Russia: Leningrad (St. Petersburg) and Stalingrad (Volgograd)

The development of St. Petersburg and Volgograd followed contrasting pathways. St. Petersburg developed under the direction of Peter-the-Great with plans produced by western European architects and gardeners. In contrast, Volgograd evolved from a remote fortress without urban parks or tree-lined boulevards. Both cities were attacked by German forces and put under siege for many months during WWII. Aerial bombing and artillery bombardment reduced portions of both cities to ruins. Plans for the reconstruction of both cities were developed during the war. In St. Petersburg, the plans called for the reconstruction of housing and infrastructure with no plans for new parks and new tree-lined boulevards. An initial plan for the reconstruction of Volgograd called for rebuilding the city at a new site. Stalin vetoed this plan and required rebuilding the city on its original site. Subsequent plans for Volgograd included new parks and tree-lined boulevards. In St. Petersburg, the faculty of the Forestry University organized students to create a tree nursery and replant portions of the city, before the city government initiated postwar tree planting programs. In Volgograd, German prisoners of war cleared rubble from streets and planted trees on new boulevards and in the new parks.