Deadly Mission To Russia: WW2's Arctic Convoys

In August 1941, the Allies launched Operation Dervish. This was the first of the Arctic Convoys, ships which sailed from the United Kingdom, Iceland and North America, and brought essential supplies to the Soviet Union.

After the successful launch of Operation Barbarossa, the USSR was in desperate need of raw materials, fuel, military equipment and food. Realising the importance of keeping the Germans fighting on two fronts, Churchill offered a helping hand to Stalin.

Though eager to cooperate, the task of shipping supplies to the Soviet ports of Murmansk and Archangel was not an easy task. Sailing up through the treacherous Northern Atlantic, the convoys were faced with some of the harshest seafaring conditions, including temperatures that reached -30 degrees Celsius, gale force 10 winds, towering seas, intense fog and drift ice. The sailors on deck also had to be wary of the continuous threat of icebergs.

If this wasn’t enough of a challenge to the 78 convoys that made the journey to the Soviet Union between 1941 and 1945, the merchant vessels also faced the serious possibility of U-Boat attacks or German bombing raids.

As the convoys skirted occupied Norway en route to Murmansk and Archangel, the close proximity of German air and naval bases meant that attacks on the convoys were commonplace, and casualties were inevitable. Over 3,000 men lost their lives on the Arctic Convoys with 87 merchant ships and 18 Royal Navy ships lost.

In this documentary, Dan Snow delves deep into the history of the Arctic Convoys and reveals the ultimate sacrifice of the crews onboard the ships that made the perilous journey.

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#worldwartwo #arcticconvoys #royalnavy

[andrewgwilliam]

My mum's late partner (who was some years older than her) was an RN gunner on merchant ships. He was never a man who gloried in his military past (although he loved war films!) and after he died mum found his medals shoved in a box in his garage. Interestingly when the British government belatedly introduced a medal for personnel who served on the convoys, I suggested he apply... but he told mum he wasn't eligible. I think that was an example of his way of dealing with the past: draw a line, and never look back. He did very occasionally talk about the war, but it was mostly humorous anecdotes (such as having all his teeth pulled out before signing up). He did talk to me about the convoys once, but sadly I can't remember the details (such as they were). I suspect most of what he said was about the food, and playing cards!

RIP Syd.

[tallandhairy]

My Grandfather proudly served on HMS Oxslip in the merchant navy as a volunteer which did 18 arctic convoys (which I believe to be more than any other ship) my family will enjoy this video thank you

[markflowers]

My grandad lost his life on an Artic Convoy aboard HMS Achaties, brave men all of them.

[jameshoppo]

My grandad did arctic convoy escort duties in the RN. Took part in the battle of North Cape. Very grateful he survived such a hostile place

[HistoryBeyondBordersTV]

34:00 - 34:45 The story of the Ghoulistan and 16-year-old Peter Wilson lost in the Arctic is heartbreaking. It really drives home the brutal reality of the Arctic convoys—sailors facing unimaginable conditions and paying the ultimate price. Incredible storytelling!

[KarenSFrancis]

My dad was on a US Coast Guard Cutter - on the Newfoundland/Iceland run. Never had to do a Murmansk convoy. When I read Alistair McLean's book - HMS Ulysses - I realized the immense sacrifice given by those brave men on the Murmansk run.

[demonhighwayman]

My grandad did the convoys and was sunk during PQ17, somehow he survived and was later sunk off the Normandy coast during the d-day landings by an acoustic mine.

[kaibalfour]

I went on the HMS Belfast. It’s a museum now but I have the ultimate respect for the men who lived in those conditions and fought so bravely

[Sycamore-wvid]

World War 2's convoys are very interesting, thanks for covering this one.

[Kevin-mxvi]

My wife's dad was a young RNVR officer who served aboard destroyers throughout the war and did at least one Arctic convoy run to Archangelsk. I remember him telling me about being on a rolling deck as they hacked ice from the ship's superstructure with axes to stop the ship becoming top-heavy and capsizing.

[sjs]

PEOPLE TODAY, have no concept of the bravery, suffering, and sacrifice those MEN gave ...

[necessaryevil]

My dad was on escort duty on arctic convoys. He told me if you touched the metal ship with bare hands, you would lose your fingers. Very proud son ❤

[miguelnascimento]

Amazing..
That sailors are heroes, totally.
Thank you!!.

[henningmogensen]

I had a neighbor. I went to say hello and he answered: "What is left of me is "(name). He had hearing aid, pacemaker, 2 new knee's and hips. He had sailed on these convoy's. Had been torpedoed. Another merchant came sailing by with net over the side so they could grip and climb. After being rescued there they were told to choose between staying in Russia to spring or a destroyer would sail by and they could jump on board and get back to England. And as he said: "one had to time it right or you get squeezed to death between the two ships. He was Danish. And was there because the ship was in England when the germans occupied Denmark.

[dazsmith]

Grandads brother was aboard HMS Striker Delivering aircraft across the Finnish coast..they also brought aircraft to Australia Via Gibraltar to Sydney..off Finland they sank a german uboat with a Fairy swordfish and were decorated by King George. i have photos released by the Oss of the king being brought to the ship in a battered morris utility..and presenting medals to the crew..til i saw this i had no real idea of the conditions they endured..luckily he was from south shields and knew all about the cold north sea..they certainly were tough men..his brother my Grandad srved in the merchant navy.

[Alex-cwrz]

My Grandad had joined the navy underage and was a stoker during WW2. He participated in the Arctic convoys on nothing more than converted trawlers. I never met him but my dad said, he told him about a ship being sunk and them having to attempt to rescue the crew who were unfortunately engulfed by burning oil on the surface. He was also part of D-day involved in the huge minesweeping effort before the men went ashore. Speaking of D-day my great uncle on my other side. Was part of Operation Tiger which was a rehersal for D-day which took place at Slapton Sands. They were to use live ammunition which was meant to go over the troops heads. Unfortunately due to a change in timings they started hitting troops on the beach. He and his friends watched it but didn't know and just thought it a realistic simulation. Only finding out the true horror later on they were sworn to secrecy and he never told his wife. She only found out from his friends after he di ed. His twin sister my grandmother knew, and everytime they went on holidays to devon, they would always go to Slatpon Sands to pay tribute.

[Upemm]

I had two uncles who were on the Artic convoys, on different ships, at different times, both were torpedoed, and both survived only because they were on watch at the time. I have no reason to disbelieve them.

[annehersey]

In June 1941, Lend-Lease had JUST begun and here is Churchill telling Russia oh sure, join us, the Americans won’t mind! The Chutzpah of Churchill is one of many reasons I will always vote for Winston when the question of Greatest Wartime Leaders comes up in discussions!

[lucyj]

Remembering Reay Clarke who survived his Arctic Convoy between two unsuccessful runs. Too few white berets left now.

[MikeWood]

HMCS Haida, the last Tribal class destroyer - now a museum ship afloat in Hamilton, Ontario, participated in the Arctic convoys. Her long time CO, Commander Harry DeWolf, now has a class of Arctic patrol ships named after him.