At the same time, Deborah Bronnert said relations between Russia and Britain “are not easy right now”
The history of the Northern Convoys is a reminder that Moscow and London can cooperate to solve global problems. British Ambassador to Moscow Deborah Bronnert told TASS on Monday at celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the arrival of the first allied convoy Dervish in Arkhangelsk.
“I am here to mark the 80th anniversary of the arrival of the Northern Convoy in Arkhangelsk to honour the more than 3,000 British servicemen and sailors who gave their lives to deliver aid to the Soviet Union during the war”, – she said.
She said relations between the two countries “are not easy now”, but the alliance between the Soviet Union and Britain during the Second World War was a reminder that by working together, Moscow and London “can solve major global problems”.
Celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the arrival of the first Allied convoy, the Dervish, are being held in the Arkhangelsk region from 29-31 August. The convoy arrived in Arkhangelsk on 31st August 1941 with seven transports escorted by military ships. It brought cargo from Great Britain for the war industry, mines, anti-tank rifles and other miscellaneous equipment. At the time, there had been no official lend-lease agreement.
From August 1941 to May 1945, 78 convoys, 1,507 transports and tankers (128 were sunk or damaged) passed from the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition to the USSR and back. To Arkhangelsk, Molotovsk and Murmansk more than 22 thousand planes, over 13 thousand tanks, 13 thousand guns, 639 ships and other important cargoes, including foodstuffs to the sum of more than 2 billion dollars were delivered. It has provided about 12 % of needs of front and rear. The Arctic route of Allied convoys (cargoes were also delivered via the Pacific Ocean and Iran) was the shortest, but it was considered the most dangerous. It accounted for over 90% of the Lend-Lease supplies, but up to 15% of the cargoes sent along this route were sunk due to shipwrecks.