Siege of Leningrad
Axis blockade of Leningrad lasted 872 days, causing 1.5 million deaths.
For 872 days during World War II, the Axis powers—primarily Germany and Finland—blockaded the Soviet city of Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), the nation’s second-largest city. Though never captured, the siege ranks as the most destructive and possibly the deadliest in history, with an estimated 1.5 million deaths out of a prewar population of 3.2 million. At the time, it was not classified as a war crime, but some historians later labeled it a genocide, citing the deliberate destruction of the city and the systematic starvation of its civilians.
The blockade began on 8 September 1941, when German forces cut all land routes to Leningrad, while Finnish troops moved in from the north. Rather than storm the city, the Germans chose to bomb it and starve its inhabitants—a strategy that proved catastrophic during the winter of 1941–1942. Supplies trickled in by air, by ship across Lake Ladoga, or via the “Road of Life,” a highway built on the frozen lake. A Red Army offensive opened a narrow land corridor on 18 January 1943, but the siege was not fully lifted until 27 January 1944.
**Background**
Capturing Leningrad was one of three key goals of Germany’s Operation Barbarossa, making it the primary target for Army Group North. The city’s political status as Russia’s former capital, its symbolic role as the birthplace of the Bolshevik Revolution, its military importance as the Baltic Fleet’s main base, and its industrial output—11% of all Soviet production in 1939—all drove the strategy. Adolf Hitler was so confident of victory that he planned to hold celebrations at the Hotel Astoria and even had invitations printed. While theories vary about Germany’s long-term plans—some suggest making Leningrad the capital of a new Reich province called Ingermanland—it is clear Hitler intended to annihilate the city and its people. A directive to Army Group North on 29 September 1941 stated: “After the defeat of Soviet Russia there can be no interest in the continued existence of this large urban center… requests for surrender negotiations shall be denied, since the problem of relocating and feeding the population cannot and should not be solved by us.” Hitler’s ultimate plan was to raze Leningrad and give areas north of the Neva River to Finland.
**Preparations**
*German plans*
Field Marshal Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb’s Army Group North advanced toward Leningrad but became
- start_date
- 8 September 1941
- end_date
- 27 January 1944
- duration
- 872 days
- location
- Leningrad, Soviet Union (present-day Saint Petersburg)
- estimated_deaths
- 1.5 million
- prewar_population
- 3.2 million
- type
- Military blockade
Lore & Background
The capture of Leningrad was one of three strategic goals of the German Operation Barbarossa. Army Group North under Field Marshal Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb advanced to Leningrad, its primary objective. By early August, Army Group North was seriously over-extended, having advanced on a widening front. The last rail connection to Leningrad was cut on 30 August, when German forces reached the River Neva. Land routes from Leningrad to the rest of the Soviet Union were cut on 8 September 1941, beginning the siege. The Germans decided to bomb the city and starve its inhabitants rather than attempt to capture it; many residents starved during the winter of 1941–1942.
Reader's Guide
The Siege of Leningrad is significant as one of the longest and deadliest sieges in history, lasting 872 days and resulting in an estimated 1.5 million deaths. It was not classified as a war crime at the time, but since then, some historians have classified it as a genocide due to the intentional destruction of the city and the systematic starvation of its civilian population. Hitler intended to utterly destroy the city along with its population, as stated in a directive sent to Army Group North on 29 September 1941. Supplies were delivered to the city by air, by ship over Lake Ladoga, or over the Road of Life, a highway built on the lake when it was frozen. A Red Army offensive opened a narrow land corridor to Leningrad on 18 January 1943, but the siege was not fully broken until 27 January 1944. The siege remains a powerful symbol of endurance and suffering in World War II.
Did You Know?
- The siege lasted 872 days, from 8 September 1941 to 27 January 1944.
- An estimated 1.5 million people died, from a prewar population of 3.2 million.
- Supplies were delivered via the Road of Life, a highway built on frozen Lake Ladoga.
- Hitler intended to raze Leningrad and give areas north of the Neva to the Finns.
More in Sieges And Battles 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record