On the "75 Years Since the End of the Siege of Leningrad" Photo Exhibition at the National Library of South Africa

On 12 February 2019 the National Library of South Africa (NLSA) in Pretoria saw the opening ceremony of the photo exhibition organized by the Embassy of the Russian Federation in South Africa to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Lifting of the Siege of Leningrad. The exhibition includes archive photos from Leningrad of 1941-1944, of its citizens and defenders. Russian diplomats engaged with the visitors of the Library and offered guided tours, telling the audience of the hardships that the Leningradians had to face during the war and of unparalleled historical significance of lifting of the siege for modern Russia. The music of the WWII, including the masterpieces composed within the besieged Leningrad (such as Dmitry Shostakovich's "Symphony #7"), served as accompaniment.  

   The exhibition received positive feedback: on its first day alone, it was visited by dozens of South African students, journalists as well as representatives of diplomatic corps. Guests of the Opening discussed the exhibits with great interest, asked various questions about Russia's history and Leningrad in particular, shared their impressions of this event.

The exhibition will remain at the NLSA until 25 February 2019.