Soviet artillerymen of the 2nd Ukrainian Front at the approaches to Budapest, 22 December 1944

Photograph, World War Two, Eastern Front (1941-1945), 1944.

The 2nd Ukrainian Front was an Army group sized formation of the Red Army. Commanded by General Rodion Malinovsky, it played a major role in the siege and capture of Budapest. The Red Army's offensive against the Hungarian capital began on 29 October 1944 and ended after a bitter struggle on 13 February 1945. Over 100,000 Germans and Hungarians were killed, wounded or captured. Soviet and Romanian losses were probably double. At least 40,000 civilians were also killed.

From a collection of 650 photographs compiled by the Commando Association.