num_pages: 310
description: The book describes Hungary during World War II from the perspective of Hitlers most important political the acquisition of Lebensraum (Living space). In this Lebensraum raw materials were vital particularly oil.Another tragic subject discussed is the destruction of the last remaining Jewish community in Europe. The author considers the case of Hungary to be the final manifestation of a long and tragic policy. At the end of the war Hitler was obsessed with the Hungarian oilfields near Nagykanizsa the last natural oil reserves of the Third Reich. This thoroughly influenced Hitlers strategy and involved enormous military efforts.In January 1945 the Army Group South started an offensive known as the three Operations Konrad. It was followed by Operation Sdwind in February and the large-scale and mostly forgotten Operation Frhlingserwachen also known as the Ardennes Offensive of the East in spring. During the last months of the war Hitler ordered the 6th SS Panzer Army from the Ardennes to Hungary and Budapest was sacrificed as a Festung (stronghold).The aim of the operations was not only the preservation of the Hungarian oilfields but also the recaptures of the Romanian oilfields. The operation developed dramatically. Ten days after the beginning of Frhlingswachen the Red Army started the Vienna operation and broke through the German front. Another tragedy was the extradition of the Hungarian Jews the last remaining Jewish community in Europe by SS-commander Adolf Eichmann. Eichmann claimed the Hungarian operation to be the most successful one in his career.In Hungary 1944 - 1945 the author thoroughly investigated how such an extensive destruction campaign could still have taken place at the end of the war. While the SS appeared to be prepared to come to an agreement to spare Jews in Western Europe most Hungarian Jews died in Auschwitz or during marches to Hegyeshalom. The dubious part played by the Hungarian authorities Horthy a Szlasi and the rescue attempts by Wallenberg Kastner Lutz and Perlasca are also investigated.This book is a political and military study focussing mainly on the economic politics of the Third Reich which have been neglected in historiography. Thousands of documents from German American and Hungarian archives were researched.At the end of World War II Germany launched three major offensives in Hungary to preserve the Third Reich's control over the strategically vital oilfields of Nagykanizsa. Hitler was obsessed with this operation and transferred the 6th SS Panzer Army from other weakening German fronts to assist. It was an operation that optimistically planned to capture oilfields in Romania eventually.Tragically the success of this operation helped the SS Commander of the region Adolf Eichmann finish his liquidation of the Hungarian Jewish community the last remaining Jewish community in Europe.
language: English
title: Hungary, 1944-1945: The Forgotten Tragedy: Germany's Final Offensives During World War II
publisher: Aspekt,The Netherlands