Friday Squad Ops: "Citadel on the Danube: Budapest 44-45" - Fridays: July 7th, 14th, 21st at 11PM EST in SEA1.
By the winter of 1944-45, the Axis Powers on the Eastern Front crumbled under the weight of the onslaught of the Soviet Red Army. Over the preceding year, nearly all the Soviet territory that was once captured by Nazi Germany has been liberated, the Red Army have pushed into Poland and captured Romania, forcing the nation to switch sides in the war. Only one ally of Germany remains in the East to hold back the Red Army - Hungary.
Using Romania as a springboard, the Red Army has swept into eastern Hungary and captured the city of Debrecen. It then trained its sights westward, to the Hungarian capital, Budapest.
The Budapest offensive began on October 29th. The plan was to drive the Axis defenders into Budapest and encircle the city to isolate them. The Soviet 2nd Ukrainian Front was tasked with the northern flank and the 3rd Ukrainian Front the southern flank. The encirclement was completed on December 26th, trapping over 75,000 Axis troops and 800,000 civilians in the pocket.
This FSO will recreate the fierce air action supporting the Soviet offensives and Axis relief attempts in the area of Budapest.
