Badge of a Participant of Sailing in WW2 Arctic Convoys, 1991 issue, English-language Version for a British or American Sailor, an Attendee of the Veterans Meeting in Arkhangelsk Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the First WW2 British Convoy to the USSR.
In Melchior alloy (nickel silver), paint and lacquer; the pendant measures 36.5 mm in height incl. eyelet x 34.0 mm in width; overall height with suspension is approx. 52 mm; overall weight with suspension is 17.3 g. Features a rectangular suspension with an English-language inscription "Participant of Northern Convoys" (unlike the Russian-language version for the Soviet sailors). The pendant shows merchant ships sailing in a mine-strewn sea and the Roman numeral "L" for 50th anniversary. with a map of northern latitudes as the backdrop. At the bottom are the dates "1941-1945".
In Melchior alloy (nickel silver), paint and lacquer; the pendant measures 36.5 mm in height incl. eyelet x 34.0 mm in width; overall height with suspension is approx. 52 mm; overall weight with suspension is 17.3 g. Features a rectangular suspension with an English-language inscription "Participant of Northern Convoys" (unlike the Russian-language version for the Soviet sailors). The pendant shows merchant ships sailing in a mine-strewn sea and the Roman numeral "L" for 50th anniversary. with a map of northern latitudes as the backdrop. At the bottom are the dates "1941-1945".
Excellent condition. There is no visible wear; the raised details are perfect and exceptionally crisp; the lacquer finish on the obverse is pristine.
This badge was designed by the same artist who created the artwork for the first in the series of badges awarded to WW2 northern convoy sailors. It is one of the three issued in 1991 to the veterans who attended the veterans meeting in the city of Arkhangelsk, an event that commemorated the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the first convoy on 31 August 1941. On the occasion, three special badges were commissioned: one with the Russian inscription for Soviet sailors, one with the English text for the British and American attendees, and one with the oval suspension featuring a handshake exclusively for the participants of the first convoy. All of these badges are quite scarce.
The importance of the Lend-Lease supplies to the USSR - lion's share of which at least initially came by the perilous northern route to Arkhangelsk and Murmansk - was never fully revealed by Soviet propaganda and is still not clearly understood by the general public. Over 16% of all tanks in Soviet WW2 inventory came from the USA and Great Britain, as well as 13% of combat aircraft, more than half of trucks, and 100% of armored personnel carriers. Moreover, these weapons were often far superior in quality to their Soviet counterparts. They started to arrive at the time when the Soviet Union's losses in equipment were staggering and the recently evacuated factories were struggling to increase the output.
Perhaps of even more importance were literally millions of tons of other valuable equipment, including industrial machinery that would produce vast amounts of ammunition and weapons throughout the war and beyond (little known fact for medal collectors: some of the high-quality stamping machinery for the Soviet mint was delivered from the US around 1943-44, which was probably a decisive factor in the mint's managing to produce a large number of decorations in the last year of the war.) Contrary to popular belief, the Soviet Union almost certainly would have lost the war if not for the Western help.
Please note, penny in our photo is for size reference.
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