Unexploded German aerial bomb guarded by Soviet civil defense on a street in besieged Leningrad, 1942.
This photograph documents an unexploded German aerial bomb lying in the middle of a street in besieged Leningrad in 1942. Dropped during a Luftwaffe bombing raid, the bomb failed to detonate, leaving behind a hidden danger that could claim lives at any moment. During the blockade, unexploded bombs became a grim part of everyday life alongside shelling, hunger, and relentless air attacks.
The bomb is surrounded by a temporary warning barrier carrying handwritten notices that read: “Slow speed! Danger! Unexploded bomb.” Such improvised barriers appeared throughout the city whenever unexploded ordnance was discovered. Despite chronic shortages of materials and manpower, traffic had to be redirected and dangerous areas secured until bomb-disposal teams could arrive.
Nearby, Soviet civil defense personnel stand guard to prevent civilians and vehicles from approaching the bomb. These men and women performed hazardous duties throughout the siege, responding to air raids, extinguishing fires, clearing rubble, and protecting unexploded bombs and shells before sappers rendered them safe.
Throughout the Siege of Leningrad (1941–1944), thousands of bombs and artillery shells struck the city. Many failed to explode immediately, turning streets, courtyards, and tram routes into deadly hazards. The photograph captures a quieter but no less dangerous side of the blockade, where even an apparently peaceful street could conceal a lethal threat.
Taken by renowned Soviet photographer Boris Kudoyarov, the image is a powerful reminder that for Leningrad's residents, survival depended not only on enduring hunger and bombardment but also on living among unexploded weapons scattered across their city.
Technical Photo Data:
📍 Location: Leningrad, USSR
📅 Date: 1942
📝 Subject: Unexploded German aerial bomb guarded by Soviet civil defense personnel during the Siege of Leningrad
📷 Photographer: Boris Kudoyarov
📚 Source: photoarchive.spb.ru
- Siege of Leningrad
- Luftwaffe bombing raids
- Soviet civil defense
- Unexploded aerial bombs WWII
- Home front wartime defense