Hero City cover art

Hero City

Leningrad 1943–44

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Hero City

By: Prit Buttar
Narrated by: Gordon Griffin
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About this listen

 Bloomsbury presents Hero City: Leningrad 1943–44 by Prit Buttar, read by Gordon Griffin

One of the greatest ever sieges is masterfully brought to life by a leading expert on the Eastern Front.

At the height of World War II the people of Leningrad endured a bitter 900-day siege, struggling against bombing, shelling, and starvation. Prit Buttar tells the story of how the siege was finally broken. The Red Army had suffered multiple setbacks in the preceding two years but achieved a partial success by breaking the blockage in early 1943. However, this was followed by further failed attempts to lift the siege completely.

But by simply enduring the siege in the face of impossible odds, Russian soldiers and civilians beat the Germans. By the end of 1943 the German forces, themselves broken by deprivations and extreme weather, began to pull back. Here was the opportunity the Soviet forces had been waiting for. The Red Army launched a decisive attack that broke through and ended the siege. Their determination to hold out has become a hugely significant part of Russian history, the echoes of the battle helping to define both a country and its politics.

This compelling history uses original Russian source material to vividly describe the deprivations visited upon those trapped. But it also details the tactical successes and strategic failures of both sides as well as the appalling war crimes that have forever stained the ground in and around this historic city.©2024 Prit Buttar (P)2024 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Europe Germany Russia Red Army Siege War Soviet Union

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All stars
Most relevant
well researched,wide ranging story incorporating interesting linked facts of eastern front warfare and tactics

interesting history

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While the writing is Prit Buttar's usual high standard the reading is very poor. The rhythm and phrasing of the reader makes it clear that many of the more specialised terms were unfamiliar to him, which I can forgive up to a point. At times it felt like he was seeing the text for the first time during the recording giving rise to odd pauses mid sentence which made it difficult to follow.

The text deserved better!

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