Background
German forces had completed their occupation of Norway in June 1940 and in June 1941, the Soviet Union (USSR) had been invaded (Operation Barbarossa). Immediately, the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, had declared common cause with the USSR. The Soviets requested a British naval presence off northern Russia and Rear Admiral Philip Vian visited Murmansk to assess the local situation. Due to logistical and other circumstances the British presence was limited to submarines.
Political pressure continued for an active British presence and Force K was formed at Scapa Flow to operate in the Arctic under the command of Philip Vian.
Read more about this topic: Operation Gauntlet
Famous quotes containing the word background:
“In the true sense one’s native land, with its background of tradition, early impressions, reminiscences and other things dear to one, is not enough to make sensitive human beings feel at home.”
—Emma Goldman (1869–1940)
“... every experience in life enriches one’s background and should teach valuable lessons.”
—Mary Barnett Gilson (1877–?)
“They were more than hostile. In the first place, I was a south Georgian and I was looked upon as a fiscal conservative, and the Atlanta newspapers quite erroneously, because they didn’t know anything about me or my background here in Plains, decided that I was also a racial conservative.”
—Jimmy Carter (James Earl Carter, Jr.)