January 1945

Eastern Front

Warsaw falls to Soviet and Polish troops after more than 5 years of Nazi occupation. A large part of the civilian population had been murdered during the occupation and uprising of autumn 1944. Of the 1,310,000 strong population in 1939 barely 162,000 remain in the city. To the west the 2nd Guards Tank Army captures Sochaczew, the 47th and 61st Armies push northwest in the wake of the 2nd Guards.

Elements of the 2nd Shock Army take Ciechanow while the 5th Guards and 3rd Guards Tank Armies close upon Krakow. The 59th launches attacks directly into the city, smashing the southern wing of the 17th Army. As these bitter battles rage the 60th Army approaches Navy Sacz and the 3rd Guards take Radomsko. Elements of the 52nd Army captures Zawiercie.

The 2nd Ukrainian Front has largely conquered the Pest district of Budapest, only the last remnants of the German and Hungarian force still fighting. The bridges over the Danube are blow, stranding some forces on the Pest side but most of the survivors have managed to fall back to Buda. As this battle nears its conclusion, the IV SS Panzer Corps redeploys to Szekesfehervar with the aim of crashing through the thinly stretched 4th Guards and 26th Armies between Lake Balaton and Lake Velencei.