FROM THE LAND OF THE SETTING SUN. VOLUME 3. IV SS PANZER CORPS FROM BUDAPEST TO VIENNA, FEBRUARY-MAY 1945

Enter the world of history, where the fates of soldiers intertwine with the brutality of war. Learn about the dramatic events of the last months of World War II, following the fate of the IV SS Panzer Corps on the Eastern Front. This book is not only a record of battles, but also a story about people, their sacrifice and the struggle for survival in the face of inevitable defeat.

• Detailed analysis of the operations of the IV SS Panzer Corps
• Description of the fighting from Budapest to Vienna
• First-hand accounts of soldiers fighting on the Eastern Front
• Unique photos and maps from the era
• In-depth study of military strategies and tactics
• History of the last months of World War II
• Analysis of the causes of Germany's defeat on the Eastern Front

In the last months of World War II, after the fall of Budapest on February 12, 1945 and the failed breakthrough attempt by the IX SS Mountain Corps, the only thing the IV. SS-Panzerkorps could do was retreat to a more defensible line and fortify the key city of Belgrade. The veterans of SS-Obergruppenführer Gille, exhausted after three relief attempts in January 1945, outnumbered by the ever-growing forces of the 3rd Ukrainian Front under Marshal Tolbukhin, dug in and prepared for a long period of defensive operations. However, Adolf Hitler had not forgotten about the Hungarian theater of operations or its rich oil fields, and sent help.

Disregarding the threat to Berlin, he sent the legendary 6th SS Panzer Army under SS-Oberstgruppenführer Sepp Dietrich to Hungary. However, not to recapture Budapest, but to encircle and destroy Tolbukhin's forces and completely change the situation in south-eastern Europe in Hitler's favor. This overly ambitious offensive, known as Frühlingserwachen (Spring Awakening), soon bogged down in the face of determined Soviet defense aided by the spring thaw. Proclaimed the last major offensive of Nazi Germany in World War II, it brought the last of Hitler's armored reserves great losses in exchange for little gain. Although the IV. SS-Panzerkorps played a secondary role during the operation, it was soon embroiled in fighting when the Red Army launched the Vienna operation, which nearly swept the armies of Army Group South off the battlefield.

Retreating to Austria, Gille's battered corps attempted to block the road to Germany while the Red Army attacked Vienna. The soldiers of the IV SS Panzer Corps, who had to not only withstand incessant Soviet attacks, but also endure the leadership of the 6th Army's bitterly hostile commander, General Hermann Balck, fought their way through Austria to reach the safe demarcation line. There they finally surrendered to American forces on May 9, 1945, after nearly a year of continuous fighting. Napoleon V Publishing House is a guarantee of reliability and passion for history, which makes this book a must-have for every lover of militaria and World War II.