thoroughfares, which took place during World War II through the Ladoga, rightly called the Road of Life.As from the autumn of 1941 and winter of 1943 it was almost the only way in blockaded Leningrad, which is desperately short of supplies.For more information on what is the road of life, you will learn from this article.
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blockade blockade of the hero city of Leningrad began on September 8, 1941, when German troops have closed the encirclement took Shlisselburg.It is through this city took place the last route that connected Leningrad with the Soviet Union.Therefore, the last hope to save the inhabitants from starvation were only winter and the ice of Lake Ladoga.
first deliveries starving
should be noted that the pond had a very difficult navigation conditions, and all the supply routes were built to bypass the Ladoga.On the shores of the lake it was not equipped with any wharf or pier.But that did not stop the command to start the supply of food in September.Route Road of Life was held from Volkhov in Novaya Ladoga, and then through the water to the lighthouse Osinovets.In mid-September came here the first two barges on the decks where there were more than 700 tons of grain and flour.Since then, the date of September 12 is the day when I started working Ladoga road of life.Just before the end of 1941 in the poverty-stricken city was delivered about 60 thousand. Tons of a variety of goods and 33.5 evacuated thousands of people.The basis of all cargo transported on the road of life has been fodder, food, fuel and ammunition.Various rich heroic events Great Patriotic War, the siege of Leningrad and equipment Road of Life, perhaps - one of the most important.
road of life
food, medicine and ammunition was missing.The problem was to decide the road of life (on the ice passes).In late November, Soviet intelligence had a total exploration of the lake and the future highway, and for 20 November with ice Vaganova Leningrad descent off the first train, which was headed by Lieutenant M. Moores.350 sled was shipped 63 tons of flour.Already in the morning on November 21 the convoy arrived at the place that justify the operation and clearly gave the command to understand what the road of life to supply Leningrad.
The next day in the blockaded city sent 60 trucks laden GAZ-AA ("polutorok"), commanded by Captain B. Movements Porchunov.The way of life in the war on full power only during the first winter were transported 360 thousand. Tons, of which 260 thousand. - Food.Cars, returning to the mainland, be sure to take into his body the city's population, were evacuated to the first year of the blockade of about 550 thousand. Man.Through systematic product transport rations in Leningrad the population increased and became less hungry.
new stage supply
next step navigation through Lake Ladoga began in late May 1942, cargo ships moved in both directions of more than 1 million of goods, of which 700 thousand. Were in Leningrad.On the mainland were evacuated 445 thousand. People from the civilian population.In the opposite direction to the front it was delivered about 300 thousand. Military.
Summer of '42 made it possible to lay the pipeline at the bottom of Lake Ladoga, which allowed the city to supply the fuel, and a cable for supplying electric power to the Volkhov hydroelectric station.
Since mid-December 1942 and in March 1943 began to operate again, it has already become legendary road of life.During this period, it has been transported more than 200 thousand of various cargo and evacuated 100 thousand. Man.
January 18, 1943 goals, the Red Army recovered from the enemy Shlisselburg, and the blockade of Leningrad was broken.Immediately after the event was the railroad, on which no problem went all the cities of Georgia.Subsequently, this road was named Victory Road.But, despite this, the Ladoga route continued to operate until the final removal of the blockade of the city, that is, until January 1944.
Itinerary
answer the question: "What is the road of life?" - Is impossible without a thorough description of its route.It began at the Finland Station and land followed the shore of Lake Ladoga and then directly on the frozen lake.At the same time the main route of the road of life took place just 25 kilometers from the enemy positions on the shore, from where the shelling of moving carts.Drivers laden vehicle constantly risked their lives driving under the fire of German artillery and aviation and risking to fall under the ice of the lake.But despite all the difficulties on the road each day passes from five to eight tons of various cargoes.
during the use of the legendary road was installed a curious fact: the worst thing in the implementation of movements on the ice - no attacks of German bombers, and the movement with a resonant speed.In this position, any car went under the ice in the place where a few days ago was held tyazhelogruzheny baggage.Therefore, the speed of movement in each area of the lake is strictly regulated.
further fate of the Road of Life
As you know, in the spring of 1943, when the blockade of Leningrad was broken, replaced by a new road of life Victory Road, which was a branch line from Volkhov to Leningrad.But in winter the food supplied to the city through the old route - across Lake Ladoga.
Great Patriotic War, the siege of Leningrad in particular, are prime examples of genuine patriotism and fortitude.Millions of people did not surrender to the enemy and suffered all the hardships and difficulties of the war years.What is the road of life?This is one of the many feats of the Soviet people during the war.
