Russian Embassy in Vienna presents a book about the 4th Guards
The Russian Embassy in Vienna has presented a book dedicated to the combat history of the 4th Guards Army during the Great Patriotic War, marking the 80th anniversary of the city's liberation from Nazi forces.
To conclude a series of events commemorating the 80th anniversary of Vienna’s liberation, the Russian Embassy in Austria presented a unique historical edition — a reprint of the central chapter of the book “From Stalingrad to Vienna: The Combat Path of the 4th Guards Army”, published in Russian, German, and English. The book was released with the support of the Sochi Dialogue Forum.
“It may be hard to believe, but a significant part of this book was written during the actual combat operations by a group of officers from the army's field command—direct participants in the campaign—which is part of what makes it so unique,” said Russian Ambassador to Vienna Dmitry Lyubinsky during the book presentation at the embassy.
According to the diplomat, the original edition—authored by General Yevgeny Manevich, Guards Captain Igor Benediktov, and Guards Senior Lieutenant Alexander Terenozhkin—was approved for publication on December 21, 1945, and at the time was marked “For Official Use Only.”
Guests of the presentation at the embassy received complimentary copies of the reprinted edition.
“The remaining copies will certainly be sent to Austrian federal and regional authorities, as well as to museums, archives, and educational institutions, each with a personalized dedication as a reminder of the Soviet Union’s role in the liberation of their country,” the ambassador added.
He also reiterated the immense sacrifice the Soviet Union made on the altar of Austria’s liberation from Nazi forces. The diplomat emphasized that attempts by local historians to divide Soviet casualties based on ethnicity or place of birth are entirely unacceptable.
The Russian Embassy expressed gratitude to the Russian team of the Sochi Dialogue Forum and its co-chairman, Russian Presidential Aide Andrei Fursenko, as well as to the publishing houses “Svyaz Epoh” Foundation and Ludovik, whose support made it possible to complete the project in time for the commemorative date.
April 13, 1945, marks the Day of Vienna’s Liberation. On that day, Soviet troops concluded the Vienna Offensive and freed the city from Nazi Germany. The event became a significant milestone in bringing World War II in Europe to an end.
In connection with this, on Sunday, a Russian delegation—including the Russian Ambassador to Austria, the Permanent Representative of Russia to International Organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, the Permanent Representative of Russia to the OSCE, Alexander Lukashevich, as well as diplomats from CIS countries—laid wreaths and flowers at the Monument to the Heroes of the Red Army located in Vienna’s city center at Schwarzenbergplatz.
In addition, the Russian Embassy opened an open-air photo exhibition titled “The Liberation of Vienna. 1945” at the same square. The exhibition features rare archival photographs related to Vienna’s liberation and is open to all visitors. It will run until May 10.
