Geography of the USSR: The Ass of the World.

[TabsTabs1964]

Goethe (1749-1832) was inspired by von Berlichingen's autobiography to write his well-known tragedy Götz von Berlichingen (released in 1773), but distancing himself from reality and portraying him as the classic man of the Sturm und Drang: guided by emotions and instinct and eager for action.


J.W. Goethe (1749.1832)

It´s in Act III of this play that the main character says the famous phrase "Er aber, sag's ihm, er kann mich im Arsche lecken!" (But tell him he can lick my ass) in response to the Bishop of Bamberg who was demanding his surrender.
This is the first recorded reference to a phrase in common use today: "Leck mich am Arsch!" ("lick my ass" or "kiss my ass" or even "**** you"), a phrase euphemistically called the Götz phrase.


W.A. Mozart (1756 – 1791)

On the basis of this phrase, included in Goethe's drama, Mozart (1756-1791) wrote two canons in 1782, with the names "Leck mich im Arsch" and "Leck mir den Arsch fein recht schön sauber".


So, in short, the message on both sides of the sign warned of the following:

Here begins the ass of the world.
If you pass from here, remember Götz von Berlichingen.

Although in a better translation, it would be:

Here begins the ass of the world.
As you pass from here, **** off!

German humor I guess.

[TabsTabs1964]

The muddy battlefield of the Volkhov´s Pocket is, in addition to a large cemetery, an inexhaustible source of relics of war. Below I will upload some images whose credits are visible at the bottom of them.

[TabsTabs1964]

If we think that from the summer of 1941 until the Soviet offensive of early 1944, the entire territory to the south and east of Leningrad (or Petersburg, as the occupants called it) was in the hands of the Germans and seeing the multiple road signs, I think we can think that it was so.

The next few days we will see those roads and their signs.

Although today we will start with this wooden indicator in Chudovo.
The distance to petersburg is 113 km. passing through Lyuban, 33 km. away.
But the most curious thing is the pictogram that clearly indicates how close we are to the Ass of the World

[AZPhil]

Excellent read and exquisitely presented.
I loved reading every page and seeing the photgraphs provided. They added a wonderful visual display to the story.
Thank You Santi!!!

SEmper Fi
Phil

[reneblacky]

Me too! Thanks Santi Mate!

[Rescue190]

Very interesting and detailed history with great photos. Very impressive effort put forth to compose. Thank you.
John

[Aldo]

Thank you Santi! What an excellent thread. Al

[TabsTabs1964]

Leningrad was connected to the rest of the USSR by three main roads, which are the same roads that now connect the city with Russia and neighboring Baltic countries.

To the west, with the Estonian capital on the Tallinn - Narva - Leningrad highway (green on the map)

To the southwest, with the capital of Latvia by the road Riga - Pskov (Pleskau, in German) – Leningrad (light blue on the map)

To the southeast, with the capital of the USSR by the Moscow - Leningrad highway, which we have seen so far in its final stretch Novgorod - Chudovo – Leningrad (purple color on the map)

There are many signs on these roads and many soldiers photographed or photographed themselves in front of them.

I have managed to identify and locate some of them on the map

[TabsTabs1964]

The Road Tallin – Narva – Leningrad



On this road I have identified two signs in two photographs. On the map I indicate them with the numbers (1) and (2)

Sign (1)
Distance to Leningrad 110 km.
Sign to the east of Kingisepp (47,000 inhabitants) indicates the route through Kutow (kuty) about 15 km from the indicator. It also indicates another population Now Domaschewa (Domashovo) at 10 km. but somewhat to the north of the main route taking a detour at the height of Gurlovo, four kilometers before Kuty. In addition, it informs the German soldiers of the distance to Gera, in the Homeland.




Sign (2)
Distance to Leningrad 55 km.
Signboard in Kempolovo. In addition, it informs the soldiers of the distances to Berlin, Düsseldorf and Munich.

[Pauls1970]

Amazing thread Santi, thank you for your hard work in putting this together.
Regards
Paul