>>216325074
nigger, the starvation was mostly caused by soviet officials hoarding all the food. The city wasn't even encircled as the germans lost the battle of tikhvin. The road of life wasn't some extremely exposed small muddy trail that barely got any supplies in. It was a major logistical route, with train ferries and all.
>>216325153
actually the germans performance on the battle field was sub-par according to finnish reports from the time. They also failed to take Murmansk in the north. In addition the plan was always to take the city once it was actually cut off. The germans were supposed to win the battle of tikhvin, link up with finnish forces at Svir. And then the city could've been assaulted and taken, also freeing up finnish offensive capability. Finland couldn't even continue our offensive operations in east karelia as planned because our troops were stuck holding the line at Leningrad.