Germans near Leningrad (1942-1943)

On the front line near Leningrad, the Germans are preparing for Christmas: soldiers are sawing down a spruce tree.

A horse pulls a felled spruce through the forest.

Soldiers are casting candles in empty shell casings.

In a dugout, they listen to records on a gramophone.

Soldiers are making children's toys.

Christmas parcels and letters to Germany are being emptied from a sack, and the envelopes are being stamped.

Germans are carrying sacks of parcels out of the post office.

Mail is being loaded onto train cars.

The Germans run out of cover, uncover their guns, load them, and fire at Leningrad.