FINNS TO REJECT A PEACE OF DEFEAT; ALLIES FEAR BLOW IF HELSINKI YIELDS (3/8/40)

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.

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

ib4tp!

Finns Stand Firm – 2-3
Vatican Adds Data on Nazi Executions – 3-4
The International Situation – 3
Pope Pius Holds Secret Consistory – 4
Russians Seize Lake Ladoga Isles And Claim Nautsi in the Far North – 4-5
France’s Net Loss at Sea Put At 2% - 5
French Fears Eases on Economic Curbs – 5
Merchant Ships Sunk in War – 5
London is Aroused – 6-7
Nazi Spur in West Seen if Finns Fail – 7
Argentina Ousts Provincial Regime – 8
Allied Experts Begin Washington Parleys – 8
Ribbentrop Predicts End Of the War Within a Year – 8
44 Hurt in Jerusalem in Protest by Jews – 9
Kennedy, in London, Stresses Our Isolation; Hits ‘Shylock’ Charge; Plans Welles Talks – 10
Pledge for Finland by Kermit Roosevelt – 10
Incidents in European Conflict – 10

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/mar40/f08mar40.htm

Soviets breaking Finnish defenses
Friday, March 8, 1940 www.onwar.com

The Winter War... The Soviets capture part of Viipuri. Their pressure on the Finnish defenses northeast of the city is beginning to wear down the Finnish resistance. The Soviets reject a Finnish request, by the delegation in Moscow, for an immediate armistice. Meanwhile, large quantities of French arms, ammunition and aircraft (175) are now on the way to Finland.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/08.htm

March 8th, 1940
UNITED KINGDOM: RAF Fighter Command: German aircraft attack the north coast of Scotland. One enemy aircraft is destroyed, no damage is done.

SS Counsellor, flagship of the convoy commodore in Convoy HX-22, struck a mine laid on 6 January by U-30 six miles 280° from Liverpool Bar Lightship and sank the next day. The master, the commodore (Rear Admiral H.G.C. Franklin RN), seven naval staff members and 69 crewmembers were picked up by HMS Walpole and landed at Liverpool. (Dave Shirlaw)

HMS Tarpon is commissioned.

FINLAND: Russia rejects Finland’s request for an immediate armistice. (Mikko Härmeinen)

The Soviets capture part of Viipuri. Their pressure on the Finnish defenses northeast of the city is beginning to wear down the Finnish resistance. (Hal Smith)

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/mar40/08mar40.htm

One person claims, perhaps mistakenly, that the 34th Rifle Corps was engaged in the battle: “As far as I remember it [Viipuri] was only partly captured by the Soviet 34th Rifle Corps. Finns occupied Northern and Northern-western its part, if I’m correct.” http://www.strategyzoneonline.com/fo...p/t-28042.html

But here are the only other related mentions of the corps:

http://www.battle-of-kursk.com/Perso...soviet&lang=en

http://www.generals.dk/general/Maksi...iet_Union.html

U.S.S.R.: The Finnish and Soviet delegations meet for the first time at Moscow. The Soviet delegation is composed of Molotov, the Leningrad party boss Andrey Zhdanov and kombrig A. M. Vasilevsky. The Soviet demands have increased, and the Finnish delegation receives the word that the British and French expect the Finns to ask for help on 12 March at the latest. (Mikko Härmeinen)

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Canadian destroyer HMCS Assiniboine stops German freighter SS Hanover in Mona Passage, off the coast of the Dominican Republic, at which point the merchantman’s crew sets fire to the ship and abandons her. A boarding party from British light cruiser HMS Dunedin, however, saves Hanover from destruction. Conflicting representations by British and German diplomats as to Hanover’s exact position prompt the Dominican government to drop the question of violation of territorial waters. Hanover will ultimately be converted into the escort carrier HMS Audacity. The effort expended to capture Hanover, however, allows German freighters SS Mimi Horn and SS Seattle to escape the Caribbean and make a break for Germany. SS Mimi Horn is scuttled to avoid capture in the Denmark Strait on 28 March; SS Seattle is lost during the early phases of the invasion of Norway on 8-9 April. (Jack McKillop)

http://worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com/

Day 190 March 8, 1940
Finland. Red Army closes in on Viipuri, with fighting in the suburb of Tali. They capture more islands in Viipurinlahti Bay. Finnish delegates in Moscow begin negotiations in the evening with Molotov, Zdanov and General Vasilevski but not Stalin, to their disappointment. Finns ask for a ceasefire during negotiations. The Soviets know that they are about to take Viipuri and refuse, preferring to negotiate from a position of strength.

British steamer Counsellor (command ship of HX-22 convoy’s commodore Rear Admiral Franklin) strikes a mine in Liverpool Bay, England. The Admiral, his 7 naval staff and all 70 crew are picked up by destroyer HMS Walpole and landed at Liverpool. These mines laid on 6 Jan by U-30 have claimed 6 ships (total 33,000 tons). http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/287.html

British cruiser HMS Dunedin & Canadian destroyer HMCS Assiniboine capture German steamer SS Hanover near Jamaica. Hannover will be converted into escort aircraft carrier HMS Audacity.

Day 100 of the Winter War, March 8, 1940

The Finnish 2nd and 21st divisions are estimated to be facing six Russian divisions. They are thus outnumbered three to one.
Photo: SA-KUVA

Finns take eastern Luelahti ?motti? in Kuhmo

Mannerheim suggests Finland consider one more time the offer of assistance by the Western Allies.
To block the enemy advance, the Finnish defenders attempt to dam the waterways to the northeast of Viipuri and manage finally to flood the area.
Foreign Minister Tanner believes asking for assistance from the Allies could wreck the talks in Moscow.
Soviet troops on the Isthmus reach the Finnish support line in Tali.
The Finnish troops in Viipurinlahti bay are forced to evacuate Suonionsaari and Ravansaari islands.
On the mainland, the enemy consolidates its bridgeheads in Niskapohja, Vilaniemi and Häränpääniemi.
In Vuosalmi the enemy is digging in on the northern bank of the Vuoksi.
The Finnish 2nd and 21st divisions are estimated to be facing six Russian divisions. They are thus outnumbered three to one.
In Taipale, the Finns pull back their positions in the Terenttilä sector.
In the north, the Finns take the eastern Luelahti 'motti' in Kuhmo.
General Headquarters orders the evacuation of the Mantsi islands at the eastern end of Lake Ladoga.
The Finnish negotiators in Moscow meet the Soviet negotiating team at 4 o'clock in the afternoon.
The Soviet team comprises Molotov, Zdanov and General Vasilevski. The Finns are disappointed in their hope of getting Stalin to participate in the talks.
Two Soviet divisions attack across the Vuoksi from Vasikkasaari to Vuosalmi.
The first session of talks begins in Moscow at 7 o'clock in the evening.
Up in Kuhmo, the eastern Luelahti 'motti' is in Finnish hands by midday.
The Soviet Union is today celebrating International Women's Day. The special "sisters of struggle" women's groups attached to the Red Army arrange numerous dance performances and other programmes in the various units of the army. Selected women soldiers are decorated for valour.
In Finland, the Central Organization of Social Democratic Women urges its members to join the Lotta Svärd women's defence organization.

The Winter War has reached its 100th day today. The Soviets are getting the upper hand, but it is quite telling that it took them over 3 months to accomplish this against a significantly smaller country. It’s pretty easy to see why this convinced Hitler that the Soviet Union could be defeated before winter in 1941.