In the heart of Saint Petersburg, on Avangardnaya Street, stands a silent testament to courage. The Место проведения операции Подкоп Plaque commemorates a daring operation during the Siege of Leningrad. This plaque marks school number 2, a seemingly ordinary building that played an extraordinary role in the war. During the bleak days of 1942-1943, this school became a hidden hub for a covert operation codenamed “Podkop,” or “tunnel.” The goal was to establish a vital communication line under the noses of the enemy. The operation was shrouded in secrecy. The tunnel, approximately 220 meters long, stretched from the school towards the front lines near the Dudergofka River. Imagine the sappers, working tirelessly in the cramped, dark tunnel, the constant threat of discovery hanging over them. Three groups of sappers, working in shifts, dug around the clock, removing over three tons of earth. Two “wells,” 8 and 12 meters deep, were dug under the school to facilitate the operation and conceal the excavated earth. The tunnel itself was reinforced with logs and planks. The risk was immense. Discovery would mean certain death. Yet, these brave men and women persevered, driven by the hope of restoring communication with the besieged city. The Место проведения операции Подкоп Plaque is a powerful symbol of resilience. It serves as a poignant reminder of the extraordinary lengths to which ordinary citizens went to during the Siege of Leningrad. They risked everything for their city, their comrades, and their freedom. Their bravery echoes through time, inspiring generations to come.
М. К. Прудников
Born into a peasant family in 1913, Mikhail Prudnikov’s journey began in a small village nestled within the Tomsk Governorate.