Editing Operation Spring Awakening (section)

== Soviet counterattack – Vienna offensive ==
{{Main|Vienna offensive}}
[[File:Plattenseeoffensive.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Soviet counterattack]]
On 16 March, the Soviets forces counterattacked in strength. The Germans were driven back to the positions they had held before Operation Spring Awakening began.{{sfn|Dollinger|1967|p=182}} The overwhelming numerical superiority of the Red Army made any defense impossible, but Hitler believed victory was attainable.{{sfn|Ziemke|1968|p=450}}

On 22 March, the remnants of the 6th SS Panzer Army withdrew towards Vienna. By 30 March, the Soviet 3rd Ukrainian Front crossed from Hungary into Austria. By 4 April, the 6th SS Panzer Army was already in the Vienna area desperately setting up defensive lines against the anticipated Soviet [[Vienna offensive]]. Approaching and encircling the Austrian capital were the Soviet [[4th Guards Tank Army|4th]] and 6th Guards Tank, [[9th Guards Army|9th Guards]], and 46th Armies.{{sfn|Dollinger|1967|p=182}}

The Soviet's Vienna Offensive ended with the fall of the city on 13 April. By 15 April, the remnants of the 6th SS Panzer Army were north of Vienna, facing the Soviet 9th Guards and 46th Armies. By 15 April, the depleted German 6th Army was north of [[Graz]], facing the Soviet 26th and 27th Armies. The remnants of the German 2nd Panzer Army were south of Graz in the [[Maribor]] area, facing the Soviet 57th Army and the Bulgarian First Army. Between 25 April and 4 May, the 2nd Panzer Army was attacked near Nagykanizsa during the [[Nagykanizsa–Körmend offensive]].

[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1986-064-10, Ungarn, Verwundetentransport.jpg|thumb|right|German casualties]]
Some Hungarian units survived the fall of Budapest and the destruction which followed when the Soviets counterattacked after Operation Spring Awakening. The Hungarian [[Szent László Infantry Division]] was still indicated to be attached to the German 2nd Panzer Army as late as 30 April. Between 16 and 25 March, the Hungarian Third Army had been destroyed about {{convert|40|km|mi}} west of Budapest by the Soviet 46th Army which was driving towards [[Bratislava]] and the Vienna area.

On 19 March, the Red Army recaptured the last territories lost during the 13‑day Axis offensive. Sepp Dietrich, commander of the Sixth SS Panzer Army tasked with defending the last sources of petroleum controlled by the Germans, joked that ''"6th Panzer Army is well named—we have just six tanks left."''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ww2days.com/germans-trapped-in-hungarian-capital-2.html|title=Germans Trapped in Hungarian Capital|date=4 January 2014}}</ref>