Attack on Leningrad

A British-American journalist trapped in Leningrad as the German siege closes in documents the starvation and suffering of the city's civilians. The film follows the desperate struggle of ordinary Leningraders during the brutal early months of the blockade.

The Siege of Leningrad lasted nearly 900 days from September 1941 to January 1944, causing the deaths of over a million civilians primarily through starvation, making it one of the deadliest sieges in history.

The central journalist character is fictional, but the depicted starvation and civilian conditions reflect extensively documented historical accounts of the siege.

The largest invasion in military history opened a front that would consume the majority of German ground strength for the rest of the war.

Brest Fortress resisted for weeks behind the front line. Leningrad was encircled in September, beginning a siege of nearly 900 days. The advance on Moscow stalled in the mud and frost and was thrown back by a Soviet counter-offensive in December.

Directed by Aleksandr Buravsky

Cast: Mira Sorvino, Gabriel Byrne, Olga Sutulova, Armin Mueller-Stahl

Positioned at September 1941 – early 1942 within the Siege of Leningrad phase of the war, as part of the Siege of Leningrad. This is entry 44 of 150 in the chronological archive.

• Leningrad
• siege
• starvation
• civilians
• Eastern Front

• 

  Brest Fortress

  22 June – 23 July 1941

• 

  Panfilov's 28 Men

  16 November 1941

• 

  The Desert Rats

  April–December 1941

• 

  Defiance

  1941–1944

• 

  The Unknown Soldier

  June 1941 – September 1944

• 

  The Dawns Here Are Quiet

  Spring 1942