Lend-lease is a program of support to allies. But how important was it? “Suppose my neighbor’s house catches fire. I need to lend him my garden hose before my house catches fire too” – President Roosevelt used to say . Delivery was via the Arctic Convoys, the Persian Corridor, and the Pacific Route. The Arctic route was the shortest but the most dangerous. Nazis bombed Murmansk and Arkhangelsk, their U-boats patrolled the sea . Delivering the aid through the North was itself a feat. Convoy PQ-17 suffered the most damage from the Nazis. Lend-lease aid amounted to 10% of USSR production. But these were very crucial supplies:
- Half of the aircraft aluminum
- Two thirds of cars
- Four fifth of canned products
Soviet ace Pokrushkin piloted American-made jet .
Could the USSR have won without the lend-lease? It could but with major difficulties. All the major aid was provided already after the turning point in the war. Not all the aid was free. But the US didn’t push with the payback. Russia returned the debt in 2006.

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The clips have been created by the interregional public organization of large families "The Big Family" with the support of the Presidential Grants Fund. The information partner of the project is the Orthodox magazine "Foma" / foma.ru

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