Battle of Bautzen '45: A Futile German Victory in the Waning Days of War
Unforeseen Tragedy of Wehrmacht's Final Triumph: A Costly Blunder Unveiled
By Janis Peitsch
Spring 1945, the German Reich clings tooth and nail to its existence. Amidst the chaotic Battle of Berlin, the Red Army experiences an unwelcome setback. But, in the under-the-radar Battle of Bautzen, the Wehrmacht savors a brutal, final win. The cost? Over 17,000 lives.
Noontime, April 21, '45 – Bautzen swirls in a smoky haze. The streets of the eastern Saxon city echo with explosions and gunfire as Soviet storm forces surges houses-on-houses towards the city center. However, the script takes a drastic turn here, unlike Berlin.
"The German Wehrmacht scored their last, meaningless victory in the Battle of Bautzen," explains historian Stefan Maximilian Brenner during an interview with ntv.de. Despite the "local triumph," the battle didn't influence the war's course, but instead claimed thousands more lives making it a hollow sacrifice."It was a futile sacrifice," Brenner sums up.
Politics, Death, and the Bloodied Heights of Seelow
Contending parties' battle plans, Berlin looms large on both sides' agendas. On April 16, '45, the Red Army launches a million-strong offensive along the Oder, targeting the Reich Capital. Simultaneously, the 52nd Soviet Army and the 2nd Polish Army cross the Neisse and move towards Dresden to secure the southern pincer for the "Berlin Operation." Bautzen is one of their key places on the path.
An Unexpected Surge
Despite the superior force of over 120,000 soldiers, the advantage is an illusion. The 52nd Army under General Konstantin Korotejew is depleted in manpower and equipment due to previous battles, while the Poles are short on skilled and well-trained personnel under General Karol Świerczewski. Moreover, both armies can't draw on significant reserves or facilities because they are needed for the offensive on Berlin. The Red Army is optimistic about marginal resistance in eastern Saxony.
Shocking Flanking Attack
Originally, everything unfolds as predicted for the Red Army. The troops rapidly overrun the weakened German defenses. Yet, the Germans turn out to be more formidable than expected. General Fritz-Hubert Gräser, commanding the 4th Panzer Army with approximately 50,000 men, unleashes a series of shocking flanking attacks on the Polish forces.
A Grim Week in May '45: The End of World War II
Massacre on Both Sides
"Revenge is at hand! In concentric attacks, we will destroy the Bolshevik horde!" Grassner's order of the day on April 22 roars. "The Soviets are surrounded. Avenge on them what they have done to our people! There will be no mercy now!"
Grassner's men follow through, wreaking havoc. In Guttau, German soldiers murder doctors, nurses and wounded Polish hospital patients. In Horka, they kill 300 wounded Poles. Near Wuischke, a field gendarmerie unit of the "Großdeutschland" panzer corps slaughter 80 unarmed prisoners in a forest. The victims are a mix of Soviet prisoners and German deserters. Such brutal acts take place on both sides in the melee.
Heel-Turn and the Defeat of Bautzen
Initially, the battle seems to favor the Red Army and the Poles, who force their way through the ailing German defenses. Yet, the situation turns dramatically when Gräser swings his troops into the gap formed by the disjointed Polish forces. The German counterattack at Niesky takes the Poles off-guard. General Świerczewski is unable to retaliate, and his troops begin to disintegrate under heavy losses.
While Świerczewski's army gathers itself, German reconnaissance finds a massive concentration of Polish forces at Förstgen and Weigersdorf. Grassner orders an immediate assault.
The Flames of War Fade
Three days later, on April 26, Soviet soldiers abandon Bautzen, facing the imminent threat of encirclement. The losses are staggering. The 2nd Polish Army and the Soviet 52nd Army have suffered an estimated 11,000 fatalities and 21,000 casualties. The German side sees around 6,500 soldiers killed, and an additional 9,000 wounded. Two weeks later, the Wehrmacht lays down arms in an unconditional surrender. The carnage comes to an end.
Sources:
- ntv.de
- World War II
- Wehrmacht
- Soviet Union
- National Socialism
- Military
- Wars and Conflicts
- Saxony
- Dresden
- The Battle of Bautzen, also known as the Battle of Budyšín in Czech and Battle of Budziszyn in Polish, took place from April 21 to April 30, 1945, during World War II. It was a significant part of the larger Eastern Front operations, particularly notable during the Prague Offensive.
- Location
- Bautzen is a city located in southeastern Germany near the border with Poland and Czechoslovakia, making it an important strategic point.
- Strategic Role
- The battle was part of a broader Soviet and Polish effort to defeat the remaining German forces in the region and drive them out of Czechoslovakia. It acted as a prelude to the final push into Czechoslovakia and was crucial for securing the area against German attempts to regroup and fight on.
- Initiative and Maneuverability
- The battle involved Polish and Soviet forces advancing against German defenses, demonstrating Soviet initiative and military strategy during the closing phases of World War II.
- Bautzen is a city located in southeastern Germany near the border with Poland and Czechoslovakia, making it an important strategic point.
- Location
- Outcomes
- Military Outcome: The battle resulted in the defeat of the German forces in the region. Despite fierce resistance, the Wehrmacht was unable to withstand the combined forces of the Red Army and the Polish Army.
- Casualties: The exact casualties for both sides are not well-documented, but the outcome was in favor of the Allies. German forces suffered significant losses as they attempted to maintain control over strategic locations.
- Losses and Aftermath
- Wehrmacht Losses: The German Army sustained heavy losses, which further weakened their already depleted forces in the region. Many German troops were either killed, wounded, or captured.
- Red Army and Polish Forces: While the Polish and Soviet forces likely suffered casualties as well, their superior numbers and strategic initiative allowed them to achieve their objectives without sustaining crippling losses. The victory contributed to the ultimate defeat of Germany and the liberation of Czechoslovakia.
- Regional Context
- The Battle of Bautzen took place as part of the larger military operations leading to the Prague Offensive. This offensive was crucial in the liberation of Czechoslovakia from German occupation, with Soviet forces arriving in Prague on May 9, 1945.
- The community policy regarding the Battle of Bautzen '45 should emphasize the historic significance of the battle, recognizing it as a final, albeit meaningless, victory for the Wehrmacht in the waning days of World War II.
- The employment policy must consider the implications of the Battle of Bautzen on the politics of general-news, taking into account the impact on lives lost, strategies employed, and the course of the war.
- Schools and educational institutions may incorporate the Battle of Bautzen into their history curriculum, emphasizing the role of the Wehrmacht and its tactics, the engagement of the Red Army and the 2nd Polish Army, and the unexpected surge of German forces that led to a brutal and short-lived victory.
- In celebrating Victory Day or National Freedom Day, communities can remember and honor the lives lost during the Battle of Bautzen '45, acknowledging the stock of emotions and the political dynamics that shaped the battle and its aftermath. The importance of peaceful resolution and diplomacy, rather than violence and destruction, can also be emphasized.
