Another day in Russia, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who regularly distributes press releases for domestic and foreign consumption.
The president of Russia has famously set an impressive example of historical knowledge, and set to keep generational knowledge of Russian history before the people and beyond and at the top of his government.
I was impressed to see several items issued yesterday, this one enclosed, and also another that paid respects to the bombing of Japan by the US.
Anyway, a ninth day in August, day in history... LENINGRAD.
Rita
~~~
~~~
🗓 On August 9, 1944, the Battle of Leningrad ended in victory for the Red Army.
The battle lasted 1’127 days, making it the longest of the Great Patriotic War. For more than three years, Soviet soldiers and officers fought fierce battles in the northwestern theatre, while the people in Leningrad bravely endured the horrors of the siege.
Capturing Leningrad was a major military and political objective for the Nazi leadership. Hitler planned to use Leningrad as a springboard to strike at the rear of the Soviet soldiers and officers defending Moscow. Instead of taking the city in three weeks, as Hitler expected, the Nazi troops spent more than three years at its approaches.
While the Red Army fiercely engaged the enemy in battle, the city’s residents selflessly laboured and steadfastly endured the siege. Leningrad was completely encircled by enemy forces on September 8, 1941. More than 2.8 million people, including 400’000 children, found themselves in the enemy grip, facing harsh winters, famine and continuous bombing.
Favourable conditions finally developed in January 1943, when the main forces of the Wehrmacht were sent to Stalingrad. During Operation “Iskra” (Spark), the troops of the Leningrad and Volkhov fronts broke through the German defences, restoring the land connection of the city with the mainland.
The final stage of the Battle of Leningrad was the Vyborg–Petrozavodsk Offensive, when the Red Army broke through strong defenses and defeated German and Finnish forces on the Karelian Isthmus and in Southern Karelia.
Casualties among both the defenders and the civilian population of Leningrad due to the fighting and the siege totaled between 1.5 and 2 million.
Over 350’000 soldiers and officers of the Leningrad Front were decorated with orders and medals. The medal For the Defence of Leningrad was conferred on 1.5 million people. In 1965, Leningrad was among the first to receive the title Hero City as a tribute to the heroism and courage shown by its residents during the siege.
🎖 In April 2025, President of Russia Vladimir Putin signed a federal law designating this date as a Day of Military Glory in our country.
Bob, I should say that after I posted the above RMFA publication, from Telegram, that your *Indisputable* new tag line caught my eye, due to the word “Bolshvik” I’m sure.
I wouldn’t have you thinking my post was an answer to your tag line, but rather my notice of the importance placed on education, the pride & patriotism, driven apparently by Putin for the express purpose of Russia’s central government to distribute.
PS: I have reason to understand some of my comments occasionally cause grave risk to world peace, for some adults, so excuse of I am my over-thinking my need to couch words, very slowly and carefully and to clarify.
~~~
BTW, your tag also prompted me to ask myself what I know about the Bolshviks!
I was wryly concerned with who to source that wasn’t Wikipedia or AI, seeking their definition and history. I landed on Britannica, avoided a link to a Lenin link.
I found an un-emotional account of dates and actions of the the rising stirrings, as early as 1903!
I didn’t sense any bias, but for noting the Bolshviks struggle with maintaining their strict ranks, by the initial objections from the outsiders, but who were a “Minority” of government officials left, who were also eventually supressed entirely.
I learned interesting details, never quite realized, and beyond what Hollywood movies could add.
Can I enclose it here?
It proves your tagline, which I knew already was indisputable.
Thanks for your attention to this matter. 😄
Rita
~~~
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Bolshevik