[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]

Also posted on my profile.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

And the Finns kicked the crap out of the Rooskis too...

[dfwgator]

Further proof that the Soviets bared much of the responsibility for the start of the war, right along with Germany.

[C19fan]

Liked the small side article about forecasting Bessarabia as Stalin’s next target. Turned out to be 100% correct.

[CougarGA7]

Big news day today. Here are a couple of radio broadcasts on the events of the day.

CBS - Elmer Davis on Soviet Invasion of Finland with analysis from Major George Fielding Elliot

CBS - Elmer Davis' general report on the Soviet Invasion of Finland

[CougarGA7]

I stumbled across this site while looking for something else and found this very fascinating and useful. The site is called "The Winter War 1939-1940: Telegrams from Each Day of the Winter War". It is based on Markku Onttonen's documentary series Talvisodan henki (The Spirit of the Winter War) according to the site. So with that said, here's the first installment with link of course.

Day 1 of the Winter War, November 30, 1939

Soviet aircraft bomb 16 Finnish localities during the course of the day.
Photo: SA-KUVA

• We shall fight to protect our homes, our religion and our country

• Karelian Isthmus: the Soviet artillery opens fire at 6.50.

• Soviet troops cross the border at several places without declaring war.Crossing points include Rajajoki, Joutselkä and Lipola.

• Karelian Isthmus: the invading Soviet 7th Army has 120,000 men on the Isthmus with some 900 field guns and trench mortars and 1,400 tanks.The Finnish covering force on the Isthmus has 21,600 men, 71 field guns and 29 anti-tank guns.

• Viipuri: first air-raid warning sounds at 9.00.

• Ladoga Karelia: the Russians also have an overwhelming numerical superiority to the north of Lake Ladoga.The Finnish covering force joins battle along the entire length of the eastern border.

• Soviet aircraft bomb 16 Finnish localities during the course of the day.

• Helsinki: an air-raid warning sounds at 9.20.

• Enso bombed at 9.35.

• Viipuri: 13 enemy aircraft bomb the city for the second time at 10.00, leaving 10 dead and 11 injured.

• Lahti: Lahti bombed at 12.05; five dead and one injured.

• President Kyösti Kallio relinquishes his authority as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to Marshal Mannerheim and at 13.30 declares the country to be in a state of war.

• Marshal Mannerheim accepts the responsibilities of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and issues his first Order of the Day.

• Mannerheim in the Order of the Day: "We shall fight to protect our homes, our religion and our country."

• Seiskari: Soviet troops occupy the uninhabited island, where a red flag is sighted at 13.55.

• Hanko: eight aircraft attack the town at 14.00.

• Helsinki: the all-clear is given from the morning air-raid at 14.20.At 14.50, first six and then three more enemy aircraft appear out of the clouds and bomb the Hietalahti shipyard.91 people are killed and 236 injured, 36 seriously.

• Eastern Isthmus: Group Rautu comes into contact with the enemy for the first time in the evening.

• Rautu: intense fighting during the day at Palkeala. An enemy attempt to break through with the support of tanks is successfully repulsed.

• Suojärvi: over a thousand civilians are trapped at the Hyrsylä bend and other border villages in the parish.

• Smaller numbers of civilians have also been captured by the Russians on the islands in the Gulf of Finland, and at Salmi, Suomussalmi and Petsamo.

• Parliament assembles at 20.00.The Government of Prime Minister A.K. Cajander presents its resignation.Parliament moves overnight to Kauhajoki.

• Moscow radio broadcasts a speech during the night by Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov.Molotov announces that the Soviet Government has ordered the Red Army to secure the external security of the Soviet Union.

• Molotov renounces the Non-Aggression Treaty agreed with Finland in 1932.