Key Facts
- Duration
- 6–11 May 1945 (6 days)
- Theater
- Eastern Front, World War II in Europe
- German forces affected
- Army Group Centre and much of Army Group Ostmark
- Concurrent event
- Prague uprising (Czech civilian resistance)
- Germany's capitulation date
- 8/9 May 1945
Strategic Narrative Overview
Soviet forces launched converging attacks from multiple directions on 6 May 1945, driving deep into Bohemia at speed. The 1st, 2nd, and 4th Ukrainian Fronts advanced from the north, east, and south, aiming to encircle Army Group Centre. Despite Germany's unconditional surrender taking effect on 8/9 May, significant German units continued fighting or attempted to break out westward. Soviet spearheads entered Prague on 9 May, effectively ending organised German resistance in the city and throughout much of Czechoslovakia within days.
01 / The Origins
By early May 1945, Nazi Germany faced total military collapse on all fronts. Large German formations, including Army Group Centre under Field Marshal Ferdinand Schörner, remained in Czechoslovakia and refused to surrender to Soviet forces. A popular Czech uprising began in Prague on 5 May 1945, prompting urgent calls for Allied assistance. The Soviet command ordered a rapid offensive to encircle and destroy or capture the remaining German forces before they could withdraw westward to surrender to American troops.
03 / The Outcome
Prague was liberated by Soviet forces by 9 May 1945, and organised resistance collapsed by 11 May. Army Group Centre and elements of Army Group Ostmark were largely killed, captured, or surrendered to Allied forces in the immediate aftermath. The offensive concluded the European theatre of World War II on the Eastern Front and secured Soviet and Czechoslovak control over Bohemia, setting the political context for postwar Czechoslovakia's alignment with the Soviet sphere.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Ferdinand Schörner.
Side B
2 belligerents
Ivan Konev, Rodion Malinovsky, Andrei Yeryomenko.
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.