Leningrad

The Hitler's power was planning for the "Operation Barbarossa" in which the German force's objective was to capture Leningrad, located in northern Soviet Unions, and partially to recover the territory they had lost. If the Germans successfully carried their plan, the city and the people in it would be facing a dreadful experiences or deaths. (Bibliography #1)

As the German army, supported by the Finnish forces, marched towards Leningrad and invaded the city, they bombed the city which targeted and affected the people, industry, and public houses. The damage of the city was devastating. Hitler orders the encirclement of Leningrad. (Bibliography #2)

During the period of siege on Leningrad, there have been attacks, bombardments near and occasions of Soviets attempting to break through the line of Germans securing the city. There had been continuous attacks of Germans simultaneously which prevented the Soviets to successfully focus on Leningrad to salvage the city. There wasn't much that could be done to help people of Leningrad except supplying the little amount of food. (Bibliography #2, #4)

On September 8, 1941, the Germans completed surrounding Leningrad and captured a town Shlisseburg in order to cut all the supplies going into Leningrad. The Germans surrounded all around the city except the Lake Ladoga which is by the city. The city is then cut from all the resources coming through. Every person inside the city is stuck with supplies that will be gone shortly. (Bibliography #1)

Ever since the cut of supplies into Leningrad, the resources, food, water, electricity began to dwindle. There were too few for anyone to eat and everyone was starving. Where people got extremely hungry, some even resorted to cannibalism. The situation in the city was devastating. (Bibliography #1, #2, #3)

The starvation of the whole city was already horrific enough but the cold weather of Russia worsened the situation. Heat energy was completely gone with no lamps or candles after supplies got cut. That meant the people had to go through an extremely cold winter of Russia with no heat protection. There were too many people who froze to death and the city was simply horrific. (Bibliography #2, #3)

Hitler ordered to stop the attack on Leningrad but instead continue to siege the city and lead the people of the city to starvation since there was no way in or out. (Bibliography #2, #4)

The Lake Ladoga next to Leningrad connected to the Soviet Union's land which hadn't been captured by Germans. With cold weather, the ice in the lake thickened allowing the access into the city and send supply. The amount supply reached over 600 tons for the first time (the city was previously also accessible but with limited amount) which reached the minimum food required for the city to last one day with all its people. The Lake Ladoga relieved the situation in the city a little. (Bibliography #2)

The Soviets attempted in multiple occasions to free Leningrad from the Germans taking siege. On January 14, 1944, Soviets planned to relieve Leningrad completely. The determined launch overwhelmed Germans and the Soviets took the railroad of Leningrad, driving Germans back out. On January 27, 1944, the end of siege is declared official. (Bibliography #1, #2, #4)

The siege of Germans on Leningrad lasted total 827 days which is one of the longest in the history. Statistically 1,017,881 Soviet forces were killed and 2,418,185 wounded, while the deaths of the people estimate to 670,000 and 1.5 million. The period of almost 4 years in Leningrad was absolutely devastating and difficult for everyone. With the population of the city in the beginning as 3 million, it reduced down to 700,000. Stalin declared Leningrad a "Hero City". (Bibliography #1, #4)