German offensive in 1945

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scarecrow
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German offensive in 1945

#1

Post by scarecrow » 13 Jun 2006, 18:54

Which german units were involved in Operation "Spring Awakening" and what was their strenghs (number of men, tanks...)
Did the germans launch any other offensives during the same period on other fronts?

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PanzerKing
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#2

Post by PanzerKing » 13 Jun 2006, 21:51

Look in the "WWII on theEastern Front". There's all the info you need.

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewforum.php?f=55


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Benoit Douville
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#3

Post by Benoit Douville » 14 Jun 2006, 02:42

Sepp Dietrich 6th SS Panzer Army participated in the Lake Balaton offensive with the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler.

Regards

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RobertELee
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SpringBreak

#4

Post by RobertELee » 12 Jul 2006, 21:39

The Lake Balaton Offensive (codenamed Operation Frühlingserwachen, "Spring Awakening"), was the last major offensive action by the Germans during World War II. Launched in great secrecy on March 6, 1945, the attack took place in Hungary around the Lake Balaton area, and involved mostly units withdrawn from the failed Ardennes Offensive (December 1944 - January 1945.)

Despite the extremely muddy terrain conditions, the offensive, spearheaded by Sepp Dietrich's 6.SS-Panzerarmee, took the Soviets by surprise and made an impressive advance for such a late stage in the war. However, once the Soviets became aware of the presence of elite SS units (Adolf Hitler's personal unit, the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler took part in the operation) they counterattacked in strength on March 16. But the operation had already been in serious trouble since March 14, with Joseph Goebbels admitting in his diary that failure was likely; three days later, the Germans were back at their original positions. Hopelessly outnumbered and with few armored vehicles remaining the surviving German forces withdrew into Austria in order to defend Vienna.

The operation was a failure, despite early gains, and was a perfect example of Hitler's increasingly erroneous military decisions toward the end of the war. It was aimed at raising the siege of Budapest and defending the Nagykanizsa oilfields, Germany's last source of oil. Hitler's senior commanders had felt that these elite troops and sizeable amounts of equipment and supplies could have been put to better use elsewhere, particularly on German territory on the Eastern front, and they pleaded with him to "throw everything into the East". However, Hitler insisted on his grand plan to somehow destroy the whole of the Russian Southern/Ukrainian Front, and for the weeks preceding the attack, trainloads of men and tanks rolled out of the Rhineland and into Hungary.

Strategically, Operation Frühlingserwachen had little impact upon the eventual outcome of the war. On a tactical level, it highlighted that the fighting qualities of the German army still existed. The initial success was impressive, especially considering Hitler's order forbidding any reconnaissance before the attack (to maintain secrecy), the poor spring weather, and the severe fuel shortages facing the German army at that time.

This debacle is famous for the notorious "armband order" issued by Hitler when it was evident that the Leibstandarte had failed. They were ordered to remove their sacred "Adolf Hitler" cuff titles (German: armband) as a mark of their disgrace. In the field, the commander of German 6th SS Panzer Army, Josef Dietrich, was disgusted by this order, and did not relay it to his troops

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_ ... gserwachen

[edited by moderator]

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scarecrow
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#5

Post by scarecrow » 12 Jul 2006, 22:46

thanks guys

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Ironmachine
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#6

Post by Ironmachine » 13 Jul 2006, 20:26

Hi Scarecrow
the German plans for the recapture of Budapest foresaw attacks from 3 directions:
UNTERNEHMEN FRÜHLINGSERWACHEN (Operation Spring Awakening): this was the main attack, with ghe 6.SS-Panzer-Armee and the III.Panzer-Korps of 6.Armee breaking through the Russian lines and reaching the Danube by Dunafaldvar. After that, the major part of this forces should turn northwards and recapture Budapest while other parts of the 6.SS-Panzer-Armee would join I.Kavallerie-Korps of 6.Armee to advance southwards to close the pocket behind the Soviet armies in southwest Hungary and meet with the 2.Panzer-Armee. The 4.SS-Panzer-Korps and the 3.Ungarische-Armee should hold and secure the area around Szekesfehervar and Tatabanya that was vital for the German supply of the offensive.
UNTERNEHMEN EISBRECHER (Operation Icebreaker): the 2.Panzer-Armee attacking eastwards from the Nagybajom area, recapturing Kaposvar and advancing to the Danube, then turning northwards and meeting with the southwards-advancing 6.SS-Panzer-Armee.
UNTERNEHMEN WALDTEUFFEL (Operation Forest Devil): the LXXXXI.Armee-Korps crossing the Drava River and building two bridgeheads on its northern shore, then advancing to the northeast to take the city of Mohacs. After that, they should advance to the north and secure the western shore of the Danube until the city of Baja
Over the years, I have compiled an order of battle for the German and Hungarian forces in these attacks from almost any source I have been able to reach, with information sometimes contradictory. As it is quite large, if you are interested, I can send it to you by PM.

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scarecrow
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#7

Post by scarecrow » 14 Jul 2006, 00:28

hi Ironmachine :)

I m interested in the OOB you have compiled and i would be delighted if you could send it.

Many thanks and greetings from Luxembourg :D

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Ironmachine
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#8

Post by Ironmachine » 14 Jul 2006, 09:19

Scarecrow, I have sent you the order of battle; tell me if you have any problem receiving it.
I have made some editting to make it more readable.
As I have said before, the oob is the result of merging data from many sources, and some were contradictory, so it is quite probable that it is not 100% correct, but I have tried to be quite careful with the information and when something differed, I went with what I think was more "correct".
As there was a lot of shuffling of units between corps, the oob is given by dates. If you don't understand something, just ask me.

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scarecrow
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#9

Post by scarecrow » 14 Jul 2006, 10:46

hi ironmachine :)

i m sorry to tell you this but i haven't recieved your OOB.

greetings from Luxembourg

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Ironmachine
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#10

Post by Ironmachine » 14 Jul 2006, 21:54

Scarecrow, I think it would be better to post the OOB here. As the attack started on 6 March, I would post only the data for the nearest date I have. Information on unit strength is more varied, but it could give an idea about the Axis forces available.

HEERESGRUPPE SÜD
8.Armee
3.Ungarische-Armee
6.Armee
6.SS-Panzer-Armee
2. Panzer-Armee
Air support: 4.Luftflotte (approximately 850 aircraft)
8.Armee
5 March 1945
XXIX.Armee-Korps (76.Infanterie-Division, 15.Infanterie-Division, 101.Jäger-Division, 24.Ungarische-Infanterie-Division)
LXXII.Armee-Korps (Kampfgruppe "Kaiser", 8.Jäger-Division, 271.Volks-Grenadier-Division)
Panzer-Korps "Feldherrnhalle" (46.Infanterie-Division, 357.Infanterie-Division, 211.Volks-Grenadier-Division)
3.Ungarische-Armee
1 March 1945
II.Ungarische-Armee-Korps (20.Ungarische-Infanterie-Division)
III.Panzer-Korps (25.Ungarische-Infanterie-Division, 1.Panzer-Division, 3.Panzer-Division, 23.Panzer-Division, schwere Heeres-Panzer-Abteilung 509 -attached to 1.Panzer-Division)
6.Armee
5 March 1945
IV.SS-Panzer-Korps (2.Ungarische-Panzer-Division, 3.SS-Panzer-Division "Totenkopf", 5.SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking")
III.Panzer-Korps (1.Panzer-Division, 3.Panzer-Division, 356.Infanterie-Division)
6.SS-Panzer-Armee
5 March 1945
II.SS-Panzer-Korps (2.SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich", 9.SS-Panzer-Division "Hohenstaufen", 44.Infanterie-Division "Hoch und Deutschmeister")
I.Kavallerie-Korps (3.Kavallerie-Division, 4.Kavallerie-Division, 25.Ungarische-Infanterie-Division -part)
II.Ungarische-Armee-Korps (20.Ungarische-Infanterie-Division)
XXXXIII.Armee-Korps (356.Infanterie-Division, Panzer-Grenadier-Brigade 92 -redeploying from 2.Panzer-Armee, Panzer-Division "Feldherrnhalle" -part)
I.SS-Panzer-Korps (1.SS-Panzer-Division "Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler", 12.SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend", 23.Panzer-Division, 25.Ungarische-Infanterie-Division -part), schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 501 -attached to 1.SS-Panzer-Division "Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler", schwere Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 560 -attached to 12.SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend")
2.Panzer-Armee
5 March 1945
Panzer-Grenadier-Brigade 92 -redeploying to 6.SS-Panzer-Armee)
XXII.Armee-Korps (118.Jäger-Division, 1.Gebirgs-Division)
LXVIII.Armee-Korps (16.SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division "Reichführer SS", 71.Infanterie-Division, 13.SS-Gebirgs-Division)
HEERESGRUPPE E
? March 1945 (units deployed at the front)
LXXXXI.Armee-Korps (Division "Fischer", 297.Infanterie-Division, 11.Luftwaffen-Feld-Division, 104.Jäger-Division, Festungsbrigade 967, 1.Kosaken-Division)
XXXXIV.Armee-Korps (181.Infanterie-Division, 369.Infanterie-Division, Festungsbrigade 964, 7.SS-Gebirgs-Division)
XV.Armee-Korps (373.Infanterie-Division, 392.Infanterie-Division)
Air support: 6.Luftflotte

UNITS STRENGTHS
1 March 1945
1.Panzer-Division: 5 PzIV (5 operational), 26 PzV (12 operational), 2 StuG (0 operational)
3.Panzer-Division: 3 PzIII (2 operational), 24 PzIV (17 operational), 27 PzV (22 operational), 22 PzIV/70 (18 operational), 5 StuG (5 operational)
6.Panzer-Division: 21 PzIV (13 operational), 37 PzV (31 operational), 16 PzIV/70 (15 operational)
23.Panzer-Division: 16 PzIV (13 operational), 27 PzV (16 operational), 8 StuG (7 operational), 13 JgPzIV/70 (11 operational)
2.SS-Panzer-Division: 26 PzIV (24 operational), 2 BefPzIV (2 operational), 37 PzV and JgPzV (14 operational), 2 BefPzV (0 operational), 21 PzIV/70 (13 operational), 29 StuG (23 operational), 8 FlakPzIV (2 operational)
3.SS-Panzer-Division: 1 PzIII (1 operational), 18 PzIV (16 operational), 14 PzV (9 operational), 7 PzVI (6 operational), 5 JgPzIV (4 operational), 15 StuG (11 operational)
5.SS-Panzer-Division: 4 PzIV (3 operational), 15 PzV (9 operational), 5 StuG (2 operational)
9.SS-Panzer-Division: 21 PzIV (17 operational), 2 BefPzIV (2 operational), 38 PzV (12 operational), 2 BefPzV (1 operational), 24 PzIV/70 (19 operational ), 10 JgPzV (10 operational), 26 StuG (15 operational), 4 FlakPzIV (4 operational)
12.SS-Panzer-Division: 30 PzIV (18 operational), 4 BefPzIV (3 operational), 29 PzV (8 operational), 1 BefPzV (1 operational), 31 PzIV/70 (13 operational), 8 FlakPzIV/3.7cm (5 operational)
schwere Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 560 (Panther): 14 PzIV/70 (6 operational), 7 JgPzV (2 operational), 4 FlakPzIV/3.7cm (4 operational), 4 FlakPzIV/2cm Flak-Vierling (4 operational)
schwere Heeres-Panzer-Abteilung 509: 35 PzVI (25 operational)
I.Bataillon/Panzer-Regiment 24: 27 PzV (all operational)
3 March 1945
schwere Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 560 (Panther): 6 JgPzV and 8 JgPzIV operational
5 March 1945
1.SS-Panzer Division: 30 PzIV (21 operational), 27 PzV (24 operational), 1 BefPzV (1 operational), 20 PzIV/70 (17 operational), 3 StuG (2 operational), 11 FlakPzIV/3.7cm (7 operational), 4 PzBeobIV (1 operational)
schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 501: 31 PzVI (8 operational), 2 BefPzVI (1 operational)
6 March 1945
16.SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division "Reichführer SS": approximately 60 StuG III and StuH
118.Jäger-Division: approximately 8 StuG III
71.Infanterie-Division: approximately 6 StuG (ital.) 7.5cm
13.SS-Gebirgs-Division: two armored trains (#64 and 79?)
LXXXXI.Armee-Korps: 15 StuG (ital.?) and 6 panzers (beute?)
10 March 1945
16.SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division "Reichführer SS": received 10 StuG III
schwere Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 560 (Panther): 4 JgPzV and 1 JgPzIV operational
15 March 1945
schwere Heeres-Panzer-Abteilung 509: 35 PzVI (8 operational)
schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 501: 32 PzVI (8 operational)
Some units (3.Panzer-Division, 16.SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division, some of the infantry divisions) received small quantities of armored fighting vehicles in the course of the battle.

OTHER UNITS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN PRESENT
Flammpanzer-Kompanie 351
schwere Panzer-Abteilung "Feldherrnhalle" (previously schwere Heeres-Panzer-Abteilung 503): on 15 March with 26 PzVI (19 operational)
Panzer-Jäger-Kompanie of LXVIII.Armee-Korps: on 6 March with approximately 3 StuG (ital.)/4.7cm
Heeres-Sturmartillerie-Brigade 261: on 6 March 1945 with 2.Panzer-Armee with approximately 22 StuG III and 9 StuH
Sturm-Panzer-Abteilung 219 (Brummbärs)
Heeres-Sturmartillerie-Brigade 303: with IV.SS-Panzer-Korps
Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 228: with 8.Armee
Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 191: with 6.Armee
Heeres-Sturmartillerie-Brigade 239: with 6.Armee
388.Volks-Artillerie-Korps: with 6.Armee?
403.Volks-Artillerie-Korps: with IV.SS-Panzer-Korps?
Volks-Werfer-Brigade 17: with IV.SS-Panzer-Korps?
SS-Werfer-Abteilung 502: with 6.SS-Panz

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scarecrow
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#11

Post by scarecrow » 14 Jul 2006, 22:01

Thanks a lot Ironmachine :D

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Victor
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#12

Post by Victor » 15 Jul 2006, 21:24

RobertELee, plagiarism is not well regarded on this forum. Please re-read the forum rules and see what they say about copying text from other websites and posting photos. Please, in the future, do not forget to mention the sources.

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Re: German offensive in 1945

#13

Post by Kelvin » 03 Jan 2009, 10:55

Hi Ironmachine, your data on German unit strength is great but apart from panzer and assault gun, do you have data on SPW, Grille, Hummel and Wespe in these units.

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Ironmachine
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Re: German offensive in 1945

#14

Post by Ironmachine » 03 Jan 2009, 12:47

No, sorry, I have no data about such vehicles. :(

Kelvin
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Re: German offensive in 1945

#15

Post by Kelvin » 03 Jan 2009, 15:09

Hi, Ironmachine , your data quoted from any book which I can check ?

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