Under these circumstances , during much of the Siege of Leningrad ( 1941 -- 44 ) , Lake Ladoga provided the only access to the besieged city .
A section of the eastern shore remained in Soviet hands .
Under these circumstances , during much of the Siege of Leningrad ( 1941 -- 44 ) , Lake Ladoga provided the only access to the besieged city because a section of the eastern shore remained in Soviet hands .