Lend Lease

Lend Lease to USSR

(American SPAM Can written in Russian sent to the Soviet Union to feed Soviet Civilians and Soldiers during World War 2.)

During World War 2 (1941-1945) the United States sent 175 Million tons of Food and Military Equipment to the Soviet Union through the Lend Lease Program.

Lend Lease (Russian: Ленд-лиз or сдавать в аренду, внаём) was started by the United States when they were Neutral (from March 1941-December 1941) to send Food and Military Equipment to the Allies (the United Kingdom, the Free French and China.)

After the Nazi Invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941 the USSR was added to America’s Lend Lease Program.

After the Germans occupied Ukraine (the Soviet Union’s “Breadbasket”) in 1941 the USSR could no longer feed its Military or its Civilians.

Out of a Total Soviet Population of 200 Million People, 70 Million Soviets were living under German Occupation.

A total of $50 Billion US Dollars ($925 Billion US Dollars in 2026) worth of Food, Medicines, Planes, Tanks, Ammunition, Jeeps, etc. to the Other Allies.

$11.3 Billion US Dollars ($209.5 Billion US Dollars in 2026) worth of Aid went to the Soviet Union.  

 

2% (452 tons) of American Aid went through the Soviet Arctic.

22% (3,964 tons) of American Aid went through the Arctic Convoy to Murmansk.

23% (4,160 tons) of American Aid went through Iran to the Soviet Union.

47% (8,242 tons) of American Aid went through the Pacific Ocean, past Japan (which was at War with the United States, but Neutral with the Soviet Union) to Vladivostok.

 

The fastest and most dangerous route to send American Aid from the United States to the Soviet Union was through the Arctic Convoy Route.

15% of the Cargo sent through the Arctic Convoy Route was destroyed by the German U-Boats.

1,100 Americans died bringing Americans Aid to the Soviet Union.

The United States gave the Soviet Union:

596 Ships

11,400 Aircraft

12,000 Armored Cars (Tanks, Self-Propelled Guns, etc.)

427,285 Cars and Jeeps

1,977 Trains

35,170 Motorcycles

5,000 Anti-Tank Guns

12,997 Pistols

345,735 tons of Explosives

127,000 tons of Gunpowder

35,800 Radio Stations

2,074 Radar Stations

105 Anti-Submarine Ships

202 Torpedo Boats

4 Submarines

3,756,000 Tires

15,417,000 Pairs of Military Boots

1,541,590 Blankets

13,000 Tons of Aircraft Gasoline

98,000 Tons of Wool

658,000 Tons of Sugar

2.7 Million Tons of Canned Meat

 

At the end the War the Americans and the Soviets disagreed on the amount of Money owed for Lend Lease Aid.

In reality the US gave the USSR $11.3 Billion US Dollars worth of Aid.

In 1951, the US reduced the amount down to $800 Million US Dollars (hoping to keep the Soviets out of the Korean War which was ongoing.)

In 1973 the Soviet Union repaid $48 Million US Dollars to the United States.

In December 1991 the Soviet Union collapsed and Russia agreed to repay the amount owed.

Russia finally paid off $674 Million US Dollars to the United States on August 21, 2006.

In total the Soviet Union/Russia only repaid $722 Million US Dollars out of the 11.3 Billion US Dollars in Aid they were given.