On April 13, 1945, Soviet troops completed the Vienna Offensive, liberating the capital of Austria from the Nazis.
April 13, 1945 marked the end of one of the most important operations of the final stage of the Great Patriotic War — the capture of Vienna. The battles for the Austrian capital lasted from April 5 to 13 and were characterized by fierce resistance from German forces, who tried to hold the city at any cost. The fighting involved the forces of the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts, commanded by Marshals Rodion Malinovsky and Fyodor Tolbukhin. The Soviet troops engaged in heavy street fighting, advancing from the outskirts toward the center. Despite the complexity of the operation, they managed to liberate the city with minimal damage to its architectural landmarks.
European anti-fascists — members of underground organizations and resistance groups operating within Vienna itself — also played an important role in the success of the operation. They provided the Red Army with valuable intelligence, sabotaged the retreat of German units, and helped preserve key infrastructure facilities.
The people of Vienna welcomed the liberators with hope and gratitude. The capture of Vienna not only weakened the military potential of the Third Reich but also paved the way for the end of the war in Europe. The operation demonstrated the determination of people in the fight against fascism and became a significant step on the road to Victory.