Technically speaking, the Russian Arctic Convoy – code-named ‘PQ-16‘ – sailed from Iceland to Murmansk (and Archangel) in the Soviet Union between May 21st – May 28th 1942. This was a vital “supply fleet” comprised of British, American and Allied shipping (which included two ships from Panama!) carrying much needed military and civilian aid to the Soviet Union (which as an ally of the UK and US – was under a terrible attack by Nazi German forces and Hitler’s various fascist and Catholic allies). On its journey, this convoy would be subjected to Nazi German Luftwaffe, U-Boat and Coastal Artillery attack! Alexander Werth, however, writing in his book entailed ‘The Year of Stalingrad’ (1947), states that he spent ‘four-weeks’ aboard the Merchant Navy Ship ‘Empire Baffin’ – which he boarded in Middlesborough in the UK (this ship would have sailed up to the seas around Scotland before forming-up with the other designated vessels and heading East – into the unknown). This would suggest that the Empire Baffin set sail from the UK around May 1st, 1942, but Alexander Werth, writing as he was during wartime, is reticent to give too much detail away in his diary to a potential Nazi German ‘spy’. As a consequence, NO dates are given in the chapter below – which provides the first instalment of this adventure. Through further research, and the benefit of hindsight, I can reconstruct a timeline for the events he describes. I will be adding ‘Part II‘ and ‘Part III‘ shortly – comprised of the next two chapters in the book!
The Empire Baffin was ‘armed’ for self-defence and contained a contingent of ‘Merchant Marine’ sailors employed as a cross between civilian seafarers and intrepid fighters prepared to repel all unwanted or unauthorised boarders! As Merchant Seaman of All Ranks and Posts died in their thousands for our freedom – we must respect their anti-fascist war! Convoy PQ-16 was comprised of 36 Merchant Navy vessels (carrying the cargo) – and a varying number of Royal Navy Patrol Service (RNPS) and Royal Navy (RN) ships acting as a protective cover for the fleet! One or two ships possessed a small number of fighter aeroplanes often supplied by the public raising money for their construction. As you will read, the British government placed Alexander Werth with a number of RAF personnel who were travelling on the quiet to the USSR to train Red Airforce Airmen to fly the British aeroplanes donated for the defence of the Socialist State. As matters transpired, seven ships were sunk and one ship was forced to turn back. These losses were ‘light’ compared to what was to come!
I must address (and apologise) the use of the word ‘n’gger’ in this chapter which is used by Werth when he discusses the ‘Black’ members of the Merchant Navy crew. These brave ‘Black’ men (of African descent) are absolute “HEROES” who fought for our collective freedom – and I love everyone of them for performing this service – regardless of where they come from or what they look like! Werth lived in multicultural France for years and never once used this word in any of his extensive books exploring French culture and historical events. The Year of Stalingrad was only published once in 1947 UK – where this word was then in casual and continuous usage. Did his British Publishers ‘insert’ this word into Werth’s narrative (thus ‘altering’ and ‘distorting’ what he was trying to say?) in a mistaken attempt to appeal to the average (and ‘popular’) prejudice of their readers? I have read around twenty books penned by Werth which contain numerous discussions of other people – and Werth NEVER used any derogatory statements similar to the above! Furthermore, the manner in which these brave men are described is disrespectful and ‘un-Socialist’! As Alexander Werth is often accused of being a “Communist” – as if that were a bad thing – I cannot understand or accept this part of the chapter which otherwise contains very important historical data! African men are my Comrades and we stand and fight together!
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 