Persian Corridor

• 1. Strategic Origins And Invasion

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  In June 1941, Germany launched Operation Barbarossa and invaded the Soviet Union. This attack left Britain and the Soviet Union as allies against a common enemy. The Western Allies needed to relieve pressure on Stalin's Red Army immediately. They sought to open a Second Front in Europe but realized that would take too long. Instead, they decided to provide substantial material support to keep the Soviets fighting. The Trans-Iranian Railway offered an attractive route from the Persian Gulf to the Soviet Union. Both Britain and the Soviet Union used concessions from previous interventions to pressure neutral Iran. Increased tensions with Britain led to pro-German rallies in Tehran. Reza Shah refused to expel all German nationals or clearly side with the Allies. In August 1941, Britain and the Soviet Union invaded Iran. They arrested the monarch and sent him into exile to South Africa. The invaders took control of Iran's communications and the coveted railway.

• 2. Logistical Architecture And Routes

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  Supplies originated in the United States and the United Kingdom. Ships sailed around the Cape of Good Hope to reach the Persian Gulf. From there, materiel transited Iran toward the Soviet Union. Other supply routes included the Northern route across the Arctic and the Pacific Route via Vladivostok. The Persian Route became the only viable, all-weather route developed for Soviet needs. Most supplies arrived by ship at various ports in the Persian Gulf. Goods were then carried northwards by railroad or in long truck convoys. Some goods were reloaded on ships to cross the Caspian Sea. Main ports in Iran included Bushehr and Bandar Shahpur. Ports in Iraq included Basra and Umm Qasr. Cargo moved from these ports to Tehran before heading to Ashgabat or Baku. An alternative route went from Basra to Kazvin or Dzhulfa to Beslan. Nowshahr served as the main port for outbound supplies via the Caspian Sea. Ships ferried supplies from this port to Baku or Makhachkala. The Volga River flowed into the Caspian from the north. It was a major route for Lend-Lease supplies to reach the Soviet heartland.

• 3. Scale Of Lend Lease Transfers

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  Of 17.5 million long tons of US Lend-Lease aid provided to the Soviet Union, 7.9 million long tons traveled through Iran. This figure represented 45 percent of total American aid sent to Russia. The tonnage figure does not include transfers of warplanes via Persia. About 20 percent of all shipborne cargo from Allied sources were unloaded in the Corridor. Most of that cargo was bound for the Soviet Union. Some cargo went to British forces under the Middle East Command. Other supplies supported the Iranian economy which sustained tens of thousands of foreign troops. Polish refugees also relied on these supply lines. Supplies were needed for the development of new transport and supply facilities in Persia and the Soviet Union. The Persian Corridor handled more cargo than any other single route. Arctic Convoys delivered goods to Murmansk and Arkhangelsk. Soviet shipping carried supplies from the west coast of the United States and Canada to Vladivostok. The Soviets were not at war with Japan until August 1945.

• 4. Allied Military Administration

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  The United States Army forces in the corridor operated under the Iran-Iraq Service Command. This unit later renamed itself the Persian Gulf Service Command. That command was the successor to the original United States Military Iranian Mission. The mission had been put in place to deliver Lend-Lease supplies before the United States entered World War II. Colonel Don G. Shingler originally commanded the mission. He was replaced late in 1942 by Brigadier General Donald H. Connolly. Both commands remained subordinate to the US Army Forces in the Middle East. The PGSC eventually became known simply as the Persian Gulf Command. Cargo was principally handled by special British and American transportation units. These included the Royal Army Service Corps and the United States Army Quartermaster Corps. Many Allied civilian workers such as stevedores and railway engineers worked on the corridor. Skilled engineers, accountants, and other professionals volunteered or were drafted into armed services. They received warrant officer status to oversee complex supply operations. Colonel Norman Schwarzkopf Sr. took charge of training the Imperial Iranian Gendarmerie in August 1942. His son would command coalition forces fifty years later during the Persian Gulf War.

• 5. Social Impact On Iranian Society

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  The presence of so many foreign troops in Iran accelerated social change. It roused nationalist sentiment within the country. Reza Shah's system of government collapsed under Allied pressure. The new Shah signed an agreement pledging full non-military logistical cooperation. In exchange, he received recognition of his country's independence. He also secured a promise that foreign troops would withdraw within six months of the war's conclusion. In September 1943, the Shah declared war on Germany. He signed the Declaration by United Nations entitling his country to a seat in the original United Nations. Two months later, he hosted the Tehran Conference between Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin. In 1946, Hossein Gol-e-Golab published the nationalist song Ey Iran. This work was reportedly inspired by an incident during the war. Golab witnessed an American GI beating up a native Iranian greengrocer in a marketplace dispute. The Americans were viewed as more neutral since they had no colonial past in the country. They contributed special expertise to the young Shah's government. The influx of tens of thousands of foreign troops strained local resources. Polish refugees added another layer of complexity to the social landscape.