Eternal Glory to the Heroes of Leningrad!

On this day 76 years ago the Red Army reestablished the rail connection between Leningrad and Moscow, the Siege which lasted over 872 days finally came to an end. The suffering of the millions of people in the city were immense, however they prevailed in the face of fascist brutality. The Second city of the Soviet Union showed her heroic valuer in the fight against the German invaders.

Article in “Sovetskya rossyia“(Russian newspaper) about an exhibition in St. Petersburg on the Leningrad Blockade.

“Мы знаем: клятвы говорить непросто. И если в Ленинград ворвётся враг, Мы разорвём последнюю из простынь Лишь на бинты, но не на белый флаг!”

Ю. Воронов

Glory to the Heroes of Leningrad

Below are some images of the blockade

• 

  Nearly 3 million people were trapped in the city during the siege. Over 1/3 of them died.

• 

  The Soviets were sorely underprepared for such a siege. On the first day of the siege alone, some 1,800 aircrafts were destroyed — some even before they were airborne.

• 

  Tass

• 

  All able-bodied citizens were required to help fortify the city against the German attacks when the siege began.

• 

  Those who were not a priority for rations received just three thin slices of bread per day.

• 

  In January 1943, the city’s defenders and troops of the Volkhov Front launched a combined offensive known as Operation Spark. After fierce fighting the two Russian armies were able to link up and establish a land bridge via which Leningrad’s starving inhabitants could be supplied.

• 

• 

Additionally

This year also marks two other important dates. Firstly on this day 75 years ago Soldiers of the Red Army liberated the Auschwitz Concentration Camp in Poland. This was the most brutal of all the death camps in Europe during the great Patriotic War and at least 1.3 million people were killed. Secondly, this year marks the 75 anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War for the Soviet People. This date will be celebrated all across the Soviet Union and many jubilee events are planned to take place.

• 

  Images of the Liberation of Auschwitz

• 

• 

• 

“Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!

Death to the German invaders!”

J. V. STALIN
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Supreme Commander-in-Chief

Victory Banner of the Soviet Union Hoisted above the Reichstag on May 9th 1945