Then why did both Stalin and Khrushchev say it was important for the victory ?
Sorry but I’ve read tons of AskHistorians answers about this. I recommend you go there and search this same question. The Soviets needed that 11%. My understanding is that a lot of it helped mechanise the Soviet Army, ie trucks were delivered in large quantities.
From Claude I got this:
“In Khrushchev's memoirs, he recalled Stalin saying in a private conversation that without American aid through Lend-Lease, the Soviet Union "would not have been able to cope because we lost so much of our industry." Khrushchev himself wrote that Lend-Lease was "of utmost importance" and that "we would have been in a difficult position without it." “
Here is some more from Claude (it sounds about right but I don’t have to check this):
“ The significance of Lend-Lease goes far beyond the raw percentage of industrial output. Here's why it was so crucial:
1. Timing and Critical Shortages:
- The aid arrived during the most critical period (1941-1942) when Soviet industry was being relocated east of the Urals
- During this vulnerable period, American trucks, food, and materials helped keep the Soviet army mobile and fed
- Without this bridge of support during the industrial relocation, the USSR would have faced severe shortages at its most vulnerable moment
2. Strategic Materials and Bottlenecks:
- The Soviets received specific materials that were severe bottlenecks in their production:
- Aviation fuel and high-octane gas
- Aluminum for aircraft production
- Radio equipment and communications gear
- Special grades of steel and industrial equipment
- These materials were critical multipliers that enabled Soviet production
3. Transportation and Logistics:
- Nearly 450,000 trucks were provided, which revolutionized Soviet logistics
- Before Lend-Lease, the Red Army relied heavily on horse transport
- American Studebaker trucks allowed for rapid troop movements and superior logistics
- This mobility was crucial for later Soviet offensive operations”
