How did the staff of the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts perform a real feat during World War II, when under the Siege of Leningrad they managed to preserve unique manuscripts?

A real feat during World War II was performed by the staff of the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg.

Although the city was blocked from all sides and was under endless shelling and bombing, although the people were dying of hunger and cold, the staff of the Institute continued its work on the study, cataloging and preservation of ancient manuscripts. 

The staff of the library at the Institute, where priceless handwritten treasures were kept, showed great courage. During the first winter of the blockade, in semi-demolished buildings, they carefully, reverently and painstakingly collected books of deceased or evacuated employees, not allowing this legacy to get lost. 

In July 1942, it was decided to evacuate the Institute of Oriental Studies to Tashkent. But a group was left in Leningrad to protect the Institute's property, including manuscript collections and the library. These people tirelessly kept watch, preserving this treasure. 

In August 1942, the Tashkent group of the Institute of the Academy of Sciences began its work. The group consisted of 20 employees of the Institute gathered from other evacuation points. By late 1942, 36 employees of the Institute were already working in Tashkent. Some of them joined the work on the History of Uzbekistan. 

For even more amazing historical facts about the manuscript heritage of the East, see the book-album Collection of the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts, Russian Academy of Sciences (St. Petersburg, Russia), from the Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan in the World Collections series.

The general sponsor of the project "Cultural legacy of Uzbekistan in the world collections" is the oilfield services company Eriell Group.