The Battle for Leningrad, 1941-1944 (Modern War Studies (Hardcover)) Hardcover – November 25, 2002

Glantz is an expert in Soviet experience of World WarII.This book focusses on Soviet defence of Leningrad ,attempts to defeat German siege.I feel this dimension of war on the Eastern Front has been ignored by Historians.However author's latest study is bound to stimulate interest on this neglected ,long-forgotten theatre of war.

I have to say scale and scope of operations which unfolded on Leningrad axis of eastern front is nothing but stupendous,awesome.Here we see war waged in all its ferocity,ruthlessness.Leningrad,St.Peterburg,Petrograd is the soul of Russia . This magnificent city straddling on the banks of river Neva,founded by Peter the Great, was also cradle of Bolshevik revolution.No Russian with an iota of honour and self respect could hope to see this trampled upon by an alien power.

Soviet miscalculations prelude to German invasion transformed the city within 15 days into a battle zone.Tenacity ,sacrifice of Red Army frustrated German drive to sieze Leningrad. Violent counter-attacks launched by Vatutin at Solt Sy,Staraia Russa in July,August 1941;Zhukov at Krasno selo and Mga in August,September 1941 slowed down German advance. This gave sufficent time to erect fresh defences on the approaches to the city.

However few things stand out.I feel at a critical time when struggle was fast working toward climax Hitler denuded Von Leeb cream of his Panzer Army and switched it toward Moscow axis.In war always form 'strongpoints' as German military philiospher Clausewitz has said.German dictator strove to attain three different objectives at one time.Consequently, he dissipated Wehrmacht's striking power by spreading it across this immense front. Another reason Nazi leader fearing heavy casualties shrank from launching a direct assault on the city.

Succesful Soviet defence of Leningrad was also helped Finns whose attack lacked vigor.Finns undoubtedly were opportunistic.They were prepared to help German cause only to the extent of retrieving territory lost during the winter war against the Russians.So German effort to effect a junction with Finns at Tikhvin failed.

Now brutal phase of war began.Stalin's exhortations,threats Red Army during winter,spring summer of 1942,43 subjected besieging Germans to a wave of unremitting assaults as Russians strove to break the siege at all costs.Leningrad and Volkhov fronts commanded by Govorov,Meretskov assailed relentlessly . Russians launched converging blows from multiple axes.Feature of these attacks was lavish use of material and manpower and a contemptous disregard for life.To be fair the situation inside the city was grim ;people started dying due to malnutrition and hunger.So desperate situation called for desperate remedies.Nazis were implacable foes.

Most of Russian offensives were catastrophic failures. Still they kept on coming. I think no other army in the world can fight like this.In those dark days Red army displayed tremendous reslience. I also have to admire fighting qualities of German soldiers. Despite defeats Wehrmacht remained a formidable fighting machine.Ultimately Red Army triumphed.Ground comunications were established with Leningrad on winter of 1943 and subsequent winter Germans were completely evicted from the areas adjoining to the city.Wehrmacht began its retreat to the Baltic coast.
For the Russians the victory came at a stiff price. More than 2 million soldiers perished.

This book based on archival material recently de classified by Russian Ministry of Defence must be deemed as most accurate,up-to-date, impartial study on struggle for Leningrad.Author has laboured a lot.Enormous amount of research has gone into its production.In the process Glantz has shed light on defeats suffered by Red Army which Soviet regime cleverly managed to conceal. For instance,Operation Polar Star Marshal Zhukov's ambitious attempt to defeat German Army Group North and totally break Leningrad siege on Feb 1943 which ended in a fiasco.Zhukov too does not say anything about it in his Memoirs: Reminiscences and Reflections.

Finally author's focus exclusively on combat ,he does not say much about individual experiences of Leningraders who withstood German siege.

A lay man will not find this book interesting.

Once again, Mr Glantz has delivered a jam packed account of another important campaign of WWII. The action covers, in the German sector, the beginning of Barbarossa in June 1941 and goes to April 1944 when the Russians had liberated Leningrad giving it access to Moscow by rail and pushing the Germans back to the prepared defensive line called Panther.

The book is divided into three parts. The first part is the Opening assault that takes AGN past the Baltics, Lake Pskov, Luga, Novgorod and Kingisepp by the end of September 1941. For the rest of the year, Leeb tries to break into the city but fails each time. When Hitler transfers important outfits to AGC for their Operation Typhoon, Leeb is forced to stop the offensive and lay siege to the city.
Part two includes the next two years when the blockade is in place and the Germans try to get the city to surrender while the local Russian Fronts try to break the strangle hold. At first the Russians make little progress but after repeated attempts they slowly gain momentum and by the start of 1944 have the initiative.
The last part involves the major Russian offensive that breaks the blockade around Leningrad and pushes the Germans back to the Panther Line by April 1944. The defeat of the Finns is also covered.The Siniavino series of battles were especially well covered. Battle coverage also includes partisan influence for the three years. The misery of the civilians trapped in Leningrad is also discussed.
As usual the operational detail is impressive. The tactical and strategic elements of each battle is given along with brief analysis, allowing the reader to understand the significance of the actions taken by both sides. The Russian side is favored but the German coverage is adequate.

Mr Glantz must have thought going past April 1944 beyond the limits of the liberation of Leningrad. That's too bad for there was considerable action for the rest of the year when the Russians pushed the Germans beyond the Panther line to the Wendish and Segewold lines.
In addition to the narrative are 18 maps. The maps are good but all cover the large regional conflict area. The book could've been improved by adding additional maps showing the small area of individual battles.

There are also photos and information tables to add to the reading experience. There is also an extensive Appendix that includes a detailed Order of Battle, important war documents and statistics of the campaign.
Overall this is the best book on Leningrad that I've read but I would like to suggest reading Steven Newton's "Retreat from Leningrad" for it adds coverage to the latter months of 1944 as well as some beneficial analysis.

"Battle of Leningrad" is one of the most outstanding books written by D. Glantz. Practically, in a single volume Glantz solved all epic battles in the Northern part of Eastern front. The focus is on the City of Leningrad (defense, siege, liberation), but the confrontation between the Finn Army and Soviets is also covered.
After a very short preface, Part I of the book described mostly the German Advance through the Baltic Countries during early stages of Operation Barbarossa. The last chapters of this part dealt with the actual defense of Leningrad, detailing the relentless offensives and counterstrokes of both sides.
Part II is dedicated to the blockade of the city, the actual story of the 900-day siege. During this part, Glantz covered the conditions and horrors within the city, the partisan warfare in the country side surrounding Leningrad (1942-43) but also the Soviet efforts to break the blockade (especially the Siniavino offensives).
Part III, which is the last, treated the liberation of the city and subsequent battles.
As I mentioned earlier Glantz treated the Vyborg offensive against the Finn Forces (10-20 June 1944) and further battles in southern Finland.
The conclusions found at the end of this part detailed the human cost of the military operations and the siege, and also some military lessons learned from operations.
Many detailed and useful appendixes (Orders of battle, planning documents, estimated casualties etc) completed this overwhelming book.
I highly recommend this book, detailed and rich in military history. You will don't need another book about Leningrad!