February 1945

Eastern Front

Organized resistance comes to an end in Budapest but fighting continues as isolated pockets of resistance refuse to give in. The battle of Budapest has cost the German and Hungarian forces 138,000 captured and 50,000 killed. Of the 16,000 that break out on February 12 and reach Perbal, barely 700 regain the main combat line. The battle has cost the 2nd Ukrainian Front 35,000 killed and 130,000 wounded and the 3rd Ukrainian Front a further 45,000 killed and 109,000 wounded.

The battle for Budapest had cost the Soviet and Germans dear. The entire German-Hungarian garrison is destroyed in a ferocious street battle lasting 2 months but the added experience the Soviets gained in urban fighting would prove valuable during the battles for Berlin and Vienna. Budapest honed Soviet urban fighting skilles to a level of expertise unsurpassed by any other army.

Guderian proposes a counterattack in Pomerania aimed at nipping off the spearheads of the 1st Belorussian Front. His plan calls for a double pincer movement from Frankfurt and Stargard but Hitler amends this to a single pincer striking south from Stargard. Guderian suggests the appointement of Gen Wenck to lead the assault but at this Hitler explodes, deriding Guderian for the implication that Himmler can not lead the attack. After protracted argument Wenck is appointed, but only subordinately to Himmler. Operation SONNENWENDE is conceived. The attack is to be launched by the 11th SS Panzer Army with 6 understrength divisions. Hitler believed these divisions to be at full strength and fully equipped.