The Neglected Campaign: The Italian Navy Contribution to the Siege of Leningrad

Abstract

German and Finnish forces encircled Leningrad in the fall of 1941, but were unable to complete the siege. A passage across Lake Ladoga, through which the Soviets sustained the defence of the city, remained open. To enforce the siege, the German Maritime Warfare Command ordered that light naval forces be transferred to Lake Ladoga. However, the Germans did not have those boats at their disposal and asked the Italians to provide them. Based on a critique of archival sources, this article analyses this largely neglected aspect of the Leningrad campaign and argues that, although the performance of the Regia Marina was excellent, its activity was not decisive in breaking Soviet resistance and forcing the fall of Leningrad. Even though circumstances prevented the Regia Marina from making the impact that its planners had wanted – a naval guerrilla force on Lake Ladoga could never have achieved a tight blockade of Leningrad – the campaign on Lake Ladoga offers an important and enlightening example of Axis wartime collaboration.