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The Wounds of War During the Siege of Leningrad (late 1941 - January 1944) the Winter Palace suffered from artillery bombardments and air-raids. "Thirty shells fired from long-range guns and two aerial bombs hit the museum buildings, causing considerable damage. Dozens of shells and bombs exploded in the immediate vicinity, showering shrapnel onto the facades and roofs, and through the windows onto the interior walls and ceilings of the exhibition rooms as well. More than 20,000 square metres of glass was broken from the windows and skylights. The heating system and water supply were put out of operation completely," wrote Alexander Sivkov, Chief Architect of the Hermitage. The last shell exploded in the Armorial Hall of the Winter Palace on 2 January 1944. Repair and restoration work began after the lifting of the siege, almost a year before the end of the war in May 1945. |
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