Leningrad during the Great Patriotic War took part of the first Soviet city to be captured by Hitler's troops.In this city has never set foot invader - Leningrad ready to fight!In this regard, the People's Militia groups are formed.Our troops took unequal battle - they step into battle and died ... Ghibli, at least briefly to stop the advance of the enemy.The main thing - is to buy time and create defenses.Here, on the construction work of the last line of defense, we worked hard every day, around half a million people.
Hitler's plans
blockade of Leningrad during World War II lasted 872 days and cost the lives of nearly a million people.Some historians for years wondering about whether the invasion was to eliminate this nightmare.And more often come to the conclusion that, apparently, no.Hitler pursued and longed to tear this tidbit of the Baltic Fleet.
residents of Leningrad believed in a quick victory and refused to leave the city!In the city of martial law.On the front line can be reached by tram.All are ready to fight to the end!
Leningrad during the Great Patriotic War
sunny day September 8, 1941 in the skies over Leningrad heard the rumble of the German "Junkers".About 6000 bombs hit the city.With aircraft dropped leaflets with mocking text - "Today we bomb you, and tomorrow you will bury yourself."Thus began the first tests ... The test, which did not yet know the world, the tests in which it was easier to die than to stay alive.
planes were so low that they were clearly visible black crosses on a gray-green wings.The aim of German bombers were food badayev warehouses.The fire was terrific, the molten sugar streams flowed and soaked into the ground.To extinguish the warehouse was attracted 168 fire trucks.For five hours it lasted the struggle with the giant fire.It burned about 40 buildings in which there are 3000 tons of flour and 2.5 thousand tons of sugar.The next day, on the street Kiev, where the burned food reached Leningrad.Fire at warehouses provoked panic.Shelves in grocery stores emptied.By City rumors: "Soon there will come a famine."
Today documentary proof that the burnt food would be enough for a few days.What was the cause of the terrible siege of hunger?Historians argue about this until now.One thing is clear, that Leningrad, as well as any major city of the Soviet Union, was equipped with what is called a wheel.Once in the siege, he immediately lost all vital arteries.The country's leadership did not expect that events will develop so rapidly.
City held!In September, the Germans broke through the defenses.The German invaders cut the railways, and soon went to Lake Ladoga.Blockade closed.From that moment he began the great siege of Leningrad.
Joseph Stalin sent to Leningrad General Georgy Zhukov, as the situation was critical.The Germans closed the city, even with the best they had seen the dome cathedrals.Zhukov collects all reserves and disclaims ships seafarers.Taking about 50 thousand soldiers, it causes a counterattack."To stand or die!" - Tells the General.
Defensive Activity Leningrad
How can you prevent the enemy to Leningrad?How to submit without Russia Leningrad?The defense of Leningrad during World War II was well planned in engineering terms.On the approaches to Leningrad well kept Luga defensive line, which is 175 km in length and 12 km in depth.This fortification was built by the inhabitants of Leningrad during the first month after the war began.City of Leningrad during the war exposed a hurricane of fire.Parts of the defense do their best to reflect the enemy raids.In doing so, they helped 60 thousand volunteers from the self-defense groups - men and women.Advocates are strong barrage of shelling victims of why less than one might expect.
Back in August 1941, the German Army "North" has expanded its ranks of military equipment, it received from the army "Center".Now the German army, overtakes Leningrad was equipped with new tanks and dive bombers.With this power the Nazis still managed to break the defense of the Luga abroad and take in the ring defending troops.
Hungry flour Leningrad
In September, the city began to feel the lack of a clear product.By working normally can be obtained 500 grams of bread, as a dependent - 250 g for employees and children was a limit of 300 grams of bread.In October, the situation has worsened.On the market there are fake cards.They caused confusion in issuing food.On the proposal of the First Secretary of the Leningrad Party Committee Andrei Zhdanov, it was decided to re-ration cards in the month of October.This means not only the replacement of one sheet of paper on the other, and a reduction in rations of bread.
Working card was an incentive to life.She gave a guaranteed right to obtain bread.But even this rule has not always saved them from starvation.According to the reference of the NKVD in Leningrad region, before the war, the average monthly dying to 3 thousand people.In October 1941, the death rate was already 6199 people.The siege of Leningrad begins to rapidly decline bread norm.In November 1941, dependents, and these were mostly elderly people and children, could count only 125 grams of bread.
Hunger Winter came 1941, an unusually severe.During this time the city is frozen water.Therefore, the only source of getting water becomes the river Neva.In addition, the city has exhausted all stocks of fuel, rose transport.The most expensive steel wood!In the besieged city famine - the worst trial that has known Leningrad during the Great Patriotic War.
125 grams of bread with the pulp mill and dust - a blockade rations.Deaths from hunger became mass.In such circumstances, bread rationing becomes the only condition for the preservation of life.Up to December 1941, instead of lost cards still could get new cards in return.However, cases of theft and abuse.Hunger often went to Leningrad deception in an attempt to get additional food.Issuance of duplicates of stopped.From now on, the loss of a piece of paper with printing ink meant death.In December, famine killed about 53 thousand people.Leningrad was immersed in the cold darkness of torpor.
More than 600 thousand people died of starvation in the siege.They died on the street, at work, at home, in the hallways - no time to bury ... It is impossible to convey the suffering of Leningrad.But they're not just trying to survive, they worked.How hungry, exhausted people could work?It will always remain unfathomable mystery that kept Leningrad during the Great Patriotic War (photo in the article).
bread
Blockade of Leningrad during the Great Patriotic War told a lot.During the blockade bread recipe has changed several times.Only one thing remained unchanged - the content of flour.It has never exceeded 60%.The remaining 40% consisted of impurities and additives.The decision on the supplements were taken over by because of the lack of flour.It instructed the central laboratory of the "Lenhlebprome" to develop special technology of baking bread with possible additions.Some of the additional ingredients usually comprised bran, flax seed cake, soybean meal and food cellulose.
Leningrad was not discouraged
City of Leningrad during World War II did not bother for a moment give up and surrender.Residents tried to recreate the old life!Finally, spring has come.Along with the joy and anxiety we were, waiting for the epidemic, but fortunately, it was not - the city awoke.In the spring of 1942 in the besieged city tram service was resumed.This vision seemed somehow fresh breath of new life, but it has not yet had the desired and quiet life, but still.
All the fight against hunger!Right in town there are gardens, do not let any one piece of land.Goebbels said that the city is dead!Meanwhile, in the besieged and starving city - a football match!This world has never seen.The Military Council of the Leningrad Front ruled the decision to hold a football match.The task was - to find in Leningrad and at the front of the players who can play a series of matches.Despite the obvious difficulties, the players have been able to collect.City live football!
Astounding tests did not break the will of the citizens of Leningrad, they do not just exist - they lived, hoped and worked.In besieged Leningrad composer Dmitry Shostakovich created his most famous symphony 7, and it was first performed in the besieged city.
End Blockade
Many cities and countries on earth disappeared, the conquerors turned to dust.In Russia, there are monuments - symbols of invincibility, one of them - Leningrad.In Leningrad during World War II included only the German prisoners.The Siege of Leningrad was broken!What helped people to survive?Each Leningrad feel the wounds of the homeland as their own, each as may be approaching victory.
