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If it had been up to me we would have led with the sinking of the Africa Shell by what might be a German pocket battleship. Or even the Al Capone story. But I was over-ruled by the editor, who liked the story of a Brooklyn judge getting off the hook. This could be a low traffic day at WWII+70.

See two perspectives on “Plan D” in the replies above.

Martin is Cleared by Senate, 28 to 19, in Removal Vote – 1-3
Incidents in European Conflict – 2
Need for Amen Ended By Election, Mayor Feels – 3
Al Capone Is Freed From Prison; Guarded in Baltimore Hospital – 4-6
Shoots Ex-Employe Then Ends His Life – 5
Fusion Over, Says Baldwin – 7
British Ship Sunk by Surface Raider Near East Africa – 8-9
End of Britain as a World Power Is Proclaimed as Germany’s Goal – 11-12
Visiting Editors Praised for Work – 13

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1939/nov39/f17nov39.htm

Allies endorse “Plan D”
Friday, November 17, 1939 www.onwar.com

In London... At the third meeting of the Supreme Allied Council it endorses “ Plan D,” proposed by French General Gamelin (see May 10th, 1940). In case of a German attack through Belgium it is decided to defend a line from the Meuse River to Antwerp.

In France... A Czechoslovakian National Committee is established in Paris under the leadership of the former President of Czechoslovakia, Eduard Benes. The group is recognized by Britain and France in mid-December.

In Germany... The pocket battleship Deutschland arrives in Gdynia (in occupied Poland) after her Atlantic raiding cruise in which 2 ships were sunk.

In Occupied Czechoslovakia... SS forces occupy all universities (during the night of November 16-17) and 9 student leaders are executed; some 1200 are sent to concentration camps. This event becomes the basis for marking November 17th as “International Students Day.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Students%27_Day

Origin

The date commemorates the anniversary of the 1939 Nazi storming of the University of Prague after demonstrations against the killing of Jan Opletal and the occupation of Czechoslovakia, and the execution of nine student leaders, over 1200 students sent to concentration camps, and the closing of all Czech universities and colleges.

During late 1939 the Nazi occupants of the Czechoslovakia (at that time it was called the protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia), in Prague, suppressed a demonstration held by students of the Medical Faculty of the Charles University. The demonstration was held on the 28th of October to commemorate the anniversary of the independence of the Czechoslovak Republic.

During this demonstration student Jan Opletal was shot and died from wounds on the 11th of November. On the 15th of November his body was meant to be transported from Prague back to his home in Moravia. His funeral procession consisted of thousands of students, who turned this event to anti-Nazi demonstration. This however resulted in drastic measures being taken by the Nazi’s. All Czech higher education institutions were closed down; more than 1200 students were taken and sent to concentration camps; and the most hideous crime of all - nine students/professors were executed without trial on the 17th of November. Due to this the date of 17th November has been chosen to be the International Students’ Day.

The 17th of November was first marked as the International Students’ Day in 1941 in London by the International Students’ Council (which had many refugee members) in accord with the Allies, and the tradition has been kept up by the successor International Union of Students, which has been pressing with National Unions of Students in Europe and other groups to make the day an official United Nations observance.