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The Red Army in Hungary, 1944 - 1945

The Red Army occupied most of Hungary by mid-1944 but did not take Budapest until February 1945. Luftwaffe reconnaissance images capture Soviet activity during the early part of the invasion as well as a buildup of air and ground forces for the final push into Slovakia and Austria.

The Red Army occupied most of Hungary by mid-1944 but did not take Budapest until February 1945. Luftwaffe reconnaissance images capture Soviet activity during the early part of the invasion as well as a buildup of air and ground forces for the final push into Slovakia and Austria.

On 16 November one of the river crossing sites at Arokto--140 km east-northeast of Budapest-- included a Bailey-type bridge, a pontoon bridge, and a ferry crossing; vehicles were on the road (Graphic 1). The crossing was well defended. Eighty-five kilometers to southwest, a rail bridge on the Tisza near the city of Szolnok was under repair on 16 November (Graphic 2). The city’s rail yards had been destroyed by the USAAF 8th Air Force on the last mission of the shuttle bombing campaign (FRANTIC 7) on 19 September 1944 (Graphic 3).

The Red Army occupied most of Hungary by mid-1944 but did not take Budapest until February 1945. Luftwaffe reconnaissance images capture Soviet activity during the early part of the invasion as well as a buildup of air and ground forces for the final push into Slovakia and Austria.
The Red Army occupied most of Hungary by mid-1944 but did not take Budapest until February 1945. Luftwaffe reconnaissance images capture Soviet activity during the early part of the invasion as well as a buildup of air and ground forces for the final push into Slovakia and Austria.
The Red Army occupied most of Hungary by mid-1944 but did not take Budapest until February 1945. Luftwaffe reconnaissance images capture Soviet activity during the early part of the invasion as well as a buildup of air and ground forces for the final push into Slovakia and Austria.

By 5 November the Soviet Air Force was using Kecskemet Airfield, a former German base 85km southeast of Budapest (Graphic 4). The hard surface runway had been cratered and support facilities destroyed, but 28 YAK fighters were using the field. Further west, a ground attack unit with 20 IL-2 was operating from Ocseny by 25 December; improvements had been made to the runway and new revetments had been constructed (Graphic 5).

By 5 November the Soviet Air Force was using Kecskemet Airfield, a former German base 85km southeast of Budapest (Graphic 4). The hard surface runway had been cratered and support facilities destroyed, but 28 YAK fighters were using the field. Further west, a ground attack unit with 20 IL-2 was operating from Ocseny by 25 December; improvements had been made to the runway and new revetments had been constructed (Graphic 5).
By 5 November the Soviet Air Force was using Kecskemet Airfield, a former German base 85km southeast of Budapest (Graphic 4). The hard surface runway had been cratered and support facilities destroyed, but 28 YAK fighters were using the field. Further west, a ground attack unit with 20 IL-2 was operating from Ocseny by 25 December; improvements had been made to the runway and new revetments had been constructed (Graphic 5).

By December 1944, the Soviet Air force was operating close to Budapest. On 21 January 86 YAK fighters were deployed at Erdotarcsa, where a 1000-meter runway had been improved and evidence of heavy flight operations could be seen in the snow (Graphic 6). Evidence of flight operations could also be seen at Dunakeszi, 14 km northeast of Budapest (Graphic 7), where 34 YAK were operating from two improvised fields in an equestrian complex.

By December 1944, the Soviet Air force was operating close to Budapest. On 21 January 86 YAK fighters were deployed at Erdotarcsa, where a 1000-meter runway had been improved and evidence of heavy flight operations could be seen in the snow (Graphic 6). Evidence of flight operations could also be seen at Dunakeszi, 14 km northeast of Budapest (Graphic 7), where 34 YAK were operating from two improvised fields in an equestrian complex.
By December 1944, the Soviet Air force was operating close to Budapest. On 21 January 86 YAK fighters were deployed at Erdotarcsa, where a 1000-meter runway had been improved and evidence of heavy flight operations could be seen in the snow (Graphic 6). Evidence of flight operations could also be seen at Dunakeszi, 14 km northeast of Budapest (Graphic 7), where 34 YAK were operating from two improvised fields in an equestrian complex.

Other bases in use near Budapest in February and March included Budapest Ferihegy (46 IL-2, 41 YAK), Mayasfold (44 IL-2) and Kartal (61 YAK, 28 IL-2); the runway and facilities at Matyasfold by had been destroyed the Germans. Kartal, an improved strip complete with taxiways and dispersal areas was constructed between 16 January and 11 March (Graphic 8).

Other bases in use near Budapest in February and March included Budapest Ferihegy (46 IL-2, 41 YAK), Mayasfold (44 IL-2) and Kartal (61 YAK, 28 IL-2); the runway and facilities at Matyasfold by had been destroyed the Germans. Kartal, an improved strip complete with taxiways and dispersal areas was constructed between 16 January and 11 March (Graphic 8).

In preparation for the push into Slovakia, two sets of tactical airfields were constructed near Balassagyarmat, 60 km north of Budapest. On 30 January both airfields at Horopacs (Graphic 9) were occupied by a total of 41 YAK and 16 other aircraft. Sixteen YAK were at Szugyzi 1 on 11 March. When it was first identified on 9 March there were eight PO-2 at Szugyzi 2 (Graphic 10); the presence of a possible tent and deployment of an AAA site nearby suggests this may have been for a command post

Soviet armored units were marshaled 10 km west of Balassagyarmat by 4 February. A total of 67 tanks were deployed within the villages of Patak and Detjar. Twenty-two of the tanks were parked in orderly, snow-cleared parking positions (Graphic 9).
Soviet armored units were marshaled 10 km west of Balassagyarmat by 4 February. A total of 67 tanks were deployed within the villages of Patak and Detjar. Twenty-two of the tanks were parked in orderly, snow-cleared parking positions (Graphic 9).

Soviet armored units were marshaled 10 km west of Balassagyarmat by 4 February.  A total of 67 tanks were deployed within the villages of Patak and Detjar.  Twenty-two of the tanks were parked in orderly, snow-cleared parking positions (Graphic 9).   

Soviet armored units were marshaled 10 km west of Balassagyarmat by 4 February. A total of 67 tanks were deployed within the villages of Patak and Detjar. Twenty-two of the tanks were parked in orderly, snow-cleared parking positions (Graphic 9).

By March 1945 the Red Army had pushed into Slovakia on the way to Vienna. A Luftwaffe reconnaissance photo from 25 March 1945 shows a large deployment near Nagyod, 55 kilometers northwest of Balassagyarmat (Graphic 10). The nearby river had been crossed by tactical bridges, a ferry and assault boats.

By March 1945 the Red Army had pushed into Slovakia on the way to Vienna. A Luftwaffe reconnaissance photo from 25 March 1945 shows a large deployment near Nagyod, 55 kilometers northwest of Balassagyarmat (Graphic 10). The nearby river had been crossed by tactical bridges, a ferry and assault boats.
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