FINNS REPEL FOE IN KARELIA; VIBORG AGAIN IS BOMBARDED (12/27/39)

Microfiche-New York Times archives, Cabrillo College Library | 12/27/39 | Harold Denny, G.E.R. Gedye, Camille M. Cianfarra, John W. White, Frank L. Kluckhohn, Jules Sauerwein

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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EDITORIALS

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents World War II Plus 70 Years: Seminar and Discussion Forum
First session: September 1, 2009. Last date to add: September 2, 2015.
Reading assignment: New York Times articles delivered daily to students on the 70th anniversary of original publication date. (Previously posted articles can be found by searching on keyword “realtime”.)
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by freepmail. Those on the Realtime +/- 70 Years ping list are automatically enrolled. Course description, prerequisites and tuition information is available at the bottom of Homer’s profile.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

[Homer_J_Simpson]

On December 27 [Hitler] . . . again postponed the attack in the West “by at least a fortnight.”

William L. Shirer, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich

[Homer_J_Simpson]

700 Slain on Lake – 2-3
Three Finnish Women Die At Posts With the Troops – 3
The International Situation – 3
Bombing of Viborg Misses Objectives – 4
Soviet People Irked at the Failure Of Red Army to Conquer Finland – 5-6
Dr. Poling Offers World Peace Plan – 7
Church and Public Hail Peace Move of the President – 9
Leaders’ Replies to the President – 10
Pope Sends Funds to Catholic Finns – 11-12
Hope of Peace for Italy Told by President to King – 12
Hitler Sets Foot Upon French Soil – 13-14
Ship is Torpedoed Off English Coast – 15-16
Merchant Ships Sunk in War – 16
Chile’s ‘Strong Man’ Leaves the Cabinet – 16
1,000 Police Assigned to Times Sq. To Control New Year Eve Revelers – 17
11 Hurt at Brooklyn Movie by Wall Cave-In; 300 Escape Just Before Next-Door Explosion – 18
Exeter Fought Spee Till Dusk, New Reports on Battle Reveal – 19-21
Americas’ Aid Plan is Forming Rapidly – 23
Reich Will Transfer 80,000 Galician Jews – 23
Rumanian Appeals For Neutral Unity – 24
Incidents in European Conflict – 26
Stalin and Hitler (Editorials) – 27-28

[central_va]

Ok, the whole world is about to go into total warfare and the Belgium coal miners are going to go on strike. UFB...

[abb]

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1939/dec39/f27dec39.htm

Indian troops join the BEF
Wednesday, December 27, 1939 www.onwar.com

On the Western Front... The first Indian army troops arrive to join the British Expeditionary Force in France.

In the Winter War... The Soviets end attacks on the north end of the Mannerheim Line with little success. Meanwhile, the Finns launch offensives against units of the Soviet 8th and 9th Armies and evacuate civilians from Viipuri.

In Occupied Poland... Two German army noncommissioned officers are killed by Poles in a bar in the Warsaw suburb of Wawer. The bar owner is immediately hanged and 120 Poles selected at random are shot and killed.

In Stockholm... Britain and France seek Swedish permission for the shipment of “unofficial” aid to Finland through Sweden.

In London... The American government protests the British seizure of US mail en route to Europe.

In Turkey... A powerful earthquake is estimated to have killed 8000 people, thousands more are made homeless, in bitter winter weather conditions. The regions of Tokat and the Black Sea tobacco-growing centers of Samsun and Ordu are among the worst hit.

[abb]

December 27th, 1939
UNITED KINGDOM: RAF Coastal Command: German destroyers and patrol boats attacked off German coast.

Cambridge: A verdict of accidental death is given in the case of a couple who cycled into a river during the blackout and drowned.

Corvette HMS Jonquil laid down.

Minesweeping trawler HMS Hazel launched. (Dave Shirlaw)

GERMANY: U-108 are laid down. (Dave Shirlaw)

POLAND: After two German officers are killed in a scuffle in a bar at Wawer, the authorities round up and shoot dead 107 men and boys selected at random.

EUROPE: The Allies lobby Sweden and Norway for permission to ship unofficial aid to Finland.

TURKEY: A powerful earthquake is estimated to have killed 8,000 people.

U.S.A.: Submarine USS Gar laid down. (Dave Shirlaw)

ATLANTIC OCEAN: The German merchantman Glücksburg (2680 GRT) was intercepted by destroyer HMS Wishart and was run aground by her crew near the Chipiona Lightship, Spain. (Dave Shirlaw)

[abb]

H . M . S . W I S H A R T (D 6 7 )

Modified W-Class Destroyer ordered from John I Thornycroft at Woolston, Southampton with the 13th order of the 1913-19 Programmes in January 1918. She was laid down on 18th May 1918 and launched on 18th July 1919 as the first ship to commemorate the name of a Royal Navy Captain serving at Vigo In 1702. Her completion was in June 1920 and she is easily distinguished from other ships of this type by having two funnels of almost equal height. During the inter-war years she served in the Atlantic Fleet and later in the Mediterranean was commanded by Lord Louis Mountbatten. Following a WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in February 1942 this ship was adopted by the civil community of Port Talbot, Glamorgan. In 1942 she was classed as a Close Range Escort and not converted to a Long Range Escort because the boiler room arrangements did not allow increase her fuel capacity.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

OK, I know you didn’t post the story of the Wishart for no reason, but I can’t find mention of her in any article. Can you help me out?

[abb]

Post #7. Couldn't find a pic of the Glücksburg, so I grabbed a pic of the warship.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: The German merchantman Glücksburg (2680 GRT) was intercepted by destroyer HMS Wishart and was run aground by her crew near the Chipiona Lightship, Spain. (Dave Shirlaw)

[CougarGA7]

Day 28 of the Winter War, December 27, 1939

Finland's civil defence chief urges the public to make greater use of camouflage and other forms of protection: cars should be painted white and people should also carry with them white camouflage clothing.
Photo: SA-KUVA

Uruguay to aid Finland

• Eastern Isthmus: the Finnish counteroffensive at Taipale pushes the Russians back from Kelja around midday.

• The Russians lose 2,000 men in the fighting at Lake Suvanto while 516 Finnish soldiers are killed.

• Northern Finland: at Hulkonniemi in Suomussalmi, troops of the Finnish 9th Division launch their decisive assault to destroy the enemy's 163rd Division. The Russians are forced to withdraw from Suomussalmi.

• Colonel Siilasvuo receives word that the entire Russian 44th Division is concentrated along the Raate road.

• Ladoga Karelia: combat detachments of IV Army Corps commanded by Major-General Hägglund launch a broad counteroffensive which lays the basis for January's 'motti' battles. In Lieksa, the Finnish troops attacking in the region of Kivivaara reach the Russian border and take up defensive positions.

• Finland's civil defence chief urges the public to make greater use of camouflage and other forms of protection: cars should be painted white and people should also carry with them white camouflage clothing.

• Soviet leader Joseph Stalin expresses his appreciation to Otto Wille Kuusinen and his 'Finnish People's Government' for their 60th birthday greetings, and wishes them victory in their struggle.

• In a radio lecture, Professor V.A. Koskenniemi likens Finland's fight to the struggle of the ancient Greeks against the great powers of the ancient world.