Hungry Russian soldiers of the 20th Armored Brigade gather around the field kitchen.

Russian field kitchen

Soviet anti-aircraft gun emplacements fire on raiders, Leningrad, winter, 1941/'42.

The large building in the background is St Isaac's Cathedral, built in the first half of the 19th century in a Neo-Classical/"Empire" style approved by Tsar Alexander I.  In contrast with its exterior, which would not be out of place in Paris, Brussels or Berlin, the interior is a wonder of gilded Russian Orthodox art and gilding, rendered slightly odd by the Palladian elevations and by the ground plan, which is a more pronounced cruciform than is typical of Orthodox churches.  

During the war, the exterior gilding of the cathedral (notably the dome) were painted over with drab paint so as not to attract the attention of enemy bombers or gunners.  Also, an artillery spotting post was located on top of the dome.  Whatever about the artillery spotting, the drab paint job seems to have been effective; St Isaac's survived the war more or less intact.  Its exterior embellishments have since been restored.  Today - as it was from the overthrow of Tsarism - St Isaac's Cathedral functions mainly as a museum and (latterly) as a tourist attraction.  I understand that religious services are held their on high holidays of the Orthodox Church.  Best regards, JR.

Leningrad under siege.

Soviet soldiers with a 57 mm anti-tank gun Model 1941 (ZIS-2) towed by a Studebaker truck in a town near the outskirts of Berlin.
 
