Leningrad - The City That Defied Hitler’s Siege and Survived on Rats

Leningrad, also known as the former capital of Russia, was a city like no other. It was a place where people embraced the cold winters, relished in the grandeur of historical landmarks, and resorted to eating rats to survive Hitler’s brutal siege during World War II.

History

Leningrad was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great, who was so unimpressed with Moscow that he decided to build a new capital from scratch. Over the years, the city became the center of Russian culture, politics, and scientific achievements. However, its most daunting challenge came during the World War II, when Nazi troops surrounded the city, killing over a million residents and forcing others to resort to extreme measures to survive.

Siege mentality

During the 900-day siege, Leningrad’s residents had to come up with innovative ways to survive on meager rations of bread, water, and vodka. Their resourcefulness was legendary, as they created communal vegetable gardens, harnessed the power of the city’s streetcars to generate electricity, and even resorted to boiling leather to make soup.

Rats for dinner

The most bizarre method of survival was eating rats, with Leningraders forming rat-catching teams to gather the plump rodents in parks and sewers. Their culinary skills impressed even the most hardened Soviet propaganda machine, as newspapers ran recipes on how to cook rats, often wittily presented in menus that included “rat casserole,” “rat fricassee,” and “rat pie.”

Get the T-shirt

Despite the hardships, Leningrad emerged as a symbol of resistance, with the sound of the bombardment not even drowning out songs performed by artists such as Shostakovich and Leningrad Cowboys. Ultimately, the city survived Hitler’s onslaught, and now tourists flock to the numerous museums, cathedrals, and landmarks that survived the siege. Those with a more daring sense of humor can find Leningrad-inspired t-shirts with sayings like “Rat-a-tat-tat. I ate the last rat in Leningrad and all I got was this lousy t-shirt.”

Conclusion

Leningrad may have a dark past, but its resilience during one of history’s most brutal sieges is a testament to the Russian spirit. Whether it’s eating rats, boiling leather or getting creative in extreme circumstances, Leningrad’s unique history will always leave visitors impressed and hungry for more.