Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), 1941–1944
When the German Wehrmacht encircled Leningrad in September 1941, the city was plunged into one of history's longest and most harrowing sieges.
For nearly 900 days, the people of Leningrad endured starvation, freezing cold, relentless bombardment, and despair.
Food rations dwindled to mere scraps; heating was a luxury few could afford.
Yet, the spirit of the city did not break.
Under the leadership of General Georgy Zhukov and the indomitable will of its citizens, Leningrad became a symbol of defiance.
Factories kept producing weapons, children attended makeshift schools, and artists continued to create amidst rubble.
One survivor, Tatyana Savicheva, recorded the heartbreaking loss of her family in a diary that became a testament to human endurance.
The famous "Road of Life" across the frozen Lake Ladoga became a lifeline, transporting supplies and evacuating the wounded.
Despite unimaginable suffering, the siege ultimately failed to break Soviet resolve.
In January 1944, Soviet forces finally lifted the blockade.
Leningrad's survival was a beacon of hope—a testament to the human capacity to endure even the darkest hours.