The liberation of Prague by Soviet troops. The liberation of Prague from the fascists

The Second World War was bloody and cruel. Many European countries have suffered from its merciless blow. The losses of a relatively small Czechoslovakia were strikingly huge: 35,000 soldiers, tens of thousands of civilians ... Looking for cheap labor, the Germans forcibly removed 550,000 young people to forced labor in Germany. A large piece of territory was detached from the country: Carpathian Rus, Sudety and Tishinskaya region. The state as an independent unit ceased to exist, having turned into a German colony: the so-called protectorate.

An occupation

At the end of the war, the Army Center was stationed in Czechoslovakia, a fairly large German grouping. Its composition was estimated by a whole million officers and soldiers. Commanded by the invaders, General-Field Marshal Schörner. He was firmly convinced that the Czech Republic should become a fully German country. It was reported that the fascists considered the Russians preparing the liberation of Prague as ridiculous and unrealistic. As for the capital itself, in May 1945 it became a testing ground for the Sixth German Combat Squadron. Particularly carefully the invaders guarded the airfield, where their aircraft were, as well as the surrounding territory, built up by the barracks of the soldiers.

It is interesting, but the liberation of Prague in our days causes a lot of controversy and debate. Historians divided into three camps. Some believe that the city was cleansed of the local insurgents by the fascists, others speak of the brilliant offensive of the Vlasovites, while others emphasize the decisive maneuvers of the Soviet army. There is also a version that the arrival of Russian Prague was already free. Is it so? Let's try to understand.

First steps

Indeed, many people planned to free the city. Undoubtedly, the Red Army was developing the plan for the operation. As early as April 1945, the headquarters staffs carefully studied the capital maps of the capital, made from reconnaissance planes: they could see the positions of the Germans, their fire points and ammunition depots. These tactical objects were to fall under the main blow.

At the very end of the Great Patriotic War (WWII), the liberation of Prague began to be prepared in the Czech National Council, formed in 1945. The Office, consisting of Communists, claimed to lead a mass uprising, the pockets of which now and then flared up in the country. But there was no time to organize the operation, so the CNS did not play a decisive role in sweeping the capital.

At the same time, on May 5, Vlasov, soldiers of the First Infantry Division of the ROA, entered Prague. The fighting unit, under the leadership of Major-General Bunyachenko, initiated liberation. In a matter of days they managed to clear the western part of the city, thus unraveling the ring of SS men.

Actions of Americans

While the Vlasovites began to liberate Prague from the fascists, on the other hand, American troops approached the capital under the leadership of General Patton. From the US president, he was instructed to put forward positions on the line Pilsen - Karlovy Vary - Choske-Budejovice. Americans did not particularly resist the Americans, but the Red Army, coming from the side of Slovakia, they gave a fierce rebuff. Knowing the US loyalty to the prisoners, they preferred to fall into their hands, than to peremptory communists. Therefore, the speed of progress of the allies was different.

General Patton took Pilsen. Residents of the city even set him a monument after the war. At this, the Americans stopped: the Red Army was moving towards them, so to avoid confusion, they decided to wait. And the US government did not consider Czechoslovakia a political goal. As a result, once again decided not to risk the lives of soldiers. When the Russians realized that the allies had retreated, they continued to liberate Prague on their own.

What happened next?

Meanwhile, after a successful operation to liberate the western part of the city, the Vlasovites retreated. Historians believe that they took Prague from two considerations: first, they wanted to impress Americans, and secondly, they hoped for an amnesty after active cooperation with the Germans. But, having failed to agree on the union status with the CNS, they left the capital.

As we see, the liberation of Prague completely fell on the shoulders of the Red Army. The offensive was commanded by Marshal Konev. Its units just finished the mopping up of Berlin, as they were immediately thrown to the Czech direction. Not resting and the day, the soldiers began to break through to the city. The battalions of the First Ukrainian Front also took an active part in hostilities. In one of the hot battles for the next bridge, Lieutenant Ivan Goncharenko was mortally wounded, whose name was later named one of the Prague streets. The liberation of the Czech capital lasted several days: from 6 to 11 May. This was the final major operation of the Second World War in Europe.

Offensive

Prague became the last major center of fascist resistance. Despite the signed capitulation, the local invaders did not want to surrender. Instead, they planned to reunite with a huge division of Germans, nicknamed Mitl-group. The enemy unit continued to conduct active fighting, resisting at every turn. The Mitl group, pushed to the south, decided to join forces with the fascists who occupied Czechoslovakia. To prevent the strengthening of enemy forces, our soldiers rushed into battle. To take this position became a matter of honor and conscience.

How was the liberation of Prague by Soviet troops? Initially, the Red Army tirelessly pursued Schörner's unit to prevent them from doing what they had planned. The headquarters was placed on the tankmen, who are under the command of generals Rybalko and Lelyushenko. It was these brave guys who received orders to break through the line of the retreating fascists, leaving them in the deep rear and thus cutting off the SS men hiding in Prague. The plan was this: when the Mitl group gets to the capital of Czechoslovakia, there will already be Russian soldiers. The main problem for our fighters remained only steep mountains, hanging in front. To overcome this milestone was the main task of tankmen.

End of the Mitl group

The tank regiments of the First Ukrainian Front began their historic operation. They paved the way through narrow, sinuous and dangerous passes. In the pitch darkness of night, the caterpillar machines swept away the enemy barriers installed by the Germans at every step. When there was a need, the crews left the tanks: the soldiers personally rebuild bridges, neutralized mines.

Finally, after discarding all the barriers, the steel wave of technology passed through the ridges and rolled down the slope - straight to the Czech capital. The appearance of Soviet tanks on the horizon was so unexpected for SS men that they did not even have time to give proper resistance. On the contrary, distraught with fear, the Germans ran in panic whither their eyes look.

Thus, the liberation of Prague was completed. The date of the landmark event is May 11. On this day, the capital of Czechoslovakia completely cleared of the invaders. Our tankmen pursued separate groups of fascists for another two days, after which they captured all the fugitives, and they duly completed the responsible combat mission.