Fortress Budapest Vol 1 and 2: The Siege of the Hungarian Capital 1944-45 - Kamen Nevenkin

This review has been submitted to the Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research

Title: Fortress Budapest Vol 1 and 2: The Siege of the Hungarian Capital 1944-45
Author: Kamen Nevenkin
ISBN: 978-615-80072-5-2
Publisher: PeKo Publishing
Year: 2020
Hardcover
Pages: 1107 Vol 1, 467 Vol 2
Photos/Maps: Vol 2 is all maps and photographs

Periodically one comes across a work of such depth and detail that it must surely be immediately ranked as the standard operational and tactical analysis of a particular event available to historians and military enthusiasts. These books by Bulgarian historian Nevenkin fall into that category. The authors lens encapsulates the entire 108 day campaign by the Soviets to seal off and capture the Hungarian capital of Budapest; transitioning from the macro level to the micro as he focuses upon the 50 days of fighting within the city itself. His narrative seamlessly swings from the Soviets to the Hungarian and German defenders who had turned the city into a fortress of hardpoints and mutually supporting gun positions. Caught between these forces were the civilians, desperate to escape and survive.

Nevenkin was able to draw upon previously unavailable primary source material from Russian and Hungarian archives to augment those from the German military. This has facilitated a level of detail, from multiple perspectives, formally impossible in his discussion of the unfolding combat; of particular note, the author has combined period photographs and maps to recreate visual representations of strongpoints within the city, including arcs of fire for artillery, machine gun and anti-tank nests, right down to the individual city block. In addition to providing the reader with a street level appreciation of the nature of the fighting, he has also provided an unprecedented level of visual detail, at the tactical level, of the complexity of fighting in built up areas. 

Interspersed within the narrative are hundreds of recollections by the officers and soldiers participating in the brutal fighting around and within Budapest. These stories serve to add a more personal sheen to the discussion of unit movement and engagements, serving to remind the reader that behind the words and numbers are real human beings, dying and being wounded in their thousands. Certainly, one is struck by the mass that the Soviets were able to bring to the fight in terms of both men and material. However, it is not only this that stands out; Eastern Front historians will note the progress made by the Soviets in combined arms attacks at the tactical and operational levels as well as the significant improvement in their strategic orchestration at the Corps, Army and Front levels. It is evident that Axis troops still maintained a clear superiority in terms of leadership, soldier skills and equipment; but the gap was noticeably closing. It is also obvious that, whatever delta remained between the Soviet and Axis forces, this was further diminished by the growing material imbalance between the forces engaged. 

It is insightful to note that as the ring closed and tightened around Budapest, the Axis leadership resorted to more and more desperate measures to keep the trapped forces resupplied. Bombers, gliders and transport aircraft were all used to deliver supplies; Nevenkin’s discussion of these efforts is both detailed and very engaging as he draws upon the journals and diaries of aircrew involved in these efforts. It is also indicative of the continued effectiveness of the Luftwaffe at this late point in the war (late 44-Jan 45). 

This two volume set on the battles leading up to investment of Budapest, the siege and ultimate capture of the city and the attempted breakout by Axis forces, may easily be considered to be the seminal work on this event. The level of detail, the seamless incorporation of first person accounts, the research and reproduction of maps and photographs all serve to emphasize the incredible level of research and work of history that the author has produced. This book is not for the casual reader, although the style of writing makes it more than accessible, but rather, fulfils the dual role of outstanding historical resource and battle study superbly. It is also important to note that while this book is an analysis of the combat raging around and within the Hungarian Capital, it is also built upon a foundation of the storied history between Hungary and its eastern neighbours. The author is to be commended for an excellent work and Peko Publishing for their continued superb quality of production.