great feat of the Soviet people during the Second World War must not be forgotten by posterity.Millions of soldiers and civilians advanced the long-awaited victory at the cost of his life, men, women and even children have one weapon, which was directed against fascism.The centers of guerrilla resistance, factories, collective farms operated in the enemy-occupied territory, break the spirit of the defenders of the motherland Germans failed.A striking example of resistance in the history of the Great Patriotic War became a hero city Leningrad.
plan Hitler fascists
strategy is to apply a sudden, a lightning strike on the board, which the Germans have chosen as priority.Three army groups until the end of autumn had to take Leningrad, Moscow and Kiev.Hitler valued the capture of these settlements as a victory in the war.The fascist military analysts planned in such a way not only to "decapitate" the Soviet troops, but also to break the morale of the retreating to the rear divisions undermine the Soviet ideology.Moscow must be captured after victories on the north and south, and the rearrangement of the compound of the Wehrmacht armies planned on the outskirts of the capital of the USSR.
Leningrad, according to Hitler, is a city-symbol of the power of the Soviets, the "cradle of the revolution", which is why it was subject to complete destruction, together with the civilian population.In 1941, the city was an important strategic point on its territory has many engineering and electrical plants.Due to the development of industry and science of Leningrad was a place of concentration of highly skilled technical personnel.A large number of schools the graduates to work in various sectors of the economy.On the other hand, the city has been set aside and geographically located far away from the sources of raw materials and energy.It helped Hitler and the geographical position of Leningrad: its proximity to the borders of the country enabled the rapid encirclement and blockade.Finland served as a springboard for the Nazi air bases in the preparatory phase of the invasion.In June 1941, the Finns come into World War II on the side of Hitler.Huge at the time Navy and merchant fleet, based in the Baltic Sea, the Germans had to neutralize and destroy, and favorable shipping routes used for its own military needs.
Setting
defense of Leningrad began long before the encirclement of the city.The Germans were advancing rapidly, the day tank and motorized compound were 30 km deep into Soviet territory in the north.Creating defensive lines was conducted in Pskov and Luga direction.Soviet troops retreated with heavy losses, losing a large amount of equipment and leaving the city to the enemy and fortified areas.Pskov was captured on July 9 the Nazis moved to the Leningrad region on the Least shortest route.In a few weeks they were detained Luga offensive fortifications.They were built by experienced engineers and allowed Soviet troops to contain the onslaught of the enemy for a while.This delay greatly angered Hitler and enabled partly to prepare for the attack Leningrad Nazis.In parallel with the Germans June 29, 1941 the Finnish Army crossed the border of the USSR, Karelian isthmus was occupied for a long time.To participate in the attack on the city of Finns refused, but blocked a large number of transport routes linking the city with the "mainland."Complete liberation of Leningrad from the blockade in this sector was only in 1944, in the summer.After a personal visit Hitler's Army Group "North" and regrouping troops Nazis crushed the Luga fortified and began a massive offensive.Novgorod, Chudovo were captured in August 1941.Dates of the siege of Leningrad, which are ingrained in the memory of many Soviet people, starting with September 1941.Capture fascists Petrokrepost finally cuts off the city from the land routes due to the country, it happened on the 8th of September.Ring closed in, but the defense of Leningrad continues.
blockade
Trying to quickly capture Leningrad failed completely.Hitler could not pull power from the surrounded city and transfer to a central direction - to Moscow.Fairly quickly the Nazis were in the suburbs, but met strong resistance, had to be strengthened and to prepare for a protracted battles.September 13 came to Leningrad Zhukov.Its main task was the defense of the city, at that time, Stalin recognized the situation is almost hopeless, and was ready to "surrender" to the Germans.But at the end of this second capital of the state would be completely destroyed, along with the general population, which at that time was 3.1 million.According to eyewitnesses, Zhukov in those September days was terrible, but its credibility and iron will stop panic among the soldiers, defending the city.The Germans were stopped, but kept encircled Leningrad, which made it impossible to supply the metropolis.Hitler decided not to risk its own soldiers, he realized that urban fighting destroyed much of the northern army group.He ordered the mass extermination of the inhabitants of Leningrad.Regular shelling, aerial bombardment gradually destroyed urban infrastructure, food warehouses, sources of energy.Around the city were built by German fortifications that excluded the possibility of evacuation of civilians and the provision of all necessary.The possibility of Leningrad, Hitler was not interested, his main goal was the destruction of the village.At the time of formation of the besieged ring in the city there were many refugees from the Leningrad region and surrounding areas had to evacuate only a small percentage of the population.At stations have accumulated a large number of people who tried to leave the besieged northern capital.The population began a hunger that Hitler called his main ally in the capture of Leningrad.
Winter 1941-42.
January 18, 1943 - the breakthrough of the blockade of Leningrad.As far as the day was far from the fall of the 41st!Massive shelling, food shortages have led to the massive loss of life.In November issue of limits on the cards products for the population and the military have been cut.Delivery of all necessary to carry out the air and across Lake Ladoga, which was shot by the Nazis.People began hungry syncope were recorded the first death from starvation and cannibalism, which is punishable by execution.
With the arrival of cold weather situation is much more complex, it comes first, the harsh winter.The Siege of Leningrad, "a way of life" - a concept inseparable from each other.The city had violated all the utilities, there was no water, heating, sewerage system was not working, food stocks came to an end, not functioning urban transport.Thanks to qualified doctors remaining in the city, managed to avoid epidemics.Many people died in the street on the way home or to work, to carry on the sled dead relatives to the cemetery in the majority of Leningrad was not strong enough, so the corpses lying in the streets.By health teams could not cope with so many deaths, not all managed to bury.
The winter of 1941-42 was significantly colder than average meteorological parameters, but was Ladoga - the road of life.Under constant fire on the lake occupiers drove cars and carts.In the city they carried food and necessary things in the opposite direction - emaciated people.Children of the siege of Leningrad, which were evacuated on the ice in different parts of the country, until today remembered the horrors of the freezing of the city.
by Product card dependents (children and the elderly), who could not run, was given 125 grams of bread.Its composition is varied depending on what was available from bakers: vytryaski of bags with corn grits, flax and cottonseed meal, bran, wallpaper dust etc. G. 10 to 50% of the ingredients entering into the composition of the flour, were inedible, cold and hunger have become synonymous with the concept of "the blockade of Leningrad."
Road of Life, held on Lake Ladoga, has saved many people.As soon as the ice sheet gained strength on it went trucks.In January 1942, the city authorities an opportunity to open the enterprises and factories dining menu which was composed especially for malnourished people.In hospitals and established orphanages give high-calorie diet, which helps to go through the terrible winter.Ladoga - the road of life, and is the name given crossing from Leningrad, completely untrue.Food and essential items collected for the blockade, as well as for the front, the whole country.
feat residents
encircled the enemy, fighting the cold, hunger and constant bombings of Leningrad not only lived, but also worked to win.On the territory of the plant produces military products.The cultural life of the city in the most difficult moments do not freeze to create unique works of art.Poems about the siege of Leningrad is impossible to read without tears, they are written by the participants of those terrible events and reflect not only pain and suffering, but also their desire for life, hatred of the enemy, and fortitude.Symphony of Shostakovich imbued with feelings and emotions of Leningrad.The city worked in part of the library and some of the museums, the zoo malnourished people continued to care for the animals Unevacuated.
without heat, water and electricity workers stood at the bench, putting the remains of its vitality in the victory.Most of the men went to the front and defended the city, so the factories employed women and adolescents.The transport system of the city was destroyed in a massive shelling, so people go to work on foot for several kilometers in a state of extreme exhaustion and lack of cleared snow from the roads.
complete liberation of Leningrad from the blockade see not all of them, but their everyday heroism brought this point.Water is taken from the Neva River and burst pipes, home stoked stove burning in them the remains of furniture, chewed leather belts and wallpaper paste sticked, but lived and fought the enemy.Olga Bergholz wrote a poem about the siege of Leningrad, the lines of which were winged, their carved on a monument dedicated to those terrible events.It is the phrase "no one is forgotten and nothing is forgotten" today is of great importance to all concerned people.
Children
The worst side of any war - is its non-selectivity in the choice of victims.Hundreds of thousands of children were killed in the occupied city, many died in the evacuation, but remained involved in the approximation of victory as adults.They stood at the bench, collecting shells and cartridges for the best, on duty at night on rooftops, disabling fire bombs that threw off the city fascists raised the spirit of the soldiers to keep the defense.Children of the siege of Leningrad became adults at a time when the war came.Many teenagers fought in regular units of the Soviet army.The hardest it had the smallest, who lost all his family.For them, we created orphanages, where the older junior helped and supported them.The surprising fact is the establishment during the siege of children's dance ensemble AE Obranta.Guys are going all over the city, was treated for exhaustion and started rehearsing.More than 3,000 concerts during the siege gave this famous ensemble, he performed at the front, factories and hospitals.The contribution of young artists in a victory appreciated after the war: all the children were awarded medals "For the Defense of Leningrad".
Operation "Iskra»
liberation of Leningrad Soviet leadership was paramount, but the opportunities for offensive action and resources in the spring of 1942 was not.Attempts to break the blockade carried out in the autumn of the year 41, but they failed.German troops have strengthened quite well and surpassed the Soviet army in terms of armament.Hitler in the autumn of 1942 are significantly depleted the resources of their armies and therefore attempted to capture Leningrad, which was supposed to release the troops stationed in the north.
In September, the Germans launched Operation "Northern Lights", which failed due to the counterattack of the Soviet troops, sought to lift the blockade.Leningrad 1943, is a well-fortified city, fortifications were built by the citizens, but its defenders were greatly depleted, so break the blockade on the part of the city it was impossible.However, the successes of the Soviet army in other areas have enabled the Soviet command to start preparing a new attack on the fortifications of the Nazis.
January 18, 1943 the breakthrough of the blockade of Leningrad started the liberation of the city.The operation involved military units Volkhov and Leningrad fronts, they have supported the Baltic Fleet and the Ladoga flotilla.Preparations took place during the month.Operation "Iskra" was developed from December 1942, it included two stages, the main of which was the breakthrough of the blockade.Further promotion of the army was completely removed from the environment of the city.
Start of operation was scheduled for January 12 at the time the southern shore of Lake Ladoga paralyzed solid ice and surrounding impassable swamps froze to a depth sufficient for the passage of heavy vehicles.Shlisselburgsky lug securely fortified by the Germans due to the presence of bunkers, minefields.Tank battalions and mountain rifle divisions have not lost the ability to resist after a massive artillery barrage of Soviet artillery.The fighting dragged on for six days, Leningrad and Volkhov fronts broke through the enemy's defenses, moving towards each other.
January 18, 1943 the breakthrough of the blockade of Leningrad was completed, the first part of the developed plan "Spark" is made.As a result of the encircled German troops were ordered out of the environment and connecting with the main forces, which had been more favorable position, and staffed and have been further strengthened.For residents of Leningrad, this date has become one of the major milestones in the history of the blockade.Educated corridor was not more than 10 km wide, but it gave an opportunity to pave the way for full-fledged railway supply the city.
second stage
Hitler completely lost the initiative in the north.Wehrmacht divisions had a strong defensive position, but could not take the rebellious city.Soviet troops, having achieved the first success, planned to start a large-scale offensive in the south, which completely removes the siege of Leningrad and the region.In February, March and April 1943, forces of the Volkhov and Leningrad fronts attempts were made to attack on Sinyavsky grouping, which were called "Operation North Star."Unfortunately, they failed, there were many objective reasons, are not allowed to develop a military offensive.Firstly, the German group has been considerably strengthened with tanks (in this area for the first time used "Tigers") Aviation and Mountain Division.Second, the line of defense established by the time the Nazis, is very powerful: concrete bunkers, a large number of artillery.Third, the attack had to be carried on the territory of difficult terrain.Marshland significantly hampered the movement of heavy weapons and tanks.Fourth, in analyzing the actions of the fronts were identified obvious errors of command that led to large losses of equipment and people.But it had begun.The liberation of Leningrad from the blockade has become a matter of careful preparation and time.
lifting of the blockade
Key dates siege of Leningrad, not only carved on stone memorials and monuments, but also in the hearts of all the participants.This victory was a lot of blood of Soviet soldiers and officers and millions of deaths of civilians.In 1943, significant advances of the Red Army on the entire length of the front line were given the opportunity to prepare an offensive in the north-west.The German group has created around Leningrad "Northern Wave" - a line of fortifications that could withstand any attack and to stop, but not the Soviet soldiers.Lifting of the blockade of Leningrad January 27, 1944 - a date that symbolizes the victory.For this victory was made much, not only the troops, but also by Leningraders.
