Russian Counterattack and the Heroic Defense of Leningrad
About This Footage
Reel 7 of The Battle of Russia (1943) portrays both the suffering and resilience of the Soviet Union under Nazi invasion. The reel begins with powerful images of cultural destruction, including the ruined homes of Leo Tolstoy and Tchaikovsky, and haunting scenes of civilians weeping over frozen bodies and victims of Nazi executions. By spring 1942, the Red Army launched a counterattack that pushed German forces back on all fronts, shattering the myth of Nazi invincibility. The film then focuses on the Siege of Leningrad, where citizens dug trenches, built barricades, and prepared for unrelenting bombardment. Anti-aircraft guns fire at German planes as bombs devastate the city, while maps depict the encirclement and German demands for surrender—demands that went unanswered. The reel closes with the image of a German helmet pierced by a bullet, symbolizing the courage of the defenders and the failure of Hitler’s campaign against Leningrad.
Part of this Complete Film
The Battle of Russia (1943): Soviet Resistance & WWII Eastern Front