Battlefront Hungary, Jan - March 1945 : Soviet offensives into Hungary threatened German control of its last oil fields around Nagykhaniza (also written Nagykanizsa) southwest of Lake Balaton (also called Plattensee). Two major counter-offensives were executed, with Operation Konrad in Jan 1945 to relieve siege of Budapest and Operation Fruhlingserwachen (Spring Awakening) in March 1945 to thwart Soviet gains. Though initially successful on both counts, Germans lacked sufficient armor & personnel to break Soviet reinforcements.

Rollover : German commence Operation Konrad in three separate attempts. 1 Jan 1945 Konrad-1 with IV SS Panzer Corps capture of Esztergom within 15 miles of city perimeter before stalling. 9-12 Jan 1945 Konrad-2 with III Panzer Corps unable to break stalemate in same region. 18 Jan 1945 Konrad-3 switched attack to Budapest southwest flank, Germans able to capture Ersci about 20 miles from city (within sight of city's church spires) before Soviets sealed the breach. Thus, Germans ran out of resources as Soviet closed-in on Budapest siege.

Initial Soviet encirclement trapped about 188,000 German and allied men in the city. About 70,000 defenders remained (including Army's 13th Panzer Division and Sturmabteilung's Feldherrnhalle Division) when Soviets engaged in street fighting. City of Pest surrendered on Jan 18th, city of Buda fought on until capitulation on Feb. 13th. Panzer Corps Feldherrnhalle - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panzer_Corps_Feldherrnhalle

Waffen-SS units in Budapest struggled on to bitter end, city's defense perimeter was squeezed until 50,000 men fought within a one-square mile area. Breakout order given on 11 Feb 1945, but less than 800 men reached German lines in the west, out of this 170 were Waffen-SS soldiers. Three European capitols were almost completely destroyed in WW2 street battles : 1) Warsaw-Poland, August 1944, 2) Budapest, Feb 1945, 3) Berlin-Germany, April 1945.

Above : After fall of Budapest, Germans mounted second counter-offensive Operation Fruhlingserwachen (Spring Awakening) in March 1945 with 6th SS Panzer Army (including SS-Divisions Leibstandarte, Das Reich, Hohenstaufen, Hitlerjugend), 2nd Panzer Army, the 16th Reichfuhrer SS-Panzergrenadier Division, and 4 infantry divisions. Germans cut 30-mile salient into Soviet lines, thus split the 3rd Ukrainian Front and Russian 57th Army. However by 15 March 1945, German expended their momentum, Soviets released their reserves from 4th Guards Army, 9th Guards Army, and 6th Guards Tank Army. Soviets then torn a 60-mile gap into German lines, by 4 April 1945, Red Army was within 5 miles of Vienna, Austria. It should be noted that massive looting, arson, and rape committed by advancing Soviet troops (ex. Oct 1944 Debrecen battle) steed Hungarian resolve to defend their homeland, thus they fought side-by-side with the Germans to war's end. Soviet Armies in WWII - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Armies_in_WWII