“Road of Life”

One of the most pivotal occurrences in the history of the defense of Leningrad during World War II was the food crisis that occurred between 1941 and 1942. The event was precipitated by the imposition of a land blockade by German forces on the city and the seizure of vital transportation routes. The sole viable route for the delivery of supplies to Leningrad from the remainder of the country was via Lake Ladoga, a previously unused transportation corridor. The authorities were confronted with a significant challenge in the organisation of supplies during this period, given the inability to utilise water transportation during the winter months. A solution was devised in the form of a highway through Lake Ladoga, which came to be known as the “Road of Life”. However, alternative supply routes were proposed in the form of ice railway projects, the history of which is not well documented in the scientific literature. The successful construction of these highways could facilitate the resumption of communication between Leningrad and the rest of the Soviet Union, potentially enabling the lifting of the German blockade without the necessity for military intervention. This article presents an analysis of the various projects that were considered, the process by which they were evaluated by the relevant authorities, and the history of the construction of an ice bridge on stilts and a narrowgauge railway across Lake Ladoga during the winter months of 1942–1943.