A City at War: Moscow in 1941

Where soldiers once manned heavy artillery in front of the Red Army Theater on Ploshchad Kommuny, cars now speed past the since-renamed Russian Army Theater on Suvorov Square.

This photo essay shows sites in Moscow both as we know them today, and as they looked in 1941 after Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union.

Where soldiers once manned heavy artillery in front of the Red Army Theater on Ploshchad Kommuny, cars now speed past the since-renamed Russian Army Theater on Suvorov Square.

An ad for the musical ?€?Chicago?€™ now hangs where an anti-aircraft balloon once hovered over Pushkin Square.

An ad for the musical 'Chicago' now hangs where an anti-aircraft balloon once hovered over Pushkin Square.

The Moscow Manezh was gutted in a fire in 2004, but it has since been restored and looks today much as it did 73 years ago.

The Moscow Manezh was gutted in a fire in 2004, but it has since been restored and looks today much as it did 73 years ago.

A Soviet anti-aircraft balloon once parked in Ploshchad Revolyutsii, a spot which today offers an unobstructed view of the Bolshoi Theater.

A Soviet anti-aircraft balloon once parked in Ploshchad Revolyutsii, a spot which today offers an unobstructed view of the Bolshoi Theater.

While heavy traffic may be nothing new to the roads along Pushkin Square, the jams of yesteryear were more glamorous.

While heavy traffic may be nothing new to the roads along Pushkin Square, the jams of yesteryear were more glamorous.

The buildings along Triumfalnaya Ploshchad have remained in tact, though soldiers once dominated the road now ruled by cars.

The buildings along Triumfalnaya Ploshchad have remained in tact, though soldiers once dominated the road now ruled by cars.

Soldiers standing by shrouding a cannon in front of Triumfalnaya Ploshchad's Tchaikovsky Concert Hall and the Theater of Satire.

Triumfalnaya Ploshchad's Tchaikovsky Concert Hall and the Theater of Satire.

The Moscow Planetarium, which opened its doors in 1929, survived the war and continues to welcome space fans to this day.

The Moscow Planetarium, which opened its doors in 1929, survived the war and continues to welcome space fans to this day.

Those who chose to remain in the city took shelter in metro stations such as Mayakovskaya.

Those who chose to remain in the city took shelter in metro stations such as Mayakovskaya.

Soldiers marched to war along Tverskoy Bulvar, against a backdrop that has remained largely unchanged over the past 73 years.

Soldiers marched to war along Tverskoy Bulvar, against a backdrop that has remained largely unchanged over the past 73 years.

Modern office buildings create a stark contrast with the classic architecture that once festooned Moscow's Zubovsky Bulvar.

Modern office buildings create a stark contrast with the classic architecture that once festooned Moscow's Zubovsky Bulvar.