Soviet trade with Britain between september 1939 and june 1941

Discussion in 'The Eastern Front' started by L J, Apr 17, 2012.

  1. L J

    L J Senior Member

    As most people know,after Pearl Harbour,there was a lot of Lend Lease going via the North Pacific to Wladivostok from the US West Coast(for obvious reasons:mainly by Soviet ships).
    My question now is :was there any trade between september 1939 and june 1941 between Britain and the SU ?How much ?By Soviet ships?Via Murmansk,or between Vancouver and Wladivostok ?
     
  2. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

    What I'm going to say is completely devoid of any ground, but I'm not aware of any trade between the SU and the CW at the time when the III Reich was the preferred partner. Anyone can shed some light?
     
  3. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Just having a look through here & cant find any trade agreements betwen UK & USSR.
    A Calendar of Soviet Treaties, 1917-1957 - Robert M. Slusser, Jan F. Triska - Google Books

    A Calendar of Soviet Treaties, 1917-1957, Volume 1917
    By Robert M. Slusser, Jan F. Triska

    I'd have thought the UK would have had a trade embargo on USSR during the Winter War, can't find anything at the moment though. UK was thinking of sending troops to aid the Finns & backed the British Volunteers who went so I can't see them trading with USSR. That is just an opinion not backed with hard evidence . ;)
     
  4. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Until the Germans invaded the SU they were in a Non Aggression Pact. The UK regarded the Russians as an 'enemy' with whom it was not yet at war. It is unlikely that the UK would have traded with the SU and conversely, it supplied Finland with ammunition, weapons and other equipment, in order to aid Finland's fight against the SU - as reported by Juho Niukkanen, Finland's Defense Minister, during the Winter War:

    20 - torpedoes
    450 - mines
    12 - 152mm mobile naval guns
    25 - 114mm howitzers and 25,000 rounds
    24 - 76mm anti-aircraft cannon, and 72,000 rounds
    18 - 40mm anti-aircraft cannon and 36,000 rounds
    24 - 13mm anti-aircraft cannon and 72,000 rounds
    200 - 14mm anti-panzer rifles
    28 - tractors
    20,000,000 - rifle bullets
    10,000,000 - pistol bullets
    40,000 - hand grenades
    50,000 - "sympathy" uniforms bombs, field kitchens, tents, communication equipment, etc.
    33 - Gloster Gladiator aircraft
    12 - Hurricane aircraft
    17 - Lysander reconnaissance aircraft
    24 - Blenheim bomber aircraft
    230 - volunteers
    4 - torpedo boats (Not received)
    30 - 84mm field cannon

    Source: The Axis Forum.

    Best,

    Steve.
     
  5. L J

    L J Senior Member

    I know that the Molotow-Ribbentrop pact had adverse results on the British-Soviet relations (operation Pike),but,money has colour nor odour,and,both countries needed to import and export .
    Both countries were doing business before the war,although the war was hindering British exports,would the trade between both countries suddenly cease ?
    In 1933,42.5 %of the Soviet import was coming from Germany,and 8.8% from Britain .In 1935,it was 9 % from Germany and 18.8% from Britain .I have no figures for 1939,but,I would be surprised ,if suddenly the Soviet import from Britain was stopping .
     
  6. PeterG

    PeterG Senior Member

    L J likes this.
  7. L J

    L J Senior Member

    Meanwhile,I have found the following (from:Historical data:1900-1960:as single document)
    British imports in 1938:4.288 billion $,of which 71 million from the SU,the Soviet exports being 251 million
    British Exports in 1938:2.443 billion $,of which 53 million to the SU .
    The question is :while the British exports to the SU were only 2.17 % of total British exports,could Britain afford to stop (for political reasons:the M/R pact) to stop the trade with the SU ?If this trade would stop,who would benefit ? Maybe Germany ?
    And,who would most suffer if the trade was interrupted:Britain,or the USSR?
     

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