Without Lend-Lease it is my belief that the Soviet Union would not have the necessary logistical infrastructure in place to repel the Germans. In short, it proved instrumental in their eventual victory. Large scale operations such as the counter-attack at Moscow, Stalingrad, Kursk and Operation Bagration to name some would have been impossible to mount otherwise.
I have mixed feelings about all this, I think it was right to send aid to Russia but never once did I ever see any picture or newsreel shot of that equipment on a battlefield. I can't but help but wonder if it was all melted down and used to produce Russian weapons
Well they should have made a more serious effort to capture Arkhangelsk and Murmansk. There was a joint German-Finnish venture called Operation Silver Fox that was designed to capture Murmansk and the Karelian railway line but it was beaten back by the Soviets. Had the Germans been aware of just how vital the supplies coming through both ports were I think it's a certainty that they would have devoted far more resources to capturing both cities. But then hindsight is a wonderful thing.If b) perhaps the most sensible policy should have been to concentrate the Blitzkrieg or bombing in the North, not to the oilfields or main cities.
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.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
We use essential cookies to make this site work, and optional cookies to enhance your experience.