EASTERN FRONT: City In Torment

All week long a cloud—part frost, part smoke, part dust—hung over the agony of Budapest. From the heights of Buda, Red Army soldiers occasionally saw the spires of a cathedral swim out of the cloud's dark folds, stand in the clear for a few moments, disappear again. For miles around, the snow was black with soot from the cloud. In the heart of the town a grim struggle raged through the days & nights, block by block, brick by brick. As the battle neared its 15th day, the Russians had won more than 1,900 of the 4,500 blocks of...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!