Buttar. Prit Hero City

Leningrad 1943-44

At the height of World War II, the people of Leningrad endured a bitter 900-day siege, fighting bombings, shelling and famine. Prit Buttar tells the story of how the siege was finally broken. The Red Army had suffered numerous setbacks over the previous two years, but managed to break through the blockade in early 1943. However, further failed attempts to lift the siege completely followed. By simply holding out despite the insurmountable odds, Russian soldiers and civilians were able to defeat the Germans. By late 1943, German forces, themselves broken by deprivation and extreme weather conditions, began to retreat. This was the opportunity the Soviet forces had been waiting for. The Red Army launched a decisive attack, breaking through and ending the siege. Their determination to hold out against the siege has become a significant part of Russian history, and the reverberations of the battle have shaped both the country and its politics. This compelling story uses original Russian material to vividly describe the deprivations faced by those trapped inside. It also details the tactical successes and strategic errors of both sides, as well as the horrific war crimes that forever stained the soil in and around this historic city.