Sunday 10 March 1940

German Foreign Minister Ribbentrop meets with Mussolini.

Winter War Army Operations: The Finnish position on the Karelian Isthmus continues disintegrating on 10 March 1940. They lose Repola and nearby territory on the northeast of Viipuri, and also Karppila and Ruhela on the other side of the city along the shoreline. The massive Soviet pincer around Viipuri is wide open and getting ready to close. There is hand-to-hand fighting deep in the city itself. The city is the linchpin of the defense, once it is lost the Soviets will have multiple avenues into the heart of the country.

Finnish General  Öhqvist:

This is an awful gamble. We might hold Viipuri until tomorrow night. After that, either city or army is doomed.

Winter War Peace Talks: The government in Helsinki realizes the peril of the military situation - it could hardly be more perilous - and messages Ryti in Moscow:

Headquarters not sanguine about carrying on fighting- we authorise you to accept any terms.

Stalin still does not feel this negotiation is of sufficient importance for him to attend - another sign of how perilous it is for the Finns.

The Finnish negotiating team meets with Molotov at the Kremlin for two hours. Molotov says that the offer is take-it-or-leave-it, there can be no alterations. As Ryti puts it, they will alter "not a single comma." This causes some resentment in Finland, but nothing can be done about it - for now.

Winter War Air Operations: Three Finnish planes strafe Soviet columns, destroying vehicles.

European Air Operations: The RAF conducts reconnaissance over Vienna and Prague.

Battle of the Atlantic: The British commission another minesweeping trawler, the HMS Elm (J. Hutchinson).

The British at Gibraltar detain US freighters Explorer, Exchester, and West Cohas, but release them all the same day.

Convoy OA 107 departs from Southend.

German/Italian Relations: Ribbentrop visits Mussolini in Rome and encourages him to visit Hitler. Mussolini agrees. Ribbentrop casually mentions to Mussolini the prospect of Fall Gelb, the invasion of France and the Low Countries. He promises swift and sure victory in hopes of getting Italy to join in the fun. As always, Ribbentrop basically puts the success of the invasion as a done deal, but if Italy wants to share in the glory of the kill, Hitler would be willing to share because Mussolini is such a fine fellow. Mussolini gives a tentative commitment to intervene when he is able. Though Mussolini has a lot of troops, the vast majority are not combat-worthy.

Lord Halifax, Roosevelt's personal foreign policy adviser Sumner Welles, Neville Chamberlain, and US Ambassador Joseph Kennedy – London, 1940.

US Government: Undersecretary of State Sumner Welles, having consulted with Mussolini, Hitler, and Daladier, arrives in London. Welles meets with Lord Halifax and contends that the UK must "disarm" Germany. The British see this as hopelessly naive and believe that Germany remains a threat regardless of whether it is "disarmed."

British Homefront: Sir Oswald Mosley, the founder of the British Union of Fascists, calls for the deportation of British Jews.

Future History: Chuck Norris is born in Ryan Oklahoma. He becomes famous as... Chuck Norris. He also does some acting and teaches some singer karate. But, he becomes... Chuck Norris.

Sir Oswald Mosely being saluted by his female and male followers. Note that the women are wearing the approved Fascist outfit.

March 1940

March 1, 1940: Soviet Breakthroughs Past Viipuri
March 2, 1940: Soviets Swarm West in Finland
March 3, 1940: Soviets Across Gulf of Viipuri
March 4, 1940: USSR Apologizes to Sweden
March 5, 1940: Katyn Forest Massacre Approved
March 6, 1940: Finns Head to Moscow
March 7, 1940: The Coal Ships Affair
March 8, 1940: Peace Talks Begin in Moscow
March 9, 1940: Soviets Harden Peace Terms
March 10, 1940: Germany Draws Closer to Italy
March 11, 1940: Winter War Peace Terms Finalized
March 12, 1940: War is Over (If You Want It)
March 13, 1940: Winter War Ends
March 14, 1940: Evacuating Karelia
March 15, 1940: The Bletchley Bombe
March 16, 1940: First British Civilian Killed
March 17, 1940: Enter Dr. Todt
March 18, 1940: Mussolini To Join the War
March 19, 1940: Daladier Resigns
March 20, 1940: Soviets Occupy Hango Naval Base
March 21, 1940: Paul Reynaud Leads France
March 22, 1940: Night Fighters Arise!
March 24, 1940: French Consider Alternatives
March 25, 1940: Reynaud Proposes Action
March 26, 1940: C-46 First Flight
March 27, 1940: Himmler Authorizes Auschwitz Construction
March 28, 1940: Allies Ponder Invading Norway
March 29, 1940: Soviets Prefer Neutrality
March 30, 1940: Allied Uncertainty
March 31, 1940: The Tiger Cage

2019

Saturday December 23 1939

Molotov cocktail.

Winter War: Today, 23 December 1939, is the Finnish Army's first attempt at a strategic offensive. It was pitched to Marshall Mannerheim only two days ago by General Öhqvist, who is in charge of the Karelian Isthmus. It is the first planned, set-piece offensive by the Finns.

Winter War Army Operations: At 06:30, four Finnish Divisions launch a major counterattack on the western side of the Karelian Isthmus in front of Viipuri. It is the most sensitive spot on the entire front, and both sides have their top firepower there.

The Soviets may not be very good on the offensive recently, but they show that tanks are excellent defensive weapons. After gaining no ground, General Öhqvist abruptly calls off the operation at 14:40. There are roughly 1300 deaths on both sides, which, for the Finns, is a disaster.

At Suomussalmi, the 9th Division launches an attack on the struggling 44th Division which is strung out on the Ratte road. The column had been moving ahead slowly, but with only two machine companies, Captain Mäkinen of the 9th Army forces the entire column, led by the 25th Rifle Regiment, to halt and dig in. It is like a gigantic traffic jam with all lanes blocked.

Winter War Air Operations: The Soviets bomb Helsinki again, but this time with leaflets which contained a message from the Soviet's puppet Finnish government.

Battle of the Atlantic: British repair ship Dolphin hits a mine and sinks off Blyth, Scotland. Everyone survives.

Minesweeping trawlers HMS Glen Albyn and HMS Promotive hit mines and sink in Loch Ewe, Scotland.

The British release US freighters Explorer and Oakwood from detention at Gibraltar.

German Government: Hitler tours the West Wall.

Ireland: The IRA steals 1.1 million rounds of small arms ammunition from the Irish Army's depot at Phoenix Park.

Romania: The government makes inquires to the Italian government for support against Soviet aggression.

League of Nations: The League is busy rounding up support for the Finns, one of the more effective things it has ever done.

United States/Latin American Relations: The US and 20 other nations in the Americas make a statement reaffirming their coastal water neutrality from belligerent actors inside the "security zone" at the River Platte. This message appears directed at the British.

China: The Japanese are launching counterattacks in most places:

• Japanese landings on the Yangtze River in Third War Area;
• Japanese 21st Army captures Tsotanhsu and Lungmen from Chinese 4th War Area;
• Chinese 5th War Area retreats across the Han River;

Chinese 8th War Area is still on the attack outside Patou. In addition, the Chinese are attacking the Japanese 5th Infantry Division around Kunlunkuan.

A Finnish modified Maxin 1910 machine gun used in an antiaircraft role.

December 14, 1939: Quisling Meets Hitler
December 15, 1939: Chinese Winter Offensive in High Gear
December 16, 1939: Battle of Summa
December 17, 1939: End of Admiral Graf Spee
December 18, 1939: Battle of Heligoland Bight
December 19, 1939: British Disarm Magnetic Mines
December 20, 1939: Finnish Counterattacks Continue
December 21, 1939: Finns Plan More Counterattacks
December 22, 1939: Enter Chuikov
December 23, 1939: Failed Finnish Counterattack
December 24, 1939: Soviets on the Run
December 25, 1939: Fresh Soviet Attacks
December 26, 1939: Vicious Battles at Kelja
December 27, 1939: Grinding Finnish Victories
December 28, 1939: Liberators
December 29, 1939: Finns Tighten the Noose
December 30, 1939: Finnish Booty
December 31, 1939: Planning More Soviet Destruction

2019