Marsh Is.#480 Siege of Leningrad Lifted - 1994 Imperforate Mint Issue

January 27, 1944 The Nazi siege of Leningrad was the longest in military history. In 1941, the Germans had surrounded and isolated Russia’s largest city, leaving it with only a three-month supply of food to feed 2.5 million civilians and soldiers. Starvation soon became Germany’s greatest ally; thousands died each day from malnutrition. Despite these severe conditions, the Russians refused to surrender. The brutal winter of ‘41, although an agonizing one, brought a blessing in disguise. The frozen Lake Ladoga, located at the northeast end of the city, served as a supply route across the 30 miles of ice. The supplies kept the city just barely alive until reinforcements could mount a counterattack. It took the Red Army almost three years to break through the Nazi death grip on the city. The Russians’ determination had exhausted Germany’s strength and forced a retreat. Although the Russians were ultimately victorious, more than a million soldiers and civilians of Leningrad starved or froze to death during the 880 days of siege.

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