Soviet operations along the Danube supported armoured advances during the Second World War. Limited numbers of lorries and rail routes made other transport capacity important. Advances and withdrawals, artillery fire, demolitions and partisan activity had also damaged the road and rail network. Supplies could travel from Russian ports across the Black Sea and then up the river to the forces advancing inland. Extending control of the Danube was necessary to move that supply route forward with the troops.
Chapter · 46:31-47:57
Soviet supply routes from the Black Sea up the Danube
The Soviet advance relied on river transport when lorries were scarce and roads and railways had suffered wartime destruction.