“Lend-lease was a GIFT and I will explain why.”
Lend-lease wasn’t a gift and I will explain why. When lend-lease started Britain stood alone fighting the Nazis whilst America shrugged it’s shoulders and said ‘nothing to do with us that european war’. You gave us equipment to fight when you would not. British soldiers paid for that equipment in blood. When you did join the war, you sent us more equipment so we could fight and help you win the war. Just the same when we sent tanks and fighter aircraft to Russia, we didn’t get paid for them, but the Russian soldiers who died killing our enemies paid for the equipment in blood.
Much as we appreciated that equipment, it was sent to help the US, the fact that it also helped the UK was secondary, just as when we’ve done it for other countries.
The little clue that proves this to be fact is the full title of the act that was signed into law on March 11th 1941, “An Act to Further Promote the Defense of the United States”. Not to help our allies, but to defend the US. There’s nothing at all wrong with that, but please don’t try to spin it into anything else.
The cash was paid back in full with interest in 2006.
“British soldiers paid for that equipment in blood”
Yes but the US Army paid in blood as well. In November 1944 there were 2.6 million American troops on the western front and 0.95 million British/Canadian troops. That means 73% of the allied troops on western front in November 1944 were American.
“The cash was paid back in full with interest in 2006”
Like I said, only 23% of it was paid back from the UK. The rest was written off.