The Prague offensive was the last major military operation of World War II in Europe. The offensive was fought on the Eastern Front from 6 May to 11 May 1945. Fought concurrently with the Prague uprising, the offensive significantly helped the liberation of Czechoslovakia in 1945. The offensive was one of the last engagements of World War II in Europe and continued after Nazi Germany’s unconditional capitulation on 8/9 May.
The city of Prague was ultimately liberated by the USSR during the Prague offensive. All of the German troops of Army Group Centre (Heeresgruppe Mitte) and many of Army Group Ostmark (formerly known as Army Group South) were killed or captured, or fell into the hands of the Allies after the capitulation.
These photos were collected by
Wayne Huebner that show street scenes of Prague after the liberation around 1945.
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| Prague. Charles Bridge and Hradčany, 1945 |
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| Prague. Charles Bridge, 1945 |
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| Prague. Charles Bridge, 1945 |
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| Prague. Charles Bridge, 1945 |
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| Prague. Charles Bridge, 1945 |
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| After the liberation of Prague, 1945 |
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| After the liberation of Prague, 1945 |
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| After the liberation of Prague, 1945 |
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| After the liberation of Prague, 1945 |
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| After the liberation of Prague, 1945 |
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| After the liberation of Prague. They arrived on time, but tired, 1945 |
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| Prague street, 1945 |
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| Prague street, 1945 |
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| Prague street, 1945 |
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| Prague. A destroyed German tank on the Old Town Square, 1945 |
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| Prague. Aerial damage on Václavské náměstí, 1945 |
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| Prague. Building on the Kampa, 1945 |
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| Prague. Burial of fallen Russian soldiers at the church of St. Ludmila, 1945 |
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| Prague. Burning Hitler on Václavské náměstí, 1945 |
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| Prague. Czechoslovak army on Václavské náměstí, 1945 |
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| Prague. Hradcany-St. Vitus cathedral, 1945 |
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| Prague. Hradčany, 1945 |
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| Prague. Hradčany, Alchemists' Street/Golden Alley, 1945 |
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| Prague. Jan Hus monument during the government's speech on Old Town Square, 1945 |
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| Prague. Liberation of Václavské náměstí, 1945 |
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| Prague. Old castle steps, 1945 |
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| Prague. Old Town Hall after the fight, 1945 |
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| Prague. One of the first Russian tanks on Václavské náměstí, 1945 |
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| Prague. President Edvard Beneš on Staroměstské náměstí, 1945 |
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| Prague. Russian tank at the National Theater, 1945 |
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| Prague. Russian tanks on Mánes Bridge, 1945 |
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| Prague. Staroměstská radnice, 1945 |
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| Prague. Staroměstský orloj, 1945 |
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| Prague. Statue of Charles IV, 1945 |
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| Prague. The Kampa, 1945 |
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| Prague. The ruined astronomical clock at the Old Town Hall, 1945 |
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| Prague. Two from a tank, 1945 |
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| Prague. Welcoming President Edvard Beneš, 1945 |
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| Prague. Wenceslas Square after the fighting, 1945 |
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| Symbolic grave of the Czech warriors who fell liberating Prague, 1945 |
As a resident of Prague this is an often overlooked moment in Czech history. In 1945 the downfall of the Nazis was fairly inevitable, and the fighting was pretty limited to a few places in the city as the Russian forces entered the city. The revolt was soon overshadowed in 1948 with the communist coup, which turned the country into a satellite of Russia, which would remain until the late 80s. Luckily the city escaped the widespread destruction that many European cities experienced at that time, but at the cost, many believe, of Czech dignity. Beneš chose not to fight the invasion or the annexation of the Sudetenland at the beginning of the war, despite being very well prepared to defend itself. Aside from the assassination of Heidrich in Prague, the resistance never really gained much momentum, and the Czechs never managed to throw out the Germans until the result was more or less assured by the Russians.
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