Prague offensive
The Prague offensive (Russian: Пражская стратегическая наступательная операция, romanized: Prazhskaya strategicheskaya nastupatel'naya operatsiya, lit. 'Prague strategic offensive') was the last major military operation of World War II in Europe. The offensive was fought on the Eastern Front from 6 May to 11 May 1945. Fought concurrently with the Prague uprising, the offensive significantly helped the liberation of Czechoslovakia in 1945. The offensive was one of the last engagements of World War II in Europe and continued after Nazi Germany's unconditional capitulation on 8/9 May.
| Prague offensive | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Eastern Front of World War II | |||||||
Map of Prague offensive | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
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Allies: Soviet Union Czechoslovakia Romania Poland Russian Liberation Army | |||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Ferdinand Schörner Lothar Rendulic |
Ivan Konev Rodion Malinovsky Andrey Yeryomenko Karel Klapálek Vasile Atanasiu Nicolae Dăscălescu Karol Świerczewski Sergei Bunyachenko | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
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Army Group Centre: 600,000–650,000 Army Group Ostmark: 430,000 9,370 |
1,770,700 139,500 69,500 48,400 18,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Some 860,000 captured; remainder killed, missing in action, or fled |
49,348 1,730 887 533 300 | ||||||
The city of Prague was ultimately liberated by the USSR during the Prague offensive. All of the German troops of Army Group Centre (Heeresgruppe Mitte) and many of Army Group Ostmark (formerly known as Army Group South) were killed or captured, or fell into the hands of the Allies after the capitulation.