Reel 8 of The Battle of Russia (1943) focuses on the Siege of Leningrad, one of the most harrowing chapters of World War II. Beginning in August 1941, the Germans failed to capture the city outright and resorted to a prolonged blockade, paired with relentless artillery bombardments. The film highlights the brutal winter of 1941, where Leningrad’s residents endured freezing conditions, no fuel, and severe food shortages. Despite the hardships, the Russian people devised an ingenious plan to transport supplies across frozen Lake Ladoga, known as the “Road of Life.”
Footage depicts equipment carving a road across the ice and trucks laden with food and supplies braving German air attacks. Later, the Russians constructed a rail line across the frozen lake, allowing trainloads of supplies to reach the besieged city. The arrival of spring, coupled with these critical efforts, brought new life to Leningrad, enabling its people to survive and resist. The reel concludes with scenes of captured German soldiers, symbolizing the resilience of Leningrad and the ultimate failure of the siege to break the city’s spirit.
The Battle of Russia (1943) - WWII Eastern Front Documentary