Moravia–Ostrava Offensive

The Moravia–Ostrava offensive operation () was an offensive by the Red Army during World War II that lasted from March 10 to May 6, 1945, and was the Soviet conquest of present-day Eastern Czech Republic (Moravia also part of Polish and Czech Silesia).

Prelude

In the spring of 1945, the frontline on the southwestern border of Lesser Poland ran from Wieliczka via Jaworzno and Gliwice to Międzylesie.

The 4th Ukrainian Front (Colonel General Ivan Petrov) and the right wing of the southern 2nd Ukrainian Front (Rodion Malinovsky) were far behind the other fronts of the Red Army. On the western part of the High Tatras, a frontal arch had formed, covering the northeastern and southeastern borders of Slovakia. The 4th Ukrainian Front, located in front of the western Carpathian ridge and between Dukla and Kaschau, had 317,300 men, 2,900 guns and mortars, 184 tanks and self-propelled guns and 416 aircraft at the beginning of March 1945.

The enemy ''Army group Heinrici'' (German 1st Panzer Army and 1st Hungarian Army), under command of Gotthard Heinrici counted over 150,000 men, 1,500 guns and mortars, 100 tanks and 120 aircraft.

The Battle

First offensive on March 10

On March 10, the offensive of the 4th Ukrainian Front began with the 38th Army (General Kirill Moskalenko) from Pszczyna and Černá Voda area. The Red Army was able to advance only 3–4 km on the first day of the attack. By the evening of March 17, the German defense had been pushed back on a 15 km wide front about 6–12 km deep. The operational targets had not been reached, but the losses were considerable. When the offensive of the 60th Army (Colonel General Pavel Kurochkin) of the 1st Ukrainian Front against the German XI Army Corps near Racibórz was successful, the focus was shifted to the right wing of the front.

Second Offensive on March 24

On 24 March, the 4th Ukrainian Front began the new major offensive. The South Upper Silesian and North Moravian industrial area was now attacked from the north and east at the same time. The 38th Army attacked the front of the German LIX. Armeekorps (General of the Infantry Ernst Sieler) from the area around Sohrau towards Loslau. On the first day the German defensive lines were successfully broken through and an area of 20 km width and 7 km depth was conquered. A fast-tracked counter-attack by the German 8th and 19th Panzer Divisions near Loslau could not restore the situation. On 26 March, after a hard battle the positions at Loslau were lost. The troops of the 60th Army and the 1st Guard Army (Andrei Grechko) were able to bring closer towards Bohumín.

Army General Andrey Yeryomenko, appointed as the new commander of the 4th Ukrainian Front on March 26, had the units of the 38th Army attack again on March 27. His troops were able to penetrate another 5 km deep and approach the Oder at Bukau at a distance of 2 to 3 km. On April 2, the 95th and 126th Rifle Corps near Rogau managed to cross the Oder and form a bridgehead. At the same time, the 11th Rifle Corps crossed the river at Tworkau. In the east, the Soviet 18th Army was able to overcome the positions on the Tatras and take Ružomberok. Until April 5, however, the incursion of the 1st Guards and the 18th Army towards Frankstadt, which has now been extended to a depth of 20 km, could not be extended due to increasing German resistance. On 6 April, the 60th Army of Jeremenko's Front, which had previously been subordinated to the 1st Ukrainian Front, was placed under the direction of the 4th Ukrainian Front. The 1st Czechoslovak Army Corps (General Ludvík Svoboda

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