This is a paperbound reprint of a 1994 book. Allied forces during World War II were able to keep supply lines open to Russia by using arctic routes, despite huge losses in terms of life and military equipment. Woodman, a well-known British writer on military subjects, documents the bravery of these missions through the eyes of actual crew members by drawing on years of research and personal interviews. This book maintains that without these merchant ships, Russia would have surely fallen to Nazi Germany, changing the outcome of the war. Written for fans of military history, this book also includes many maps detailing the actual passages of these supply routes. Distributed by Casemate. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)