If the Soviet Union surrendered to Hitler, Germany would control almost the entire European continent and it would be extremely difficult for the Anglo-Saxon Allies to defeat it.
This was the thinking of American President Franklin Roosevelt who was also the mastermind behind the delivery of thousands of aircraft, tanks, cannons, cars and millions of tons of other materials, food and supplies from the USA to the USSR during of World War II.
The Yankees are coming
American traditions in the USSR can be divided into two phases. The first began with the German attack on the Soviet Union and ended on September 30, 1942.
The material granted was paid for with gold and raw materials, in the first phase. In the next phase the material was stretched and transported out of the USA. This phase was completed on September 20, 1945. The material was transported through the Arctic ocean, the Pacific ocean and through the so-called Persian road.
In total the Americans gave the Soviets:11,400 aircraft, 7,000 tanks, 6,303 other armored vehicles, 427,284 trucks and jeeps, 35,170 motorcycles, 2,328 other general purpose vehicles, 2,670,371 tons of petroleum products – including 57.8% of of aviation fuel used by the Red Air Force.
Also provided were 4,478,116 tons of food, 1,191 locomotives, 66 diesel engines, 10,920 railway, wagons and 120 armored and equipped wagons. Also, the ammunition that was delivered corresponds to 53% of the stocks.
Even an entire tire factory was transferred to the USSR. The total value of the delivered amounts to 11 billion dollars of the time.
The British subscription
But Britain also strengthened the USSR almost immediately after the German invasion. In total Britain delivered to the Soviets over 7,000 aircraft, 27 small ships, 5,218 tanks, over 5,000 anti-tank guns, 4,020 ambulances and other general purpose trucks.
Also provided were 323 mobile crew lorries, over 2,500 light armored Carriers, 1,721 motorcycles, 1,474 radars, 4,338 radios, 600 naval radars and sounding devices, aircraft engines worth £1.15 billion at the time , naval guns and a total of 4 million tons of supplies and war material, even 15 million pairs of boots.
The Soviets fought bravely and suffered massive bleeding from the Germans. This bleeding, however, is mainly due to the tragic mistakes of their leadership, especially in the initial stage of the war. But in no case did they defeat the Germans alone. The Western Allies supported them as much as possible.