Battle for Leningrad, 1941-44

Categories / Army. Navy/Blokade
BATTLE FOR LENINGRAD, military operations defending Leningrad against German and Finnish troops in 1941-44 during the Great Patriotic War. The battle started on 10 July 1941, when German troops approached the line of the rivers Narva, Luga, and Mshaga. In July - September 1941, German troops suppressed Soviet troops' resistance by launching an all-out attack, whereupon they cut off railroad links between Leningrad and the rest of the country on 30 August; reaching the southern side of Lake Ladoga on 8 September, they occupied Schlisselburg, completely isolating Leningrad from any access to land (see Siege of 1941-44), finally approaching Leningrad from the southwestern and southern sides on September 9-12. By August 31, Finnish troops seized the Karelian Isthmus. In September 1941, the enemy's attack was brought to a halt. In November 1941, German troops seized Tikhvin, leaving no way to supply Leningrad at all. By mid-December, however, they were drawn back behind the Volkhov River, and the front was stabilized. Soviet troops repeatedly attempted to break the Siege until January 1943 (see Sinyavino Operations of 1941-42). German troops did not intensify their efforts, expecting Leningrad to surrender. In January 1943, Soviet troops broke the Siege, restoring land communications. By March, however, the front stabilized again as they failed to exploit the success. In January - March 1944, Soviet troops launched an all-out offensive, completely lifting the Siege (see Lifting of he Siege) and eventually releasing the whole Leningrad Region. In June 1944, Finnish troops were expelled from the Karelian Isthmus, marking the end of the Battle for Leningrad.

References: Битва за Ленинград, 1941-1944. М., 1964; Июнь 1941 - май 1945: О подвиге Ленинграда строками хроники. Л., 1989; Польман Х. Волхов: 900 дней боев за Ленинград, 1941-1944. М., 2000.

G. V. Kalashnikov. Битва за Ленинград, 1941-1944. М., 1964
Июнь 1941 - май 1945: О подвиге Ленинграда строками хроники. Л., 1989
Польман Х. Волхов: 900 дней боев за Ленинград, 1941-1944. М., 2000 Siege of 1941-44
Sinyavino Operations of 1941-42
Lifting of the Siege, 1944
1941
1942
1944