The defenders also expected the brunt of the attack to arrive from the east, on the flat terrain of Pest. Therefore, the Attila line was prepared mainly around this eastern city half, while the hilly Buda half in the west was considered less vulnerable behind the wide Danube river.  Here Soviet infantry is moving westward cautiously on a street of Pest, whose broad avenues and boulevards enhanced their advance.



BUDAPEST SIEGE:  Russian Infantry at Pest

Destroyed Soviet Valentine

The Soviet armies approaching the Hungarian capital in November, 1944, expected to occupy it "on the run."  However, encountering stiff resistance, they soon deployed heavy artillery in large numbers. For example, in preparation for a major push, about 1000 artillery pieces bombarded the defenders of Pest for 24 hours on one occasion.  Here a Soviet unit is firing large caliber rounds from the outskirts of Budapest during the beginning of the siege.