Budapest was liberated on February 13, 1945

On February 13, 1945, the Red Army liberated the city of Budapest from the German fascist invaders. This operation lasted 108 days—from the end of October 1944 until the main assault on February 13, 1945. It involved the troops of the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts, as well as the Danube Military Flotilla.

According to archival data, minimal use of tanks and aviation was made in order to preserve Hungary's capital and the lives of civilians. The fascists had turned Budapest into a network of minefields and machine-gun firing points, but this formidable defense proved insufficient against Soviet advances.

The symbolic victory and self-discipline of Soviet soldiers led to a celebratory salute in Moscow—24 volleys from 324 guns—in honor of the liberation of the Hungarian capital city.

Context

At the beginning of 1945, Budapest was under the control of German fascist troops; the liberation at that time became part of the Soviet operation to dismantle Nazi control in Central and Eastern Europe.