which is of great military-industrial importance. A large synthetic gasoline production plant was located there. The brigade destroyed more than 20 enemy guns, defeated the fascist garrison and liberated the city.
Hundreds and thousands of men, women, and teenagers came out to meet the Soviet soldiers. These were Russians, Czechs, Poles, French, Danes, people of many other nationalities, whom the Nazis drove from their homes to hard labor.
And our brigades walked past us further towards Prague. 5th Guards Mechanized Corps I. P. Ermakov.
The defeat of Army Group Center and the liberation of Prague
On the night of May 8, 1945, the 10th Guards Mechanized Brigade of the 5th Guards Mechanized Corps, under the command of Colonel V.N. Buslaev, acting as an advance detachment, broke into Žatec (60 km northwest of Prague). Noticing a long enemy column of vehicles in the twilight, the commander of the tank regiment, Lieutenant Colonel O.N. Grebennikov, attacked the enemy on the move. Soon other brigades arrived here 5th Guards Mechanized Corps and completed the work begun by Grebennikov. As it turned out later, this was the headquarters of Scherner’s Army Group Center, which was hurrying from Jaromer (100 km northeast of Prague) to Pilsen, in order to get from there to the west.
It was on this path that disaster befell the enemy. In just a few minutes, under the attacks of the tanks of Senior Lieutenant V.S. Derevyanko and Lieutenant S.P. Bednenko, the headquarters of Field Marshal Scherner ceased to exist. On the streets of Žatec, something like a paper snowstorm played out: the wind swirled and scattered armfuls of staff documents in all directions. Most of the Nazis surrendered, including 9 generals. But many, like a flock of frightened jackals, tried to hide in doorways, gardens, ditches and attics. Czechoslovakian friends helped us catch them.
Scherner, as it later became known, with an adjutant who spoke Czech, dressed in civilian clothes, managed to escape, leaving his troops to their fate. Here’s how Scherner himself talks about it: “On the night of May 7–8, my headquarters was being transferred and on the morning of May 8, during a Russian tank breakthrough, it was completely destroyed. From that time on, I lost control of the retreating troops. The tank breakthrough was completely unexpected, since the front still existed on the evening of May 7.”
After being lost for 5 days, Scherner and his adjutant made their way to the Americans and surrendered.
Now Scherner’s troops, operating in front of the 1st, 2nd and 4th Ukrainian Fronts, found themselves without centralized control.
On the morning of May 8, it became known that Germany had capitulated, but Scherner’s troops, not recognizing the surrender, still continued to fight. They tried to break through to the west, but, having failed to achieve their goal, they were destroyed or captured by our troops.
Although on May 9, the new fascist leader, Doenitz, officially ordered his troops “on May 9 at 00:00 to all types of armed forces, all theaters of military operations, all armed organizations and individuals to cease hostilities against former opponents,” but on the same day To “clarify” this order, an officer of the General Staff, Colonel Meyer-Detring, went by plane to Pilsen, where, according to Doenitz’s calculations, Scherner’s headquarters, which had already been destroyed by us in Žatec, should have been located. He had with him an order that ordered him to continue the fight against the Soviet troops for as long as possible, because only under this condition would numerous units of the fascist army be able to gain time to break through to the west, to the allies.
By about 2 o'clock. 30 min. morning May 9 we received a radio report from the advance detachment of M. G. Fomichev that he had broken into Prague. This information was confirmed by a liaison officer from the 10th Guards Tank Corps, Captain M.V. Mishin.
At 3 o'clock. 9th May The advanced units of the 63rd Guards Tank Brigade fought in the center of Prague - near the general headquarters building. One battalion of the brigade, preventing the SS men from blowing up the mined Charles Bridge, was located on the western bank of the river. Vltava, and another battalion drove the Nazis out of the Prague Kremlin.
At 4 o'clock. morning May 9 The entire 10th Guards Tank Corps of the 4th Guards Tank Army entered Prague. N. F. Kornyushkin’s 70th Army Guards Self-Propelled Artillery Brigade also entered with him. A platoon of self-propelled guns under Lieutenant Kulemin burst into Prague from the southwest, followed by the 72nd Guards Heavy Tank Regiment of A. A. Dementyev. Our other corps (6th and 5th Guards Mechanized) also entered the city with the main forces.
The operational group and I moved together with the 10th Guards Tank Corps. From Prague I sent a report to the front commander:
“At 4.00 in the morning of 9.5.45, the 10th Guards Tank Corps entered the city of Prague and reached its northeastern outskirts, eastern and southeastern outskirts. 6th Guards Mechanized Corps - to the southern and southwestern outskirts of Prague. 5th Guards Mechanized Corps - to the western outskirts. Many prisoners and trophies were captured. Those who resisted were destroyed. Contact with the rebels through Brigadier General Veder. There are no American troops. There are no neighbors. I am conducting reconnaissance in the northeastern part, in a southern direction. I am tidying up. I'm with a task force on the western outskirts of Prague. Lelyushenko."
The Czech Republic or Czech Republic is a state in Central Europe. A map of the Czech Republic shows that the country borders Germany, Slovakia, Austria and Poland. The area of the country is 78,866 square meters. km.
Today the Czech Republic is the most developed of the post-socialist countries. The main sectors of the economy are mechanical engineering, fuel and energy, food, light and chemical industries. Recently, the importance of the metallurgical industry has been declining and foreign trade has been actively developing. The national currency of the country is the Czech crown. The Czech Republic is a member of the OSER, NATO and the EU.
The political map of the Czech Republic shows that the state is divided into the capital (Prague) and 13 regions. The largest cities in the country are Prague, Brno, Pilsen, and Ostrava.
Historical reference
The territory of modern Czech Republic was united in the 9th century by the Přemyslids as the protectorate of Charlemagne. This is where the claims of the German rulers to these lands came from. Bohemia (Kingdom of the Czech Republic) was formed on this territory. In 1041, the Czech Republic became part of the Holy Roman Empire. In the 15th century, the Hussite wars raged across the country. In the 17th century, the Czech Republic entered the Thirty Years' War, after which it came under the rule of the Austrian Habsburg dynasty.
In 1918, the unification of Slovakia, Carpathian Ruthenia and the Czech Republic took place into Czechoslovakia. In 1938, Slovakia seceded from Czechoslovakia. In 1939, the country was occupied by German troops, and after World War II it became the Czechoslovak SSR. The Prague Spring of 1968 (the fight against the Soviet regime) led to the introduction of Soviet troops into the country, and the struggle was brutally suppressed. The Velvet Revolution took place in 1989, resulting in the formation of the Czech Republic in 1993.
Must Visit
On a detailed map of the Czech Republic from a satellite you can see the main cities of the country, full of attractions: Prague, Brno, Karlovy Vary, Pilsen and Pardubice.
It is recommended to visit Prague Castle with St. Vitus Cathedral, Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, Vysehrad and the Jewish Quarter in Prague; Špilberg, St. John's Church and Old Town Hall in Brno; St. Bartholomew's Church and beer taverns in Pilsen; healing mineral spas in Karlovy Vary; castles Karlštejn and Detinice. It is worth visiting the ancient cities of Kromeriz, Kutná Hora and Cesky Krumlov.
The Czech Republic is famous for its beer, so beers like Krušovice, Gamrinus, Pilsner Urquell, Velkopopovický Kozel, Budweiser and Staropramen are worth trying.
Exactly 71 years ago, from May 6 to 11, 1945, the Prague operation took place, the last strategic operation of the Red Army in the Great Patriotic War, during which Prague was liberated from Nazi troops.
To this event, my friends, I dedicate a photo selection made on the basis of photographs from the album “For Eternity.”
The printed album “For Eternal Times” (“Na vecne casy”) was released in Prague in 1965 to mark the 20th anniversary of the liberation of Czechoslovakia by Soviet troops. It contains several hundred photographs taken by residents of Czechoslovakia in the May days of 1945.
1. A girl soldier from the Soviet troops that liberated Czechoslovakia in the cab of a truck.
2. A Soviet soldier wearing motorcycle glasses and binoculars in Prague.
3. Soviet soldiers communicate with residents of Prague.
4. Czech children give flowers to Soviet soldiers from the liberators of Czechoslovakia.
5. Soviet soldiers near the T-34 tank communicate with residents of Prague. One of the Czechoslovak soldiers with a submachine gun is visible in the background.
6. A private girl from the Soviet troops who liberated Czechoslovakia smiles from the cab of a truck.
7. Review of Soviet troops in Czechoslovakia. The mortar men are coming.
8. Review of Soviet troops in Czechoslovakia. Carrying the unit's banner.
9. Two Soviet officers together with Czechoslovak military personnel at the monument to the Czech commander and national hero Jan Zizka in the city of Tabor.
10. Soviet military band on the street of Prague.
11. A Soviet general, Hero of the Soviet Union, signs a souvenir in the album of a resident of Prague.
12. A Czech girl sits on the lap of a Lieutenant General of the Red Army during a holiday in Prague.
13. Soviet officer, major, surrounded by women from Prague.
14. A Soviet girl soldier (with the rank of sergeant major) leaves an autograph for a resident of Prague.
15. A resident of Prague gives postcards with views of the city to Soviet soldiers.
16. A Soviet soldier leaves an autograph for the residents of Prague.
17. A Soviet soldier leaves his postal address to a resident of Prague.
18. A Soviet soldier tells something to the residents of Prague gathered around him.
19. A Czech soldier, who was given flowers, with a resident of Prague. The compilers of the Czech printed album “For All Seasons” saw a symbolic detail in this photograph: in the hands of a soldier he simultaneously holds symbols of war and peace - a submachine gun and flowers.The Czechoslovak Army Corps (Czechoslovak combined arms unit as part of the 4th Ukrainian Front of the Red Army) took part in the liberation of Prague.
20. A resident of Prague with a Soviet tank driver. A woman holds a flag with the Czech national flag.
21. A Czech girl plays with a Soviet officer, captain of tank forces. Around are the residents of Prague, greeting the Soviet troops who liberated the city.
22. A Soviet soldier changes the tube in a car wheel.
23. Soviet soldiers repair car wheels.
24. A Soviet soldier milks a cow.
25. A Soviet soldier shaves while on the road - the mirror is installed in a niche in the truck body.
26. Column of Soviet soldiers on the street of Prague.
27. Soviet driver and guard at the door of a house in Czechoslovakia.
28. Soviet soldier-traffic controller in Czechoslovakia.
29. A soldier-driver from the liberators of Czechoslovakia at a truck.
30. Military cook from the liberators of Czechoslovakia.
31. Soviet soldier from the liberators of Czechoslovakia.
32. Commander of the Soviet garrison in the Czech city of Olomouc, Lieutenant Colonel Latyshev.
33. Senior lieutenant from the liberators of Czechoslovakia with an accordion.
34. A Soviet column, greeted by local residents, passes through a Czechoslovak village.
35. Concert of Soviet soldiers for the residents of Prague.
36. Soviet tanker with a violin and a resident of Prague.
37. Parade of athletes in liberated Czechoslovakia.
38. Soviet officer with a camera.
39. Soviet senior sergeant and senior lieutenant at the table in a Czech house.
40. Soviet Cossack with a Czech child on a horse.
41. Soviet sergeant and lieutenant are photographed with a resident of Czechoslovakia.
42. Czech girls treat Soviet officers to cakes.
43. Toast to the liberators of Czechoslovakia. Residents treat Soviet soldiers.
44. Soviet girl soldier (sergeant) in Prague.
45. Soviet officers with Czech children in liberated Prague.
46. Soviet soldier with a Czech girl in national costume.
47. A Soviet soldier rides Czech children on a horse.
48. Meeting of the liberators of Prague. A Soviet junior officer holds a Czech boy in his arms.
49. Meeting of Soviet troops - liberators of Prague. Senior lieutenant of the Red Army among Czech children.
50. Celebration of the liberation of Prague. Guard senior lieutenant of the Soviet troops with a Czech child.
51. Meeting of the liberators of Prague. A Soviet major general holds a Czech girl in his arms.
52. A colorful soldier from the liberators of Czechoslovakia.
53. Soviet officers, sergeants and foremen drink beer during the days of peace that came in Czechoslovakia.
54. Two Soviet soldiers with medals “For Courage” in Czechoslovakia.
55. Soviet soldier near the truck. Leichkov, Czechoslovakia. In the background is a lieutenant.
56. Soviet infantry squad in Czechoslovakia. The original caption under the photo in the album: “This squad defended our village from fascist tanks.”
57. Soviet artillery sergeant in Prague.
58. Soviet soldier among the residents of Prague.
59. Red Army soldiers on the streets of Prague.
60. Soviet soldiers in Prague.
61. Soviet soldier from the troops that liberated Prague.
62. Soviet soldier with a Czech child in his arms.
The battles for the liberation of Czechoslovakia began in September 1944. At that time, she entered the territory of the country. Let us next consider how the liberation of Czechoslovakia took place in 1945. Photos of the battles will also be shown in the article.
Historical information
The Soviet army has already liberated almost the entire territory of Slovakia. The Nazis were expelled from the capital of the country, Bratislava, and the large industrial centers of Brno and Moravska-Ostrava. The Wehrmacht group was defeated, Berlin fell. All this led to the collapse of the German military machine. The fascist troops operating on the Italian and Western fronts ceased resistance. 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. were still on its territory and continued their stubborn defense.
Liberation of Czechoslovakia in 1945: German positions
At the beginning of May, on the line of the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 2nd Ukrainian Fronts at the line of Sternberk, Krnov, Strigau, Kamenz, Wurzen, west of Stockerau, Glognitz, Brno, troops from the Center group held the defense. They were commanded by Field Marshal Scherner. Together with them, some troops from the Austria group resisted. They were led by General Rendulic. In total, the defense was held by 65 divisions, fifteen separate regiments and 3 brigades. The main enemy forces were located in front of the left flank and center of the 1st Ukrainian Front. They acted based on a powerful defense prepared in advance. In front of the right flank, enemy resistance was weaker, the line of contact between the armies was unstable. In the directions of the second and fourth Ukrainian fronts, there were enemy field-type fortifications formed in tactical depth. Using powerful prepared positions, the Nazis continued stubborn resistance. In some areas, German forces even launched counterattacks.
General political situation in Germany
By the end of the war, the fascist leadership still had quite large forces at its disposal. Unwilling under any circumstances to admit the hopelessness of the situation, monopoly circles and the ruling elite continued to follow the previously planned political course. The German leadership tried to conclude a separate deal with Great Britain and the United States. Thus, it was intended to separate the allies, gaining time to preserve their state. The Denitsa government intended to delay the advance of the Soviet army into the western territories. Due to this, an unhindered passage to the west would have been opened, which would have been followed by the liberation of Czechoslovakia in 1945 by the Americans and the British. In addition, US and British troops could occupy most of the territory of Austria and Germany. In this regard, an order was given to the fascist armed forces. It said that due to the fact that the fight against Western countries had become meaningless, it was necessary to lay down arms in Holland, Denmark and North-West Germany. At the same time, the fight on the eastern fronts was ordered to continue.
Meeting of the fascist leadership
In Moravia and the Czech Republic, it was growing, which significantly complicated the position of the fascist army in these territories. Liberation of Czechoslovakia in 1945 was accompanied by active guerrilla warfare among the local population. Thus, by the beginning of March, there were 20 people’s liberation associations, detachments and brigades in the country. More than 7,700 volunteers took part in them. The fascist leadership repeatedly discussed the situation in Czechoslovakia. On May 3, the next meeting was convened. In addition to members of the Doenitz government, 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 Association Center, Natsmer. 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 was impossible. At the meeting, discussing the plight of Scherner’s army, agreeing that the situation forced him to lay down his arms, they nevertheless decided to continue resistance. The German leadership understood that if the troops surrendered, then everyone would be at the mercy of the Russians. In this regard, the previously made decision to take a wait-and-see approach was confirmed at the meeting. At the same time, it was planned to begin preparing Army Group Center to retreat to the west and surrender to US troops.
Liberation of Czechoslovakia in 1945 (briefly)
The situation that developed in the military-political arena by the end of April - beginning of May required the adoption of emergency measures. The liberation of Czechoslovakia in 1945 began even before the defeat of the enemy group in Berlin was completed. The Supreme Command Headquarters decided to start spontaneous protests against the Nazis in some cities of Czechoslovakia on May 1-2. Gradually they began to take on a more organized form. The liberation of Czechoslovakia in 1945 was facilitated by the very advantageous position of the Soviet troops. The enemy group operating in the country was surrounded from the southeast, east and north. The armies of the 1st, 2nd and 4th Ukrainian Fronts operated here. The First's troops were located on the 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 2nd 3rd and 4th Tank, 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th Guards, 7th Mechanized Corps, as well as the 52nd, 28th, 13th Armies. At the same time, the forces of the left flank held defenses on the border north of Krnov, west of Levenberg. The Sixth Army continued to blockade the garrison of the Breslau fortress. The ground troops were supported by the Second Air Force. It was commanded by Krasovsky. The main aviation forces were also redirected to the liberation of Czechoslovakia. In 1945, operating between Krnov and Vsetin in a strip of 220 kilometers, the 4th Ukrainian Front, consisting of the 31st Tank Corps, the 1st, 38th, 60th Guards Regiment and the 18th Army, completed the Moravian-Ostrava operation. On this line, ground forces were supported by the 8th Air Force. It included the 1st mixed Czechoslovak air division.
Since March 26, the front troops were under the command of Eremenko. In a strip 350 km wide, from Vsetin to Korneyburg, the liberation of Czechoslovakia in 1945 was carried out by the army of the 2nd Ukrainian Front. The right wing included the 6th, 53rd, 40th Guards Tank, 1st and 4th Romanian armies under the command of Atanasiu and Dăscalescu. The army advanced towards Olomouc, towards the army of the 4th Ukrainian Front. The remaining forces (1st Cavalry Mechanized Guards Group of Pliev, 46th Army and 7th Guards) were sent to the defense. The 23rd Air Force was in the front reserve. The ground forces that carried out the liberation of Czechoslovakia in 1945 on the right flank were supported by the 5th Aviation Army.
Completing the operation
The liberation of Czechoslovakia in 1945 was carried out along a 1220-kilometer strip. By the beginning of May, three Ukrainian fronts took part 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 was more than twice that of the Nazis. At the same time, the number of tanks was approximately the same. The Russian army had a decisive advantage in aviation and artillery. Here our superiority was threefold. Due to the favorable general military-political situation, thanks to advantageous positions on the front line, Soviet troops quickly liberated Czechoslovakia in 1945.