 | | © IWM Art.IWM ART LD 7420 |
|
'A big one came over, swept me from my feet, but I didn't get washed overboard...' | In 1941 Adolf Hitler’s German armies turned east, invading the Soviet Union. The following year, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, in desperate need of help, requested a ‘Second Front’ in Western Europe in order to split German forces.
Though Britain and America were not yet ready to invade German-occupied Europe, they could provide supplies to aid Russia’s resistance on the Eastern Front.
With transport by land or air impractical, the sea was the only available supply route. Two ports in northern Russia, Murmansk and Archangel, were the destination for convoys of ships that would carry these supplies. They would depart from Britain, stopping at Iceland before continuing to Russia.
There were two threats facing the Arctic convoys.
The first was the German Navy. A number of warships, including HMS Belfast, were charged with protecting the convoys from attack as German submarines, aircraft and warships were all sent to sink Allied shipping.
The second great threat the allied ships faced on their journey was the Arctic conditions. Extreme cold, gales and pack ice were among the most dangerous and gruelling challenges faced by Allied sailors, and the loss rates were among the highest of all the convoy routes in the Second World War. |
|
|
| | | | | | | |  | | © IWM CH 7725 |
|
|
| THE SPITFIRE: A VIRTUAL TOUR | In commemoration of the 85th anniversary of the first ever Spitfire flight, join our online tour to uncover the special relationship between IWM Duxford and this legend of British aviation. Booking for the 6 March event is open until 5pm today - don't delay! | |
|
|
|
| | |
| | |
|
| Servicemen had to protect themselves from freezing temperatures; one account recalled avoiding a warm water shave if you knew there was a chance you’d have to dash straight outside after – frostbite would instantly attack soft skin on a sailor’s face.
Another account describes how duffle coats would soak up seawater and rain like sponges, and then stand upright when taken off – frozen solid.
Petty Officer Ordnance Artificer John Harrison served on board HMS Belfast during these missions. He recalls how the conditions, dangerous as they were, actually saved his life.
'We went round to the Arctic...our duty station was the Denmark Strait, backwards and forwards, making sure no German ships got out. One early morning I wanted to get to "A" Turret on the Upper Deck.
Waiting for the big [waves] ones to come over, I dashed, got my hand on the Turret door and a big one came over, swept me from my feet, but I didn't get washed overboard because my hand was frozen on the Turret handle.’
Over four million tons of supplies were delivered to the Russians. Tanks and aircraft, trucks and trains and even soldiers’ boots were successfully provided to the Soviet Army.
Although the supplies were valuable, the most important contribution made by the Arctic convoys was political. They proved that the Allies were committed to helping the Soviet Union, whilst deflecting Stalin’s demands for a ‘Second Front’ (Allied invasion of Western Europe) until they were ready. |
|
|
 | | |  | | © David Miliband, IRC |
| |
|
| IWM INSTITUTE ANNUAL LECTURE | | On Thursday 11 March, IWM Institute brings together David Miliband, CEO at the International Rescue Committee in conversation with Lyse Doucet, BBC Chief International Correspondent, to consider how we might tackle today’s global refugee crisis. | |
|
|
| |
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
