have had second thoughts about aiding and abet-

ping because it expanded the range of travel in

ting Hitler, and within about 700 nm of the Bering

isolated regions. In the past, travel into Arctic re-

Strait, they advised the Germans to turn about

gions was seriously limited by the ship's fuel stor-

and return west to avoid U.S. ships patrolling the

age capacity or the availability of fuel en route.

Strait. The German captain refused, absolved the

The advent of nuclear-powered ships virtually

Soviets from further responsibility for the safety

eliminated this historically significant barrier over-

of his ship, and successfully completed the pas-

night.

sage unescorted. A new transit record of just 21

The Soviet offer to open the Northern Sea Route

days was set (only 14 days were actually spent

to foreign shipping and provide icebreaking sup-

under way) but, more importantly, the strategic

port for a fee was first extended to the world in

value of the route was demonstrated: the Soviet

1967. A demonstration voyage took place that sum-

Union was capable of moving manpower and

mer in which a Soviet ship transported cargo from

equipment between the Atlantic and the Pacific

western Europe to Yokohama. Although the tran-

Oceans without leaving its own territorial waters.

sit was successfully accomplished in only 27 days,

When the USSR entered the war in 1941, the