Who Liberated Prague in Ww2?

By Anna Duncan

During World War II, the city of Prague was occupied by Nazi Germany. As the war began to come to a close, the question of who would liberate the city became a pressing issue.

The Soviet Union’s Role in Liberating Prague

One of the major forces in liberating Prague was the Soviet Union. In 1945, the Red Army had advanced into Czechoslovakia and was closing in on Prague. On May 9th of that year, Soviet troops finally entered the city and took control.

The Role of Czech Resistance Fighters

While the Soviet Union played a significant role in liberating Prague, they were not alone in their efforts. Czech resistance fighters also played a vital role in driving out Nazi forces from their city.

One notable example is Operation Anthropoid, which was carried out by Czech resistance fighters with support from British intelligence. The mission was to assassinate Reinhard Heydrich, one of Hitler’s top officials who had been sent to govern Czechoslovakia. The assassination was successful but led to brutal reprisals from Nazi forces.

The US Army’s Contribution

The United States Army also played a role in liberating Prague. In April 1945, General George S. Patton’s Third Army crossed into western Czechoslovakia and captured Plzen (Pilsen), which helped open up a path for other Allied forces to advance towards Prague.

The Aftermath of Liberation

Despite being liberated from Nazi occupation, Prague faced many challenges after World War II ended. The country fell under communist rule and became part of the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War era.

In conclusion, while multiple parties contributed to the liberation of Prague during World War II, it was ultimately Soviet troops who took control of the city on May 9th, 1945. However, it is important to acknowledge the sacrifices and efforts of Czech resistance fighters and the United States Army in contributing to the city’s liberation.