Dmitri Shostakovich wrote his famous 7th Symphony mostly during the Siege of Leningrad by the Germans during World War II. For 900 days, the Nazis attempted first by force to seize the historic Russian city of Leningrad (now restored to its original name St. Petersburg). When they were unable to break the spirit of the Soviet army they established a blockade hoping to starve them into defeat.

With no food, no heat in brutal winter weather and no medical supplies the citizens of Leningrad suffered the greatest disaster to befall any city in the world. As they starved and froze to death, the Germans bombed them on a daily basis. Over 1,500,000 Russians died during the siege.

In the middle of this mayhem Shostakovich wrote the 7th Symphony for the people of Leningrad. On August 9, 1942, as bombs fell nearby, a depleted orchestra played to a full concert hall of starving people. The concert was aired over loudspeakers, many of them directed toward German lines, as an act of culture resistance to the blockade. T

he Hitler-led Germans, like the Napoleon-led French years before, eventually lost the battle. Not to the Soviets/Russians. But to the season of winter.

The blockade ended 67 years ago this week. Enjoy this amazing video