Operation Spring Awakening

Operation Spring Awakening
Part of the Eastern Front of World War II

German advances during the operation
Date6–15 March 1945
Location
Lake Balaton, Kingdom of Hungary
46°59′N 18°21′E / 46.983°N 18.350°E / 46.983; 18.350
Result Allied victory
Belligerents
 Germany
Hungary		  Soviet Union
 Bulgaria
 Yugoslav Partisans
Commanders and leaders

Nazi Germany Otto Wöhler

Nazi Germany Max von Weichs

Soviet Union Fyodor Tolbukhin

Soviet Union Rodion Malinovsky

  • Soviet Union Sergei Goryunov
Units involved

Nazi Germany Army Group South:

Nazi Germany Army Group F:

Soviet Union 3rd Ukrainian Front:

Soviet Union 2nd Ukrainian Front:

Strength

5 March (for the offensive): [1][2][3]

  • 25 divisions
  • 260,000 men (max)
  • 650 tanks (376 operational)
  • 3,200 assault guns and mortars
  • 850 aircraft (entire Luftflotte 4 for entire Army Group South)

5 March:[1][4][5]

  • 37 divisions (discounting air armies and the Yugoslav 3rd Army)
  • 465,000 men
  • 407 tanks (398 operational)
  • 6,597 assault guns and mortars
  • 293 rocket launchers
  • 965 aircraft (17th Air Army only – 3rd Ukrainian Front)
Casualties and losses

German offensive (6–15 March 1945):
 Germany

: Unknown
Soviet counter-offensive (16 March–15 April 1945): ~210,000 combat casualties

  • 30,000 killed
  • 125,000 captured[8]
  • 1,345 tanks/assault guns lost[9][a]
  • 2,250 guns and mortars lost[9]
  • 446 armour personnel carriers[11]
  • 200+ aircraft

German offensive (6–15 March 1945):

  • 32,899
  • 8,492 killed or missing
  • 24,407 wounded & sick[12]
  • 152 tracked AFVs destroyed[6]
  • 415 anti-tank guns destroyed[6]

Soviet counter-offensive (16 March–15 April 1945):

  • 38,661 killed
  • 129,279 wounded & sick
  • 167,940 overall (including ~135,000 combat casualties)[13]

Bulgarian casualties:

  • 9,805 men[14]
  • 2,698 killed
  • 7,017 wounded & sick

Operation Spring Awakening (German: Unternehmen Frühlingserwachen) was the last major German offensive of World War II. The operation was referred to in Germany as the Plattensee Offensive and in the Soviet Union as the Balaton Defensive Operation. It took place in Western Hungary on the Eastern Front and lasted from 6 March until 15 March 1945. The objective was to secure the last significant oil reserves still available to the European Axis powers and prevent the Red Army from advancing towards Vienna. The Germans failed in their objectives.

The operation, initially planned for 5 March, began after German units were moved in great secrecy to the Lake Balaton (Plattensee) area. Many German units were involved, including the 6th Panzer Army and its subordinate Waffen-SS divisions after being withdrawn from the failed Ardennes offensive on the Western Front. The Germans attacked in three prongs: Frühlingserwachen in the Balaton-Lake Velence-Danube area, Eisbrecher south of Lake Balaton, and Waldteufel south of the Drava-Danube triangle. The advance stalled on 15 March, and on 16 March the Red Army and allied units began their delayed Vienna offensive.

  1. ^ a b Frieser et al. 2007, p. 930.
  2. ^ Számvéber 2017, pp. 567–569.
  3. ^ Maksim & Kolomiets 2014.
  4. ^ Számvéber 2017, pp. 22, 574–575.
  5. ^ Great Patriotic War without Secracy 2010, p. 184.
  6. ^ a b c d Frieser et al. 2007, p. 941.
  7. ^ Frieser et al. 2007, p. 942.
  8. ^ Tucker-Jones, Anthony (2016). The Battle for Budapest. Pen & Sword Books Limited. ISBN 978-1473877320.
  9. ^ a b Frieser et al. 2007, p. 953.
  10. ^ Frieser et al. 2007, p. 952.
  11. ^ O. Baronov, Balaton Defense Operation, Moscow, 2001, pp. 82–106
  12. ^ G.F. Krivosheyev, 'Soviet Casualties and Combat Losses in the twentieth century', London, Greenhill Books, 1997, ISBN 1-85367-280-7, p. 110
  13. ^ G.F. Krivosheyev, 'Soviet Casualties and Combat Losses in the twentieth century', London, Greenhill Books, 1997, pp. 156–167
  14. ^ G.F. Krivosheyev, 'Soviet Casualties and Combat Losses in the twentieth century', London, Greenhill Books, 1997, pp. 156–157


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