For Jon, Tally and L. Lovat:
Jon: Many thanks--i'll try to get the photos sent to Otto later this week.
Tally: There were lend lease shipments going to Russia before 41. My grandfather was one who sailed to many ports in the late 1930's and early 1940s. He did go to about 50 or so countries before the outbreak of the war.
He did take lend lease goods to Russia, (unofficially) in 1939-1040. These were things like tractors-rubber tires, medicines etc. The proof I have is in his many many letters to my grandmother and my mother, his telegrams and his ships log.
In 1939, Lend lease goods were shipped to the UK, and transferred to Uk ships or the US ships had UK flags on their masts. This really incensed the Germans, because they knew we were in their opinion, we were illeaglly transporting goods to nations they were at war with.
The first ship that my grandfather was on that was torpedoed was in 1939 or 1940. This ship was on its way from the UK to the USSR with American lendlease goods on board--MILITARY goods at that.
My mother told me this story many times. That on this voyage that his ship was sunk, before he sailed out of New York, my mother gave him her toy doll made of porcelin, to my grandfather, to keep as good luck during the trip. Well, this doll is now at the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean, and has been since sometime in 1939 or 1940.
During this incident, when all survivors were in lifeboats--the German uboat responsible for sinking his ship, approached his lifeboat. The Germans were looking for the ships Captain.
My granfather was the ships Captain, and had changed into a regular ratings uniform. Supposedly at that time--supposedly, there was an order to all uboat commanders that they were to capture ships captains who survived the sinkings of their ships.
Being that my grandfather is Norwegian, and also meaning that he was from an occupied country--meant that if he was captured--he would be shot as a traitor--by the Germans.
This is why he changed uniforms. Anyway, the Germans approached, and asked who and where the ships Captain was, and were told that he went down with his ship. The Germans believed it, and after questioning these men--gave them some provisions and radioed their position and left. (I havent thought of this in a loooooooong time)
For L.Lovat: True, the USA did profit from the war. Here is what we actually had a profit on: 1) The use of military bases in England, and a few elsewhere. 2) Jobs were created at home and abroad.
One thing that seems to be "forgotten" here is the fact that, the USA has forgiven all the debts that France, and elsewhere have not bothered to pay on nor tried to pay for--from ww2. And just who pays for these debts??--THE US TAXPAYER pays for these debts.
The USA did make SOME financial profit from the war as EVERYONE else did. A business sells a product needed elsewhere and wallah--they made more money. That is the only profit made and was by manufacturers of these products that were BOUGHT by the US Govt and given FREELY to forign Govts.
Yes--we gave the UK 50 Destroyers from ww1, this was so we could have military bases in England and the UK. The 50 Destroyers deal was done because England really needed some bolstering of her position and this was probably the best way to do it--to help bolster the RN, as they were for a good portion of the war, the UKs most vital service. They needed ships more than food.
May I ask you--where and what exactly did you hear about the USA gaining huge amounts of profit and from what? the US taxpayer paid dearly for all of the lend lease sent.
Im not trying to insult you but just trying to make sure the full facts are known.
[ 30 October 2001: Message edited by: C.Evans ]