August of 1941 the German army had reached Leningrad’s’ Southern outskirts, With Sliselburg (Petrokrepostjas) occupation on 8th of September started the city encirclement that took a long 16 months.
In 1937, Stalin's Leningrad had an area that was advertised as “Leningrad’s rough area” was 30,000 square km with 5 million inhabitants. Roughly, the border west was Narvas river, Lake Peipusa and Volchovas River and North , Lake Ladoga and Finland Sea Bay. By Pleskava they joined with the Stalin line, that consisted of land fortified tank graves and barbed wire barriers. After Estonia’s’ occupation in 1940, this great area was joined with the Estonian Islands group. 300 km west from Leningrad was the Baltic Port (Paldiski) built for Leningrad's defense. This huge defense was encircled by 5 armies with about 600,000 men and 3,000 aircraft.
After Petrokrepostjas occupation, the German Army had shut off Leningrad's land traffic with the outside world and the Russians held only the waterways by Lake Ladogas. The Finland's Army was found North at Karelijas narrows only 30 km from Leningrad and Lake Ladogas Eastern shore at Sviru. Here between Finland's and German Army left in the Russians hands only not fully 100 km wide belt, that adjoined Lake Ladogas. Through this opening from the lake the Russians at night furnished the encircled city with food and war materials. During the winter the lakes ice was thick enough for a heavy automobile road, and also a railroad.
During the spring of 1942 Leningrad's front South sector with the German units operated Pol. General. Jekelns group, which included many soldiers from other countries: Norwegians, Hollanders, Belgians, and Estonians. General Jekeln was the highest SS and police commander in Ostlande and also in charge of the Latvian Police Battalion . He had earlier promised those that were untrained would not be on the front lines however 5 Latvian battalions helped in Leningrad's Front sector.
28th of December 1941 the second Latvian battalion(17th Vidzemes Battalion) left Latvian territory for White Russia but the third (21st Liepajas Battalion ) on 30th of March 1942 was the first Latvian military group, that was truly on the Eastern fronts first lines at Leningrad. Until the Latvian Legions founding front battles also 19th Latgale , 24th Talsu Battalion ,16th Zemgales and 26th Tukum Battalion participated on Leningrad's battles.(See map)