Hero City

An impressive patch in the tapestry of written history that points toward the truth. The Spectator

One of the greatest ever sieges is masterfully brought to life by a leading expert on the Eastern Front.

At the height of World War II, the people of Leningrad endured a bitter 900-day siege, struggling against bombing, shelling, and starvation. Prit Buttar tells the story of how the siege was finally broken. The Red Army had suffered multiple setbacks in the preceding two years but achieved a partial success by breaking the blockage in early 1943. However, this was followed by further failed attempts to lift the siege.

But by simply enduring the siege in the face of impossible odds, Russian soldiers and civilians beat the Germans. By the end of 1943, the German forces, broken by deprivations and extreme weather, began to pull back. Here was the opportunity the Soviet forces had been waiting for. The Red Army launched a decisive attack that broke through and ended the siege. Their determination to hold out has become a hugely significant part of Russian history, the echoes of the battle helping to define both a country and its politics.

This compelling history uses original source material to describe the experiences of those trapped. It also details the tactical successes and strategic failures of both sides and the appalling war crimes that have forever stained the ground in and around this historic city.