A Bitter Cold Conflict
On January 19, 1919, Lt. Harry Mead’s platoon faced extreme cold and a deadly enemy near Ust Padenga, Russia. At 45 degrees below zero, his 47-man platoon was surrounded by Bolshevik forces. After a fierce battle, only seven soldiers survived; 25 were killed, and 15 were injured.
The Polar Bear Expedition
The American troops were part of the “Polar Bear Expedition,” a 1918 deployment ordered by President Woodrow Wilson to protect Allied supplies in Russia and aid anti-Bolshevik forces. They faced unclear objectives and a harsh winter, with 13,000 soldiers split between Archangel and Vladivostok.
Caught in Russian Civil War
Fighting alongside Allied forces, American troops faced intense battles and harsh conditions. They were caught in the chaos of the Russian Civil War, with shifting allegiances and uncertain support, and a mission that seemed to lack a clear purpose.
A Controversial Legacy
By April 1920, all U.S. troops had withdrawn. The Polar Bear Expedition remains a little-known chapter of American military history.
America’s Little-Known Fight in Russia 🪖
A Bitter Cold Conflict
On January 19, 1919, Lt. Harry Mead's platoon faced extreme cold and a deadly enemy near Ust Padenga, Russia. At 45 degrees below zero, his 47-man platoon was surrounded by Bolshevik forces. After a fierce battle,… pic.twitter.com/UEemLf3dVQ— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TBBOB2) September 10, 2024