World War II in real time

[lordroel]

December 13th 1939

From World War II Realtime Instagram Account

The Battle of the River Plate takes place. It is the first major naval battle of the war and the first in the Battle of the Atlantic off the South American coast. German pocket battleship or ‘panzerschiff’ the Admiral Graf Spee had been raiding and sinking ships in the weeks before the 13th, but today a British group of three cruisers contest the Graf Spee’s dominance in the region.

The three British ships are heavy cruiser HMS Exeter and the Light cruisers HMS Achilles and HMS Ajax and the, the latter also being the flagship of commodore Henry Harwood. The Graf Spee is sighted at 6:10 AM by Harwoods squadron. For about 1,5 hours, the Graf Spee exchanges fire with the three British ships. Exeters guns are all put out of action, after which it sets course to the Falklands for repairs.

At 8:10 AM, it is clear that the Graf Spee sets course to the Uruguayan port of Montevideo. The pursuit will last into the late afternoon. The Ajax breaks the pursuit at 20:10 PM. Achilles closes in, but Graf Spee seeks refuge in Montevideo at 22:40 PM, after which the HMS Achilles bears away to the south-east, thus ending the action for now.

Photo: The HMS Exeter after the Battle of the River Plate in December 1939. The damage to the two front turrets and the bridge is clearly visible.



Air War over Europe

The RAF intercepts and damages two Dornier flying boats over the North Sea.

China

The Chinese Winter Offensive proceeds on multiple axes:

- Chinese 1st War Area clears Taihsing Shan and cuts Taotsing rail line.

- 40th Army and 27th Army of Chinese 2nd War Area open offensive against Japanese 36th Infantry Division around Changtze and Tunliu.

- 10th Army Group of Chinese 3rd War Area raids Fuyang, Yuhang, Nanchang, and Hangchow.

- Chinese 5th War Area captures Changnaoyuan, Hsinchenshih, Chuankoutien, Chianghsitien, and Yangliuho.

- Chinese 9th War Area turning back Japanese columns around Wulimiao, Tashihling, and Kueihuashu and also attacking around Fenghsin and Chingan.

- 27th Army Group of Chinese 9th War Area attacking around Chungyang, Kueihuashu, and Shihchengwan.

The Japanese forces are reeling and giving up ground everywhere from this vicious attack, which they appear to have had some advance notice of.

[lordroel]

December 14th 1939

From World War II Realtime Instagram Account

The Norwegian pro-Nazi politician Vidkun Quisling comes to Berlin to meet with Hitler and other high-ranking members of the German military. At this point, the Nazis seriously consider invading Norway because of its strategic value and as a hub for the iron trade. Besides, Germany could really use forward naval basis in Norway in their submarine war against the British navy.

Quisling conveyed that his government secretly made a deal with the British to allow them to build a base near Kristiansand. He offered the Germans to install a new government with him at its head. He would then legally ‘invite the Germans’ into Norway to protect from the British threat. He argued that many influential Norwegians agreed with this proposal. If it should fail however, a German military invasion would be welcome.

Quisling already had a long political track record. He was Minister of Defences for the Agrarian Party in the 1931 government. Quisling was at the centre of many internal conflicts and when the government fell two years later, he lost his last public office. Quisling then formed the Norwegian Fascist party, ‘Nasjonal Samling’ (National Unity). He gained some following among intellectual Norwegians, but once his anti-Semitic and true fascist nature emerged, many left.

In its first election, ‘Nasjonal Samling’ got hold of 2,2% of the votes, which wasn’t enough for a seat in the Norwegian Parliament. His popularity even dropped in later years. Meanwhile, he increasingly tied his image to Hitler’s, calling himself ‘Fører’ and recruiting personal bodyguards he called the ‘hird’. When democratic success did not come true, he pointed his arrows at the Germans.

Battle of the Atlantic

German liner Columbus, perhaps emboldened by the successful return to Germany of the Bremen from Murmansk, slips out of Vera Cruz, Mexico to return to Germany. There is an involved situation wherein Australian cruiser HMAS Perth is shadowing the Columbus, while several American destroyers and the cruiser USS Vincennes (CA 44) are shadowing the Perth, much to the latter's annoyance.

The Columbus almost slips out unnoticed, but two US destroyers see it leave and tail it. German freighter Arauca also departs from Vera Cruz before Columbus, perhaps as a decoy. The US ships in pursuit openly broadcast the Columbus' position for anyone who might be interested.

Admiral Graf Spee is given 48 hours to leave Montevideo port or be seized by the government after Captain Langsdorff requests two weeks. The British through their naval attaché Henry McCall are all over the Uruguayans and force this decision, though the authorities give the ship an extra day more than required (or allowed) by international law. Commodore Harwood of Force G, meanwhile, is lurking outside the estuary - 120 miles wide - with his battered ships, pondering what might happen in another action against the pocket battleship.

Photo: Honor Guard on the Admiral Graf Spee, December 14, 1939.



Air War over Europe

The RAF sends 42 planes, its largest force yet, to attack German harbors. The Luftwaffe has a successful day, shooting down 5 of the attacking bombers.

Western Front

Premier Daladier summarizes the results of the first three months of the year in a communiqué, stating that 2,100 French soldiers had lost their lives. He rather incongruously contrasts this with 2,975 road deaths in Great Britain during the same period - road deaths having increased dramatically due to the blackout.

League of Nations

The League expels the USSR, which doesn't really notice since it has been boycotting the League anyway. The reason is for violating (among other things) the UN charter the USSR signed in 1934. Furthermore, the League coordinates relief efforts for the Finns. With Italy, Germany and Japan already having left the League for one reason or another, it is losing relevance.

China

The Chinese Winter Offensive continues. Chinese 40th Army and 27 Army surround Japanese 36 Infantry division at Changtze and Tunliu; River North Army crosses the Han River; 19th Army Group of Chinese 9th War Area beats off a Japanese counterattack by Japanese 33rd and 40th Infantry Divisions Yuchiafan, Lungkang, and Dafan.

[lordroel]

December 15th 1939

Battle of the Atlantic

Captain Langsdorff of the Admiral Graf Spee spends part of the day going to funerals for 36 of his men and ponders what to do with his ship and men. The released British sailors attend the funeral of their own volition and lay wreaths.

Langsdorff is told that he must leave within 72 hours. His men are repairing what battle damage they can, but the ship requires much more time. The British spread rumors by various means, including phony radio transmissions, suggesting that the British forces awaiting the Admiral Graf Spee are larger than they actually are. The British also play games with departures of British merchant ships, sending them out at intervals - the Admiral Graf Spee must give departing ships 24 hours head start, and the British want more time to assemble a fleet outside the Platte River estuary.

Light cruiser HMS Ajax is refueled while the heavy cruiser HMS Cumberland minds the store.

U-48 (Kapitänleutnant Herbert Schultze) torpedoes and sinks the Greek freighter Germaine south of Ireland. Kpt. Schultze disembarks the ship before sinking it, so all of the crew survives.

Western Front

British 5th Division of the BEF is formed from three infantry brigades and deployed south of Lille. The British are not shielded by the Maginot Line but are constructing some of their own fortifications. The German and British lines are far apart except at Metz.

China

The Chinese Winter Offensive shifts into high gear:

- Chinese 1st War Area captures Lowang railway station;

- Chinese 6th War Area (southern Hupei and western Hunan), assisting 9th War Area, unsuccessfully attacks Yuehyang and railroad station at Kaochiao approximately this date, but plays no other role in the winter offensive.

- Chinese 8th War Area (Kansu, Ninghsia, Tsinghai, and Suiyuan) commences operations with 35th Army and 81st Army capturing Anpei approximately this date.

- 19th Army Group of Chinese 9th War Area attacking Hsintanpu, Tongyang, and Nanliqiao.

- Chinese East Hupei guerrilla forces begin nuisance raids

The Japanese throw in some counterattacks where possible:

- Japanese counterattacks against Chinese 2nd War Area.

- Japanese counterattack Southern Honan Army of Chinese 5th War Area and recapture Yangliuho.
- Japanese counterattack Left Flank Army of Chinese 5th War Area around Chihchengshan, forcing the Chinese to withdraw to Chikutien and Sanchingkuan.

- Elements of Japanese 33rd Infantry Division and 40th Infantry Division attack Chinese 9th War Area around Shihmen and Shihpihu.

Overall, the Japanese are withstanding the Chinese Winter Offense and throwing in some solid counter-punches.

[lordroel]

December 15th 1939

[lordroel]

December 16th 1939

Western Front

The French stop a German raid on an outpost east of the Moselle River.

Battle of the Atlantic

Captain Langsdorff communicates with Berlin through the German embassy. He asks for instructions. He is told to either move the Admiral Graf Spee to Buenos Aires, or scuttle the ship to avoid British intelligence from examining it. Admiral Raeder and Adolf Hitler are monitoring the situation closely. Force G remains outside the River Platte, with the Ajax's float plane monitoring the situation and the ships refueling. Commodore Harwood is promoted to Rear Admiral and knighted (KCB). The three Force G cruiser captains are made Companions of the Bath (CB).

China

The Chinese Winter Offense continues expanding:

- Chinese 1st War Area captures Kaifeng.

- Chinese 3rd War Area (Anhwei south of Yangtze River, northeastern Kiangsi, and territory to the east with 10th Army Group, 23rd Army Group, and 32nd Army Group) opens offensive.

- Chinese 5th War Area captures Japanese strongpoints at Niehchiachang, Funanchang, Wuhsuchiachang, Chouchiachang, Tunghsinchang, Tuochuanu, and Nanhofu.

- 73rd Army of Chinese 9th War Area opens attacks around Shihchengwan, Kueikoushih, and Tashaping and remains intermittently engaged in that area for a month.

The Japanese forces are reeling, but manage some counterattacks such as against the Chinese 2nd War Area.

[stevep]

Dec 16, 2018 14:41:20 GMT lordroel said:

December 16th 1939

Western Front

The French stop a German raid on an outpost east of the Moselle River.

Battle of the Atlantic

Captain Langsdorff communicates with Berlin through the German embassy. He asks for instructions. He is told to either move the Admiral Graf Spee to Buenos Aires, or scuttle the ship to avoid British intelligence from examining it. Admiral Raeder and Adolf Hitler are monitoring the situation closely. Force G remains outside the River Platte, with the Ajax's float plane monitoring the situation and the ships refueling. Commodore Harwood is promoted to Rear Admiral and knighted (KCB). The three Force G cruiser captains are made Companions of the Bath (CB).

China

The Chinese Winter Offense continues expanding:

- Chinese 1st War Area captures Kaifeng.

- Chinese 3rd War Area (Anhwei south of Yangtze River, northeastern Kiangsi, and territory to the east with 10th Army Group, 23rd Army Group, and 32nd Army Group) opens offensive.

- Chinese 5th War Area captures Japanese strongpoints at Niehchiachang, Funanchang, Wuhsuchiachang, Chouchiachang, Tunghsinchang, Tuochuanu, and Nanhofu.

- 73rd Army of Chinese 9th War Area opens attacks around Shihchengwan, Kueikoushih, and Tashaping and remains intermittently engaged in that area for a month.

The Japanese forces are reeling, but manage some counterattacks such as against the Chinese 2nd War Area.

  Reminds me of the classic line from the film about the battle.  The captains are hearing this as they review battle damage, which includes washing facilties for the senior officers and one of them remarks something along the line of three commanders of the bath and they don't have a single one between them!

[lordroel]

Dec 16, 2018 20:10:18 GMT stevep said:

Dec 16, 2018 14:41:20 GMT lordroel said:

December 16th 1939

Western Front

The French stop a German raid on an outpost east of the Moselle River.

Battle of the Atlantic

Captain Langsdorff communicates with Berlin through the German embassy. He asks for instructions. He is told to either move the Admiral Graf Spee to Buenos Aires, or scuttle the ship to avoid British intelligence from examining it. Admiral Raeder and Adolf Hitler are monitoring the situation closely. Force G remains outside the River Platte, with the Ajax's float plane monitoring the situation and the ships refueling. Commodore Harwood is promoted to Rear Admiral and knighted (KCB). The three Force G cruiser captains are made Companions of the Bath (CB).

China

The Chinese Winter Offense continues expanding:

- Chinese 1st War Area captures Kaifeng.

- Chinese 3rd War Area (Anhwei south of Yangtze River, northeastern Kiangsi, and territory to the east with 10th Army Group, 23rd Army Group, and 32nd Army Group) opens offensive.

- Chinese 5th War Area captures Japanese strongpoints at Niehchiachang, Funanchang, Wuhsuchiachang, Chouchiachang, Tunghsinchang, Tuochuanu, and Nanhofu.

- 73rd Army of Chinese 9th War Area opens attacks around Shihchengwan, Kueikoushih, and Tashaping and remains intermittently engaged in that area for a month.

The Japanese forces are reeling, but manage some counterattacks such as against the Chinese 2nd War Area.

  Reminds me of the classic line from the film about the battle.  The captains are hearing this as they review battle damage, which includes washing facilties for the senior officers and one of them remarks something along the line of three commanders of the bath and they don't have a single one between them!

Never saw that movie, need to see if i can find it and watch it.

[stevep]

Dec 16, 2018 20:17:21 GMT lordroel said:

Dec 16, 2018 20:10:18 GMT stevep said:

  Reminds me of the classic line from the film about the battle.  The captains are hearing this as they review battle damage, which includes washing facilties for the senior officers and one of them remarks something along the line of three commanders of the bath and they don't have a single one between them!

Never saw that movie, need to see if i can find it and watch it.

  If its any help this is the film.  The_Battle_of_the_River_Plate_(film),  The ships aren't very accurate as the Graf Spee, with two triple 11" turrets, one at either end is played by a USN Brooklyn class IIRC, with five triple 6" turrets but there's a lot of background info on the Spee's campaign prior to the battle and the interactions once it reaches Montivedo.  Although how accurate some of that is I don't know.

[lordroel]

December 17th 1939

Battle of the Atlantic

he Atlantic: On 17 December 1939, Captain Langsdorff must make a decision, and he does. The Admiral Graf Spee only has left a third of its ammunition, about as much as expended during the previous battle. It also has insufficient fuel left to return to Germany, with the prospect of being able to refuel while being chased by the British very unlikely. So, after consulting with his officers, at 6:15 p.m., Langsdorff sails slowly west out of Montevideo and scuttles the ship in neutral waters. It sits mostly submerged in 7 meters of water, blazing away.

Most of Langsdorff's crew transfers to the German freighter Tacoma. He and his 1,039-man crew wind up in detention in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The outcome is a huge propaganda victory for the British and First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill, but the sailors from Admiral Graf Spee survived. Churchill spins into rhetorical overdrive:

The outcome was "like a flash of light and colour on the scene, carrying with it an encouragement to all who are fighting, to ourselves, and to our Allies."

The Admiral Graf Spee had sunk 50,089 tons of shipping, nine ships. It also badly damaged a heavy cruiser and kept a large portion of the Allied fleets searching the South Atlantic for weeks. This deprived convoys further north of protection. The Altmark, its supply ship, remains free and heads back north to Germany, loaded with Allied prisoners.

Photo: German heavy cruiser Admiral Graf Spee scuttled in Montevideo harbor following the Battle of the River Plate in December 1939.



YouTube clip (Graf Spee - Pocket Battleship Scuttled By Nazis Aka Graf Spee In Montevideo)



U-59 (Oberleutnant zur See Harald Jürst) sinks the 1.245 ton Danish freighter Jaegerborg east of the Firth of Forth in Scotland. All eighteen crew perish.[/span]

U-59 also torpedoes and sinks the 1,214 ton Danish freighter Bogø. Of the 20-man crew, three survive.

Canada

The first convoy of Canadian troops arrives in Liverpool, some 7,500 men of the 1st Canadian Division (Canadian Major-General McNaughton). It consists of five ocean liners.

China

The Chinese Winter Offensive continues. While the Chinese 3rd War Area attacks the 116th Infantry Regiment and captures Hsientao and Szekang, elsewhere the Japanese begin counter-attacking. The Japanese 5th Infantry Division attacks toward Lungchow, the 104th Infantry Division reaches Yuantan in Kwantung Province, and the Japanese counterattack the Chinese 2nd War Area.

[lordroel]

December 18th 1939

From World War II Realtime Instagram Account

The Battle of the Heligoland Bight takes place. 22 British Wellington Bombers enter the German airspace to harm the German navy stationed at Heligoland as much as possible. Though the Germans reacted rather slowly, approximately 44 German aircraft make contact with the British bombers. 12 British Wellingtons are destroyed, 3 are damaged and 57 men are killed.

The Bombers are not escorted and are on a daylight armed reconnaissance flight. After finding out that there are no warships at the Bight, they decide to go to Wilhelmshaven instead. They are attacked continuously on the way to and from Wilhelmshaven – where they don’t bomb any ships either because the ships are too close to the shore, which is too dangerous to attack.

Instead, they photograph the fleet and bomb some large fleet auxiliaries instead. The Messerschmitts keep swarming the bombers, but they can’t break the phalanx formation, making it very hard for the German fighter pilots to come close. The German pilots pursued the bombers for 70 kilometers from the German coast.

Interesting fact: During this battle, a new tactic was used which would later be incorporated in the tactics for attacks on ships. A British bomber would break away from the formation, luring German fighter planes away from other targets. It would then fly very close to the sea level, making it impossible for the Germans to attack from beneath. If the fighter attacked from above, the shots would be seen in the water and could easily be evaded. If they attacked at the same level as the bomber, they would become an easy target for the British gunners.

Battle of the Atlantic

The Captain and crew of Admiral Graf Spee land at Buenos Aires. The Uruguayan authorities arrest four of them for scuttling their ship. The press is full of scorn of Captain Langsdorff for not going down with his ship, which is full of black humor because, if he had stayed on the bridge, he still would have been above water.

Photo: Kapitän zur See Hans Langsdorff reading about his ship, the Admiral Graf Spee, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. December 18, 1939.



The British Admiralty reports that 10 out of 1,100 ships transiting to or from British ports in the first ten days of December were sunk.

Germany

Hitler and Quisling meet a second time. Hitler repeats his promise that any British invasion will be met by a German counter-invasion. Quisling becomes uncertain about Hitler's motives - Quisling sees himself as ruler of an equal nation supported by Hitler, while Hitler sees Quisling as someone to govern a German possession - and somewhat belatedly denies being a Nazi. Hitler proceeds with his own plans for an invasion but now is not depending upon Quisling, though he continues supporting him.

China

The Battle of Kunlun Pass begins. The Japanese have captured this key route which provides access to the Chinese rear of Chungking. Chinese General Bai Chongxi has Chiang Kai-shek send the best unit in the Chinese Army, the 5th Corps from Hunan province, to stop them. Unlike other Chinese formations it is equipped with tanks and other armour, and it sends two divisions to attack the Japanese. The Chinese plan is to sweep in behind the Japanese and cut them off. Progress on the first day is promising.

Elsewhere, the Chinese Winter Offensive is recovering ground. The 2nd War Area recaptures Lunghua Chen, the 3rd War Area recaptures Chasan, Wangchiatan, Tsenghsingshan, Paifangshan, Maotan, Puling, Hsiangshan, Tuanshan, Hanshan, Shihtzeshan, Huiluling, Kangyaoling, and part of Chiangchiatashan, 5th War Area recaptures Tzepakang and Changkang, and Chinese North Route Force recaptures Kunlunkuan and Chiu-Tang. There are Chinese attacks all across the front, and Japanese counterattacks are stymied.

[lordroel]

December 19th 1939

Battle of the Atlantic

Admiralty scientist figure out an antidote for the German magnetic mines using the one retrieved near Shropshire by Commander John G. D. Ouvry and Doctor Albert Wood on November 23, 1939. Dr. C. F. Goodeve and Dr. E. C. Bullard lead a team that comes up with "degaussing," which creates a magnetic field that de-polarizes the ships so they do not attract mines. The initial solution is to wrap bulky electric cables around ships.

The German crew of the 32,354 ton liner Columbus scuttles it about 300 miles off Cape May, New Jersey. Two crewmen perish. It has been tailed by neutrality patrol ships since leaving Vera Cruz. The US Tuscaloosa has been broadcasting the ship's location in the clear, and the British destroyer HMS Hyperion is approaching. This is another instance of the US openly siding with the British while remaining legal. The Tuscaloosa rescues 567 men and 9 female stewardesses and takes them to New York.

The German refrigerated freighter Arauca is challenged by the British destroyer HMS Orion. The Orion fires a shot across the ship's bow to make it stop, and the shot lands in US territorial waters. The Arauca ignores the warning and makes it to Port Everglades, where it is interned.

US Secretary of State Cordell Hull instructs his Ambassador to the Court of St. James Joseph Kennedy to tell the British that they need to cease hostile acts in the territorial waters of neutral nations such as the United States.

British freighter City of Kobe (4,373 tons) hits a mine and sinks near Cross Sand Buoy, Greater Yarmouth. One crewman perishes.

Kriegsmarine raider Atlantis is commissioned.

Captain Langsdorff of the Admiral Graf Spee commits suicide in Buenos Aires by shooting himself in bed, draped in a German flag. He writes, "for a captain with a sense of honor …. his personal fate cannot be separated from that of his ship." An honorable commander, he made irreversible mistakes at crucial junctures which doomed his ship. However, his ship accomplished much more to aid the Nazi war effort than most historians give him credit for.

Anglo/French Relations

The Supreme War Council holds its fourth meeting in Paris. It decides to send help to Finland if asked, though the neutral Scandinavian nations feel this is dangerous and will widen the conflict there. Prime Minister Chamberlain then returns to London.

German/Japanese Relations

Hitler meets with incoming Japanese ambassador Saburo Kurusu.

China

Chinese forces continue making gains. The Chinese North Route Force recaptures Kaofengyi. The Japanese 33rd and 40th Infantry Divisions withdraw from Shihmen and Shihpihu in the face of Chinese 9th War Area attacks. The Chinese 3rd War Area is interdicting Japanese river traffic on the Yangtze River using anti-tank guns.

YouTube clip (Elmer Davis And The News - German Liner Columbus)

[lordroel]

December 20th 1939

Battle of the Atlantic

At some point, local British authorities purchase the salvage rights to the Admiral Graf Spee for £14,000 from the German government. They examine the radar range finder and report back their findings to Fred Hoyle at the British Admiralty in order to develop countermeasures.

Swedish freighter Mars (1,877 tons) strikes a mine and sinks near Blyth in the English Channel. Of the crew, 15 are saved and 7 perish.

British freighter Napia hits a mine and sinks.

The USS Tuscaloosa arrives in New York with 579 survivors of the scuttled German liner Columbus, who are deposited on Ellis Island.

Captain Langsdorff of the Admiral Graf Spee commits suicide at some point during the night of 19/20 December.

US freighter Exochorda is the focus of a brewing international incident over the high-handed detainment of US vessels by British authorities. US Ambassador to Italy William Phillips complains about seemingly arbitrary standards regarding what is contraband and what is to be done with it.

Air War over Europe

The RAF sends a dozen bombers to the North Sea to attack shipping, without result.

China

The Chinese Winter Offensive is continuing, but the initial impetus is starting to break. Chinese 2nd War Area is pacifying Wenhsi and Hsia Hsien and captures the villages of Ankuo and Tienwang. Chinese 8th War Area attacks into Paotou. Chinese 3rd War Area, however, is having difficulties advancing on the south bank of the Yangtze, and the Japanese are counterating at Kunlunkuan, Hiutang, Kaofengyi, and along the Canton-Hankow railway.

[stevep]

Dec 20, 2018 16:21:48 GMT lordroel said:

December 20th 1939

Battle of the Atlantic

At some point, local British authorities purchase the salvage rights to the Admiral Graf Spee for £14,000 from the German government. They examine the radar range finder and report back their findings to Fred Hoyle at the British Admiralty in order to develop countermeasures.

  Never realised that but according to his Wiki entry the future astronomer was actually working at the admiralty on radar at this time.

[lordroel]

Dec 20, 2018 16:53:50 GMT stevep said:

Dec 20, 2018 16:21:48 GMT lordroel said:

December 20th 1939

Battle of the Atlantic

At some point, local British authorities purchase the salvage rights to the Admiral Graf Spee for £14,000 from the German government. They examine the radar range finder and report back their findings to Fred Hoyle at the British Admiralty in order to develop countermeasures.

  Never realised that but according to his Wiki entry the future astronomer was actually working at the admiralty on radar at this time.

Well nice to see that we can discover things like this.

[lordroel]

December 21st 1939

Battle of the Atlantic

U-21 (Kapitänleutnant Fritz Frauenheim) is positioned perfectly as the day begins. At 07:25 he torpedoes and sinks 1,352 ton Swedish freighter Carl Henckel off the Island of May, Scotland. Seven survive, ten perish. Around 10:00, he torpedoes and sinks 1,475 ton Swedish freighter Mars near the same spot. There is one survivor, 18 perish. Frauenheim is sparing with his torpedoes, using one on each freighter. The survivors spend a miserable day and night in the sea and are then picked up and taken to Kristiansand.

U-46 (Herbert Sohler) torpedoes and sinks 924 ton Norwegian freighter Rudolf northeast of Rattray Head, Scotland. All 15 crew survive.

British defense vessel HMS Bayonet strikes a mine in the Firth of Forth and sinks. Three perish.

USS Twiggs tails the British RFA tanker Patella in the Caribbean.

Captain Langsdorff is buried in Buenos Aires as his men from the Admiral Graf Spee go into internment there.

Photo: The coffin of Kapitän zur See Hans W. Langsdorff at the German Cemetery in Buenos Aires, Argentina.



Air War over Europa

The RAF once again sends a mass of bombers to attack German shipping in the north sea, but they find nothing and, while returning, have two of their 42 number shot down by Supermarine Spitfires.

There also are some interceptions along the French border, but no engagements.

German/Soviet Relations

Hitler loves to celebrate other leaders' birthdays, and this is Joseph Stalin's 60th big day. He sends Stalin a telegram wishing him "good health and a happy future for the peoples of the friendly Soviet Union."

Stalin responds as a good Communist should: "To the Chancellor of the German Reich, A Hitler. The friendship of the peoples of Germany and the Soviet Union, cemented by blood, has every reason to be lasting and firm."

Hitler is working very hard to become "friendly" with Stalin. He has ulterior motives for this which will not be known until later.

China

The Winter Offensive continues. The Chinese retain the initiative, but are getting bogged down now. The Chinese 3rd War Area raids Nanchang, the Chinese 8th War Area is fighting within Paotou, Chinese 9th War Area is cutting Japanese lines of communications at Chingan, and there is fighting around Kunlunkuan.

The Japanese 5th Infantry Division takes Lungchow.