Winston S. Churchill, The Grand Alliance
Posted on 02/17/2011 5:11:26 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson
Winston S. Churchill, The Grand Alliance
In other news, the index by author at the bottom of Homer’s profile is now updated to include all of October 1939. The missing period is now only two months – November and December 1939.
Shipping is Warned – 2-3
Independent Albania Urged as a War Aim – 3
The International Situation – 3
British Chase Foe from Sudan Front – 4
Advance by Greeks Reported General – 4
London to Store Bells of St. Clement Danes – 4
The Texts of the Day’s Communiques on the War – 5-6
Luxembourgers Ordered to Take German Names – 6
Best Sellers of the Week * – 7
* Quarterly feature to follow evolution of American reading habits. “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and “Random Harvest” are competing for the top spot in fiction this time around. Here are the earlier lists. They are near the end of the post in each case.
11/18/40 Thread
8/19/40 Thread
5/13/40 Thread
2/19/40 Thread
10/23/39 Thread
http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1941/feb41/f17feb41.htm
Bulgaria and Turkey sign friendship pact
Monday, February 17, 1941 www.onwar.com
In Sofia... Under German pressure Turkey and Bulgaria sign a friendship agreement by which Turkey accepts that the movement of German troops through Bulgaria is not an act of war. This more or less confirms that there is no possibility of Turkey being persuaded to ally with Britain.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/17.htm
February 17th, 1941
UNITED KINGDOM:
Churchill to CIGS:
What are the arrangements in British Columbia for dealing with the Japanese colony there should Japan attack? The matter is of course for the Canadian government, but it would be interesting to know whether adequate forces are available in that part of the Dominion. About thirty years ago, when there were anti-Japanese riots, the Japanese showed themselves so strong and so well organised as to be able to take complete control.
Destroyer HMS Avon Vale commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)
FRANCE: Céline in La Gerbe, “Are the Jews responsible for this war or not? Let us have the answer down black on white, you acrobatic scribblers.”
TURKEY: Ankara: The heavy emphasis in mutual goodwill and friendly relations in the treaty signed here this afternoon is a reflection of the deep mistrust Turkey and Bulgaria have long felt for each other.
Bulgaria has never ceased to fear that one day Turkey will seek to regain the territory lost after the Great War and in the Balkan Wars before it, while the build-up of German troops in Bulgaria in recent weeks has alarmed the Turks, who are worried that the Germans’ next blow will be delivered in the Balkans and threaten Turkey.
JAPAN: Foreign Minister MATSUOKA Yosuke states that the white race must cede Oceania to the Asiatics. “This region has sufficient natural resources to support from 600 million to 800 million people. I believe we have a natural right to migrate there” says Matsuoka.
AUSTRALIA: Minesweeper HMAS Castlemaine laid down. (Dave Shirlaw)
U.S.A.: Washington: The Senate starts debating the Lend-Lease Bill.
Light cruiser USS Birmingham laid down. (Dave Shirlaw)
ATLANTIC OCEAN:
At 0008, SS Gairsoppa, a straggler from Convoy SL-64, was torpedoed and sunk by U-101 about 300 miles SW of Galway. The master, 81 crewmembers and two gunners were lost.
At 0633, tanker SS Edwy R. Brown, a straggler from convoy HX-107, was torpedoed and sunk by U-103 SW of Iceland. The master, 47 crewmembers and two gunners were lost.
MS Siamese Prince sunk by U-69 at 59.53N, 12.12W. (Dave Shirlaw)
They should've mined Bukit Timah Road.
http://worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com/
Day 536 February 17, 1941
Just after midnight, U-101 sinks British SS Gairsoppa (carrying pig iron, tea, silver ingots and general cargo) 370 miles West of Cornwall, England. 82 crew and 2 gunners are killed (1 survivor makes landfall near The Lizard, Cornwall, on March 1). British tanker MV Edwy R. Brown (carrying fuel from Aruba) is left burning and sinking 100 miles South of Iceland after U-103 hits her with 5 torpedoes between 6.33 and 8.33 AM. 48 crew and 2 gunners abandon ship in 2 lifeboats but they are never found. At 10.12 PM, U-69 sinks British MV Siamese Prince, 200 miles northwest of Outer Hebrides, Scotland. She is 1 day from reaching Liverpool, sailing from New York, USA, via Nassau, Bahamas. A notable passenger is Roy Widdicombe, who has been recuperating in Nassau from 70 days in an open boat after the sinking of SS Anglo Saxon on August 21, 1940. The 48 crew, 1 gunner and 8 passengers take to the lifeboats but all are lost in rough seas.
Free French led by Philippe Leclerc advance on the Italian base at Kufra oasis in the Sahara Desert, Southeastern Libya (consisting of the Buma airfield, a radio station, and the El Tag fort). Italians send out 70 men and 10 AS37 armoured personnel carriers, “Saharan company” motorized infantry, to intercept but Leclerc’s forces brush them aside and lay siege to El Tag fort.
Turkey and Bulgaria sign a friendship agreement in Sofia, Bulgaria. Under pressure from Hitler, Turkey accepts that the movement of German troops through Bulgaria is not an act of war, allowing Germany to prepare for an invasion of Greece. This also blocks any potential British-Turkish alliance, on which Churchill has been relying to control the Balkans.
Berlin, Feb 16 - All citizens of Luxembourg, as well as all Stateless persons residing there, must “Germanize” their first names by decree of the Chief of Civil Administration, it was reported today.
They may either adopt the German equivalents of their present names or, if this is impossible, choose new German names.
If their last names are French or otherwise changed versions of original German names, the original German must be adopted. the decree stipulates.
What are the Germans doing and why? If you were in Luxembourg, what would you think and do? Would you go along with it and think it was no big deal? Would you protest? What are your choices?
Germany was trying to slowly and methodically destroy their heritage. I was in Mongolia after 80 years of communist rule and they were rediscovering their heritage. The communists did not destroy it but they did suppress it for 80 years. The Mongolians were very proud of Genghis Khan.
Our heritage has been destroyed. Will we fight back.
What new name will you be issued Comrade?
“Mrs. Miniver” topped the fiction lists last quarter. As you suggest the movie is a masterpiece of propaganda as well as a great all-around movie. It was Best Picture in 1942, if I am not mistaken. An interesting side note is that Greer Garson starred in the film versions of both “Mrs. Miniver” and “Random Harvest.” She wound up marrying the actor who portrayed her RAF fighter pilot son in the former.
I'm leaning toward Homohammed, but I haven't finalized it yet.
Will wives be forced to obey their husbands' commands under the new order? No particular reason, just wondering.
Yes, it was and one of the movies it beat out was 'Random Harvest', which, had the same three screenplay writers as 'Mrs. Miniver'. The movie also beat out 'Pride of the Yankees'. My all-time favorite actor, James Cagney, won best actor that year for 'Yankee Doodle Dandy'.
The last couple years of NY Times editions (that is, the 70 years ago NY Times) have been instructive not only in following the lead-up to WWII and the European war effort against the Nazis, but also in documenting the silent domestic war being waged here at home, a war which was clearly being won by the communists (unions). It was a war effort America (apparently) barely knew was even being waged.
Here is a list of names for you to chose from:
http://www.names4muslims.com/muslim-names/all/a-1.html
To be honest, that is an interesting list of names. Most are very encouraging and positive. The interesting part is the large number of names that begin with Abdul. Words can tell you a lot about the culture.
Printing Unions ask Curb on Radio With Drastic Cut in Commercials
J.B. Haggerty says Trade Association Will Press Congress to Limit Sales of Air Time and to Tax Broadcasters heavily.
Those LIFE magazines are fascinating. The cover girl is Cobina Wright, Jr.
Coincidentally there is a nice picture of Greer Garson on page 34 of today’s Life magazine. I think she is endorsing silverware or something, but I prefer looking at her.
Any nekkid pictures in this week’s Life?
There definitely have been some gorgeous women on the covers over the last couple of months.
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