The 60th Anniversary of the Museum of the Defense of Leningrad and the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of its First Director, L. Rakov
30 April 2004 - 30 December 2004

The State Memorial Museum of the Defense and Siege of Leningrad is 60 years old. An exhibition has opened in the museum telling about its history.

The Museum of the Siege of Leningrad is a museum that is unique in the world. It was formed during the Second World War and opened after the complete lifting of the siege on 30 April 1944. The history of its creation began still earlier, before the siege, with the showing of captured military equipment on the streets of the city. A permanent display was accommodated in Solyanoi Gorodok. Leningrad citizens themselves brought in exhibits to fill the 37 huge rooms.

In March 1953 the museum was liquidated in connection with proceedings against what was called "the Leningrad Affair". The exhibits were distributed out to other institutions. When the museum was re-opened in 1989 it did not have a single exhibit item of its own. Leningraders re-created the museum. Over the period of 15 years they brought here nearly 70,000 unique family documents and memorabilia.

The State Hermitage has loaned to the exhibition about 350 items, mostly its collection of tin soldiers.