October 1944

Eastern Front

The Soviets begin their first offensive against the German forces trapped in Kurland, attacking the 16th and 18th Armies in an effort to reduce the extensive pocket. The 6th Guards Army attacks toward Skrunda and 51st hits Libau. Bitter fighting rages for 3 days but with little Soviet success.

The 3rd Panzer Army is attacked north of Tilsit by elements of the 2nd Guards Army as the Soviets attempt to push toward the Niemen. The 5th Army and 11th Guards Army attacks along the Gumbinnen-Konigsberg axis, throwing the southern wing of the 3rd Panzer Army back 6 miles.

Soviet and Yugoslav forces around Belgrade fight their way toward the city center. Ther Germans resist fiercely, fighting for every house and street.

Horthy broadcasts on national radio that he believes the Germans are on the verge of total defeat and Hungary has no alternative but to seek an armistice with the Soviet Union. When news of this reaches Hitler he flies into a rage and orders Horthy's arrest. Otto Skorzeny's elite commando unit enters Budapest in the early hours of October 16 and, in a lightning operation, secure the radio station and palace. Horthy is placed under arrest and flown to Germany. The pro-Nazi Arrow Cross regime is established but the damage to German security in Hungary has already been done. Increasing numbers of Hungarian soldiers begin to desert from their units.