The Second World War was bloody and brutal. Many European countries suffered from its merciless blow. The losses of relatively small Czechoslovakia were striking in their enormous proportions: 35 thousand soldiers, tens of thousands of civilians … Looking for cheap labor, the Germans forcibly took 550 thousand young people to Germany for forced labor. A large piece of territory was disconnected from the country: Carpathian Rus, the Sudetenland and the Tishinsky region. The state as an independent entity ceased to exist, turning into a German colony: the so-called protectorate.
Occupation
At the end of the war in Czechoslovakia, the army "Center" was stationed - a fairly large German group. Its membership numbered as many as a million officers and soldiers. The invaders were commanded by Field Marshal Schörner. He was firmly convinced that the Czech Republic should become a completely German country. The fascist considered the incoming information that the Russians were preparing the liberation of Prague to be absurd and unrealistic. As for the capital itself, in May 1945 it became a training ground for the sixth German combat squadron. Especiallythe invaders carefully guarded the airfield where their planes were stationed, as well as the surrounding territory, built up with soldiers' barracks.
Interesting, but the liberation of Prague today causes a lot of controversy and discussion. Historians are divided into three camps. Some believe that local rebels cleared the city of fascists, others talk about the brilliant offensive of the Vlasovites, and others focus on the decisive maneuvers of the Soviet army. There is also a version that by the time the Russians arrived, Prague was already free. Is it so? Let's try to figure it out.
First steps
Indeed, many people planned to liberate the city. Of course, the plan of the operation was developed by the Red Army. Since April 1945, the headquarters carefully studied maps of the capital's terrain made from reconnaissance aircraft: they showed the positions of the Germans, their firing points and ammunition depots. These tactical objects should have been under the main attack.
Towards the very end of the Great Patriotic War (WWII), the preparations for the liberation of Prague began in the Czech National Council, formed in 1945. The department, consisting of communists, claimed to lead the mass uprising, the centers of which now and then flared up in the country. But there was no time left to organize the operation, so the CHNS did not play a decisive role in cleaning up the capital.
At the same time, on May 5, Vlasov soldiers, soldiers of the First Infantry Division of the ROA, entered Prague. The combat unit, under the leadership of Major General Bunyachenko, laid the foundation forrelease. In a matter of days, they managed to clear the western part of the city, thereby opening up the SS ring.
American actions
While the Vlasovites began to liberate Prague from the Nazis, on the other hand, American troops under the leadership of General Patton approached the capital. From the President of the United States, he was instructed to put forward positions on the line Pilsen - Karlovy Vary - Ceske Budejovice. The Germans did not particularly resist the Americans, but the Red Army, advancing from Slovakia, they gave a fierce rebuff. Knowing about the loy alty of the United States to the prisoners, they preferred to fall into their hands than to peremptory communists. Therefore, the speed of the advance of the allies was different.
General Patton took Pilsen. Residents of the city even erected a monument to him after the war. The Americans stopped there: the Red Army was moving towards them, therefore, in order to avoid confusion, they decided to wait. And the US government did not consider Czechoslovakia a political goal. As a result, they decided once again not to risk the lives of soldiers. When the Russians realized that the Allies were backtracking, they continued the liberation of 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 occupied Prague for two reasons: firstly, they wanted to impress the Americans, and secondly, they hoped for an amnesty after active cooperation with the Germans. But, unable to agree on a union status with the CHNS, they left the capital.
As you can see, the liberation of Prague fell entirely on the shoulders of the Red Army. The offensive was commanded by Marshal Konev. His units had just finished clearing Berlin, when they were immediately transferred to the Czech direction. Without even a day's rest, the fighters began to break through to the city. The battalions of the First Ukrainian Front also took an active part in the hostilities. In one of the hot battles for another bridge, Lieutenant Ivan Goncharenko was mortally wounded, after whom one of the Prague streets was later named. The liberation of the Czech capital lasted several days: from 6 to 11 May. It was the final major operation of World War II in Europe.
Offensive
Prague was the last major hotbed of fascist resistance. Despite the signed surrender, the local invaders did not want to surrender. Instead, they planned to rejoin a huge German unit called the Mitl-Group. The enemy unit continued to conduct active battles, resisting at every turn. Pushed to the south, the Mitl-group decided to join forces with the Nazis who occupied Czechoslovakia. In order to prevent the strengthening of the enemy forces, our soldiers rushed into battle. Taking this position has become a matter of honor and conscience.
How did the Soviet troops liberate Prague? At first, the Red Army relentlessly pursued Schörner's units in order to prevent them from accomplishing their plans. The bet was made on tankers under the command of Generals Rybalko and Lelyushenko. It was these brave guys who received the orderbreak through the line of the retreating fascists, leaving them in the rear and thereby cutting off from the SS men hiding in Prague. The plan was this: when the Mitl-group gets to the capital of Czechoslovakia, Russian soldiers will already be there. The main problem for our fighters was only the steep mountains hanging ahead. To overcome this line was the main task of the tankers.
The end of the Mitl-group
The tank regiments of the First Ukrainian Front started the historic operation. They made their way through narrow, winding and dangerous passes. In the pitch darkness of the night, tracked vehicles swept away the enemy barriers set up by the Germans at every step. When there was a need, the crews left the tanks: the fighters restored bridges with their own hands, cleared mines.
Finally, having cast aside all the barriers, the steel wave of vehicles crossed the ridges and rolled down the slope - straight to the Czech capital. The appearance of Soviet tanks on the horizon was so unexpected for the SS that they did not even have time to put up proper resistance. On the contrary, mad with fear, the Germans ran in panic wherever their eyes looked.
Thus ended the liberation of Prague. The date of the significant event is May 11. On this day, the capital of Czechoslovakia was completely cleared of the invaders. Separate groups of fascists were pursued by our tankers for another two days, after which, having captured all the fugitives, they adequately completed a responsible combat mission.
