Cemetery of the German 227th Infantry Division, Battle of Leningrad, 1942

September 25, 2025 - Reading time: 4 minutes

Cemetery of German soldiers from the 227th Infantry Division, fallen in the Battle of Leningrad during the Sinyavino offensive, autumn 1942.

WWII photo of the cemetery of German soldiers from the 227th Infantry Division, Battle of Leningrad, autumn 1942, with sign reading “Cemetery of Heroes.”

This World War II photograph shows the cemetery of German soldiers from the 227th Infantry Division, part of Army Group North, who were killed during the Battle of Leningrad in 1942. Above the entrance gate, a German inscription reads: “Cemetery of Heroes of the 227th Infantry Division.”

The 227th Infantry Division in the Siege of Leningrad

The 227th Division played a key role in the German encirclement of Leningrad, participating in heavy defensive and offensive actions throughout 1942. Positioned southeast of the city near Sinyavino, the division endured fierce combat as Soviet forces attempted repeated offensives to break the blockade.

The Sinyavino Offensive, Autumn 1942

The graves most likely belong to soldiers killed during the Sinyavino offensive of September–October 1942, when the Red Army launched a major effort to lift the siege. Although the Soviets suffered heavy losses and failed to break through, German divisions like the 227th also paid a high price in manpower, as reflected by the rows of crosses in this cemetery.

Operation Iskra and Heavy Losses

On January 18, 1943, during Operation Iskra, Soviet forces finally broke through south of Lake Ladoga, partially lifting the blockade. In this battle, the 227th Infantry Division was encircled and nearly destroyed. Some units managed to break out, but the casualties were severe, further depleting the division already weakened in 1942.

This cemetery thus symbolizes both the determination of the Red Army and the heavy cost paid by the German invaders during one of the most brutal campaigns of the Eastern Front.

Technical photo data:
📍 Location: Leningrad region, USSR
📅 Date: October 1942
📝 Event: Battle of Leningrad, graves of the 227th Infantry Division, Sinyavino sector
📷 Author: Unknown German military photographer