Leningrad

De: Michael Jones

Narrado por: Simon Shepherd

In 1941 Hitler's armies blocked the last roads leading into Leningrad. What followed was one of the most horrific sieges in history.

When the German High Command encircled Leningrad it was a deliberate policy to eradicate the city's civilian population by starving them to death. As winter set in and food supplies dwindled, starvation and panic set in.

A specialist in battle psychology and the vital role of morale in desperate circumstances, Michael Jones tells the human story of Leningrad. Drawing on newly available eyewitness accounts and diaries, he shows Leningrad in its every dimension including taboo truths, long-suppressed by the Soviets, such as looting, criminal gangs and cannibalism.

But for many ordinary citizens, Leningrad marked the triumph of the human spirit. They drew deeply on their inner resources to inspire, comfort and help one another. At the height of the siege an extraordinary live performance of Shostakovich's Seventh Symphony profoundly strengthened the city's will to resist. When German troops heard it in their trenches one remarked, "We began to understand we would never take Leningrad.'

Yet Leningrad's self-defence came at a huge price. When the 900-day siege ended in 1944 almost a million people had died, and those who survived would be permanently marked by what they had endured, as this superbly insightful and moving history shows.

©2018 Michael Jones (P)2018 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Detail

Presentation from actual diaries gives a thorough perspective of living through this experience. To review pictures by the artist who sketched throughout the siege adds a deeper view of the horrors of starvation.

Unbelievable Leningrad

What happened during the siege of Leningrad is one of the worst in all of WWII, save Stalingrad. It is a literal horror movie. Michael Jones’s work is exceptional. This has to be one of the best books on the subject. Cannot recommend more highly. And one cannot praise those who persevered enough. What a story of the triumph of the human spirit in the midst of unparalleled horror. Simon Shepherd’s narration is perfect.

Great narration and a enthralling story line.

fantastic and engaging great personal stories from a horrific time in history moments of sorrow and brutality with the occasional glimpse of compassion and human triumph

totally worth the time

one of the best oral history based books I have ever experienced. Very powerful and compelling. I'm going to listen to it again.

Wow just wow.

I could feel the horror of these events. It’s surreal and can’t even imagine what that was like. ♥️🇷🇺♥️

The Horror

I don’t know another way to describe my lasting impression from this book. The evil of the German plans and the true heroism of the people. But Leningrad in the end of January must have been hell on earth and terrifying. Some parts read like a horror novel. Awful conditions imposed by an purely evil and twisted enemy. And the failure of government to provide when things get really bad. It holds some important lessons, too. Listen or read this book. Narration is terrific.

Amazing

Do u want to understand what is like to be in leningrand this is thr book