On September 8, 1941, the ring of #Nazi troops closed around Leningrad. The blockade lasted terrible 872 days – until January 27, 1944, with the purpose of breaking the resistance of the city's defenders, to capture and to destroy it. According to the Fuhrer's plan, after the capture of Leningrad, this city, as well as #Moscow, "... should cease to exist." The enemy launched intensive artillery attacks and air bombardments at Leningrad.