The Siege of Leningrad 8 September 1941 – 27 January 1944

Germany’s plan was to surround Leningrad.

Leningrad is modern-day St. Petersburg.

Russian Response: Initially, the Russians were optimistic. “We were all raised as patriots and we were certain that the war wouldn’t last long, that the German army would be crushed.”

Volunteers set out to build trenches around the city. A. A. Zhdanov implored the people: "The moment has come to put your Bolshevik qualities to work, to get ready to defend Leningrad without wasting words. We have to see that nobody is just an onlooker, and carry out in the least possible time the same kind of mobilization of the workers that was done in 1918 and 1919. The enemy is at the gate. It is a question of life and death."

Citizens of Leningrad. The enemy is at the gate Citizens of Leningrad. The enemy is at the gate. All Forces unite to defeat the enemy. We Will Stop the Nazis!

Russian Opposition Ultimately, over 200,000 volunteered to serve in the People’s Militia The average training regimen lasted 2 days They were then sent to the front lines to fight against the highly trained German army.

Women in the Russian military (Vika in City of Thieves) Women played a major role in the Soviet Armed Forces in WWII. Over 800,000 Soviet women served as pilots, snipers, machine gunners, tank crew members, and partisans. Nearly 200,000 were decorated. 89 received the Soviet Union’s highest award, the Hero of the Soviet Union.

The German army bombarded Leningrad from the air and by artillery on the ground.

The losses were monumental.

Lack of supplies caused HUNGER. When the ring closed, there were 3.3 million mouths to feed Bread was rationed, and then re-rationed in smaller amounts People searched for substitute food The black market flourished Meanwhile, the Party chiefs and their friends and connections continued to look well fed, causing resentment

The city developed ingenious ways to produce “food.” EXAMPLES: Bakers used horse feed in bread Cat and sheep intestines were stewed Seaweed was made into soup Workers ate grease from bearings in factory machines People ate the paste from book bindings for protein (“library candy”) People exchanged their pets with neighbors to avoid having to eat their own pets. Dirt with sugar remnants from bombed warehouse was eaten.

Could you survive in these conditions? 10% of daily caloric intake (around 200 calories or so) average ration of 2 slices of bread only per day No drinking water—residents had to haul back water from open sources and boil it. No gas or fuel for heating—residents burned whatever wood they could find. Many died of exposure to elements. Daily bombings of dwelling places. Many children were orphaned and left to fend for themselves. German bombing of Leningrad building Women taking water from a broken water pipe

The first news that people had died from starvation met with incredulity. “It is impossible to communicate that feeling of hunger. It is the most terrible thing in the world. You have the feeling that some sort of animal that has climbed inside of you, some savage beast and he’s scratching you, gouging you with his claws tearing your insides ripping everything. He demands bread, bread, food food , demands to be fed.” Initially sleds were used to drag dead to graveyards but people became too weak so people left bodies where they fell. In November 1941, 350 people died each day, a number that grew as winter took hold of the city. .

Ration Cards became extremely valuable. “If [someone died] there was an immediate scrambling for the dead one’s ration card – not because anyone wanted to steal it but because everyone realized that a ration card handed in to the authorities meant an infinitesimal portion more food for all. Such were the indignities we suffered.” “I watched my father and mother die – I knew perfectly well they were starving. But I wanted their bread more than I wanted them to stay alive. And they knew that about me too. That’s what I remember about the blockade: that feeling that you wanted your parents to die because you wanted their bread.”

Some resorted to cannibalism

Police records showed that 2,000 people were arrested for cannibalism; 586 were executed for murdering their victims. “Our foreman would warn us. ‘Kids, when you go across to the market, watch out for those market women. They will offer you meatballs, but don’t take one under any circumstances.’ “And we really were wary of them and kept our distance because they would come running up to us and call after us. ‘Boy, Boy let’s make a swap. You give me your bread and I’ll make a meatball.’ But we already knew what kind of meatballs they were so we kept away.”

The cold weather also worked against the people of Leningrad.

EFFECTS OF SIEGE on CITY Most of the palaces of the Tsars and other historic landmarks were looted and destroyed. A number of factories, schools, hospitals and other civil infrastructure were destroyed by air raids and long range artillery bombardment During the siege, 3200 residential buildings and 9000 wooden houses burned

Lake Ladoga: The Road of Life

The Road of Life: Supply Route

The Road of Life: Evacuation Route

Relief at last: Through the final months of 1943, Soviets conducted minor operations to reopen access to the city. A strategic offensive was launched on Jan. 14, 1944. Soviets drove the Germans back and recaptured the Moscow-Leningrad Railroad on Jan. 26, 1944.

The Results and Total Numbers One of the longest and most destructive in history Lasted 872 days Lines of defense made by civilian resistance 1,400,000 evacuated women, children, elderly 1,500,000 died starvation, disease, bombings

A painting that communicates the suffering and hope of the citizens during the siege. The siege was declared over the very next day. Despite re-opened access and earlier attempts by the British and Americans to smuggle food and material supplies into the city, it is estimated that the 872-day siege of Leningrad resulted in the deaths of about 1.5 million civilians, and the evacuation of 1.4 million more. The battle for Leningrad is listed among the most lethal sieges in world history.