At the very time when Southern Front events developed around Stalingrad, a key city on the Volga, another The largest city USSR – Leningrad became the center of an important campaign on the northernmost flank of the German front. Leningrad is the most powerful naval fortress in the Baltic, the home base of the Navy, the cultural pearl of Russia, the second most populous city Soviet Union with 3 million inhabitants. Everything that happened between the northern seas and Lake Ilmen after September 1941 was related to Leningrad. Instead of taking Leningrad with a powerful tank attack - as prescribed by the plan of Operation Barbarossa - Hitler, around mid-September 1941, unexpectedly stopped the offensive right on the outskirts of the city and ordered Field Marshal von Leeb to limit himself to a blockade. Hitler provided an explanation for this to his officers in a document classified “top secret” dated October 7, 1941: “The Fuhrer confirms his decision that the surrender of Leningrad or subsequently Moscow will be rejected, even if proposed by the enemy. Our moral justification such a measure clear to the whole world. In Kiev, German troops were exposed to enormous risks by encountering timed mines, and the same, even on a larger scale, was to be expected in Moscow and Leningrad. The fact that Leningrad was mined and would be defended to the last soldier was announced on Soviet radio . There also remains a serious risk of epidemics. Therefore, no German soldier should enter these cities. Any attempts to leave the city in the direction of our positions must be resolutely suppressed. Leave small, not completely closed passages through which the population can retreat into the interior of Russia. Do the same in all other cities: before capturing, weaken with artillery fire and aerial bombardment, encourage the withdrawal of the population... Bring to the attention of all commanding officers that such is the will of the Fuhrer. "Perhaps this justification of Hitler does not reveal the true reason for it decision not to take Leningrad. Nevertheless, the arguments he chose, apparently, greatly facilitated his transition to the blockade strategy. First of all, they allowed Hitler to win over the generals, who, of course, would prefer to capture the city, but refute Hitler's arguments It was difficult. Indeed, after the occupation of Kiev in September 1941, German troops suffered significant losses due to time-operated mines set by the Russians. Entire blocks of houses were mined, as a result, the entire central street was destroyed. Reports of this kind of unusual, risky and " fanatical" actions made a deep impression on Hitler, and he was inclined to overestimate them. Four weeks after his secret order, on November 8, 1941, Hitler again explained to the surprised German public and the world at large why the offensive on Leningrad had been stopped. They were somewhat different from the document intended for combat commanders, but were filled with the same pathos. In a traditional speech in a Munich beer cellar, he said: "Anyone who has come from the border East Prussia to Leningrad, can cover the last ten kilometers and enter the city. However, this is not necessary. The city is surrounded. No one is going to free him, and he will fall at our feet." He was wrong. And this mistake became the first link in the sad series of events at Army Group North, events that, without a doubt, contributed to the outcome of the war. Hitler forced an entire German army to stand guard outside a single city. He allowed the enemy to retain an important center of military industry and the naval base of the Baltic Fleet. He did not even close the Oranienbaum bag, this large Soviet bridgehead on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland west of Leningrad. He decided as the Finnish Field Marshal Mannerheim so well said, “all the war you have to carry this heavy backpack on your back.” Even more incomprehensible is that instead of capturing Leningrad and thus establishing a direct land connection with allied Finland, Hitler blocked his own road and, in addition, saved Russians from the loss of approximately forty-two divisions that were in Leningrad and the Oranienbaum pocket.On the northern wing of the Eastern Front, Hitler did not take a decisive step at the end of September 1941. Instead of achieving final victory, he recklessly began a demanding blockade of nine hundred days, which ended in his defeat. What led Hitler to this mistake? Why did he ignore the opinion of the combat commanders? Why did he count on the imminent collapse of Leningrad? Hitler underestimated resilience and perseverance Communist Party in this city. Leningrad was led by Zhdanov, a Ukrainian born in Mariupol in 1892, he was an extraordinary person. His firmness, determination and personal courage inspired the entire city to resist. Zhdanov for the first time in modern history showed the world what ruthless total war in a limited area means. Hitler's dislike of everything that concerns water or sea contrasts strangely with his fascination with military operations on land. Just as in Dunkirk, in Leningrad he was again let down by his fear of water. He was sure that the city was surrounded, but did not take into account that, although Leningrad was cut off by land from the Soviet front in the summer, its encirclement could not be considered complete. The suburbs of Leningrad overlook the western shore of Lake Ladoga, the width of which in this place is no more than thirty kilometers. No wider than the English Channel between Dover and Calais. And the main line of the Soviet front ran along the eastern shore of the lake. During the day, for example, navigation on the lake was controlled by the Luftwaffe, but at night everything was different. Thus, from the first day of the siege of Leningrad, Lake Ladoga was the road to salvation. Attempts by German mobile formations of the 39th Tank Corps in October and November 1941 to move around the lake, connect with the Finns on Svir and close the blockade ring were unsuccessful. Accordingly, after leaving Tikhvin, the German 18th Army held only a fifteen-kilometer strip on the southern bank of Ladoga, limited by Shlisselburg and Lipka. Access to this strip was carried out through a very dangerous narrow corridor: on the right was the Volkhov Front, which constantly exerted serious pressure, on the left was the Neva, behind which the 67th, 55th and 42nd armies of the Leningrad Front were assigned. In the middle of the corridor, a swampy area was controlled from the hills near Sinyavin. At the southern end of this section was Kirovskaya Railway, connecting Leningrad with the Urals through Volkhovstroy. However, what would have been true a year ago was now false. Because in the summer of 1942, the strategic center of gravity of the German front was the south, where the offensive was underway in the direction of the Volga and the Caucasus. There, in this decisive place, it was necessary to concentrate all available forces. Including the 11th Army. However, Hitler did not stoop to listen to criticism at that time. Leningrad must fall. Manstein's plan was simple and at the same time cunning: he intended to break through the Soviet positions from the south with three corps, reach the outskirts of the city, then wait until two corps advanced east and crossed the Neva. And then they will take the city. Not a bad plan. Until now, everything that Manstein planned had succeeded. However, Leningrad was destined to confirm the well-known saying about “the ebb and flow of the tides in people’s affairs: business undertaken at the tide succeeds; but if the moment is missed, enterprises are doomed to shoals and failure.” Manstein's plan didn't work!
Great feat Soviet people during the Second World War should not be forgotten by posterity. Millions of warriors and civilians brought the long-awaited victory closer at the cost of their lives, men, women and even children became a single weapon that was directed against fascism. Centers of partisan resistance, plants and factories, and collective farms operated in enemy-occupied territories; the Germans failed to break the spirit of the defenders of the Motherland. A striking example perseverance in the history of the Great Patriotic War Leningrad became the hero city.
Hitler's plan
The Nazis' strategy was to launch a sudden, lightning strike in the areas that the Germans had chosen as priorities. Three army groups were to capture Leningrad, Moscow and Kyiv by the end of autumn. Hitler assessed the capture of these settlements as a victory in the war. Fascist military analysts planned in this way not only to “behead” the Soviet troops, but also to break the morale of the divisions retreating to the rear, to undermine Soviet ideology. Moscow should be captured after victories in the northern and southern directions; the regrouping and connection of the Wehrmacht armies was planned on the approaches to the capital of the USSR.
Leningrad, according to Hitler, was a city-symbol of the power of the Soviets, the “cradle of the revolution,” which is why it was subject to complete destruction along with the civilian population. In 1941, the city was an important strategic point; many engineering and electrical plants were located on its territory. Due to the development of industry and science, Leningrad was a place of concentration of highly qualified engineering and technical personnel. A large number of educational institutions produced specialists to work in various industries National economy. On the other hand, the city was geographically isolated and located at a great distance from sources of raw materials and energy. Hitler also helped geographical position Leningrad: its proximity to the country's borders made it possible to quickly encircle and blockade. The territory of Finland served as a springboard for the basing of fascist aviation during the preparatory stage of the invasion. In June 1941, the Finns entered the Second world war on Hitler's side. The then huge military and merchant fleet based in the Germans needed to be neutralized and destroyed, and the profitable sea routes use for your own military needs.
Environment
The defense of Leningrad began long before the encirclement of the city. The Germans advanced rapidly; on the day, tank and motorized formations passed 30 km deep into the territory of the USSR in a northern direction. The creation of defensive lines was carried out in the Pskov and Luga directions. Soviet troops retreated with heavy losses, losing a large number of equipment and leaving cities and fortified areas to the enemy. Pskov was captured on July 9, the Nazis moved to the Leningrad region along the shortest route. Their advance was delayed for several weeks by the Luga fortified areas. They were built by experienced engineers and allowed Soviet troops to hold back the enemy's onslaught for some time. This delay greatly angered Hitler and made it possible to partially prepare Leningrad for the Nazi attack. In parallel with the Germans, on June 29, 1941, the Finnish army crossed the border of the USSR, the Karelian Isthmus was occupied for a long time. The Finns refused to participate in the attack on the city, but blocked a large number of transport routes connecting the city with the “mainland”. The complete liberation of Leningrad from the blockade in this direction occurred only in 1944, in the summer. After Hitler’s personal visit to Army Group North and the regrouping of troops, the Nazis broke the resistance of the Luga fortified area and launched a massive offensive. Novgorod and Chudovo were captured in August 1941. The dates of the siege of Leningrad, which are ingrained in the memory of many Soviet people, begin in September 1941. The capture of the Petrofortress by the Nazis finally cuts off the city from land routes of communication with the country; this happened on September 8. The ring has closed, but the defense of Leningrad continues.
Blockade
The attempt to quickly capture Leningrad failed completely. Hitler cannot pull forces away from the encircled city and transfer them to the central direction - to Moscow. Quite quickly, the Nazis found themselves in the suburbs, but, having encountered powerful resistance, they were forced to strengthen themselves and prepare for protracted battles. On September 13, G.K. Zhukov arrived in Leningrad. His main task was the defense of the city; Stalin at that time recognized the situation as almost hopeless and was ready to “surrender” it to the Germans. But with such an outcome, the second capital of the state would have been completely destroyed along with the entire population, which at that time amounted to 3.1 million people. According to eyewitnesses, Zhukov was terrifying in those September days; only his authority and iron will stopped the panic among the soldiers defending the city. The Germans were stopped, but kept Leningrad in a tight ring, which made it impossible to supply the metropolis. Hitler decided not to risk his soldiers; he understood that urban battles would destroy most of the northern army group. He ordered the mass extermination of the inhabitants of Leningrad to begin. Regular artillery shelling and aerial bombing gradually destroyed urban infrastructure, food warehouses, and energy sources. German fortified areas were erected around the city, which excluded the possibility of evacuating civilians and supplying them with everything they needed. Hitler was not interested in the possibility of surrendering Leningrad; he main goal there was destruction of this settlement. At the time of the formation of the blockade ring, there were many refugees in the city from the Leningrad region and surrounding areas; only a small percentage of the population managed to evacuate. A large number of people gathered at the stations, trying to leave the besieged northern capital. Famine began among the population, which Hitler called his main ally during the capture of Leningrad.
Winter 1941-42
January 18, 1943 - breakthrough of the blockade of Leningrad. How far this day was from the autumn of 1941! Massive shelling and food shortages led to massive deaths. Already in November, the limits for issuing food on cards for the population and military personnel were cut. The delivery of everything necessary was carried out by air and through which the Nazis shot through it. The first deaths from exhaustion and cases of cannibalism, which were punishable by execution, began to be recorded among people.
With the advent of cold weather, the situation became significantly more complicated; the first, most severe, winter was approaching. The siege of Leningrad, the “road of life” are concepts inseparable from each other. All engineering communications in the city were disrupted, there was no water, no heating, no sewage system, food supplies were running out, and city transport did not function. Thanks to qualified doctors who remained in the city, mass epidemics were avoided. Many people died on the street on the way home or to work; most Leningraders did not have enough strength to carry their deceased relatives on sleds to the cemetery, so the corpses lay on the streets. The created sanitary teams could not cope with so many deaths; not everyone was able to be buried.
The winter of 1941-42 was much colder than average meteorological indicators, but there was Ladoga - the road of life. Cars and convoys drove across the lake under constant fire from the invaders. They brought food and necessary things to the city, reverse direction- people exhausted by hunger. Children besieged Leningrad, who were evacuated across the ice to different parts of the country, still remember all the horrors of the freezing city to this day.
According to the food card, dependents (children and the elderly) who could not work were allocated 125 grams of bread. Its composition varied depending on what the bakers had available: shakes from bags of corn grits, flaxseed and cotton meal, bran, wallpaper dust, etc. From 10 to 50% of the ingredients included in the flour were inedible , cold and hunger became synonymous with the concept of “siege of Leningrad”.
The road of life that passed through Ladoga saved many people. As soon as the ice cover gained strength, trucks started driving across it. In January 1942, city authorities had the opportunity to open canteens in enterprises and factories, the menu of which was compiled specifically for exhausted people. In hospitals and established orphanages, they provide enhanced nutrition, which helps to survive the terrible winter. Ladoga is the road of life, and this name that the Leningraders gave to the crossing is completely true. Food and essential goods were collected for the siege survivors, as well as for the front, by the entire country.
Feat of the residents
In a dense ring of enemies, fighting cold, hunger and constant bombing, Leningraders not only lived, but also worked for victory. Factories in the city produced military products. The cultural life of the city did not freeze in the most difficult moments; unique works of art were created. Poems about the siege of Leningrad cannot be read without tears; they were written by participants in those terrible events and reflect not only the pain and suffering of people, but also their desire for life, hatred of the enemy and fortitude. Shostakovich's symphony is imbued with the feelings and emotions of Leningraders. Libraries and some museums were partially open in the city; at the zoo, exhausted people continued to care for the unevacuated animals.
Without heat, water or electricity, workers stood at their machines, investing the last of their vitality into victory. Most of the men went to the front or defended the city, so women and teenagers worked in the factories. The city's transport system was destroyed by massive shelling, so people walked several kilometers to work, in a state of extreme exhaustion and with no roads cleared of snow.
Not all of them saw the complete liberation of Leningrad from the siege, but their daily feat brought this moment closer. Water was taken from the Neva and burst pipelines, houses were heated with potbelly stoves, burning the remains of furniture in them, leather belts and wallpaper glued with paste were chewed, but they lived and resisted the enemy. wrote poems about the siege of Leningrad, lines from which became famous and were carved on monuments dedicated to those terrible events. Her phrase “no one is forgotten and nothing is forgotten” today is of great importance for all caring people.
Children
The most terrible aspect of any war is its indiscriminate choice of victims. Hundreds of thousands of children died in the occupied city, many died in evacuation, but those who remained participated in the approach of victory on an equal basis with adults. They stood at the machines, collecting shells and cartridges for the front line, kept watch on the roofs of houses at night, defusing incendiary bombs that the Nazis dropped on the city, and raised the spirit of the soldiers holding the defense. The children of besieged Leningrad became adults the moment the war came. Many teenagers fought in regular units of the Soviet army. It was the hardest for the little ones, who had lost all their relatives. Orphanages were created for them, where the elders helped the younger ones and supported them. Amazing fact is the creation of a children's dance ensemble by A. E. Obrant during the blockade. The guys were gathered all over the city, treated for exhaustion, and rehearsals began. This famous ensemble gave more than 3,000 concerts during the blockade; it performed on the front lines, in factories and in hospitals. The young artists’ contribution to the victory was appreciated after the war: all the children were awarded medals “For the Defense of Leningrad.”
Operation Spark
The liberation of Leningrad was a top priority for the Soviet leadership, but there were no opportunities for offensive actions and resources in the spring of 1942. Attempts to break the blockade were made in the fall of 1941, but they did not yield results. The German troops fortified themselves quite well and were superior to the Soviet army in terms of weapons. By the fall of 1942, Hitler had significantly depleted the resources of his armies and therefore made an attempt to capture Leningrad, which was supposed to free up the troops located in the northern direction.
In September, the Germans launched Operation Northern Lights, which failed due to a counterattack by Soviet troops trying to lift the blockade. Leningrad in 1943 was a well-fortified city, built by the citizens, but its defenders were significantly exhausted, so breaking the blockade from the city was impossible. However, the successes of the Soviet army in other directions made it possible for the Soviet command to begin preparing a new attack on the fascist fortified areas.
On January 18, 1943, the breaking of the blockade of Leningrad marked the beginning of the liberation of the city. Military formations of the Volkhov and Leningrad fronts took part in the operation; they were supported by the Baltic Fleet and the Ladoga Flotilla. Preparations were carried out for a month. Operation Iskra was developed since December 1942; it included two stages, the main of which was breaking the blockade. The further advance of the army was to completely remove the encirclement from the city.
The start of the operation was scheduled for January 12, at which time the southern shore of Lake Ladoga was covered with strong ice, and the surrounding impassable swamps froze to a depth sufficient for passage. The Shlisselburg ledge was reliably fortified by the Germans due to the presence of bunkers. Tank battalions and mountain rifle divisions did not lose their ability to resist after a massive artillery barrage by Soviet artillery. The fighting became protracted; for six days the Leningrad and Volkhov fronts broke through the enemy’s defenses, moving towards each other.
On January 18, 1943, the breakthrough of the blockade of Leningrad was completed, the first part of the developed Iskra plan was completed. As a result, the encircled group of German troops received an order to leave the encirclement and join forces with the main forces, which occupied more advantageous positions and were additionally equipped and fortified. For residents of Leningrad, this date became one of the main milestones in the history of the siege. The resulting corridor was no more than 10 km wide, but it made it possible to lay railway tracks to fully supply the city.
Second phase
Hitler completely lost the initiative in the northern direction. The Wehrmacht divisions had a strong defensive position, but could no longer take the rebellious city. Soviet troops, having achieved their first success, planned to launch a large-scale offensive in a southern direction, which would completely lift the blockade of Leningrad and the region. In February, March and April 1943, the forces of the Volkhov and Leningrad fronts attempted to attack the Sinyavskaya enemy group, which were called Operation Polar Star. Unfortunately, they failed; there were many objective reasons that did not allow the army to develop an offensive. Firstly, the German group was significantly reinforced with tanks (Tigers were used for the first time in this direction), aviation and mountain rifle divisions. Secondly, the line of defense created by that time by the Nazis was very powerful: concrete bunkers, a large amount of artillery. Thirdly, the offensive had to be carried out on territory with difficult terrain. The swampy terrain made moving heavy guns and tanks much more difficult. Fourthly, when analyzing the actions of the fronts, obvious command errors were identified, which led to large losses of equipment and people. But a start had been made. The liberation of Leningrad from the siege was a matter of careful preparation and time.
Removing the blockade
The main dates of the siege of Leningrad are carved not only on the stones of memorials and monuments, but also in the heart of each participant. This victory was achieved through the great bloodshed of Soviet soldiers and officers and millions of deaths of civilians. In 1943, significant successes of the Red Army along the entire length of the front line made it possible to prepare an offensive in the northwestern direction. The German group created the “Northern Wall” around Leningrad - a line of fortifications that could withstand and stop any offensive, but not Soviet soldiers. The lifting of the siege of Leningrad on January 27, 1944 is a date that symbolizes victory. A lot was done for this victory not only by the troops, but also by the Leningraders themselves.
Operation “January Thunder” began on January 14, 1944, it involved three fronts (Volkhov, 2nd Baltic, Leningrad), the Baltic Fleet, partisan formations (which were quite strong military units at that time), the Ladoga Military Fleet with aviation support. The offensive developed rapidly; the fascist fortifications did not save Army Group North from defeat and a shameful retreat in a southwestern direction. Hitler was never able to understand the reason for the failure of such a powerful defense, and those who fled from the battlefield German generals couldn't explain. On January 20, Novgorod and surrounding territories were liberated. Full January 27 became the occasion for festive fireworks in the exhausted but unconquered city.
Memory
The date of the liberation of Leningrad is a holiday for all residents of the once united Land of the Soviets. There is no point in arguing about the significance of the first breakthrough or the final liberation; these events are equivalent. Hundreds of thousands of lives were saved, although it took twice as many to achieve this goal. The breaking of the blockade of Leningrad on January 18, 1943 gave residents the opportunity to contact the mainland. The city's supply of food, medicine, energy resources, and raw materials for factories has resumed. However, the main thing was that there was a chance to save many people. Children, wounded soldiers, exhausted by hunger, sick Leningraders and defenders of this city were evacuated from the city. 1944 brought the complete lifting of the blockade, Soviet army began its victorious march across the country, victory is near.
The defense of Leningrad is an immortal feat of millions of people; there is no justification for fascism, but there are no other examples of such perseverance and courage in history. 900 days of hunger, backbreaking work under shelling and bombing. Death followed every resident of besieged Leningrad, but the city survived. Our contemporaries and descendants should not forget about the great feat Soviet people and about his role in the fight against fascism. This would be a betrayal of all those who died: children, old people, women, men, soldiers. The hero city of Leningrad must be proud of its past and build its present regardless of all the renamings and attempts to distort the history of the great confrontation.
At the initial stages of the war, the German leadership had every chance of capturing Leningrad. And yet this did not happen. The fate of the city, in addition to the courage of its inhabitants, was decided by many factors.
Siege or assault?
Initially, the Barbarossa plan envisaged the rapid capture of the city on the Neva by Army Group North, but there was no unity among the German command: some Wehrmacht generals believed that the city should be captured, while others, including the Chief of the General Staff, Franz Halder, assumed that we can get by with a blockade.
At the beginning of July 1941, Halder made the following entry in his diary: “The 4th Panzer Group must set up barriers to the north and south of Lake Peipus and cordon off Leningrad.” This entry does not yet allow us to say that Halder decided to limit himself to blockading the city, but the mention of the word “cordon” already tells us that he did not plan to take the city right away.
Hitler himself advocated the capture of the city, guided in this case by economic rather than political aspects. The German army needed the possibility of unhindered navigation in the Baltic Gulf.
Luga failure of the Leningrad blitzkrieg
The Soviet command understood the importance of the defense of Leningrad; after Moscow it was the most important political and economic center of the USSR. The city was home to the Kirov Machine-Building Plant, which produced the latest heavy tanks of the KV type, which played an important role in the defense of Leningrad. And the name itself - “City of Lenin” - did not allow it to be surrendered to the enemy.
So, both sides understood the importance of capturing the Northern capital. The Soviet side began construction of fortified areas in places of possible attacks by German troops. The most powerful, in the Luzhek area, included more than six hundred bunkers and bunkers. In the second week of July, the German fourth tank group reached this line of defense and could not immediately overcome it, and here the German plan for the Leningrad blitzkrieg collapsed.
Hitler, unhappy with the delay offensive operation and constant requests for reinforcements from Army Group North, he personally visited the front, making it clear to the generals that the city must be taken as soon as possible.
Dizzy with success
As a result of the Fuhrer's visit, the Germans regrouped their forces and in early August broke through the Luga defense line, quickly capturing Novgorod, Shiimsk, and Chudovo. By the end of the summer, the Wehrmacht achieved maximum success on this section of the front and blocked the last railway going to Leningrad.
By the beginning of autumn, it seemed that Leningrad was about to be taken, but Hitler, who focused on the plan to capture Moscow and believed that with the capture of the capital, the war against the USSR would be practically won, ordered the transfer of the most combat-ready tank and infantry units from Army Group North near Moscow. The nature of the battles near Leningrad immediately changed: if earlier German units sought to break through the defenses and capture the city, now the first priority was to destroy industry and infrastructure.
"Third option"
The withdrawal of troops turned out to be a fatal mistake for Hitler's plans. The remaining troops were not enough for the offensive, and the encircled Soviet units, having learned about the enemy’s confusion, tried with all their might to break the blockade. As a result, the Germans had no choice but to go on the defensive, limiting themselves to indiscriminate shelling of the city from distant positions. There could be no talk of a further offensive; the main task was to maintain the siege ring around the city. In this situation, the German command was left with three options:
1. Capture of the city after completion of the encirclement;
2. Destruction of the city with the help of artillery and aviation;
3. An attempt to deplete the resources of Leningrad and force it to capitulate.
Hitler initially had the highest hopes for the first option, but he underestimated the importance of Leningrad for the Soviets, as well as the resilience and courage of its inhabitants.
The second option, according to experts, was a failure in itself - the density of air defense systems in some areas of Leningrad was 5-8 times higher than the density of air defense systems in Berlin and London, and the number of guns involved did not allow fatal damage to the city’s infrastructure.
So the third option remained last hope Hitler to take the city. It resulted in two years and five months of fierce confrontation.
Environment and hunger
By mid-September 1941 german army completely surrounded the city. The bombing did not stop: civilian targets became targets: food warehouses, large food processing plants.
From June 1941 to October 1942, many city residents were evacuated from Leningrad. At first, however, very reluctantly, since no one believed in a protracted war, and certainly could not imagine how terrible the blockade and battles for the city on the Neva would be. The children were evacuated to the Leningrad region, but not for long - most of these territories were soon captured by the Germans and many children were returned back.
Now the main enemy of the USSR in Leningrad was hunger. It was he, according to Hitler’s plans, who was to play a decisive role in the surrender of the city. In an attempt to establish food supplies, the Red Army repeatedly attempted to break the blockade; “partisan convoys” were organized to deliver food to the city directly across the front line.
The leadership of Leningrad also made every effort to combat hunger. In November and December 1941, which were terrible for the population, active construction of enterprises producing food substitutes began. For the first time in history, bread began to be baked from cellulose and sunflower cake; in the production of semi-finished meat products, they began to actively use by-products that no one would have thought of using in food production before.
In the winter of 1941, food rations reached a record low: 125 grams of bread per person. There was practically no distribution of other products. The city was on the verge of extinction. The cold was also a severe challenge, with temperatures dropping to -32 Celsius. And the negative temperature remained in Leningrad for 6 months. A quarter of a million people died in the winter of 1941-1942.
The role of saboteurs
During the first months of the siege, the Germans bombarded Leningrad with artillery almost unhindered. They transferred to the city the heaviest guns they had, mounted on railway platforms; these guns were capable of firing at a distance of up to 28 km, with 800-900 kilogram shells. In response to this, the Soviet command began to launch a counter-battery fight; detachments of reconnaissance and saboteurs were formed, which discovered the location of the Wehrmacht's long-range artillery. Significant assistance in organizing counter-battery warfare was provided by the Baltic Fleet, whose naval artillery fired from the flanks and rear of the German artillery formations.
Interethnic factor
His “allies” played a significant role in the failure of Hitler’s plans. In addition to the Germans, Finns, Swedes, Italian and Spanish units took part in the siege. Spain did not officially participate in the war against the Soviet Union, with the exception of the volunteer Blue Division. There are different opinions about her. Some note the tenacity of its soldiers, others note the complete lack of discipline and mass desertion; soldiers often went over to the side of the Red Army. Italy provided torpedo boats, but their land operations were not successful.
"Victory Road"
The final collapse of the plan to capture Leningrad came on January 12, 1943, it was at that moment that the Soviet command began Operation Iskra and after 6 days of fierce fighting, on January 18, the blockade was broken. Immediately after this, a railroad was built into the besieged city, later called the “Victory Road” and also known as the “Death Corridor.” The road ran so close to military operations that German units often fired cannons at the trains. However, a flood of supplies and food poured into the city. Enterprises began to produce products according to peacetime plans, and sweets and chocolate appeared on store shelves.
In fact, the ring around the city lasted for another whole year, but the encirclement was no longer so dense, the city was successfully supplied with resources, and the general situation at the fronts no longer allowed Hitler to make such ambitious plans.
At the initial stages of the war, the German leadership had every chance of capturing Leningrad. And yet this did not happen. The fate of the city, in addition to the courage of its inhabitants, was decided by many factors.
Initially, the Barbarossa plan envisaged the rapid capture of the city on the Neva by Army Group North, but there was no unity among the German command: some Wehrmacht generals believed that the city should be captured, while others, including the Chief of the General Staff, Franz Halder, assumed that we can get by with a blockade.
At the beginning of July 1941, Halder made the following entry in his diary: “The 4th Panzer Group must set up barriers to the north and south of Lake Peipus and cordon off Leningrad.” This entry does not yet allow us to say that Halder decided to limit himself to blockading the city, but the mention of the word “cordon” already tells us that he did not plan to take the city right away.
Hitler himself advocated the capture of the city, guided in this case by economic rather than political aspects. The German army needed the possibility of unhindered navigation in the Baltic Gulf.
The Soviet command understood the importance of the defense of Leningrad; after Moscow it was the most important political and economic center of the USSR. The city was home to the Kirov Machine-Building Plant, which produced the latest heavy tanks of the KV type, which played an important role in the defense of Leningrad. And the name itself - “City of Lenin” - did not allow it to be surrendered to the enemy.
So, both sides understood the importance of capturing the Northern capital. The Soviet side began construction of fortified areas in places of possible attacks by German troops. The most powerful, in the Luga area, included more than six hundred bunkers and bunkers. In the second week of July, the German fourth tank group reached this line of defense and could not immediately overcome it, and here the German plan for the Leningrad blitzkrieg collapsed.
Hitler, dissatisfied with the delay in the offensive operation and the constant requests for reinforcements from Army Group North, personally visited the front, making it clear to the generals that the city must be taken as soon as possible.
As a result of the Fuhrer's visit, the Germans regrouped their forces and in early August broke through the Luga defense line, quickly capturing Novgorod, Shiimsk, and Chudovo. By the end of the summer, the Wehrmacht achieved maximum success on this section of the front and blocked the last railway going to Leningrad.
By the beginning of autumn, it seemed that Leningrad was about to be taken, but Hitler, who focused on the plan to capture Moscow and believed that with the capture of the capital, the war against the USSR would be practically won, ordered the transfer of the most combat-ready tank and infantry units from Army Group North near Moscow. The nature of the battles near Leningrad immediately changed: if earlier German units sought to break through the defenses and capture the city, now the first priority was to destroy industry and infrastructure.
The withdrawal of troops turned out to be a fatal mistake for Hitler's plans. The remaining troops were not enough for the offensive, and the encircled Soviet units, having learned about the enemy’s confusion, tried with all their might to break the blockade. As a result, the Germans had no choice but to go on the defensive, limiting themselves to indiscriminate shelling of the city from distant positions. There could be no talk of a further offensive; the main task was to maintain the siege ring around the city. In this situation, the German command was left with three options:
1. Capture of the city after completion of the encirclement;
2. Destruction of the city with the help of artillery and aviation;
3. An attempt to deplete the resources of Leningrad and force it to capitulate.
Hitler initially had the highest hopes for the first option, but he underestimated the importance of Leningrad for the Soviets, as well as the resilience and courage of its inhabitants.
The second option, according to experts, was a failure in itself - the density of air defense systems in some areas of Leningrad (taking into account the assets of the fleet withdrawn to Leningrad from Tallinn and generally from the entire Baltic) was 5-8 times higher than the then density of air defense systems in Berlin and London, and the number of guns deployed by the Germans did not allow them to cause fatal damage to the city’s infrastructure. Although the Germans tried.
Thus, the third option remained Hitler's last hope for taking the city. It resulted in two years and five months of fierce confrontation.
By mid-September 1941, the German army completely surrounded the city. The bombing did not stop: civilian targets became targets: food warehouses, large food processing plants.
From June 1941 to October 1942, many city residents were evacuated from Leningrad. At first, however, very reluctantly, since no one believed in a protracted war, and certainly could not imagine how terrible the blockade and battles for the city on the Neva would be. The children were evacuated to the Leningrad region, but not for long - most of these territories were soon captured by the Germans and many children were returned back.
Now the main enemy of the USSR in Leningrad was hunger. It was he, according to Hitler’s plans, who was to play a decisive role in the surrender of the city. In an attempt to establish food supplies, the Red Army repeatedly attempted to break the blockade; “partisan convoys” were organized to deliver food to the city directly across the front line.
The leadership of Leningrad also made every effort to combat hunger. In November and December 1941, which were terrible for the population, active construction of enterprises producing food substitutes began. For the first time in history, bread began to be baked from cellulose and sunflower cake; in the production of semi-finished meat products, they began to actively use by-products that no one would have thought of using in food production before.
In the winter of 1941, food rations reached a record low: 125 grams of bread per person. There was practically no distribution of other products. The city was on the verge of extinction. The cold was also a severe challenge, with temperatures dropping to -32 Celsius. And the negative temperature remained in Leningrad for 6 months. A quarter of a million people died in the winter of 1941-1942.
During the first months of the siege, the Germans bombarded Leningrad with artillery almost unhindered. They transferred to the city the heaviest guns they had, mounted on railway platforms; these guns were capable of firing at a distance of up to 28 km, with 800-900 kilogram shells. In response to this, the Soviet command began to launch a counter-battery fight; detachments of reconnaissance and saboteurs were formed, which discovered the location of the Wehrmacht's long-range artillery. Significant assistance in organizing counter-battery warfare was provided by the Baltic Fleet, whose naval artillery fired from the flanks and rear of the German artillery formations.
In addition to the Germans, Finns, Swedes, Italian and Spanish units took part in the siege. Spain did not officially participate in the war against the Soviet Union, with the exception of the volunteer Blue Division. There are different opinions about her. Some note the tenacity of its soldiers, others note the complete lack of discipline and mass desertion; soldiers often went over to the side of the Red Army. Italy provided torpedo boats, but their land operations were not successful.
The final collapse of the plan to capture Leningrad came on January 12, 1943, it was at that moment that the Soviet command began Operation Iskra, and after 6 days of fierce fighting, on January 18, the blockade was broken. Immediately after this, a railroad was built into the besieged city, later called the “Victory Road” and also known as the “Death Corridor.” The road ran so close to the front line that German units fired cannons at the trains. However, supplies and food flowed into the city.
The blockade lasted for almost another year, but the crisis had already been overcome.
6. Hitler’s barbaric plan for the destruction of Leningrad and its inhabitants
July 8, 1941 Chief of the General Staff ground forces Germany F. Halder wrote in his diary: “The Fuhrer’s decision to raze Moscow and Leningrad to the ground is unshakable in order to completely get rid of the population of these cities, which otherwise we will then be forced to feed during the winter. The task of destroying these cities must be carried out by aviation. Tanks should not be used for this. This will be a “national disaster” that will deprive not only Bolshevism of centers, but also Muscovites (Russians) in general.” However, then Hitler constantly demanded that his subordinates capture Leningrad as quickly as possible and even set specific dates for its capture. But when the defenders of Leningrad stopped the German troops advancing on the city, Hitler's command confused. Not only the command of Army Group North, but the entire high command of the Wehrmacht was confused. Having failed to carry out Hitler's order to capture Leningrad, but finding itself on the outskirts of the city, it did not know what to do. Without Hitler's instructions, it did not know what to do with a multimillion-dollar city that could be seen through binoculars. He was especially worried about what to do if an offer to surrender the city came from Leningrad. This is what is written in the combat log of Army Group North:
September 15th. The commander of Army Group North, Leeb, asks the command of the Wehrmacht ground forces “what to do in the event of a proposal to surrender Leningrad.”
September 17. “What should we do with the city itself: should it accept its surrender, should it be completely destroyed, or should it die out from hunger? Unfortunately, there is still no decision from the Fuhrer on this matter.”
September 18. Keitel, who arrived at Army Group North, said: “The Fuhrer leaves to himself what to do with Leningrad in the event of its surrender. This will become known only after we enter it! Colonel General Halder recommends equipping the entire blockade line with all means of protection against breakthrough attempts (mines, setting up obstacles), since persistent attempts at a breakthrough must definitely be taken into account. Under no circumstances should the capitulation of Leningrad be accepted without discussion with the OKH. How the offer to rent will be received, you just need to establish: who is applying, what is he asking for, what powers does he have? Based on this, a decision by the OKH (OKW) must be quickly made.”
September 20. “With regard to the city of Leningrad, the same principle remains that we do not enter the city and that we cannot feed the city.”
On September 21, the Wehrmacht's national defense department released theses for a report on the siege of Leningrad, which outlined different options for possible actions in relation to Leningrad: 1) occupy the city, but do not take responsibility for the food supply of the population; 2) surround the city with a wire fence, running an electric current through it and shooting at it with machine guns. The disadvantage of this decision was that out of 2 million inhabitants, the weak would die of hunger and an epidemic would arise, the danger of which could spread to German troops; 3) take women, children and the elderly outside the blockade ring, and starve the rest. Negative side this option, not to mention the fact that evacuation beyond the river. Volkhov could only be achieved theoretically; it was believed that the rest of the starving population of Leningrad would be the center of the epidemic; 4) withdraw beyond the Neva again and place the area north of this section at the disposal of the Finns. But Finland unofficially stated, the theses say, that it would like its state border to run along the Neva, not including Leningrad.
Having outlined these options for reprisals against the population of Leningrad, the country’s defense department, summarizing that “there is no satisfactory solution,” in turn proposed the following: a) considering Leningrad with its entire population as a military facility, allow Roosevelt, after the capitulation of Leningrad, to provide its population with food or transfer in America. But, the theses said, “such a proposal, of course, cannot be accepted, but it can be used for propaganda purposes..., b) first we blockade Leningrad (hermetically) and destroy the city, if possible, with artillery and aviation..., c) when terror and hunger will do their job, we will open separate gates and release unarmed people, d) the remnants of the “fortress garrison” will remain there for the winter. In the spring we will penetrate the city... we will take out everything that is alive deep into Russia or we will take prisoners, raze Leningrad to the ground and transfer the area north of the Neva to Finland.”
But the hesitation did not last long. Already on September 29, some of the proposals from the country's defense department found binding wording. In the directive of the naval headquarters " ABOUT the future of the city of St. Petersburg" said: "The Fuhrer decided to wipe the city of St. Petersburg from the face of the earth. After the defeat of Soviet Russia, there is no interest in the continued existence of this large populated area... It was proposed to closely blockade the city and, through shelling from artillery of all calibers and continuous bombing from the air, raze it to the ground. If, as a result of the situation created in the city, requests for surrender are made, they will be rejected, since the problems of preserving the population and its food cannot and should not be resolved by us. On our part, in this war, which is being waged for life and death, there is no interest in preserving at least part of the population of this big city.”
But Hitler’s order not to storm Leningrad, but to wipe it off the face of the earth, caused misunderstanding and disappointment among the German troops approaching the city. “... when the troops were already fully anticipating the celebration of a well-deserved victory,” recalled the commander of the 41st Panzer Corps, Reinhardt, “like a cold shower, news came from the headquarters of the tank group that instead of storming Leningrad there would be a blockade... At the very last minute, the soldiers who did everything for victory, deprived of the crown of the victors.” This forced Hitler to repeat his decision, and most importantly, to explain to the officers and the whole world why he refused to storm Leningrad. The directive of the Wehrmacht High Command of October 7, signed by the chief of staff of the Wehrmacht operational leadership, Jodl, stated: “The Fuhrer again decided that the surrender of Leningrad, and later of Moscow, should not be accepted even if it were proposed by the enemy.
The moral legitimacy of this event is clear to the whole world. If in Kyiv the explosions of delayed-action mines created the greatest danger for the troops, then this must be taken into account to an even greater extent in Moscow and Leningrad. The fact that Leningrad was mined and would be defended to the last man was reported by Russian radio itself.
Great dangers from epidemics are to be expected. Therefore, no German soldier should enter these cities. Whoever leaves the city against our lines must be driven back by fire.
Small unguarded passages that make it possible for the population to leave individually for evacuation to the interior of Russia should only be welcomed. And for all other cities the rule must be that before they are occupied, they must be reduced to ruins by artillery fire and air raids, and the population put to flight.
It is unacceptable to risk the life of a German soldier to save Russian cities from fire, just as it is impossible to feed their population at the expense of the German homeland...
The chaos in Russia will become greater, and our administration and use of the occupied eastern regions will become easier, the more the population of the cities of Soviet Russia flees to the interior regions of Russia.
This will of the Fuhrer must be brought to the attention of all commanders."
It turns out that it was the mined Leningrad and the reluctance to risk the life of a German soldier that forced Hitler to abandon the capture. In fact, Leningrad was not taken by German troops not because it was mined, but because (and this has already been said above) that German troops were stopped by the defenders of Leningrad. For the same reason, the plan to capture Leningrad in 1942 failed miserably, when Hitler, “forgetting” that Leningrad was mined, ordered Field Marshal Manstein, a specialist in taking fortresses, to capture the city.
It is absolutely clear that the directives of the Hitlerite command of September 29 and October 7 to wipe Leningrad off the face of the earth, reflecting the essence of fascism, are a virtual recognition of the failure of Hitler’s plans to capture Leningrad.
But, speaking about Hitler’s directives on the destruction of Leningrad, it should be said about what is written about this in the diary notes of Leeb, who was supposed to carry out Hitler’s instructions. Leeb, as commander of Army Group North, did not personally receive Hitler’s directives on the destruction of Leningrad. This is how he learned about the directive of the naval headquarters “On the future of the city of St. Petersburg” dated September 29. To the question - “The Navy command in its letter to you informs you that Hitler has decided to wipe Leningrad off the face of the earth. What do you know about this? - Leeb replied: “Apparently, the Navy command was interested in finding out what would happen to the naval structures in Leningrad? The Navy command asked Hitler about this, having received the answer you voiced, and forwarded this answer to me. It said that Hitler decided to raze Leningrad to the surface of the earth. I myself have never received this kind of order. But even if I had received such an order, I would never have been able to carry it out, since, firstly, I had no artillery at all capable of razing Leningrad to the ground, secondly, I had even less ammunition for it, and, thirdly, with the available artillery weapons I could not reach the northern part of the city due to their range, and fourthly, I did not have a single bomber. It was one of Hitler’s pipe dreams, even if I had received such an order.”
The directive of 7 October, as recorded in the battle log of Army Group North, was transmitted on 12 October. But in connection with some of the requirements of this directive, questions arose at Army Group headquarters that Leeb even asked Hitler.
On October 24, the combat log of Army Group North recorded: “The question arises of how to behave if the city of Leningrad offers its surrender, and how one should approach the exit of the starving population from the city. It appears that this is of great concern to the troops. The commander of the 58th Infantry Division emphasized that in his division he gave an order that he received from above, which corresponded to the given directive - to shoot in the event of such breakthroughs in order to nip them in the bud. He was of the opinion that the troops would carry out this order. But he doubts their nerves: will they shoot at repeated breakthroughs again and again at women, children and defenseless old people. It is worth noting his comment that he has no fear for the general situation on his flank near Uritsk, but that the situation in relation to civilian population always causes fear. And this is not only for him, but also for the troops. The troops are fully aware that the millions of people surrounded in Leningrad cannot be fed by us without this subsequently affecting the food supply of their own country.
For this reason, the German soldier will prevent such breakthroughs with weapons. The command and troops are persistently striving to find another solution to this issue, but have not yet found any suitable method.” On October 27, the combat log of Army Group North recorded: “At 1715, a telegram from the group commander to the 18th Army... The Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces proposed creating minefields in front of his positions in order to save the troops from direct combat with the civilian population. If the "Red" troops surrender in the area of Leningrad and Kronstadt, and their weapons are collected, the commander of the army group no longer sees any reason to continue the blockade of the city. The troops will then have to be transferred to barracks. Also in this case, most of the population will die, but at least not before our eyes.
In addition, the possibility of withdrawing part of the population from the city along the road to Volkhovstroy should be considered.”
And at the twelfth trial of the fifth American military tribunal in the case of the Supreme High Command of Hitler's Wehrmacht, which took place in Nuremberg in 1948, at which Leeb was tried, a wiretapped telephone conversation between Leeb and Hitler was voiced. Leeb asked Hitler: “What would happen if one day women began to gather in front of the barbed wire, lifting children in their arms?” Hitler replied: “In this case, fire will be opened.” Leeb said: “It may happen once, but it won’t happen again. German soldiers do not shoot women and children. For the first time, a precedent will be created when troops refuse to obey and a crisis of discipline arises with dire consequences.”
The fact that the Nazis could not count on any leniency is evidenced by Hitler’s words expressed on September 16, 1941: “The nest of infection St. Petersburg, from which poison poured into the Baltic Sea for so long, must disappear from the earth. The city is already blocked, there is still a little time left to destroy it with artillery and from the air... Asians and Bolsheviks must be expelled from Europe, the episode of 250 years of Asianism is ending.” To your closest ones trusted persons Hitler stated with complete frankness the criminal nature of his intention.
“Probably,” he said, “some people will grab their heads with both hands and ask how could the Fuhrer destroy a city like St. Petersburg? At my core, I belong to a different type. It would be more pleasant for me not to harm anyone. But if I see that a species is in danger, then the feeling of cold rationality leaves me.”
As for Leeb, despite his doubts about the possibility of carrying out Hitler’s orders to destroy Leningrad and his statement at the same trial of the American military tribunal in Nuremberg in 1948 that “there was something supernatural about what was immediately behind the line there was a city of a million people at the front, and the concern, of course, was due to the following factor: does this city of a million people have a supply of food or is the population on the verge of starvation? "He, like all subsequent commanders of Army Group North, was constantly building up artillery and aviation near Leningrad and, subjecting the city to daily artillery shelling and air bombing, sought to carry out Hitler's order to destroy the Leningraders and raze the city to the ground.
Hitler's intention was accurately understood by the commanders of German formations and units operating near Leningrad. For example, the commander of the 4th Panzer Group, Colonel General Gepner, stated back in May 1941 that the war should be waged as “the ancient struggle of the Germans against the Slavs, the defense of European culture from the Moscow-Asian flood, the defense from Jewish Bolshevism.” The defense of European culture must “have as its goal the destruction of present-day Russia and therefore be carried out with unheard-of cruelty.”
To destroy Leningraders, in addition to shells and bombs, the Nazi command repeatedly intended to use chemical weapons. So, in December 1941, as F. Halder wrote in his diary, the task was given to “make calculations for the use of chemical agents against Leningrad.” The second time the Nazis were going to use chemical weapons against Leningrad was in 1943, after breaking the blockade of the city. A special operation was planned and was to begin on April 1st. During its course, 1,350 thousand artillery shells filled with toxic substances were to be used, which would destroy all living things inside the blockade ring. However, apparently fearing a retaliatory chemical attack from the allied anti-fascist countries, Hitler’s command did not dare to use chemical weapons.
Thus, in their desire to destroy the population of Leningrad, which was part of the strategy of exterminating the Soviet people, the fascists proceeded from their racial theory.
In the light of all that has been said, the statement of the writer V. Astafiev that it would be better to surrender Leningrad to the enemy cannot but surprise and cause protest. “A million lives for the city, for the boxes... People preferred to kill other people for a stone,” said Astafiev. Of course, the hardships and sacrifices of Leningrad are immeasurable. But the surrender of Leningrad would not mean the salvation of its inhabitants. It is not difficult to imagine what would have happened to the Leningraders if the Soviet command, counting on the “humanity” of the fascists, had declared Leningrad an open city. In addition, Astafiev’s statement is a blasphemy against the graves of the victims. It turns out that their feat was in vain.
But the surrender of Leningrad, in addition to the death of its entire population, the loss of a large industrial center and the death of the Baltic Fleet, would lead to sudden change the situation on the Soviet-German front in favor of German troops. The fascist forces released from Leningrad would have been used to strengthen Army Group Center, which was advancing on Moscow.
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