HERO CITY: Leningrad 1943-44

1-245850

Examines the story of how the siege of Leningrad was finally broken. Uses original Russian source material to vividly describe the deprivations visited upon those trapped, and also details the tactical successes and strategic failures of both sides. By enduring the siege in the face of impossible odds, Russian soldiers and civilians beat the Germans. By the end of 1943, the German forces, themselves broken by deprivations and extreme weather, began to pull back. The Red Army launched a decisive attack that cracked the German line 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. Contains 16-page plate section in black and white.

Contents:
* List of Illustrations
* List of Maps
* Dramatis Personae
* Introduction: A Singular City
* Chapter 1: Unfinished Business
* Chapter 2: Iskra - Planning
* Chapter 3: Iskra - Execution
* Chapter 4: Polyarnaya Zvezda
* Chapter 5: The Last Battles Before Spring
* Chapter 6: A Tense Summer
* Chapter 7: The Summer Offensive: Sinyavino
* Chapter 8: An Autumn of Blood and Attrition
* Chapter 9: Winter Planning
* Chapter 10: Yanvarskiiy Grom
* Chapter 11: Retreat from Leningrad
* Chapter 12: Schild und Schwert
* Chapter 13: After the Siege
* Chapter 14: Military Memories and Assessments of the Siege of Leningrad
* Chapter 15: The Myths and Legends of Leningrad
* Notes
* Bibliography
* Index