Defending Leningrad (1941–1944)

The article is devoted to the analysis of the activities of the NKVD extermination battalions of the Leningrad Region in the battle for Leningrad in the period from 1941 to 1944. On the basis of archival documents and materials of the newspaper “Narkomvnudelets†, the organizational activity of state and military authorities and socio-political organizations is considered, aimed at mobilizing the personnel and population of the city and region to defeat the German fascist troops, increasing the effectiveness of their combat and political training, education in the spirit of patriotism and hatred of the enemy. It shows the courage and heroism of the Soviet people — the defenders of the city on the Neva. The paper also presents an analysis of the violations that occur by the command personnel in the service activities and education of the personnel in the units and subunits and the measures taken by the management bodies to eliminate them. The author comes to the conclusion that servicemen, residents of Leningrad and the region, the entire population of the country acted as a single whole in selfless struggle against the fascist invaders, made an immortal feat in the years of the past war, which will forever remain in the memory of all mankind.