To Besiege a City: Leningrad 1941–42

Military expert Buttar (Centuries Will Not Suffice) breaks down and elucidates the complex maneuvering and resources of the Russian and German armies during the 900-day Siege of Leningrad. Operation Barbarossa, Hitler’s invasion of the Soviet Union, sought to demolish Leningrad and then Moscow. This was not a capture mission but a razing of cities and inhabitants. Hitler saw no value in additional Bolshevik and Jewish mouths to feed and wanted the land and natural resources. During World War II, German forces blockaded and starved the populace but were unprepared for an extended battle on multiple fronts, Buttar explains. Meanwhile, the Russian forces remained determined but strategically challenged. Both armies suffered numerous casualties, and there were reports of Leningrad residents resorting to cannibalism to survive. The book’s most compelling evidence of these atrocities includes emotional firsthand accounts that reveal the horror of this onslaught. The book is also dense with details and a scholarly tone, which might make it a challenging read for some.