is being felt nationwide nonetheless as the country remembers the incalculable sacrifices made by savia troops and civilians who suffered the biggest casualties. do you. really. even though you may know. june 22nd 1941 and germany's surprise invasion of the u.s.s.r. started what will become known in russia as the great patriotic war. the nazis had a significant advantage in numbers and military equipment allowing troops to gain vast amounts of territory with little resistance in a matter of months they were of moscow's doorstep. but after a series of fierce battles and unforeseen resistance from the soviet people the germans were still unable to enter the city and were forced to retreat meanwhile the germans had surrounded the northern capital leningrad today some petersburg mounting a military blockade which would last for $872.00 days freezing temperatures and a desperate lack of food and water turned the city into a living hell. amid countless deaths starvation and suffering some comfort was to be found from a sound heard across the city hundreds of loudspeakers and radios played the