Battle of Waldmünchen

### Outcome

Comintern victory* Czechoslovak and Soviet forces capture Waldmünchen from West German control
* Allied counterattack to recapture Waldmünchen fails
* Comintern foothold is opened into Bavaria

The **Battle of Waldmünchen** was a military engagement that took place on the Western Front of the Third World War. It occurred from March 28 to April 2, 1965 and was characterised by a coordinated attack launched by two Czechoslovak and three Soviet army groups. The battle was a crucial moment in the early stages of the advance into West Germany. Waldmünchen, a small town located near the border between Czechoslovakia and the Federal Republic of Germany, was the site of a major confrontation between the two sides. The Federal Border Guard forces, which were tasked with defending the town and its surrounding area, were quickly overwhelmed by the sheer size and strength of the attacking army groups. Initially, the combined Soviet-Czechoslovak army suffered heavy losses due to mud and snow hindering their advance and visibility of the enemy positions ahead, in which the small amount of West German forces exploited and consistently ambushed their forces along the highway leading to Waldmünchen which delayed the Comintern advance, giving time for the West Germans to prepare their defences and call for reinforcements.

Despite this however, the West Germans were quickly dispatched and forced to withdraw from the town, with the Czechoslovak and Soviet forces quickly secured the town and established a strong defensive perimeter, thereby cutting off any potential reinforcements from the Federal side. This effectively ended any hope of a counterattack and allowed the attacking forces to consolidate their gains and prepare for the next phase of the conflict. The battle of Waldmünchen was a demonstration of the superior military capabilities of the Czechoslovak and Soviet forces. The speed and efficiency with which they secured the town and established a solid defensive perimeter. The victory also had a significant psychological impact on the West German forces within Bavaria, as it demonstrated the overwhelming superiority of the enemy forces and raised doubts about the ability of the Federal army to defend the south. In the aftermath of the battle, the town of Waldmünchen became a strategic hub for the Czechoslovak and Soviet forces, providing a secure base from which they could launch further operations into Federal territory.

The West German forces, determined to reclaim control of Waldmünchen, quickly mobilised a counterattack to recapture the border town. The counterattack was supported by the US 2nd Armoured Division and assets from the US 1st Infantry Division, who brought with them a significant amount of firepower and resources. Despite the reinforcements from the Allied forces, the counterattack proved to be a costly failure. The Comintern forces, well-entrenched and fortified in the town, were able to repel the attack with ease, inflicting heavy casualties on the Allied forces. The Comintern forces were well-prepared for the attack and had established a series of formidable defensive positions that proved difficult to penetrate. In an effort to break the stalemate, the Allied forces resorted to artillery and close air support, bombarding the town and its defensive positions. However, the results were less than desired as many of the Allied aircraft were shot down over the town, and the artillery had little effect on the well-protected Comintern positions, the Comintern forces remained firmly in control of Waldmünchen, consolidating their hold over the town.