Hungarian Forces

BUDAPEST SIEGE: Frozen Danube and Broken Bridges

After the Axis had withdrawn to Buda from the Pest side on January 17, 1945, the remaining Danube bridges, such as the venerable Chain Bridge in the photo, were blown up by German sappers. In the meanwhile, the winter cold froze up the Danube, which had several consequences. The many tons of supplies sent by German forces each day could no longer be floated into the city on heavy barges at night. Red Army units could simply walk over on the ice, for example to fight for the possession of Margit Island. And finally, obtaining water for the population, always a task, became even more difficult. Many residents, while trying to break through the ice for getting water, as in the photo above, were shot by snipers.