The deadly Siege of Leningrad

On June 22, 1941, Germany had launched a surprise invasion of the Soviet Union, named Operation Barbarossa.

It was the largest invasion in the history of warfare. Hitler's Wehrmacht deployed over three million soldiers along an 1,800-mile front.

The offensive was divided into three main army groups: North, Center, and South, each tasked with specific strategic objectives.

In particular, Army Group North aimed to capture Leningrad (now known as Saint Petersburg), a key industrial and cultural center.  

Hitler believed that seizing Leningrad would cripple Soviet morale and disrupt their war production capabilities.

Hitler viewed the city, named after the Bolshevik leader Lenin, as a symbol of communism that needed to be eradicated.

Also, Leningrad’ significant military value lay in the fact that it housed the Soviet Baltic Fleet and numerous factories essential for the war effort.

By capturing the city, the Germans hoped to eliminate a crucial base of Soviet naval operations.

Furthermore, Leningrad's fall would secure the northern flank of the German advance, which would allow for a more concentrated push towards Moscow. 

Throughout the initial phase of Operation Barbarossa, the German forces had achieved rapid successes, and they managed to encircle vast numbers of Soviet troops and captured key cities.

By early July 1941, Army Group North had advanced deep into Soviet territory, closing in on Leningrad.

This swift progress underscored the vulnerability of the Soviet defenses. Despite initial Soviet resistance, the Germans managed to isolate Leningrad by September 8, 1941, by cutting off all land routes to the city. 

After the German forces completed their encirclement of the city, the German 18th Army, assisted by Finnish troops, captured key positions around Leningrad.

In the early days following the 8th of September, relentless air raids and artillery bombardments targeted the city's infrastructure.

The Luftwaffe specifically targeted supply lines, railways, and warehouses, cutting off essential resources.

The Red Army made desperate attempts to break the encirclement but failed to dislodge the Germans.

By November 1941, the situation in the city became dire. 

The Soviet leadership ordered the Red Army to defend the city at all costs. To assist them, on November 20, 1941, the Soviet government had begun evacuating civilians across the frozen Lake Ladoga.

This route, known as the 'Road of Life', became the city's only lifeline. Although some supplies trickled through, they were insufficient for the millions trapped in Leningrad.

As temperatures plunged, and starvation set in. 

Throughout the early months of 1942, the German forces tightened their grip around Leningrad.

In addition to the ongoing bombardment, they attempted to breach the city's defenses multiple times.

The Soviet defenders, however, held firm. Their resolve prevented the Germans from making significant gains within the city.

By the summer of 1942, it became clear that the siege would not end quickly. Both sides prepared for a prolonged and brutal conflict, with Leningrad's residents enduring unimaginable suffering. 

From the start, food supplies quickly dwindled. Rationing began, with civilians receiving only 125 grams of bread per day at the height of the crisis.

This meager allowance was barely enough to sustain life. In addition to starvation, the harsh winter of 1941-1942 brought sub-zero temperatures.

Many residents had no heating fuel, which led to widespread frostbite and death from exposure. 

In January and February 1942 alone, over 200,000 people died from starvation and cold.

To cope with the mounting casualties, Leningrad authorities set up mass burial sites and these makeshift cemeteries grew rapidly as the siege dragged on.

Throughout the siege, the Soviet government continued to try and alleviate the suffering.

In April 1942, a successful convoy brought in 33,000 tons of food, yet the population's needs far exceeded these deliveries. 

Regardless, the citizens of Leningrad tried to organize communal kitchens and distributed whatever food they could find.

Though the situation was bleak, cultural life continued in small ways. The Leningrad Symphony Orchestra famously performed Shostakovich's Seventh Symphony in August 1942, aiming to lift spirits and provide some small glimmer of hope.  

The Soviet Red Army, under the command of Marshal Georgy Zhukov, worked to bolster Leningrad's defenses: fortifications were strengthened, and soldiers were prepared for prolonged conflict.

This included the creation of trenches, bunkers, and various anti-tank obstacles.

By November 1941, the defenders had repelled several German assaults and successfully prevented the enemy from breaching the city perimeter. 

Partisan groups also contributed significantly to the resistance. These groups, operating in the surrounding forests, disrupted German supply lines and gathered vital intelligence.

In particular, the partisans led by Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya carried out daring sabotage missions.

Although she was eventually captured and executed, her actions inspired others to continue the fight.  

Moreover, the Soviet Air Force conducted air raids on German positions, providing some relief to the beleaguered city.

In January 1942, the Soviet Union launched several counteroffensives, though they failed to break the siege. 

Finally, the tide began to turn when on January 12, 1943, Operation Iskra was initiated.

Soviet forces, after weeks of intense fighting, managed to open a narrow land corridor to Leningrad by January 18.

This corridor allowed a modest flow of supplies into the city, alleviating some of the dire conditions.

In these critical months, the increased flow of food and ammunition provided much-needed relief to the beleaguered population. 

Then, throughout 1943, the Soviet Union continued to build on this momentum.

They reinforced the newly opened corridor and launched further offensives to push back the German forces.

In December 1943, the Soviets prepared for a decisive operation to fully lift the siege.

On January 14, 1944, they launched a massive assault, known as the Leningrad-Novgorod Offensive.

By January 27, the Soviet forces had driven the Germans away from the city's outskirts, officially ending the 872-day siege. 

While the cost to human lives was staggering, the siege did have significant military implications.

Most importantly, it tied down large numbers of German troops for an extended period of time, which may have contributed to the eventual Soviet victory on the Eastern Front.

The sheer cost in German lives also meant that the campaign weakened German forces.

In total over 550,000 of them were reported killed, wounded, and missing.

Ultimately, it was a failure for the Wehrmacht and a significant waste of time and resources for no material gain. 

The unbelievable scale of the fighting and damage at Leningrad makes it one of the most important events during the eastern front of the Second World War.

In fact, the siege had claimed the lives of approximately 1.5 million people, both civilians and soldiers by the time it ended.

Many died from starvation, exposure, and relentless bombardments. The city's infrastructure lay in ruins, with countless buildings destroyed or severely damaged.

In addition, many families were torn apart, and the memories of the hardship lingered long after the siege ended. 

In the months following the lifting of the siege, the Soviet government prioritized restoring essential services and infrastructure.

Food supplies gradually increased, and transportation networks were repaired.

With the return of basic utilities, the population slowly began to recover. By 1945, Leningrad's population had rebounded to approximately 600,000 people.  

During the immediate post-siege period, the Soviet Union sought to commemorate the bravery and resilience of Leningrad's citizens.

In particular, the government awarded the city the title "Hero City" in 1945, recognizing its extraordinary endurance.

Monuments and memorials were erected to honor the fallen and celebrate the city's spirit.