Prior to the battle, Soviet units of the 2nd Ukrainian Front occupied the Vulcan Pass, as well as the cities of Brașov and Sibiu. The Red Army intended to capture Kolozsvár (Cluj)—the historical capital of Transylvania—without much effort. While continuing to advance toward the Mureș River, which the Hungarian 2nd Armored Division had been able to cross, they collided with and stopped the Hungarian units; the 2nd Hungarian Army was forced to take a defensive stance on 10 September 1944.