Importance of American lend-lease to Soviet war effort in WW II?

[Ned]

Here is an article that compares USSR, German and Lend Lease production of various items by year. Apparently, most of the USSR ammo factories were overrun in the first year of the war. But for Lend Lease, the Soviets would have had a critical ammo shortage.

But the author concludes that Lend Lease only shortened the war, it did not affect the outcome.

An Examination of Soviet Armaments Factories and Their Production

[David Floyd]

But the author concludes that Lend Lease only shortened the war, it did not affect the outcome.

It did not affect the outcome because Germany was going to lose once the US joined, no matter what. So I can agree to that statement, certainly.

Here is the statement you are quoting, by the way:

These trucks enabled the Soviets to mount the offensives that evicted the Nazis from their territory and took Berlin. Without them they would have had to divert tank production to the manufacture of trucks. Undoubtedly this would have prolonged the war in the East, but not changed the outcome.

Here he is referring to only Lend Lease trucks, unless you are reading it differently than I am.

[The Vagabond]

Interesting reference, Ned.

David, would you agree that after Kursk Soviet victory was imminent no matter what (i.e. even if the USSR were left one on one with Germany)?

[monkspider]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov

Yes, lend-lease was vital to the Soviet war effort.

And yes, the U.S. would have kicked Soviet butt had they gone to war immediately after the fall of Germany.

Boris, I pretty much agree with you, except for the above two quotes.

[David Floyd]

David, would you agree that after Kursk Soviet victory was imminent no matter what (i.e. even if the USSR were left one on one with Germany)?

Soviet victory was inevitable assuming a Western Front (France and Italy, plus strategic bombing) from that point, yes. If the Soviets were left one on one at that point, without Lend Lease, without Western Allied participation, then no, I don't think a Soviet victory was at all inevitable.

[Serb]

Originally posted by Dr Strangelove
More German divisions were destroyed during the Battle of Normandy than during Stalingrad or Kursk.

[David Floyd]

Monk, I think that the massive US air superiority and the fact that Russia was at the end of manpower reserves, as well as the massive industrial advantage (that was still expanding) of the US point towards a clear US victory in a post-WW2 US/Soviet war.

[Serb]

Originally posted by David Floyd


Soviet victory was inevitable assuming a Western Front (France and Italy, plus strategic bombing) from that point, yes. If the Soviets were left one on one at that point, without Lend Lease, without Western Allied participation, then no, I don't think a Soviet victory was at all inevitable.

After Kursk?

[David Floyd]

Now if you had said, "After Bagration..." I'd concede you the point.

But even Kursk is starting from a point so far into the war to make the whole discussion idiotic, to say nothing of 1944.

[1]

Monk, the US would have won a war immediately after the defeat of Germany because of the development of nuclear weapons. Its the whole reason another war didn't start in the first place.

[Alexander's Horse]

This obsession with trucks is an American quirk.

Russia had few paved roads. Most road transport for both the Germans and the Russians was horse drawn. Heavy equipment like tanks and artillery was almost exclusively moved strategically by railway.

[notyoueither]

Horse has gone walk-about.

[Alexander's Horse]

Originally posted by notyoueither
Horse has gone walk-about.

You don't believe me?

[notyoueither]

Well, AFVs were never carried by trucks.

Arty pulled? Yes.

Most especially supplies carried. The ability of trucks to enable an offensive is quite clear, unless you want to trust to old Bessie and the hope that your enemy doesn't move faster than you.

[notyoueither]

BTW, good luck moving your tanks and arty by rail into the enemy during an offensive. Me thinks it would be a bad plan.