Presentations

Seelow Heights
It is always interesting to study the endgame section of any war, and WWII is no different. The Russians by this time were hardened after years of battle with the Wermacht, and had gained much hard-won experience on the Eastern Front. The Germans too had learned many lessons from the Russians, also the hard way. But the difference is that the Russian economy was now tooling along at a war pace that even the US would have had to step it up a little to match, while Germany's own economy was starting to crumble under the onslaught of the Combined Bomber Offensive. Seelow heights was the battle Germany wanted to fight but couldn't really, and the battle the Russians would have been ecstatic to avoid, but knew that was impossible. One last clash of the armies of Germany and the Soviet Union was needed before the Soviets could begin the dirty job of mopping up resistance among the rest of the front (random Italian and Romanian units) and crushing/subduing the city of Berlin. Both sides through what they had into Seelow Heights, and though with the weaker position, the Russians had more to throw.

Operation VARSITY
I think someone else mentioned how the Allies tended to come up with grand operations that tended to go off badly. And this is true to the most part. From Dieppe to Market Garden, a series of notable failures were racked up by the Allies. But we must not overlook the successes that came along with the disappointments. Most notable of course is Operation OverLord. Normandy was the turning point of the war on mainland Europe. And even though some things did go wrong with Operation VARTIY and PLUNDER, they did accomplish their objectives, and tied down more German troops in the area. As the Germans discovered in Russia, you can't defend everywhere at once.

Battle of Budapest
It has been mentioned that what a shame that Hungary had to serve as a pawn between the Soviets and the Nazis. But unfortunately, that is the problem with their geography. Much as Poland never developed into the world power it may have because it was conveniently situated between Russia and Germany, the two big power houses in Eastern Europe. I thought the battle of Budapest itself was interesting, the Germans seemed determined to hold the city though I'd imagine that they could have withdrawn to more defensible positions closer to their supply lines. But they stuck it out, and even tried to cut their forces out of the encirclement, which didn't quite work out. But yes, Hungary was in a bad situation either way. You know they rebelled against their new masters the Soviets in the '50s, and the rest of the "free world" just watched as they were brutally crushed by the Red army. Alas.