Grateful, Yet Self-Reliant: Russia Takes a Nostalgic Stroll Down Lend-Lease Memory Lane
Russia Settled Lend-Lease Debt with the U.S. in 2006, According to Peskov
Russia's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, sheds light on the country's history with its former ally, the United States, based on the Lend-Lease program. In a recent conversation, Peskov expressed gratitude for the assistance, but emphasized that the Soviet Union could've stood on its own.
Back in the day, the U.S. Congress passed the Lend-Lease Act on March 11, 1941, initiating the delivery of aircraft, vehicles, tanks, and ammunition to the USSR. The total expenditure for this program was around $11 billion, equivalent to about $200 billion today, according to inflation adjustments[4].
Whilst the assistance may have aided the Soviet war effort, it came at a cost. Exercising transparency, Peskov confirmed that the Russian Federation, as the successor state to the USSR, settled its debt from the Lend-Lease program during Putin's tenure in 2006[2].
And here's the kicker - the Soviet Union didn't just rely on U.S. aid during WWII. When weighing the facts, it produced a whopping 118,000 aircraft throughout the war, compared to the 18,000 aircraft the U.S. had supplied[4].
In essence, while the USA helped the USSR, it was also generating income through the Lend-Lease program, as Peskov hinted[2].
So, in a nutshell, let's recap:
- Aid & Inflation: The Soviet Union received an estimated $200 billion worth of aid under the U.S.'s Lend-Lease program, adjusted for inflation[4].
- Payment Settlement: Despite the assistance, the Russian Federation repaid its obligations related to the Lend-Lease program in 2006[2].
- Self-Reliance: The Soviet Union made significant contributions, such as producing 118,000 aircraft during WWII, suggesting self-reliance when comparing it to U.S. supplies[4].
In summary, Russia acknowledges the help it received during the Lend-Lease program, but also insists on its self-reliant capabilities throughout WWII.
- The Lend-Lease Act, passed by the U.S. Congress in 1941, initiated the delivery of aid worth approximately $200 billion (adjusted for inflation) to the Soviet Union.
- Despite this assistance, it's noteworthy that the Russian Federation, as the successor state to the USSR, settled its debt from the Lend-Lease program during Putin's tenure in 2006.
- While the Soviet Union received aid through the Lend-Lease program, it also demonstrated self-reliance by producing a staggering 118,000 aircraft during World War II, compared to the 18,000 aircraft supplied by the U.S.
- In the realm of politics and legislation, the policy-and-legislation section of Novosti newspaper might have noted this balance between aid and self-reliance in their general news coverage.
