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MILITARY CASE
The USSR, the USA and the Great Britain... Only one common lethal danger could force these so different countries to join their efforts. That was Nazism.
In 1945, contradictions in Allies' camp became bigger.
The foremost units of the Red Army were essentially protecting long-term political interests of our countries.
Vienna Offensive wasn't simply an attacking operation. That was a contribution in forming of after-war Europe's look.
VIENNA OFFENSIVE
Austrian mountains are a natural obstacle covering Germany from the South.
At spring of 1945, a huge number of industrial companies and military warehouses were concentrated in Alps.
Their loss would mean even a theoretical possibility for Wehrmacht to continue fighting.
Reich's soldiers were thoroughly preparing for defence of Fuhrer's motherland.
Significant men power was concentrated here, together with big number of tanks, artillery guns and planes.
Three lines of defence were created. Hitlerites were planning to fight for every meter of Austrian soil.
Our Command had a good comprehension of how difficult task it had to solve in Austria.
Despite that, already at 16th of March, practically right after the end of very tough Balaton defensive operation,
forces of the 2nd and the 3rd Ukrainian Fronts entered on Austrian territory.
Before the operation, soldiers and officers of the Red Army were announced that aviation and heavy artillery won't provide their support during assault on Vienna.
Political decision was taken at the top, to save the historical center of Vienna as much as it is possible.
This fact was making the job for troops very difficult.
Germans moved practically all available mountain-infantry units to Austrian Alps, including Division "Edelweiss".
Perfectly trained, equipped, Alpine Jaegers with huge experience in mountain warfare were opposed to our infantrymen.
Majority of our soldiers had experience of battles, but they hadn't experience of warfare in mountains, neither they had a special equipment.
Even simple ropes were scarce.
ALEXANDER KOUDRYAVTSEV: veteran of the Great Patriotic War
"We were simply taking soldier's foot-wraps. 3 meters from one foot, 3 meters from another, minus some to make a knot.
So, 10 soldiers means 50 meters. If 2 foot-wraps were giving us 5m. Soldier's foot-wraps are very strong.
So, very simply, with such self-made ropes we were getting down and passing places where dangerous situation could be presented."
Germans were passing to counter-attack at any chance. Soldiers couldn't relax even at minutes with no action.
More than that, no one should forget Infantry's main rule. "Do you want to live? Then dig yourself down."
Radioman Vyacheslav Soukhanov was remembering this rule and that's why he survived. His comrade was less lucky.
VYACHESLAV SOUKHANOV: veteran of the Great Patriotic War
"He said "We'll go ahead soon anyway. I'll take some rest."
So, he dug out a small shallow trench for himself and lay down like that. When suddenly I heard some cracking, noise... very loud cracking sound.
In a moment I jumped in my small burrow. All these was going on for about 3 or 5 minutes.
When I got out after that I saw my radioman laying down almost dead already.
As it was proven, Germans located our radio. That means that we were working a bit sloppy and they've got our location.
So, they sent 2 Tigers to destroy our observation post. They simply got out of the forest."
Often German fire positions had to be taken by assault. Even with head-on attacks despite all losses.
There simply wasn't another way to beat the enemy out of well prepared positions.
"I pulled a linchpin from my grenade and jumped in trenches. They were making them in zig-zag form.
So, I jumped inside and turned to the left and I hear that some German is firing at me from my back with submachine gun.
So, I threw the grenade in his direction. Well, it has 4 seconds delay.
Meanwhile he hit me and I fell behind that corner, while the grenade exploded somewhere between his legs."
Fights at Vienna's suburbs started at 5th of April of 1945. Enemy was presenting a bitter resistance.
Based on a network of water obstacles and populated areas prepared for all-around defence,
by strong fire and often counter-attacks the enemy was trying to not allow our troops to the city.
At 13th of April, the Austrian capital was fully cleared of German troops. Soviet, Austrian and white flags were waving in the city.
Vienna's burgermeister personally gave a symbolic key to the city to the Soviet command.
Till the 16th of April, one of the last big German formation - the Army Group "South" - essentially seized to exist.
About 130.000 soldiers and officers have been eliminated or captured, during battles for Austria.
Big number of tanks and artillery guns were captured.
However, trophies were not only military ones.
In one small Alpine town, soldiers of the unit, in which Vyacheslav Soukhanov was serving, stumbled on winery.
"Well... there were huge barrels for thousands liters each. We started firing at them with our submachine guns.
In order to not loosing time searching for plugs etc. So, we gave a burst with submachine gun and streams of wine started flowing.
Some people were coming with their flask, some others with something else.
After a while people couldn't get inside even with boots, because it was flooded. People were taking wine by buckets, like that.
We were celebrating the victory."
Soldiers were celebrating a success of large scale offensive operation. While less than a month remained already till the final victory over the enemy.
In 1945 the Germany's defeat was only a matter of time.
People in Berlin had understanding of this fact and they were conducting negotiations with the West for a separate peace treaty.
Signing of such pact would mean preservation of the fascist regime.
One of the most important arguments, which forced the USA and Britain to deny contacts with German ambassadors, was a non-stop advance of the Soviet forces.
Military Case says good bye for a while. Peace to your home!