Hungarian units from the 1st Schi battalion
http://www.hunyadi.co.uk/attachments/Image/195mell3_1st_Schi_batt.jpg
Unit History
Early Autumn 1944: The training department of the Hungarian Ministry of Defence establishes a ski school at Rahó in the Carpathian mountains.Army border hunter and mountain formations are sent for training there. Joseph Zelko (1) is charged with completing the course. The ski school operations are, however, cut short due to the Carpathian Mountains being over run and soon moves back to Budapest. The course is limited to theoretical education only. The course consists of 1 000 people. The SS-Ersatzkommando Ungarn (SS Ersatzkommando Ungarn ,Abteilung B/I ,4a, Munkácsy Mihály u. 5-7) calls up 5 officers and 110 men (which include Zelko because of his German wife and maternal grandperants). The men protest to the Hungarian defence ministry. The men opt to continue the fight against the Russians and it asks the Hungarian Defence ministry to equip the unit as a mountain hunter battalion and let it be sent onto the front. The ministry does not allow this request referring to administrative reasons and weapon deficiencies. The debate drags on until October 15 1944
October 15 1944: Hungarian leader Admiral Hothy is deposed by a coup led by the Germans and is replaced by Hungarian Nazi leader Count Fernec Szalasi. Directly after Szálasi’s take-over, the Waffen-SS does take up the offer that the SS takes over the unit. The offer is voted for with a 97% majority. Some conditions were set at the same time: the corps’s command language was to be Hungarian, The unit would only fight in Hungarian areas against the Russians, and the unit was to be treated equal with other SS corps. Zelkó also requests furthermore that Hungarian officers command the companies.
October 17 1944: 1st Hungarian Schi Battalion is formed. The battalion is classed as a “special troop” of the Reichfuhrer SS and not as a Waffen-Grenadier unit, this entitles the battalion to better equipment.
Commander – Obersturmfuhrer Josef Zelko
Unit structure when first formed
I Jaeger Company
II Jaeger Company
III Jaeger Company
IV Jaeger Company (heavy weapons)
October 18 1944: The battalion is outfitted and equipped by the Waffen – SS Replacement Commando in Budapest with SS Gerbirgsjaeger uniforms.
End of October 1944: The Hungarian Defence Ministry approve the special agreement.
November 10 1944: The Battalion is sent from Budapest by rail to the training camp at Neuhammer (2).
November 15 1944: Men from the ,Hunyadi” division arrive at Neuhammer camp and end up in the same quarters as the men from 1st Schi battalion. The Germans at Neuhammer class all the Hungarians as part of the same unit.
November 22 1944: The battalion is broken up and the men are assigned to various units in the 25th SS Division ,Hunyadi”.
November 24 1944: After 2 days of haggling Obersturmfuhrer Josef Zelko along with his adjutant (3) managers to get his 800 men back from the ,Hunyadi” division and along with 1 000 Hungarian Troops which arrive over the next few days reforms the battalion.
November 26 1944: After more haggling Zelko recovers the equipment, which arrived with the 800 men, for use with the Schi battalion.
November 30 1944: The last of the 1 000 Hungarian troops arrive at Neuhammer
December 1 1944: There are 1 800 men in the 1st Schi battalion.
December 4 1944: Zelko splits the ‘battalion’ into 2 proper battalions. Each battalion has 4 companies with IV company being the heavy weapons company. I battalion is commanded by Hauptsturmfuhrer Laszlo Darvas and II battalion by Hauptsturmfuhrer Laszlo Zelko. (4)
December 5 1944: 1st Hungarian Schi Battalion is issued with weapons in Bad Saarow.Although Zelkó is an Obersturmfuhrer he supposedly bribes the German warehousemen and they secure better quality equipment. I battalion’s first three companies equally share nine MG–42 machine guns, in a company two sections are issued Sturmgewehr–44, while the others are issued K98k. 4. Company (heavy weapons) are issued nine MG–42 machine guns, 6 8 cm Gr.W.34 medium mortars and four 7,5 cm Geb. G36/43 L18-5 Mountain cannons. They were also issued clothing (winter camouflage) and equipment.
December 7 1944: 1st Hungarian Schi battalion commences training at Neuhammer.
February 9 1945: The Russian’s advance on Neuhammer camp. After a request by Corps Gruppe ,Friedrich” to Oberst Hoffman an Alarm company is formed from the 1st Schi battalion, (5) this consists of 220 (6) men (including a 3 gun Pak 40 anti tank platoon) to help defend the camp. In the “Alarm Schi Kompanie” were 90 men forming a company, 21 Germans who found their selfs in the Alarm Kompanie, 20 men (including cooks) from the staff at Neuhammer camp (commanded by a reserve Captain) and between 15 and 25 men in a medical unit which consisted of stretcher bearers, doctors and drivers (commanded by a captain) This led by Obersturmfuhrer Josef Gencsy. This Alarm Company takes up positions to the south of the Breslau – Berlin autobahn near Gross-Goellmisch. A round mid-day the Schi Alarm battalion repulses a Russian attack. Around 14.00 hours the Alarm battalion takes up positions near to Nitschenkau
February 10 1944: The 1st Schi battalion (except for the Alarm section) leave Neuhammer on foot bound for Austria.
February 11 1944: The 1st Schi Alarm battalion moves positions to the north-west of Nitschkenau. During the day the battalion sees heavy fighting against Russian infantry and armour. In the area around Huehner Berg and Krainch See the battalion destroys 11 Russian tanks in the fighting over February 11/12. By late afternoon the Alarm battalion withdraws under heavy Russian pressure. The battalion withdraws to a point between Huehner Hill and Lake Kranich. During this withdrawal the battalion loses its entire anti tank guns. Also during the retreat part of the battalion gets separated and ends up defending in the Eichberg area. This section is wiped out in fighting with the Russians.
February 12 1945: The Alarm battalion withdraws through the Klitschdorfer Heath to Lorenzdorf. It is engaged in heavy fighting for the next couple of days and is slowly wiped out. Only Hauptsturmfuhrer Gencsy (7) and 8 other soldiers survive the fighting without being wounded. (8)
February 14 1945: The main body of 1st Schi battalion reaches Tetschen – Bodenbach. It is transported by rail to Leoben in Austria.
February 16 1945: The transporting of the battalion to Leoben is completed.
February 20 1945: The survivors of the 1st Schi Alarm battalion rejoin the main body of the battalion. II battalion is sent to the High Mountain Troop Training Grounds (,Seetaler Alp”) near Judenberg in Austria. Parts of the 13 SS Gebirgsjaeger Division ,Handshar" are also at the training camp.
February 25/26 1945: 1 500 men from a Hungarian Mountain brigade who has been shattered in combat near Gyor in Hungary are absorbed into the 1st Schi battalion (the men are in Mosonszentjános and Mosonszentpéter) . After being supplied with uniforms and equipment from the SS supply depot at Dachau the men make up most of a new III battalion which is commanded by Hauptsturmfuhrer Gencsy.
February 27 1945: III battalion is sent to ,Seetaler Alp”
March 25 1945: The battalion comes under joint Hungarian Ministry of Defence and SS-Headquarters common command
March 27 1945: Order of Battle
Unit structure (approximately 3 000 men)
Staff – FP 64 206
Translator’s platoon
Signal’s platoon
Motorcycle messenger platoon
Field police platoon
Staff security platoon
Supply troops – none
I Ungarische SS Gebirgsjaeger Battalion FP 64 206 A
Commander Hauptsturmfuhrer Laszlo Darvas
I company
II Company
III Company
IV Company (Heavy weapons)
II Ungarische SS Gebirgsjaeger Battalion FP 64 206 B
Commander Sturmbannfuhrer Laszlo Zelko
I company
II Company
III Company
IV Company (Heavy weapons)
III Ungarische Gebirgsjaeger Battalion FP 64 206 C
Commander Hauptsturmfuhrer Josef Gencsy
I company
II Company
III Company
IV Company (Heavy weapons)
April 17 1945: All 3 battalions are sent by truck from Graz to the St Margarethen on the Raab area. They are placed under IV SS Panzer Corps command. (15) On route (near Fronleiten) a half company (about 140 men) (16) from 1st Schi battalion is sent to help the Hungarian “Assault Group Ghyczy” at Pfaffensattel. (17)
April 18 1945: 1st Schi battalion fights with the 5th SS division ,Viking”. This continues until 10th May 1945. (18) ,Gruppe Lenk” ( part of 1st Hungarian Sturmjaeger Regiment) comes under the control of 1st Hungarian Schi battalion.
May 10 1945: Finding itself in Russian held territory (along with some elements of the 5th SS division ,Viking”) the 1st Schi battalion and ,Viking” breakthrough the Russian lines (19) and head towards the Attersee region to meet up with other elements of the various Hungarian SS units assembled there. Some of the Schi division along with elements of the ,Saint Laszlo” division surrender to the British at Klangenfurt.
May 11 1945: After a long march about 1 500 men of the 1st Schi battalion along with elements of 25th SS division ,Hunyadi” surrender to the Americans. Most of the battalion staff personal after proceeding to Leoben are captured by the Russians. Other elements of the 1st Schi battalion are captured by the Russians around Trofaiach.
Alarm Battalion
The Alarm Regiment & The battle for Neuhammer
February 4 1945: The sounds of battle are heard for the first time at Neuhammer camp and SS Obergruppenfuhrer Grassy order’s a defensive line around Neuhammer and place’s the most experienced troops (some equipped with panzerfaust’s) in a semi-circle between the Neuhammer camp and the Russians. The defensive line (parts of which are in wooded area’s) lies on the banks on the Bober river. 10 lorries from Waffen Kraftfahr kompamie der SS 25 ferries men on a daily basis to the front line to replace men who had been at the front.
February 5 1945: To allow time for ,Hunyadi" and ,Hungaria" to withdraw so the 2 divisions can carry on equiping and building SS Obergruppenfuhrer Grassy order’s that the two divisions (25th and 26th) should form one corps. “Hunyadi” first chief of staff officer Waffen – Standartenfuhrer Adam Podhradszky informs Waffen – Standartenfuhrer Bela Peinlich (previously with SS 63 Waffen-grenadier battalion) to organise it. Peinlich was doubtful if this was possible considering the shortage of equipment. Eventually the best units from 25 SS division ,Hunyadi” and 26 SS division ,Hungaria” (mainly the 61 & 64 regiments (1)) forms the ,Hungarian SS Alarm regiment”under the command of Standartenfuhrer Bela Peinlich. (2)
February 6 1945: The “Ungarisches Waffen Alarm Regiment der SS” comes into existance this numbers 2600 men with 2450 men in 4 battalions (apporoximately 600 per battalion) and 150 men in the Headquarters Staff
Alarm Commander: Standartenfuhrer Bela Peinlich (25 SS ,Hunyadi")
(Military operations) Chief Officer (Ib): Hauptsturmfuhrer Janos Zoltay (26 SS ,Hungaria")
Second Staff Officer (IIA): Obersturmfuhrer Ulvetsky (??)
Regimental Staff :-
HQ Staff troops
Signals platoon
Motorcycle Messenger platoon
Field Police platoon
Staff Security platoon
Mortar platoon (armed with 6 81mm motors)
Medical platoon with field dressing station
SS I Waffen – Alarm battalion: Waffen - Hauptsturmfuhrer Erno Solti (25 SS ,Hunyadi")
SS II Waffen – Alarm battalion: Waffen - Hauptsturmfuhrer Alajos Duska (25 SS ,Hunyadi")
SS III Waffen – Alarm battalion: Waffen - Hauptsturmfuhrer Geza Pataki (26 SS ,Hungaria")
SS IV Waffen – Alarm battalion: Waffen - Hauptsturmfuhrer Gyorgy Hermandy – Berencz (26 SS ,Hungaria")
The 4 companies (the heavy weapons are shared equally) are allocated 2 000 rifles, 70 machine pistols, 4 heavy machine guns, 21 light machine guns, as well as approximately 50 panzerfausts and 500 - 1000 grenades and around 100 mortar shells. Each soldier is given approximately 200 rounds of ammunition.
I and II battalions are mostly from ,Hunyadi” and III and IV are mostly from ,Hungaria”
Due to the fact it is only a temporary unit the Alarm Regiment has no resupply capability. No field kitchens are available so all rations are issued cold. A small 13 man 4/5 truck supply column from ,Hunyadi” (Waffen Versorgungs regiment der SS 25) is on hand for emergency purposes (this 12 man team is commanded by Sturmbannfuhrer Denes Exerde)
The battalions are not fully equipped and have only 3 days training at Neuhammer. They are regarded as being ready for holding the Russian advance. The Alarm Battalion is left behind as an insurance with sufficient food and ammunition to cover the withdrawal of the rest of the ,Hunyadi” and ,Hungaria” divisions as with the speed of the Russian advance it is decided to move the divisions
The Alarm formation is told that all Hungarian formations at Neuhammer are to be evacuated. The Alarm unit’s temporary commander is Obergruppenfuhrer Grassy and he give’s the order that within 2 hours the unit is to be ready to move out. Some of the troops move to the Strans camp complex because of this the ,Hungaria” fire regiment commander Waffen – Scharfuhrer Bizco is sent to Neuhammer even though it is being evacuated.
February 6 1945: The ,Hunyadi” division make quarters in the area around Oldenburg and Kloppengurg. Standartenfuhrer Jeno Temesvary Galgoc takes over command of 61 regiment. The Hungarian divisions leave on time. Approximately 55 000 – 60 000 soldiers are to be evacuated from Neuhammer and Osszesen camps.
February 7 1945: The remaining units of the ,Hunyadi” divisionmove out of Neuhammer camp and move approximately 50 kilometres to the south to the Deutschgabel area in order to develop new barracks. It had been decided during the previous German-Hungarian meeting that 4 divisions were to be sent to the area so sufficient stores were brought in.
February 8 1945: The Alarm regiment gradually occupies a defensive line on the Strans part of the camp on the training centres eastern part, facing eastwards on the western bank of the River Bobo. I battalion takes up positions on the left wing in and around Oberleschant including the railway line. They have a front that stretches to south of the town of Buchwald. III battalion secure’s the right wing from Strans to the Wenigtreben \ Luisenthal area. In the north the Alarm regiment is joined for one week only by a German-Russian battle group which includes a group led by Andrej Andrejevics Vlaszov. Between I and III battalions is II battalion, which is the main defensive position, which goes from just south of Buchwald and centres mainly on the Strans training headquarters. IV battalion under Hauptsturmfuhrer Gyorgy Hermandy – Berencz are still training at Neuhammer camp and are held in reserve there along with an Estonian kampfgruppe (3)(actually the SS 20 panzer grenadier regiment commanded by Obersturmbannfuhrer Emil Rehfeld) and also the 1 SS Hungarian Ski battalion kampfgruppe commanded by Obersturmfuhrer Gencsy . (4) Neither the Estonian nor Hungarian Ski kampfgruppe’s are under the command of Peinlich and this later cause’s problems.The Alarm regiment defends a front between Oberleschent and Wenigtreben of almost 12 kilometres. The regimental headquarters is located at Strans camp. From this headquarters telephone lines are laid to each of the frontline battalions.
February 9 1945: In the morning I battalion sends out hourly reconnaissance patrols to locate the Russian positions. At 1000 a platoon sized outpost from I battalion based around the village of Armadebrunn (approximately 9 kilometres east of the I battalion’s defensive line) reports sighting a Russian reconnaissance patrol approaching the village in strength, the outpost troops are ordered to fall back to Oberleschant on the West Bank of the river and after a short skirmish reach Oberleschant without casulaties. In the afternoon the complete Alarm regiment arrives to meet the advanced Russian formations. 1 battalion occupies an area close to Neuhammer near Oberleschent, which they think is the main Russian thrust as it was directly north of the highway but they fail to realise that the Russians are advancing from the south west from Buchwald and have set up a bridgehead on the western bank of the River Bober. Zoltay tries to get extra equipment for the Alarm Regiment from ,Hunyadi” and ,Hungaria” but fails. (5) At 1200 hrs shells start landing on Strans camp and at 1500 hrs the Russians attack with an advance on the Oberleschent railway station which results in heavy close combat. I battalion knocks out 2 Russian tanks before finally giving up ground at around 1800hrs. During the night the Russians cross the river in force and set up a bridgehead.
On the right wing of the Alarm regiment the soviets attack successfully and capture a bridge at Urbanstreben that had not been destroyed to allow troops on the eastern bank to withdraw… III battalion is hit hard. The company on the far right flank is isolated around the village of Luisenthal. The Russians lauch an attack across the river with the aid of boats and create a bridgehead. In the afternoon about 150 men from the SS 20 Waffen Grenadier arrive at Neuhammer to help III battalion but they do not take part in any fighting. The Ski Alarm Company takes up positions to the south of the Breslau – Berlin autobahn near Gross-Goellmisch. A round mid-day the Schi Alarm battalion repulses a Russian attack. Around 14.00 hours the Alarm battalion takes up positions near to Nitschenk
Peinlich decides that a counter attack is needed to help relieve the presure on the Alarm Battalion. Eventually Rehfeld agrees to the attack. The Estonians are chosen to lead the attack mainly due to their equipment and armament (they are equipped with winter clothing).
February 10 1945: By 0530 hrs III battalion has suffered heavy losses and is trying to defend the area to the north of Buchwead. After calling for re-enforcement’s 3 Estonian companies are sent to the front (1 to help III battalion and 2 to help II battalion) At 06.00 the SS 20 Waffen-grenadier (Estonian) kampfgruppe at last advance to the II battalion’s frontline, which is in Strans. The Estonian kampfgruppe is 300 - 350 strong (each man as 2/3 grenades). They have to cross the long bridge, which crosses the river Bobo. 3 Hungarian SS combat engineers accompany the Estonian attack to help remove anti personal mines that had been laid by Hungarian pioneers earlier and help cut the barbed wire barriers. During the advance Peinlich and his staff climb onto the roof of a house in Strans and watch the attack. The removing of the mines and cutting of the wire takes 13 - 15 minutes and when completed a torch signal is used to start the attack. Around 100 soldiers take part in the 2nd wave. The advance starts without any artillery barrage. After an advance of 500 – 600 metres and the retaking of the villages of Kochnicht and Holgerei the advance is halted. A tank company (consisting of 11 tanks including 2 Sherman’s) is spotted by II battalion command post This was expected to be a German column that was rumoured to be retreating towards Strans however Peinlich and the observers soon realise that the columns are in fact Russian columns . The Russians with strong armour and infantry units attack on both sides of the highway, attacking both the Estonian Alarm regiment and the bridgehead and push the Estonia Kampfgruppe behind the Hungarian lines. The dead and most of the wounded are captured by the Russians. About half of the Estonian troops who arrive back at the Hungarian lines are wounded in some way. At about 0730 hrs the Russians open fire on Strans camp with katyusha rockets, shortly the Russians attack III battalion on the right wing where Hungarian and Estonian soldiers are asked to holdout. Ammunition runs low and the Hungarians resort to using Russian weapons and ammunition taken from dead bodies. By nightfall the Russians have completely surrounded the defensive positions of III battalion. III battalion breaks out of the encirclement suffering losses… I Battalion by this time have taken heavy casualties. Its commander Hauptsturmfuhrer Solti and the whole battalion staff are killed in close combat.(6) By nightfall both I and III battalions withdraw under Russian pressure and eventually reform near the river Queis and their earlier positions are occupied by the Russians. Around Strans the flank of II battalion are unprotected and so Standartenfuehrer Peinlich orders the reserve IV battalion to be deployed
February 11 1945: It is reported to regimental headquarters that isolated pockets from III battalion are fighting down to the last bullet with the wounded prefering suicide to being captured At 0800 hrs Russian scout troops are reported west of regimental HQ. At the same time Strans camp comes under heavy bombardment. At 0840 IV battalion is alerted to be ready to move out. It is transported by lorry to Koberbrunn to be reorganised into operational formation. It has used its 3 days at Neuhammer well, with extra training and extra equipment such as new uniforms, Hungarian issue helmet netting and extra radios. IV battalion is split into 2 assault groups with a weak company of support troops (7). In the course of the day (around 1100 hrs) 4-5 lorries from the ,Hunyadi” supply regiment headed by Denes Exterde (he was a cavalryman with the rank of Sturmbannfuhrer) (8) go to Neuhammer camp for ammunition (9), after encountering some problems they return to Strans camp. Whilst at the camp getting the ammunition the Russians launch an attack on Strans and over 600 Russians are killed (around 1400 Russians are killed in the fighting around Strans and Buchwald) (Due to lack a of weapons and ammunition members of the Alarm Regiment use weapons and ammunition taken from dead Russians to use in the fighting). The 1st Assault Company is ordered to attack the Russian bridgehead on the West Side of the Bobo River opposite II battalion’s weak positions. II battalion was ordered not fire in case they hit their own men in the Assault Company. II battalion was to act in support after the 1st Assault Company had reached its objectives. The 2nd Assault Company was to attack at the same time from the south. The 2 assault companies leave behind their overclothes and wear a sleeveless sheepskin jacket to allow better movement and their helmets are disguised. The attack occurs at 1200 hrs and the 1st Assault Company (using only bayonets and hand grenades) overruns the first Russian positions. They become pinned down by Russian machine guns. 5 sharp shooters had been sent in support of the attack and they swiftly kill the Russian gunners, the advance continues and the 1st assault group from IV battalion advance 3kms within an hour and enter Strans town. There the II battalion and the newly arrived IV battalion engage in serious street fighting. At 1315 the Russians launch a massive artillery barrage which lasts approximately 10 minutes. Lacking artillery pieces the Hungarians replied with a mixed barrage of hand grenades and mortars.(10) Hermandy and his troops attack and fight their way into the town. After 30 minutes hard fighting (including hand to hand fighting using entrenching tools and bayonets) both elements of the Assault Company link up in the town centre. II Battalion advances and clears up bypassed Russian positions. At 13.45 Regimental HQ is informed that Strans has been retaken… 47 men from the Assault Company had been killed and 80 wounded in the fighting for Strans. At around 13.00 a lorry with SS number plates arrives and its load of anti tank weapons aresplit between II and IV battalions.
I, II and IV battalions are now surrounded on 3 sides with only the neck at Neuhammer still open. III battalion position is unknown as contact has been lost but it turns out to be still fighting in fragments to the south-west. The drivers on their return join the fighting, they are later killed. Sometime after 14.00 the Russians once again bombard Strans camp setting several buildings alight. The ammunition supply improves as a result of a delivery (at 16.00 a lorry arrives filled with anti tank weapons – panzerfaust’s and crates of other ammunition) and they are able to hold the Russian attacks. Also at 16.00 a German Officer arrives at Koberbrunn and introduces himself to Standartenfuhrer Peinlich. The Officer praises the Hungarians for their actions and asks that the Alarm Regiment holds the Russians at bay for one more day stating that the requested German armour support will not be appearing. At 16.25 II battalion under Hauptsturmfuhrer Alajos Duska (after borrowing ammunition from regimental staff so low was their supplies) attack a small Russian patrol. At 16.30 a German officer order’s the stores in the Strans camp to be destroyed. At 17.00 the first sections start reporting a shortage of ammunition. Under cover of darkness 4 trucks carry 120 wounded back to Neuhammer camp.(11) At 19.30 a strong Russian attack is launched against the elements of the Alarm regiments positions in Strans. Within minutes IV battalion destroy 3 Russian tanks. At regimental Headquarters 100 men are given the task of retrieving as many weapons as possible from the bodies of dead Russians (12). Regimental headquarters withdraw to new positions at Koberbrunn along with a large number of lightly wounded soldiers. This withdrawal is cover by II battalion under Hauptsturmfuhrer Duska. Once at Koberbrunn headquarters learn that III battalion is engaged in a fighting retreat due south of Koberbrunn. Shortly after it is learnt that 15 Hungarian SS men are with an Estonia unit 250 meters to the south. At Koberbrunn Hungarian Feld gendarmes and 70 wounded are formed into a Alarm guard by Peinlich.
Mein Gott, dass is mehr als genug uber Budapest!
Just skip this thread if it strains you.
‘Leibstandarte’ in Hungary 1941
http://www.ww2incolor.com/german/LSSAH_Hungary.html
SS-Standartenführer Otto Skorzeny in Budapest
http://www.ww2incolor.com/german/skorzenyin+budapest.html
Waffen SS Totenkopf troops in Hungary 1944
http://www.ww2incolor.com/german/totenkopf+hungary.html
Grenadiers of the 3.SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf take cover from incoming artillery.Hungary, March 1945.
http://www.ww2incolor.com/german/Grenadiers+of+the+3.html
Soldiers of 22.SS-Freiwilligen-Kavallerie-Division Maria Theresa in a street in Budapest. Hungary, October 1944
http://www.ww2incolor.com/german/Soldiers+of+22.html
6th SS-Panzerarmee advancing in Hungary
http://www.ww2incolor.com/german/KSK_148_3%23.html
German officers marvel at the skyline of Budapest/Hungary with the Danube River, May 1944.
http://www.ww2incolor.com/german/KSK_148_1.html
Troops of 8th SS-Cavalry Division ‘‘Florian Geyer’’ on their way to the front. Budapest/Hungary, January 1945.
http://www.ww2incolor.com/german/DlJdWSS_85_2%23.html
German Krad troops in Budapest
http://www.ww2incolor.com/german/Deutsche+Truppen+an+der+Fischerbastei+in+Budapest.html
Grenadiers from 5.SS-Panzer-Division Wiking are penetrating deep into the Soviet defences through forest roads. Hungary, January 1945
http://www.ww2incolor.com/german/Grenadiers+from+5.html
First image does not appear.
Sorry! Here is another link:
Troops from the Waffen SS “Maria Theresia” cavalry check the captured hungarian weapons
http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/7643/soldiersofmariatheresaimf2.gif
Aerial photos from US planes bombing of Budapest
http://dunaiszigetek.blogspot.hu/2012/06/langban-allo-dunai-szigettenger-archiv.html
Industrial area of Angyalföld after a saturation bombing in Budapest 1944
http://www.ww2incolor.com/updates?g2_itemId=805656
Wasn’t the fact that Hitler order to bomb the city that gave the edge for the Russians. SInce the city was so heavy bombed that there was rumble everywhere and the tanks couldn’t advance and with that it was infantry vs infantry sort of battle ( for the most part if I stand correctly. Since the Russians where able to win the battle with the superior amount of troops and ( I am not so sure of this next part) thats about the time the t-34 was introduced to the front …?
Sorry wrong thread…
Close up photo from a Tiger II Königstiger turret and he crew at the Castle of Buda 1944
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-680-8282A-09,_Budapest,Panzersoldaten_in_Panzer_VI(Tiger_II).jpg
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Tiger II at the Castle of Buda
http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k603/dzsonyi01/Operation%20Panzerfaust/Bundesarchiv_Bild_BudapestKoumlnigstiger_zps342ba022.jpg
Two hungarian soldier with Panzerfausts after the breakout
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VaeU4K7UzkI/T6dFGi84ZfI/AAAAAAAAETY/etMUcq5h2m4/s640/WW2+Hungarian+Honveds+with+Panzerfaust_destroyed+Russian+T-34+in+Budapest±battles+ended+February+11th+1945.jpg
Red Army street fighting in Budapest. February 1945
http://i59.fastpic.ru/big/2013/1029/f6/6c224a9f920b9650f6ed7e90a6c92ef6.jpg
German newsreel about fights around Debrecen
Die Deutsche Wochenschau 1944 Debrecen I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTGIbtVaK4c
Die Deutsche Wochenschau 1944 Debrecen II
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALET8FZk0Ko