News and Events /PRESENTATION ON HEROIC EVENTS OF LENINGRAD BLOCKADE 5 Feb 2007

A Seminar-cum-Presentation "900 Days of Legendary Citizens of Hero-City Exploit", dedicated to the Heroic Events of the Years of Leningrad Blockade During the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945), jointly organized by the Russian Centre of Science & Culture and Indian Ex-Services League, was held at the RCSC on February 2, 2007.

The Presentation made by Mrs. Maria Pavlova, Senior Secretary and Programme Executive, RCSC, highlighted the most tragic period in the history of Leningrad, a period full of sufferings and heroism. For everyone, who lives in St. Petersburg, the Blockade of Leningrad during World War II is an important part of the city's heritage, and it is also a painful memory for older generation of Russia.

Less than two and a half months after the Soviet Union was attacked by Nazi Germany, fascist troops were already approaching Leningrad. The Red Army was outflanked and on September 8, 1941, the Germans had fully encircled Leningrad and the siege began. The city's almost three million civilians, including about 400,000 children, refused to surrender and endured rapidly increasing hardships in the encircled city. Food and fuel stocks were limited to a mere 1-2 month supply, public transport was not operational, and by the winter of 1941-42, there was no heating, no water supply, almost no electricity and very little food.

The siege lasted for a total of 900 days, until January 27, 1944. At least, 641,000 people died in Leningrad during the siege. (Some estimates put this figure closer to 800,000). Most of them were buried in mass graves in different cemeteries, with the majority in the Piskariovskoye Memorial Cemetery, resting place to more than half of million people and a timeless reminder of the heroic deeds of the city.