The bloodiest siege in history: Leningrad 1941-1944
I am currently reading the 600-page book “The Storm Of War”, an account of the Second World War by Andrew Roberts. Even though I am familiar with all the major events of the war, it is still shocking to be reminded of the utter devastation of the conflict.
Following the German invasion of the Soviet Union in Operation Barbarossa, the city of Leningrad suffered the most horrific siege in history. There are various estimates of the death toll, but Roberts writes:
” … somehow Leningrad surveyed its gruelling 900-day ordeal, despite suffering over one million deaths, or an average of more than 1,100 people a day for nearly three years. It was by far the bloodiest siege in history, and more Russians died in Leningrad alone than British and American soldiers and civilians during the whole of the Second World War.”
You can read more about the siege here.
An excellent novel set in the siege is “City Of Thieves” by David Benioff which I have reviewed here.