Before being stabbed in the back by Hitler, the Ribentrop – Molotov pact and the partition of Poland suited Stalin just fine. It was thanks to American lend-lease that to a greater part the Russians were able to turn the tide against the Germans. On that note, my grandfather served in the Royal Navy for most of the war and saw extensive service on a number of the Arctic Convoys running war matériel from Britain to Murmansk and Archangel; a miserable and dangerous business he told me, as they skirted round Scandinavia dodging U-boats and air attacks from Nazi occupied Norway. What he always resented the Soviets was their poker-faced ingratitude. After a week in frigid high seas and under constant attack, they would dock at Murmansk, be immediately relieved of their supplies and told to bugger off back the way they came for more. The Soviets would not so much as let them off the ship for a beer for fear that the locals might be contaminated by western principles. “You’re welcome”….you know? I think I understand his resentment.