The Eastern Front was a meat grinder and the battles that took place there are legendary.
The Battle of Budapest is described as being like Stalingrad with civilians. Unfortunately, few here in the weat know of the carnage that took place there between November 1944 and February 1945 for both soldiers and civilians. As in Berlin, the Red Army was merciless in victory.
For a short synopsis of the battle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Budapest
For those who want to read about it, I suggest The Battle for Budapest by Krisztian Ungvary.
This book is very similar to Cornelius Ryan's Battle for Berlin. Ungvary uses unit histories and personal letters home from German and Hungarian soldiers. He also analyzes the political situation before the battle and vividly describes the horror that took place in Budapest. It is told from the German/Hungarian viewpoint.
The Battle of Budapest is described as being like Stalingrad with civilians. Unfortunately, few here in the weat know of the carnage that took place there between November 1944 and February 1945 for both soldiers and civilians. As in Berlin, the Red Army was merciless in victory.
For a short synopsis of the battle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Budapest
For those who want to read about it, I suggest The Battle for Budapest by Krisztian Ungvary.
This book is very similar to Cornelius Ryan's Battle for Berlin. Ungvary uses unit histories and personal letters home from German and Hungarian soldiers. He also analyzes the political situation before the battle and vividly describes the horror that took place in Budapest. It is told from the German/Hungarian viewpoint.