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Originally Posted by perseus Actually it seems the main supply route wasn't through the Arctic so perhaps it wasn't that critical after all.
Delivery was via the Arctic Convoys, the Persian Corridor, and the Pacific Route. The Pacific Route was used for about half of Lend-Lease aid: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lend_Lease
On the other hand perhaps the latter 2 routes were only opened up late in the war by which time the result was a foregone conclusion |
Only about 25% of Lend Lease came through the northern Arctic ports but even that loss may have been critical as the arctic convoys were the certainly the closest supply centres to Moscow and Leningrad. The other point of note is that by seizing Murmansk the Germans would also have controlled the vital Karelian railway line, which would give them the ability to control supplies throughout the whole region.. Finally, the Finns did not fully commit themselves to the attack on Murmansk, making its success that less likely.