#Victory81

⚔️ April 13 – a memorable date in Russia’s military history.

#OTD in 1945, the Red Army liberated Vienna. Marshal Fyodor Tolbukhin, who had already helped liberate Belgrade and Budapest, now stood at the gates of the Austrian capital.

💬Addressing the people of Vienna, the Soviet commander declared:

“The Red Army brings Austria liberation from German domination”

Yet the battle for Vienna was fierce. German forces had heavily fortified the city and resisted stubbornly. Even so, Marshal Tolbukhin ordered that heavy artillery and aerial bombing are not to be used, in order to preserve one of the most beautiful cities in the world. This was a difficult decision.

The assault started on April 5th without decisive success. The Soviet command had to revise its plans and adjust the directions of attack.

Tolbukhin then made what was likely the only possible decision at that moment – to launch a simultaneous assault on the city from multiple directions. The German forces could not withstand the pressure.

At midday on April 13, Vienna was liberated from German troops.

🎥 © Russian Military Historical Society