The biggest tank battle in Moravia - Orechov, Czech Republic
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puczmeloun
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In the second half of April 1945 took place the next largest battle of its kind in Moravia - tank battle in Orechov, a remote village 17 km south of Brno
Waymark Code: WMNT57
Location: Jihomoravský kraj, Czechia
Date Posted: 04/29/2015
Views: 32
At the beginning of April 1945 the Red Army (RA) proceeded relatively rapidly toward Berlin. 3. April there was a liberation of Bratislava, and ten days later and conquer Vienna. Now there were a number of Brno, which still held the Germans. Therefore, the host of the 2nd Ukrainian front issued from Vienna to the north soon. Russians expected conquest Moravian metropolis before the evening hours on the 17th April, but stiff resistance the Germans, who have to defend their well-chosen terrain south of Brno, is astonished and completely hindered their original plans.
The attack on Orechov, important strategic position, where the bombardment has lead to the German Brno strength, began the afternoon on the 18th April Russian bombardment supported by air flight.
The tenth night the Russians managed to occupy space in the church of All Saints and a strategic road to the nearby village Hajany. Germans are downloaded to Orechovicek. Fierce fighting lasted all night, but the bulk of the conflict of attacking troops were to the next day around 20 hours, when the Germans to help prispechali considerable reinforcements. The effectiveness of their attack (dam barrage of rocket launchers, tanks and behind rojnice pancérových grenadier) with the surprise factor was so great that they managed to get lost territory - in particular, were the church of All Saints. German tanks in the immediate vicinity of the destroyed several tanks T34.
The fighting men against the men was to use flame-throwers. The Russians had Orechov clear, but in the following hours to undergo drtivému blasting the "katusi". Germans, despite intense fire managed to get more territory - 20.4. conquered Radostice, Orechovicky, Rosice and Lower Kounice.
The fight lasted more than a week, and the Germans managed to repeatedly push the Russians to their starting position, although RA had three predominance in the number of tanks, works, rocket launchers and aircraft, and nearly ten in the superiority of men. Difficult part of the Russian victory, which was break the German defense, which ultimately led to the expected long exemption south Moravia, has more than 30 destroyed tanks and armored vehicles, and nearly half a second a thousand fallen Soviet soldiers (from Orechov and its surroundings). At the same time, killing around 20 local residents. Orechov was 80% destroyed (was destroyed 176 houses), as well as most neighboring communities. For the sake of completeness it is necessary also to mention the nearly 300 German soldiers killed.
In honor of liberators was discovered in front of the church of All Saints in 2007 (almost to the day of the anniversary of the battle) of the existing memorial monument other, forming a tower tank T34/85 on a granite pedestal, resembling a tank chassis.
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