Siege of Leningrad - Writers Forum

myheadwillexplode · 08-30-2007, 05:00 PM

okay, I just want to know whether it would be realistic for a German deserter to be hiding in the besieged city of Leningrad? I'm not sure if the Wermacht were actually in the city or not, I have done some research but it's only for a short story and i just want to get writing!

Anyone able to shed some light?

fjf1329 · 08-30-2007, 10:13 PM

I seem to remember that they did actually enter the city. I say that because I remember seeing footage on TV of fighting in factories and streets during what was described as the battle of Leningrad.

But no one can argue they were close enough that a soldier couldn't have reached the city. And since you're writing the story, and it is fiction, why not.

Mike C · 08-31-2007, 04:15 AM

It's conceiveable that he could hide out there, but I wouldn't rate his chances of survival much if the locals spotted him.

Nefieslab · 08-31-2007, 08:03 AM

Well the Germans were definatly in there alright. They owned most of the city at one point but the locals would have kill any german soldiers that were found, deserters or not they would most likely be clubbed to death.

blademasterzzz · 08-31-2007, 08:06 AM

Also, I wouldn't rate a german's chances of survival very high in there. The locals themselves starved and froze to death by thousands, and the german would a) have to avoid any kind of store b) avoid contact with local populace.

Not very good for getting bread rations or some kind of slightly warm room.

Olly Buckle · 09-04-2007, 07:57 PM

I would go and check a history if I were you, I think there is some confusion with Stalingrad for some of your replies, as I remember the Russians built a supply road across the frozen lake and kept the Germans out of Leningrad, though at huge cost, your man would have starved if he had been there, plenty did, at one point they had work teams going through houses stripping the wallpaper and scraping off the paste to mix with flour in the bakery and when spring came and the snow melted exposing the frozen bodies many of them had bits cut out of them. I am fairly sure that artillery fire was the only thing the Germans actually got into the city though, people always walked the side of the street it was coming from, the buildings gave some protection that way.