Leningraders during the winter of 1942.
"The Fuhrer has decided to wipe the city of Petersburg off the face of the earth. It is proposed to tighten up the blockade of the city and level it to the ground by shelling and continuous bombing from the air." - "On the Future of the City of Petersburg", secret directive issued by the German naval headquarters in September 1941.
On June 22, 1941, Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union, marking the beginning of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. By September 8, 1941 the Germans had fully encircled Leningrad, which had a population numbering a little less than 3 million residents. This siege of Leningrad lasted for about 900 days, from September 8, 1941 until January 27, 1944. The siege was a time of incredible suffering and hardship, as there were extremely limited food and fuel provisions, and the city was constantly bombarded by German shells.
Leningraders during the winter of 1942.
The winters were especially harsh, and there was often no heating, no water supply, and very little food. In January 1942, the minimium food ration (given to children and other non-workers) in the city was equal to about 1/4 of a pound of bread per day. Usually the bread was laden with sawdust in order to use less grain. To supplement these meager rations, Leningraders would scrape off the paste behind wallpaper, cook leather belts or the soles of their shoes until they were chewable, or...some would turn to cannibalism. In a period of just two months, (January and February, 1942) 200,000 Leningraders died of cold and starvation.
Although figures vary, it has been estimated that as many as one million Leningraders died in the siege. This monument, which lies six miles from the front lines of 1941-44, is dedicated to the soldiers, workers, and citizens that defended against the Nazis and refused to surrender their city.
Harrison Salisbury wrote an excellent book on this topic called "900 Days: The Siege of Leningrad." I read it while in St. Petersburg, and highly recommend it.
This monument is incredible. If you are coming into the city from the airport, it is one of the first things you see.
Worker and Soldier.
Workers and Soldiers.
