German and Finnish soldiers began a nearly 900-day siege and blockade of Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), which was the second-biggest Soviet city and a major center of industry. After supplies, water, electricity and transportation were cut off, 1.3 million people were evacuated. When the Red Army finally began to break through the blockade, the siege ended and the city was freed, but approximately 800,000 civilians still died, most from hunger.

Following Germany's Operation Barbarossa, an invasion of the Soviet Union, the Axis launched a campaign to capture the capital city of Moscow before winter set in. In preparation, the Soviets fortified the city and brought in reinforcements. After a series of gains and losses on both sides during the harsh weather, the Germans are eventually beaten back and forced to retreat.