BRITISH SEIZE 7 ITALIAN SHIPS WITH COAL; ROME IS STUNNED; REDS THRUST WEST OF VIBORG (3/6/40)

Microfiche-New York Times archives, McHenry Library, U.C. Santa Cruz | 3/6/40 | James B. Reston, George Axelsson

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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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” Or view Homer’s posting history .)
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]

Selections from West Point Atlas for the Second World War
Evolution of Plan Yellow, October 1939-January 1940
The Far East and the Pacific, 1941 – The Imperial Powers, 1 September 1939

[Homer_J_Simpson]

First Lord to First Sea Lord 6.III.40

I think it would be only prudent for you to concert with the French the necessary regroupings of the Allied Fleets which would be appropriate to a hostile or menacing Italian attitude. Perhaps you will let me know about this on my return.

Winston S. Churchill, The Gathering Storm

[Homer_J_Simpson]

London Stand Firm – 2
The International Situation – 3
Navy Lets Contract For Two Cruisers – 3
Finns Repulse Attacks on Gulf Ice; 100 Die as Russians Bomb Hospital – 4-5
Viborg Again ‘Liberated,’ Russian Paper Declares – 5
The End of a British Minesweeper in the North Sea (Photograph) – 6
Incidents in European Conflict – 7
Merchant Ships Sunk in War – 7
Rumanian Industry Under Cabinet Rule - 7

[Peter W. Kessler]

Roosevelt Backs Census Questions; Assails Opponents

Full Force of Administration is Put Behind Bureau’s Proposed Questionnaire

Politics is Charged

President Says Data Sought Are Important – Action in Senate is Deferred

Some things never change.

[Peter W. Kessler]

Here’s a link to the questions on the 1940 Census:

http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/census/1940/general-info.html#questions

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Interesting. This must have been an escalation in the level of detail, judging on the articles reporting on resistance to the questions. There was an article on planning for the census in this week's News of the Week in Review from Wednesday. Here is a link for those who might wish to review. (Images #20-22)

3/3/40

[Peter W. Kessler]

I missed that the other day.

Thanks!

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/mar40/f06mar40.htm

Finnish delegation heads for Moscow

Wednesday, March 6, 1940 www.onwar.com

The Winter War... A Finnish delegation leaves for Moscow, led by Ryti and Juho Kusti Paasikivi (an experienced politician and diplomat). Mannerheim, seeing it is useless to continue the once-sided struggle against the Soviet Union, has accepted that there must be talks. The delegation arrives the following day.

In the North Sea... German aircraft bomb and machinegun two lightships.

In Paris... France and Italy conclude a trade agreement providing for an increase in the volume of trade between the two countries.

[CougarGA7]

It certainly looks like Rummania is switching to a war economy. From all appearances, they are preparing better for war then even the British and French are and they are already declared opponents to the Germans.

[CougarGA7]

Day 98 of the Winter War, March 6, 1940

In the evening, the Finnish delegation under the leadership of Prime Minister Risto Ryti leaves for Stockholm en route to Moscow. The other members of the delegation were J.K. Paasikivi, Rudolf Walden and Väinö Voionmaa.
Photo: SA-KUVA

Soviet leadership announces readiness to open peace talks

• In Ladoga Karelia, the Soviet 11th Division launches a tank-supported offensive against the Finnish-controlled islands in the Pitkäranta sector at 9 o'clock in the morning.

• The offensive is preceded by a fierce three-hour artillery bombardment during which approximately 10,000 enemy shells rain down on the Finnish positions.

• In this way the Russians manage to break through the Pitkäranta section of the blockade encircling the great Kitelä 'motti'. The Finnish counterattack in Vilaniemi is unsuccessful. Russians also come ashore in Karjaniemi and Niskapohja. In the Sintolanniemi sector on the Isthmus the Russians cross the Vuoksi on a 2 km front. Paimio, Petäjä, Maksima and other islands on the eastern shore of Lake Ladoga are under heavy enemy shelling. 50 men from the municipality of Rantasalmi are killed.

• Foreign Minister Tanner asks the Allies for an extension of the deadline for requesting military assistance. Finland is given until the 12th of March to make a formal request.

• The Soviet Union announces its readiness to open talks with Finland in Moscow, but will not agree a ceasefire until the talks are actually underway.

• The Finnish Government meets twice to consider the composition of the Finnish delegation for the Moscow peace talks.

• In the evening, the Finnish delegation under the leadership of Prime Minister Risto Ryti leaves for Stockholm en route to Moscow. The other members of the delegation were J.K. Paasikivi, Rudolf Walden and Väinö Voionmaa.

• In San Francisco, the great Finnish runner Taisto Mäki wins a three-mile race in 14 minutes 15.3 seconds in an event organized to raise funds for Finland.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/06.htm

March 6th, 1940

UNITED KINGDOM: RAF Fighter Command: Two Norfolk lighthouses and two convoys are bombed and machine-gunned by German aircraft. Little damage is caused.
FRANCE: France and Italy conclude a trade agreement in Paris providing for an increase in the volume of trade between the two countries. (Jack McKillop)

Battleship FS Jean Beart launched. (Dave Shirlaw)

GERMANY: Chancellor Adolf Hitler changes his plans for the invasion of the west. At a military conference in Berlin, he decides to adopt the plan put forward by General Gerd von Rundstedt, Commander in Chief Army Group A, and his former chief of staff, General Erich von Manstein, Commander of the XXXVIII Corps, for the Ardennes option. Code-named “Fall Sichelschnitt,” it calls for the attack against the Low Countries to go ahead, but with slightly fewer forces, in order to draw the allies forward, while the decisive thrust will be mounted through the Ardennes. Holding attacks would be made against the Maginot line. (Jack McKillop)

FINLAND: The Finnish government decides on the delegation that goes to Moscow. It’s composed of Prime Minister Risto Ryti, Foreign Minister Väinö Tanner, Juho Paasikivi (Minister without Portfolio), Commander-in-Chief’s representative Major Gen. Rudolf Walden and Member of Parliament Väinö Voionmaa. (Mikko Härmeinen)

PARAGUAY: River Plate: The wreck of the Graf Spee is boarded by a British technical team, after they purchased it for £14,000 through a nominee. (Peter Beeston)

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/post?id=2465404%2C12

Day 188 March 6, 1940

In a propaganda disaster, Dutch submarines O9, 10 & 11 are filmed leaving Den Helder Naval Base when armored tug BV3 enters the harbor & collides with O11. A film cameraman & 26 crew escape as O11 sinks but 3 men die trapped in flooded forward torpedo room & battery room/crew’s quarters. The incident is shown on newsreels. http://www.dutchsubmarines.com/boats/boat_o11.htm

Finland. Fighting continues South, East and West of Viipuri, including on frozen Viipuri Bay. Foreign Minister Tanner asks if the Allies offer of military assistance still stands. The Allies demand a formal request from Finland by March 12. In addition, Paasikivi leaves for Moscow in the evening, with the other peace delegates Prime Minister Risto Ryti, Rudolf Walden & Väinö Voionmaa, to negotiate an armistice with the Soviets.

Cruiser HMS Berwick intercepts and boards German freighter Uruguay northeast of Iceland. However, Uruguay’s crew sets her on fire so she is unsalvageable and Berwick sinks her with gunfire. http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/1174.html

[CougarGA7]

Fascinating newsreel on the Dutch sub.

[BroJoeK]

"It certainly looks like Rummania is switching to a war economy. From all appearances, they are preparing better for war then even the British and French are and they are already declared opponents to the Germans."

Sorry, I had to sneak-peak into the future to figure out how that worked. ;-)

"Following the outbreak of World War II on September 1, 1939, the Kingdom of Romania officially adopted a position of neutrality.

"However, the rapidly changing situation in Europe during 1940, as well as domestic political upheaval, undermined this stance. Fascist political forces such as the Iron Guard rose in popularity and power, urging a rapprochement with Nazi Germany and its allies.

"As the military fortunes of Romania's two main guarantors of territorial integrity – France and Britain – crumbled in the Fall of France, the government of Romania turned to Germany in hopes of a similar guarantee, unaware that the currently dominant European power had already granted its consent to Soviet territorial claims in a secret protocol of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, signed back in 1939.

"In summer 1940, a series of territorial disputes were resolved unfavorably to Romania, resulting in the loss of most of the territory gained in the wake of World War I. This caused the popularity of Romania's government to plummet, further reinforcing the fascist and military factions, who had eventually staged a coup that turned the country into a fascist dictatorship under conducătorul Ion Antonescu. The new regime has firmly set the country on the course towards the Axis camp, officially joining the Axis Powers on November 23, 1940.

"As a member of the Axis, Romania joined the invasion of the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941, providing equipment and oil to Nazi Germany as well as committing more troops to the Eastern Front than all the other allies of Germany combined.

"Romanian forces played a large role during the fighting in Ukraine, Bessarabia, Stalingrad, and elsewhere. In addition, Romanian troops were responsible for the persecution and massacre of 280,000 to 380,000 Jews inside and outside of Romania, though most Jews living within Romanian borders survived the Holocaust, albeit under harsh conditions."

[CougarGA7]

No cheating.

[CougarGA7]

You do know that I mean the French and British are declared enemies of the Germans in that sentence, right?

[Homer_J_Simpson]

The link I posted at #12 is obviously not for blogspot.com. Here is the one I tried to post.

http://worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com/

[CougarGA7]

That does make a difference. I was following the one link in post 13 and watched the actual newsreel on that. Big time oops there. Amazing only 3 were killed really.

[BroJoeK]

"You do know that I mean the French and British are declared enemies of the Germans in that sentence, right?"

Sure. I had forgotten how the Romanians went from allies of the Brits & French to allies of Germany, with divisions posted around Stalingrad in 1942.

So I snuck a peak at the future. ;-)