It's been 67 years since the beginning of the one of longest and deadliest sieges in modern history, when Nazi forces surrounded Leningrad - today's St Petersburg.
In September 1941, they expected a quick surrender, but the siege lasted for more than two years - 900 days and nights.
The city was almost completely cut-off from the rest of the country. Some 700,000 civilians died, most of them of starvation and disease.
When the siege began, there was only a scant amount of food and fuel in the city. The only way to deliver supplies to Leningrad was via Lake Ladoga, which was easily reached by the enemy's artillery.
Soviet troops eventually broke the blockade in 1943, but the city was only fully liberated a year later.
Watch video:
http://www.russiatoday.com/news/news/30083/videoWatch more about the siege on the YouTube:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=y4RdjV28qYYRead more about
the siege of Leningrad
All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
