March 1945

Eastern Front

After days of bitter fighting Soviet forces capture the railway stationat Heiligenbeil.

The 4th Ukrainian Front begins a new offensive in Slovakia in order to capture the Moravska Ostrava industrial region. The 38th, 1st Guards and 18th Armies are committe to the attack against the 1st Panzer Army. In Silesia the LIX Corps loses at Sorau (now Zary) to elements of the 1st Ukrainian Front.

In Hungary Mor and Kisber fall to the 4th Guards as the 6th Army fights a last ditch rearguard. Veszprem falls to the 26th Army. Nearer to the Danube the remnants of the 3rd Hungarian Army counterattack toward Esztergom but are repulsed with heavy losses. On Army Group South's southern wing the 2nd Panzer Army is attacked by the 57th Army and fights a delaying action as it slowly withdraws. The 3rd Ukrainian Front intends to drive along the western bank of Lake Balaton from the north with the 27th Army and envelop the 2nd Panzer south of the lake as the 27th and 57th Armies link up.