[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]

The din of the German radio and press in the next days [following Hitler’s October 6 Reichstag speech-Homer] was terrific. Italy and Japan had hailed the Fuhrer as the greatest peacemaker of all time. A mighty popular surge for peace was sweeping the West and the United States. But “Churchillian” warmongers were trying to stamp out this warm response of the peoples to the Fuhrer’s outstretched hand. If they succeeded, the most ghastly bloodbath of all time would follow, and history would know whom to blame.

. . . Into this confusing noise came an electric shock of news. A U-boat had sneaked into the British fleet anchorage in Scapa Flow at the northern tip of Scotland, had sunk the battleship Royal Oak, and had returned home safe!

News pictures showed the solemn fat-faced Fuhrer shaking the hand of Lieutenant Commander Prien, a nervous stiff young man with receding hair. The Nazi propaganda ministry foamed with ecstasy over the British Admiralty’s report that sadly praised Prien’s skill and daring. The writer was Churchill himself. Goebbels’s broadcasters said the sinking of the Royal Oak would prove a great boon to peace, since the Fuhrer’s “outstretched hand” proposal would now receive more serious considerations.

Herman Wouk, The Winds of War

[villagerjoel]

Good thing Germany didn’t wait 20 years until they had an atomic bomb...

[Ronin]

Scapa Flow was considered invulnerable at that time.

It was a daring raid and the captain of the submarine showed great courage by bringing it off.

[CougarGA7]

Today's radio broadcast is almost comical. Here is a definitely studio made, and slightly dramatized introduction of the Irish Regiment on the front.

BBC - Richard Dimbleby - By a French Road

[CougarGA7]

Here's a little more on the Royal Oak. This is from the British Archives, Document W.M.(39) 48th conclusions, then labeled "Secret"

CONCLUSIONS of a Meeting of the War Cabinet held at 10 Downing Street, S.W. 1, on Sunday, October 15, 1939, at 12 noon.

...

2. The Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff gave certain further particulars as to the sinking of the Royal Oak.
There had been a continuance of enemy submarine activity of an incoming convoy. The Karamea had been shelled, but was believed to have escaped; the Bretagne*, a French ship, had been sunk; the thrid, the Loch Avon*, had been torpedoed and abandoned, but had not sunk. An attack had been carried out gainst one of the U-boats which had probably caused these losses, and was thought to have been successful. The steamship Louth had been attacked off of Mull of Galloway, but had escaped.

The War Cabinet took not of the above statement.

3. The connection with the preceding Minute the Chief of the Naval Staff said that, now that enemy submarines were operating far out on the Western Approaches, the lack of Berehaven as a base for our anti-submarine forces wasa a serious hindrance. Even if it was not possible to use the base for air reconnaissance and anti-submarines craft, it would be a great help if the Government of Eire would permit our salvage ugs to be stationed at Berehaven. This might prove to be the then end of the wedge.

The War Cabinet -
Invited the First Lord of the Admiralty to consult on this matter with the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs.

* Those two ships are included among those mentioned at the War Cabinet meeting of the previous day as having been torpedoed (W.M.(39) 47th Conclusion Minutes).