Lend-Lease Categories

Raw Materials

Copper – In an unusual twist the Soviet Union was providing copper along many other raw materials to Germany per the German–Soviet Commercial Agreement (1940).  Most of the copper was destined for electric equipment used extensively in major weapon platforms, energy systems and telecommunications. Lend-Lease was 41.1% of the copper available to the Soviet Union in World War II. 

Aluminum – Aircraft required lightweight and strong metals for their performance characteristics and in the 1940s none was better than aluminum.  Soviet aluminum production dropped from 59.9 thousand metric tons in 1940 to 34.5 thousand metric tons the following year.  Not until 1943 would Soviet production levels recover to their prewar numbers.  In the meantime, the Soviets needed more than even their prewar levels provided. Lend-Lease was 51.5% of the aluminum available to the Soviet Union in World War II.

Tin – Tin was classified as a strategic material since tin-coated steel cans prevented food acids from corroding the steel.  Tin coated packaging was also used in medical supplies for the same reason. Supplied tin was 69.0% of the tin available to the Soviet Union in World War II.

Cobalt – Military grade steel required cobalt. The British and Germans wrangled over control of Turkish cobalt exports each threatening trade embargoes.  Cobalt was another raw material that Germany negotiated with the Soviet Union in the German–Soviet Commercial Agreement (1940). Western supplied cobalt was 58.0% of the cobalt available to the Soviet Union in World War II.

Transportation

Railway Equipment – Lend-Lease took on many forms some less glamorous than others but still significant. Railcars and railway rails aren’t often thought of by the general public when thinking about supporting a war ally. However, not having to produce 1,977 locomotives, 11,075 railway wagons, or 622,000 tons of railway rails allowed USSR’s internal industries to concentrate on other needed war production. Lend-Lease was 91.1% of the railway wagon and 36.1% of the railway rails available to the Soviet Union in World War II.

Vehicle tires – All major combatants in WWII were deficient in rubber and the Soviet Union was no exception. Germany in the 1930s began synthesizing rubber knowing they would not have ready access to the raw material.  Vehicle tires – Lend-Lease was 30.4% of the vehicle tires available to the Soviet Union in World War II.

Military Grade Materiel

Explosives – Explosives are used at prodigious rates almost always well beyond the largest forecasts.  The Eastern Front with the millions on each side engaging on fronts hundreds of miles long consumed materiel like no where else. Lend-Lease was 34.6% of the explosives available to the Soviet Union in World War II.

Aviation fuel – The Soviet Union out produced all European Axis nations in crude oil production. However, octane boosters and aviation fuels were in short supply and Lend-Lease filled that gap.  Prior to the US entry into the war the US was responsible for 63%* of the world’s oil production. Additionally, the US had extensive adjacent industries developing and producing petroleum, oil, and lubrication products. In all 2,700,000 tons of petroleum products were supplied through Lend-Lease. Lend-Lease was 35.5% of the aviation fuel available to the Soviet Union in World War II.

* Source: American Foreign Relations, https://www.americanforeignrelations.com/O-W/Oil-Oil-and-world-power.html

Food

Often overlooked is the effect of the German invasion in 1941-42 on the USSR’s breadbasket, Ukraine.  The USSR lost 40% of its state farms as well as farm animals, farm equipment, and labor. Per US Embassy and Consulates in Russia 4,500,000 tons of foodstuffs were transferred to the USSR via Lend-Lease. There are stories of Soviet troops throwing empty Lend-Lease food cans at German troops just to irritate them.

• Sugar – Lend-Lease was 39.8% of the sugar available to the Soviet Union in World War II.
• Canned meat – Lend-Lease was 82.8% of the copper available to the Soviet Union in World War II.
• Animal fats – Lend-Lease was 51.6% of the animal fats available to the Soviet Union in World War II.

Other

• Wool – Lend-Lease was 21.4% of the wool available to the Soviet Union in World War II.

Lend-Lease Deliveries Compared to USSR Internal Production Data

The above graph can be downloaded as an image.
To download the data shown below from which the graph was developed click on the icon below corresponding to you desired format. Note: to ensure all data is downloaded choose the ‘All’ selection in the Show Entries dropdown list. Otherwise only the data visible on the screen will download.

Source: Real History Online. “Lend-Lease WW2 – American Supply to the Allies.” https://www.realhistoryonline.com/articles/lendlease-ww2/, Data accessed on June 28, 2022

Other Lend-Lease and Production Data

Recipients of US Aircraft Production

WW2 Allies: US Lend-Lease to the USSR, 1941-1945

US Lend Lease Dollar Value by Recipient Nation

Tanks Produced by Nation 1940 to 1945

Allies Axis Major Weapons Groups – Production Summaries

This website, ww2data.com, has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third party internet websites referenced. Nor does ww2data.com guarantee that any content on such websites are accurate or will remain accurate.

Note 1: Availability does not equal number produced during the year. How to calculate: Number available on Jan1 of a given year = number available on Jan 1 of the preceding year + number received in the preceding year – number loss in the preceding year.  See either ‘Data” or ‘Transposed Data” downloads below for actual data.

Note 2: 1941 Availability numbers are as of the eve of the German invasion, June 22, 1941. All other availability numbers were as of January 1 of each of the following years.

Availability 1941-45

The Soviet Union produced and deployed many military aircraft, although availability varied depending on factors such as production capacity, losses in combat, and maintenance and repair efforts. Here are some Soviet military aircraft of the war:

1941

At the beginning of the war, the Soviet aircraft were often outdated or in need of repair. The German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941 led to significant losses of aircraft, with some estimates suggesting that the Soviet Union lost over 3,000 aircraft in the first month of the war. However, the Soviet Union was able to continue producing aircraft throughout the war, with production increasing significantly as the war progressed.

1942

In 1942, the Soviet Union was able to increase its production of military aircraft, with estimates suggesting that it produced around 20,000 aircraft during the year. However, losses in combat continued to be significant, particularly during the Battle of Stalingrad and the Battle of the Caucasus.

1943

By 1943, Soviet aircraft production of military aircraft increased significantly, with estimates suggesting that it produced around 35,000 aircraft during the year. This increase in production, combined with improved maintenance and repair efforts, led to a significant improvement in aircraft availability for Soviet forces.

1944-45

In the final years of the war, the Soviet Union continued to produce large numbers of military aircraft, with estimates suggesting that it produced around 40,000 aircraft in 1944 and over 43,000 in 1945. Despite significant losses in combat, particularly during the final battles for Berlin, the Soviet Union was able to maintain a high level of aircraft availability through the end of the war.

Ilyushin Il-2

The Ilyushin Il-2 was a Soviet ground attack aircraft that played a significant role in World War II. However, at the beginning of the war the Soviet Union had very few ground attack aircraft but that would change as the Ilyushin Il-2 became the most produced Soviet plane of the war. Here is some information on the Il-2 and its usage during the war:

Design

The Il-2 was designed as a heavily armored ground attack aircraft, with a crew of two and a single engine. The aircraft was heavily armed, with two 23mm cannons and two 7.62mm machine guns and could carry a variety of bombs and rockets.

Usage

The Il-2 was first deployed by the Soviet Union in 1941, and quickly proved to be highly effective in ground attack missions. The aircraft was heavily armored, which made it difficult for German anti-aircraft guns and fighter planes to shoot down. The Il-2 was used in a variety of roles, including attacking tanks, artillery positions, and troop concentrations. The aircraft was also used for reconnaissance and as a light bomber.

Production

The Soviet Union produced over 36,000 Il-2 aircraft during the war. The Il-2 was the most produced Soviet aircraft of the war. Like many other Soviet factories, the IL-2 factories moved east of the Ural Mountains to avoid being overran by the invading German armies. Startup issues at these transferred factories resulting in a famous Stalin telegram stating “You have let down our country and our Red Army. You have the nerve not to manufacture Il-2s until now. Our Red Army now needs Il-2 aircraft like the air it breathes, like the bread it eats. (This plant) now produces one Il-2 a day….It is a mockery of the Red Army….I ask you not to try the government’s patience, and demand that you manufacture more Il-2s. This is my final warning. Stalin.” (1)

(1) Stalin’s “Essential Aircraft:” Ilyushin Il-2 in WWII, September 26, 2016, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institute, https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/stalins-ilyushin-il-2-shturmovik, Accessed on March 17, 2023

Evolution

The Il-2 underwent several design changes during the war, with improvements made to the aircraft’s speed, maneuverability, and armament. Later versions of the Il-2, such as the Il-2M and Il-10, were faster and more maneuverable than earlier versions, and were also equipped with more powerful armament.

Impact

The Il-2 played a crucial role in supporting Soviet ground forces during the war, particularly during the early stages of the conflict when the Soviet Union was facing significant losses. The aircraft was highly effective in ground attack missions and was used extensively throughout the war. The Il-2 is credited with destroying thousands of German tanks and played a key role in the Soviet Union’s eventual victory over Germany.

The Ilyushin Il-2 was a highly effective ground attack aircraft that played a significant role in World War II. The aircraft’s heavy armor, powerful armament, and versatility made it a formidable weapon on the Eastern Front and contributed to the Soviet Union’s eventual victory over Germany.

Overall, while Soviet aircraft availability varied throughout the war, the Soviet Union was able to produce and deploy a significant number of aircraft, which played a crucial role in supporting Soviet ground forces and in achieving victory over Germany.

Soviet Aircraft Availability 1941-45 Chart Data

The above graph can be downloaded as an image.  

To download the data shown below from which the graph was developed click on the icon below corresponding to you desired format. Note: to ensure all data is downloaded choose the ‘All’ selection in the Show Entries dropdown list. Otherwise only the data visible on the screen will download.

Source: “Soviet Causalities and Combat Losses in the Twentieth Century”, Greenhill Books, London, Stackpole Books, Pennsylvania, 1997, Table 95 Section IV Aircraft (selected data), Pages 254-255, Edited by Colonel General G.F. Krivosheev

Soviet Aircraft Availability 1941-45 Data

Source: “Soviet Causalities and Combat Losses in the Twentieth Century”, Greenhill Books, London, Stackpole Books, Pennsylvania, 1997, Table 95 Section IV Aircraft, Pages 254-255, Edited by Colonel General G.F. Krivosheev

Soviet Aircraft Availability 1941-45 Transposed Data

Source: “Soviet Causalities and Combat Losses in the Twentieth Century”, Greenhill Books, London, Stackpole Books, Pennsylvania, 1997, Table 95 Section IV Aircraft, Pages 254-255, Edited by Colonel General G.F. Krivosheev

Other Soviet Availability Data Links

Soviet Light Arms Availability 1941-45

Soviet Armored Vehicles Availability 1941-45

Soviet Artillery Availability 1941-45

Soviet Naval Vessel Availability 1941-45

Soviet Motor Vehicle Availability 1941-45

Soviet Radio Sets Availability 1941-45

This website, ww2data.com, has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third party internet websites referenced.  Nor does ww2data.com guarantee that any content on such websites are accurate or will remain accurate.

Strong isolationist sentiment ran deep throughout the United States post World War I and grew during the 1930s.  The America First Committee, a leading isolationist organization, held rallies often featuring Charles Lindberg and were regular guests on national radio shows. Additionally, Congress enacted several Neutrality Acts during the 1930s barring or limiting arms trade with warring nations.  Even the rise of Hitler’s Nazism in Germany and Japan’s expansionism in the Pacific did little to quell the isolationists.

Against this backdrop Lend-Lease was not a foregone conclusion.  The Neutrality Act of 1935 strict bans were lessened in follow on acts. However, they were still an obstacle of providing support to potential future allies on a scale President Roosevelt thought necessary.  Isolationist sentiments started shifting with Germany’s Polish invasion, but it still took over a full year before more than 50% of Americans believed we should fight against the Axis powers. 

Enactment

The 77th US Congress on March 8, 1941, passed the Lend-Lease act (subtitled “An Act to Promote the Defense of the United States”) which President Roosevelt signed into law on March 11, 1941. The first beneficiary was Great Britain and her Commonwealth of nations. Lend-Lease was later extended to China in the spring of 1941 and to the Soviet Union in November 1941. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, fully ended isolation discussion in America. Lend-Lease allowed the United States to lend or lease war supplies to any nation deemed “vital to the defense of the United States.” 

Implementation

Complicating Lend-Lease was the need to further develop an undersized US Army.  The US Navy of 1940 could stand toe to toe with any nation. Conversely, the US Army ranked seventeenth, just after Romania, with 190,000 personnel worldwide.  On top of this the US Army’s equipment was either obsolete World War I leftovers or nonexistent. The strategy developed during American British Conversations and aligned with President Roosevelt’s policy was to aid nations already engaged with Axis powers first.

Lend-Lease exports in 1941 were mainly food and industrial goods destined for England. By 1943 a billion dollars per month of guns, tanks, planes, trucks, jeeps, gasoline, food, and more were being provided to allied nations. In the first six months of 1944 the dollar figure rose to 1.5 billion a month. By the end of the war about 15% of the US total war budget went to Lend-Lease.

US Lend-Lease Dollar Value by Recipient Nation Data

The above graph can be downloaded as an image.  

To download the data shown below from which the graph was developed click on the icon below corresponding to you desired format. Note: to ensure all data is downloaded choose the ‘All’ selection in the Show Entries dropdown list. Otherwise only the data visible on the screen will download.

Source: Real History Online. “Lend-Lease WW2 – American Supply to the Allies.” https://www.realhistoryonline.com/articles/lendlease-ww2/, Data accessed on June 28, 2022

Other Lend-Lease Data Links

Recipients of US Aircraft Production

Value of Materials Supplied by the US to its Allied Nations

WW2 Allies: US Lend-Lease to the USSR, 1941-1945

US Factory Deliveries of Military Airplanes by Recipient

This website, ww2data.com, has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third party internet websites referenced.  Nor does ww2data.com guarantee that any content on such websites are accurate or will remain accurate.

The 77th US Congress on March 8, 1941, passed the Lend-Lease act (subtitled “An Act to Promote the Defense of the United States”) which President Roosevelt signed into law on March 11, 1941. The first beneficiary was Great Britain and her Commonwealth of nations. Lend-Lease was later extended to China in the spring of 1941 and to the Soviet Union in November 1941. 

Over 17 million tons of Lend Lease equipment and material was shipped to the USSR during World War II of which ninety seven percent arrived safely.  Lend-Lease shipments used five major routes getting material to the USSR.  These shipments originated from both east and west coast US ports.

Routes

Lend-Lease shipments of 8,244,000 tons transited over the Soviet Far East route with 99% arriving safely. Japan maintained neutrality with the USSR during WW2 until August 1945. Even though Germany requested Japan to intervene in Lend-Lease shipments they did not.  Japan’s would not intervene if the ships were under Soviet flags with Soviet crews.  Additionally, those shipments could not include war materiel.  Therefore, non-war material consisting of mostly food, trucks, railcars, locomotives, etc. utilized this route.  Just over 47% of all Lend-Lease tonnage was shipped via this passageway.  Most of these shipments originated in Auburn, Washington or Lathrop, California destined for Vladivostok, Russia. Many of these Soviet flagged ships were Liberty Ships.

An additional Pacific Lend-Lease route Alaska-Siberia Air Route (ALSIB) used to transport combat aircraft and some goods to Siberia.  This route was far enough north that Japan could not intervene.  The ALSIB delivered more than 8,000 aircraft.  Aircraft were ferried by US pilots to Ladd Army Airfield in Fairbanks, Alaska where Soviet crews took over and completed the trip to Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia. 

The Persian Gulf route from the US east coast around the cape of southern Africa and north to the Persian Gulf ports was the longest sea going route but saw the second greatest tonnage of the five routes. Lend-Lease shipments of 4,160,000 tons transited over the Persian Gulf route with 99% arriving safely. Over 180,000 trucks were delivered via this route.

The Artic Route originated in many locations of the United States, Canada, Iceland, England, and Scotland.  Most were destined for either Murmansk or Archangel in Russia. Lend-Lease shipments of 3,964,000 tons transited over the Artic. Tanks, planes, raw materials, fuel, chemicals, food, and ammunition were the main cardo items via this route.  

The final route was the Black Sea route which was not utilized as much as the other sea going routes due to the gauntlet of the Atlantic and Mediterranean posed. Lend-Lease shipments of 681,000 tons transited over the Black Sea route.

Lend-Lease exports in 1941 were mainly food and industrial goods destined for England. By 1943 a billion dollars per month of guns, tanks, planes, trucks, jeeps, gasoline, food, and more were being provided to allied nations. In the first six months of 1944 the dollar figure rose to 1.5 billion a month. By the end of the war about 15% of the US total war budget went to Lend-Lease.

Lend-Lease Tons Shipped per Shipment Routes to USSR Data

The above graph can be downloaded as an image.  

To download the data shown below from which the graph was developed click on the icon below corresponding to you desired format. Note: to ensure all data is downloaded choose the ‘All’ selection in the Show Entries dropdown list. Otherwise only the data visible on the screen will download.

Source: Wikipedia. “Lend Lease” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lend-Lease, Data accessed on June 28, 2022

Other Lend-Lease Data Links

Recipients of US Aircraft Production

Value of Materials Supplied by the US to its Allied Nations

WW2 Allies: US Lend-Lease to the USSR, 1941-1945

US Factory Deliveries of Military Airplanes by Recipient

This website, ww2data.com, has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third party internet websites referenced.  Nor does ww2data.com guarantee that any content on such websites are accurate or will remain accurate.

Background

The 77th US Congress on March 8, 1941, passed the Lend-Lease act (subtitled “An Act to Promote the Defense of the United States”) which President Roosevelt signed into law on March 11, 1941. The first beneficiary was Great Britain and her Commonwealth of nations. Lend-Lease was later extended to China in the spring of 1941 and to the Soviet Union in November 1941. 

Per the US Embassy and Consulate in Russia Lend-Lease provide the USSR support in fighting what Stalin described to Roosevelt as the “enormous and difficult fight against the common enemy — bloodthirsty Hitlerism”.  Both the United States and the United Kingdom and her Commonwealth of nations provided direct Lend-Lease support to the USSR. In turn the Soviet Union via Reverse Lend-Lease provided raw materials and other goods totaling $6.8 billion.

Germany had access to production within occupied territories, but it did not match the scale of Lend-Lease.

Trucks

World War II is seen as the first truly mechanized war by many, however that was hardly the case between Germany and the Soviet Union.  Once away from a train depot approximately 80% of German logistics was horse drawn. About one in six German divisions were mechanized while the other five relied upon the foot soldier to march and the horse to pull. Even though the Soviet Union utilized more horses than Germany they utilized a far greater number of trucks, jeeps, and other motorized vehicles to transport men and materiel. Additionally, the food, materiel, and manpower Germany required to maintain their horses made these divisions less efficient than their enemy counterparts.

Prior to Germany’s invasion the Soviet Union had about 270,000 trucks in the military.  Soviet domestic truck production for military purposes were approximately 150,000 vehicles.  Via Lend-Lease over 430,000 trucks were obtained including:

• Over 200,000 Studebaker US6 U3, 2.5-ton, 6×6, Cargo Trucks,
• Almost 50,000 Willys MB, truck ¼-ton, 4×4, Command Reconnaissance aka Jeep
• Over 60,000 Chevrolet G-7107, 1½-ton, 4×4, with Cargo body includes Chevrolet G-7117, 1½-ton, 4×4, with BM-8-48 “Katiusha” rocket launcher

Aircraft

Soviet domestic aircraft production was firmly in place prior to the war and ramped up significantly during the war.  A total of 157,261 aircraft were produced by Soviet factories.  Due to the massive aircraft losses during Operation Barbarossa the Soviets requested additional quantities.  Via Lend-Lease over 21,000 units were delivered including:

• 4,719 Bell P-39 Airacobras fighters
• 3,414 Douglas A-20 Havocs medium bombers
• 2,397 Bell P-63 Kingcobras fighters
• 3,000+ Hurricane fighter aircraft
• 4,000+ other British aircraft
• Soviet Union requested B-17s and B-24s, but none were delivered

Tractors

The Soviet military lost many tractors for artillery and rocket launchers early in Operation Barbarossa.  Also, Soviets were lacking in tank recovery tractors even prior to Germany’s invasion.  Additionally, Soviet farms were ransacked by Germany including tractors and other farm machinery.  American and British supplied over 8,000 tractors via Lend-Lease.

Tanks

The Soviet Union produced 10s of thousands of tanks during World War II. Perhaps the most famous production site was the Stalingrad Tractor Factory which continued production through much of the Battle of Stalingrad. Like other weapon platforms the Soviet tanks were destroyed or captured in massive numbers during 1941-42, therefore the supply of over 12,000 tanks helped hold back the German onslaught. American and British tanks supplied included:

• 1,084 Matildas
• 1,380 Valentines from Canada
• 1,386 M3 Lees
• 4,102 M4 Shermans
• Other armored vehicles – 6,303

Rail Equipment

Lend-Lease took on many forms some less glamorous than others but still significant. Railcars and railway rails aren’t often thought of by the general public when thinking about supporting a war ally. However, not having to produce 1,977 locomotives, 11,075 railway wagons, or 622,000 tons of railway rails allowed USSR’s internal industries to concentrate on other needed war production. 

Other Lend-Lease Transfers

• Petrol products (tons) – 2,700,000
• Food (tons) – 4,500,000

WW2 Allies Lend-Lease to the USSR, 1941-1945 Data

WW2 Allies: US Lend-Lease to the USSR, 1941-1945

Sources: US Embassy and Consulate in Russia, “World War II Allies: U.S. Lend-Lease to the Soviet Union, 1941-1945”, https://ru.usembassy.gov/world-war-ii-allies-u-s-lend-lease-to-the-soviet-union-1941-1945/, and Wikipedia. “Lend Lease” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lend-Lease, Data accessed on June 28, 2022

To download the data shown above click on the icon above corresponding to you desired format. Note: to ensure all data is downloaded choose the ‘All’ selection in the Show Entries dropdown list. Otherwise only the data visible on the screen will download.

How to sort by multiple columns – First sort by one of the columns. Then press the “Shift” key on the keyboard and while holding the Shift key click on a second header.  This column now becomes the second sorting column.  This feature is useful when the first sorting column has values that repeat for multiple rows.

Other Lend-Lease Data Links

Recipients of US Aircraft Production

Value of Materials Supplied by the US to its Allied Nations

US Lend Lease Dollar Value by Recipient Nation

US Factory Deliveries of Military Airplanes by Recipient

This website, ww2data.com, has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third party internet websites referenced.  Nor does ww2data.com guarantee that any content on such websites are accurate or will remain accurate.

Background

The 77th US Congress on March 8, 1941, passed the Lend-Lease act (subtitled “An Act to Promote the Defense of the United States”) which President Roosevelt signed into law on March 11, 1941. The first beneficiary was Great Britain and her Commonwealth of nations. Lend-Lease was later extended to China in the spring of 1941 and to the Soviet Union in November 1941. 

The Soviet Union like all other Lend-Lease recipients developed their own list of needed items based upon gaps in their military and economic survival needs. Tanks, aircraft, and trucks got the headlines but items such as food, chemicals, aluminum, steel, explosives, aviation fuel, tooling, and rail equipment were essential to Soviet victory.

Rail Equipment

Lend-Lease took on many forms some less glamorous than others but still significant. Railcars and railway rails aren’t often thought of by the general public when thinking about supporting a war ally. However, not having to produce 1,977 locomotives, 11,075 railway wagons, or 622,000 tons of railway rails allowed USSR’s internal industries to concentrate on other needed war production. 

Food

Often overlooked is the effect of the German invasion in 1941-42 on the USSR’s breadbasket, Ukraine.  The USSR lost 40% of its state farms as well as farm animals, farm equipment, and labor. Per US Embassy and Consulates in Russia 4,500,000 tons of foodstuffs were transferred to the USSR via Lend-Lease. There are stories of Soviet troops throwing empty Lend-Lease food cans at German troops just to irritate them.

Petroleum Products

The Soviet Union out produced all European Axis nations in crude oil production. However, octane boosters and aviation fuels were in short supply and Lend-Lease filled that gap.  Prior to the US entry into the war the US was responsible for 63%*of the world’s oil production. Additionally, the US had extensive adjacent industries developing and producing petroleum, oil, and lubrication products. In all 2,700,000 tons of petroleum products were supplied through Lend-Lease.

* Source: American Foreign Relations, https://www.americanforeignrelations.com/O-W/Oil-Oil-and-world-power.html

Five Routes

Lend-Lease shipments of 8,244,000 tons transited over the Soviet Far East route with 99% arriving safely. Japan maintained neutrality with the USSR during World War II until August 1945. Even though Germany requested Japan to intervene in Lend-Lease shipments they did not.  Japan’s would not intervene if the ships were under Soviet flags with Soviet crews.  Additionally, those shipments could not include war materiel.  Therefore, non-war material consisting of mostly food, trucks, railcars, locomotives, etc. utilized this route.  Just over 47% of all Lend-Lease tonnage was shipped via this passageway.  Most of these shipments originated in Auburn, Washington or Lathrop, California destined for Vladivostok, Russia. Many of these Soviet flagged ships were Liberty Ships.

An additional Pacific Lend-Lease route Alaska-Siberia Air Route (ALSIB) used to transport combat aircraft and some goods to Siberia.  This route was far enough north that Japan could not intervene.  The ALSIB delivered more than 8,000 aircraft.  Aircraft were ferried by US pilots to Ladd Army Airfield in Fairbanks, Alaska where Soviet crews took over and completed the trip to Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia. 

The Persian Gulf route from the US east coast around the cape of southern Africa and north to the Persian Gulf ports was the longest sea going route but saw the second greatest tonnage of the five routes. Lend-Lease shipments of 4,160,000 tons transited over the Persian Gulf route with 99% arriving safely. Over 180,000 trucks were delivered via this route.

The Artic Route originated in many locations of the United States, Canada, Iceland, England, and Scotland.  Most were destined for either Murmansk or Archangel in Russia. Lend-Lease shipments of 3,964,000 tons transited over the Artic. Tanks, planes, raw materials, fuel, chemicals, food, and ammunition were the main cardo items via this route.  

The final route was the Black Sea route which was not utilized as much as the other sea going routes due to the gauntlet of the Atlantic and Mediterranean posed. Lend-Lease shipments of 681,000 tons transited over the Black Sea route.

Allied Shipments (tons) to the USSR Data

The above graph can be downloaded as an image.  

To download the data shown below from which the graph was developed click on the icon below corresponding to you desired format. Note: to ensure all data is downloaded choose the ‘All’ selection in the Show Entries dropdown list. Otherwise only the data visible on the screen will download.

Source: Wikipedia. “Lend Lease.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lend-Lease, Data accessed on June 28, 2022

Other Lend-Lease Data Links

Recipients of US Aircraft Production

Value of Materials Supplied by the US to its Allied Nations

WW2 Allies: US Lend-Lease to the USSR, 1941-1945

US Lend Lease Dollar Value by Recipient Nation

Lend-Lease Deliveries Compared to USSR Internal Production

This website, ww2data.com, has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third party internet websites referenced.  Nor does ww2data.com guarantee that any content on such websites are accurate or will remain accurate.

Recipients of US Aircraft Production

According to Table 79 of the “United States Air Force Statistical Digest World War II” document, the distribution of aircraft to various allied nations during World War II was as follows:

United States Army Air Force (USAAF): The USAAF received the largest number of aircraft during the war, with a total of 158,880 aircraft. This included 47,050 fighters, 47,481 bombers, 34,469 trainers, and 15,769 transport planes.

United States Navy: The US Navy received a total of 73,711 aircraft during the war, including 27,163 fighters, 20,703 bombers, 13,859 trainers, and 2,702 transport planes.

British Empire: The British Empire received a total of 38,811 aircraft during the war, including 8,003 fighters, 13,385 bombers, 7,640 trainers, and 3,789 transport planes. This includes aircraft given to the Royal Air Force (RAF) and other British Commonwealth air forces.

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR): The USSR received a total of 14,717 aircraft during the war, including 9,868 fighters, 4,031 bombers, 85 trainers, and 703 transport planes.

It is worth noting that the USAAF received most of the aircraft produced by American manufacturers during the war, while the US Navy, British Empire, and USSR received smaller but still significant amounts.

Transportation to Great Britain and the USSR

American aircraft were flown from factories in the United States to airfields in Great Britain. One was the North Atlantic Ferry Route. The North Atlantic Ferry Route was typically used for fighters flying from New England to Newfoundland to Scotland and was used for thousands of aircraft during the war. 

Another was the Crimson Route utilizing the Great Circle route to ferry aircraft from manufacturing plants in Southern California and Seattle via Montana over Canada to Greenland using Arctic air routes. These were typically bombers and transport aircraft.

To transport aircraft to the Soviet Union utilized a route known as the Alaska-Siberia air route. This route involved flying from airfields in the United States, across Alaska, and then over the Bering Strait to airfields in Siberia. From there Soviet aircrews took over and flew them westwards.

Why Supply Allies Versus Retain Aircraft for Own Usage

The United States provided significant military aid to its allies under the Lend-Lease Act. This aid included the shipment of US-manufactured aircraft to countries such as Great Britain and the Soviet Union. 

The US recognized that the defeat of the Axis powers was a global objective, and that it would be easier to achieve this objective if its allies had the necessary military resources to fight the war. By providing aircraft to its allies, the US aimed to strengthen their military capabilities, which would help to defeat the Axis powers more quickly and effectively.

Sending aid to its allies also had political and diplomatic considerations. It helped to build and maintain diplomatic relationships with Great Britain and the USSR. The aid provided to its allies ensured that they would be able to continue to fight the war. In summary, the US sent aircraft to allied nations during World War II as part of a larger effort to defeat the Axis powers.

Recipients of US Aircraft Production Data

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Source: Abstracted from United States Air Force Statistical Digest World War II, Office of Statistical Control, December 1945, p. 127, https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA542518.pdf, accessed April 5, 2023

Other Lend-Lease Data Links

Value of Materials Supplied by the US to its Allied Nations

WW2 Allies: US Lend-Lease to the USSR, 1941-1945

US Lend Lease Dollar Value by Recipient Nation

US Factory Deliveries of Military Airplanes by Recipient

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The above graph can be downloaded as an image.  

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The Holocaust: An Unprecedented Tragedy

The Holocaust, orchestrated by Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime during World War II, aimed to exterminate the Jewish population of Europe. The scale of this tragedy was staggering, with approximately six million Jews murdered. However, the percentage of Jewish population killed varied across different European nations.

Poland: The Epicenter of Atrocity

Poland bore the brunt of the Holocaust, with the highest percentage of its Jewish population killed. It is estimated that around 90% of Polish Jews perished during the Holocaust. The reasons for this tragic figure are numerous, including the establishment of extermination camps like Auschwitz-Birkenau on Polish soil and the systematic destruction of Jewish communities.

Lithuania: A Devastating Impact

Lithuania, too, suffered profoundly, with estimates suggesting that approximately 85% of its Jewish population fell victim to the Holocaust. The mass shootings of Jews in places like Ponary and the wholesale extermination of Jewish communities played a significant role in this tragic outcome.

Latvia: A High Toll

Latvia witnessed the genocide of a significant portion of its Jewish population, with estimates indicating that around 90% of Latvian Jews were killed during the Holocaust. The mass shootings in locations like Rumbula Forest were among the darkest episodes of this period.

Hungary: A Late Onset of Tragedy

In Hungary, the Holocaust took a different course. Initially, Hungarian authorities resisted Nazi deportation efforts, but in 1944, mass deportations began, leading to the deaths of approximately 74% of Hungarian Jews. The relatively lower percentage compared to other countries does not diminish the scale of the tragedy.

France: Varying Outcomes

France experienced differing outcomes within its borders. Estimates suggest that approximately 22% of French Jews were killed during the Holocaust. While this percentage is lower than in some Eastern European countries, it still represents a significant loss.

The Netherlands: A Notable Impact

The Netherlands also witnessed a significant loss of Jewish life, with an estimated 71% of its Jewish population perishing during the Holocaust. The cooperation of Dutch authorities in deportations and the subsequent extermination contributed to this devastating figure.

Denmark and Finland: An Anomaly in the Holocaust

While many European nations suffered staggering losses in terms of their Jewish populations during the Holocaust, Denmark and Finland stand out as notable exceptions with remarkably low death percentages. The reasons for these comparatively lower figures are multifaceted and showcase the unique circumstances that shaped the fates of Jews in these two countries.

Denmark: A Remarkable Rescue Mission

Denmark’s percentage of Jewish population killed during the Holocaust is remarkably low, estimated at less than 1%. This exceptional outcome can be largely attributed to the collective efforts of the Danish people and a daring rescue mission.

In October 1943, as the Nazis intensified their efforts to deport Danish Jews to concentration camps, the Danish resistance and a significant portion of the population rallied to protect their Jewish compatriots. Danish Jews were swiftly hidden and evacuated to neutral Sweden, out of the reach of the Nazi regime. This extraordinary act of solidarity and resistance spared most Denmark’s Jewish population from the horrors of the Holocaust.

Finland: A Unique Situation

Finland, too, experienced a notably low percentage of its Jewish population killed during the Holocaust, estimated at less than 1%. The reasons behind this relatively low figure are complex and unique to Finland’s situation during World War II.

Firstly, Finland was involved in a separate conflict with the Soviet Union, known as the Continuation War, which was distinct from the larger European theater of the war. This geographical and political situation meant that Finland had fewer interactions with Nazi Germany, which limited the scope of Nazi anti-Semitic policies within its borders.

Furthermore, Finland had a small Jewish population to begin with, making it a less significant target for Nazi persecution. The Jewish community in Finland was also well-integrated into Finnish society, reducing the likelihood of widespread deportations and violence.

In summary, Denmark and Finland’s remarkably low percentages of Jewish population killed during the Holocaust can be attributed to unique circumstances. Denmark’s collective resistance and daring rescue mission proved instrumental in saving Danish Jews, while Finland’s separate wartime situation and smaller Jewish population contributed to its comparatively low losses. These stories serve as poignant reminders that even in the darkest times, acts of solidarity, resistance, and unique geopolitical factors can make a difference in the face of overwhelming adversity.

Conclusion: Remembering the Unfathomable Tragedy

The estimated percentage of Jewish population killed during the Holocaust serves as a grim reminder of the extent of the genocide orchestrated by Nazi Germany. The impact varied across countries due to factors such as the timing of deportations, the presence of extermination camps, and the level of collaboration by local authorities. It is crucial to remember and honor the memory of the victims and ensure that such horrors are never repeated in history. The Holocaust remains a stark testament to the darkest depths of human cruelty and the importance of vigilance against hatred and prejudice.

Estimated Percentage of Jewish Population Killed, by Country Data

Source: McNab, Chris. “Hitler’s Masterplan.” Editor: Spilling, Michael, Amber Books, 2011, Page 145

Other World War 2 Civilian and Military Death Data

World War 2 Total Civilian and Military Deaths

USSR World War 2 Deaths by Republic

United States Holocaust Museum

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“The final solution to the Jewish question” was the goal of the Wannsee Conference that took place on January 20, 1942. Adolf Eichmann, one of the fifteen conference attendees, drew up two lists; List A and List B.

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Goals of the Conference

The Wannsee Conference had a sinister agenda, reflecting the Nazi regime’s commitment to the “Final Solution.” The key objectives of the conference included:

The Final Solution

The conference aimed to coordinate the logistics of the mass murder of European Jews, a plan that had already begun in earnest with mass shootings and deportations to concentration camps.

List A and List B from the Wannsee Conference outlined the estimated Jewish populations in various countries and territories.  Please note that these lists were not exhaustive, and there were other countries and regions mentioned during the conference. Additionally, the intent behind List B was to highlight the Nazis’ desire to extend their genocidal campaign to other regions beyond the occupied territories.

List A

List A, presented at the conference, cataloged the estimated Jewish populations residing in the occupied territories of Europe. It served as a critical document for organizing deportations and mass killings in these regions.

Occupied Countries or Territories included Eastern Poland, General Government (Nazi-occupied Poland), Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Belarus, Ukraine, Bessarabia (parts of present-day Moldova and Ukraine), Croatia (including parts of Yugoslavia), Serbia (including parts of Yugoslavia), and Slovakia.

Note: Occupied Poland was not on the list because by 1939 the country was split three ways among Polish areas annexed by Nazi Germany in the west, the territories of Poland annexed by the Soviet Union in the east, and the General Government where many Polish and Jewish expellees had already been resettled.

List B

List B focused on Jews living in allied, client, neutral, or warring states. While the immediate focus of the conference was on the occupied territories, List B demonstrated the Nazis’ intent to extend their genocidal campaign to other regions and populations.

Allied, Client, Neutral, or Warring States comprising List B: France (including Vichy France), Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Italy, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Finland, Denmark, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Ireland, Turkey, and United Kingdom.

Nuremberg Race Laws

The conference operated within the framework of the Nuremberg race laws, which defined who was considered Jewish and, by extension, eligible for persecution and extermination.

Conclusion:

The Wannsee Conference stands as a harrowing testament to the depths of human cruelty and the horrors that can be perpetrated under the banner of ideology. It was a pivotal moment in the Holocaust, as it marked a formalized effort to coordinate and accelerate the mass murder of European Jews. The “Final Solution” discussed at Wannsee represented an unprecedented level of systematic genocide.

Estimated Jewish Populations, Wannsee Conference, 1942 Data

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Source: McNab, Chris. “Hitler’s Masterplan.” Editor: Spilling, Michael, Amber Books, 2011, Page 131

The two lists here were composed by Adolf Eichmann for the Wannsee Conference. They are Nazi estimates of Jews living in occupied territories (List A) and those living in allied, client, neutral or warring states (List B).

Other World War 2 Civilian and Military Death Data

World War 2 Total Civilian and Military Deaths

USSR World War 2 Deaths by Republic

United States Holocaust Museum

Estimated Percentage of Jewish Population Killed, by Country

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Overview of Lebensraum

The concept of Lebensraum formed a central tenet of Nazi ideology. It envisaged the territorial expansion of Germany into the Slavic territories of Central and Eastern Europe, driven by the notion of Drang nach Osten, or “Drive to the East.” The Nazis believed in the supremacy of the Aryan race and sought to establish dominance over the region, viewing Slavic peoples as inferior and disposable.

Overview of General Plan Ost

General Plan Ost outlined the systematic colonization and exploitation of Eastern European territories. This plan was divided into two main components:

1. “Small Plan” (Kleine Planung)

The “Small Plan” focused on the immediate annexation and Germanization of territories such as Poland and the Baltics. It involved the expulsion and elimination of undesirable populations, especially Jews and Slavs, through mass murder and forced labor. This plan was envisioned to last the duration of the war.

2. “Big Plan” (Grosse Planung)

The “Big Plan” envisioned long-term colonization and ethnic restructuring of the East. This involved the displacement, expulsion, and murder of vast numbers of indigenous people to make room for German settlers. It was a comprehensive scheme for the ruthless transformation of Eastern Europe. As of June 1941, the policy envisaged the deportation of 31 million Slavs to Siberia. This plan was envisioned to last 25 to 30 years after the war was won.

Ethnic Groups and Nationalities Targeted

Under General Plan Ost, several ethnic groups and nationalities were targeted for expulsion and elimination. The plan included target percentages of expulsion or elimination. These included:

Jews

The Jewish population, which faced systematic extermination in the Holocaust, was a primary target of Nazi persecution and expulsion. The target percentage was 100%.

Slavic Peoples

Slavic nations, including Poles, Ukrainians, Belarusians, and Russians, were viewed as racially inferior by the Nazis and subjected to expulsion, enslavement, and mass murder. These target percentages ranged from 50 to 85%.

Romani People

The Romani population was subjected to persecution, forced labor, and genocide. The target percentage was 100%.

Intellectuals and Political Dissidents

Anyone perceived as a threat to Nazi rule, including intellectuals, political dissidents, and members of resistance movements, was targeted for expulsion or execution.

Operation Barbarossa and “Judeo-Bolshevism”

Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, marked an ideological-racial war between German National Socialism and “Judeo-Bolshevism.” The Commissar Order, issued on June 6, 1941, just prior to the invasion, called for the summary execution of Soviet political commissars and Jews, further highlighting the genocidal intent of the Nazi regime.

Conclusion

The targeting of ethnic groups for expulsion and extermination by Nazi Germany under General Plan Ost represents one of the darkest chapters in human history. Driven by a toxic blend of racism, anti-Semitism, and imperialistic ambition, the Nazis subjected millions to violence, displacement, and death in their ruthless pursuit of Lebensraum.

Ethnic Groups Targeted for Expulsion by Germany Data

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Source: McNab, Chris. “Hitler’s Masterplan.” Editor: Spilling, Michael, Amber Books, 2011, Page 85

Other World War 2 Civilian and Military Death Data

World War 2 Total Civilian and Military Deaths

USSR World War 2 Deaths by Republic

The attack on the Soviet Union

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