On September 08, 1941 there started the 900 day long siege of Leningrad. The city was cut from the country on dry land. The only way to the city was either through the Ladozhskoe Lake or by air. Citizens died of hunger, cold, bombardment and incoming artillery.

Main food for citizens of Leningrad was mock bread, which was given by cards. Food norms reduced day after day. On the streets there were no trams and trolleybuses, and houses were not provided with heat and electricity. But nevertheless the city continued living and working. Factories, polyclinics, schools and theatres did not stop working. At plants women and adolescent worked instead of husbands and fathers, doctors, professors and scientists still went on working. Leningrad citizens did everything in favor of the future victory.

Students, post-graduate students, graduates, professors and staff of Leningrad civil engineering institute (Saint Petersburg state university of architecture and civil engineering) made a great contribution into defense of the city and protection of architecture monuments. They built defense structures, created firing points, hid buildings, monument of architecture and history, and watched how buildings were used.

Fascists considered occupation of Leningrad an important task, as it would provide them good communication routes and a chance to strike behind the lines of the Russian army which defended Moscow. Fascists planned to erase the city. But these plans were not achieved because of the courage of the city defenders and citizens. The city withstood, and the enemy could not break the moral spirit of Leningrad citizens. 

Hats off to You, veterans and citizens of sieged Leningrad for your deed, for the chance to live in our marvelous city!