[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]

[mowowie]

The Columbus was a real nice older ship.
MANY incredibly beautiful liners were destroyed during this war.
Sad.
The engineering and craftsmanship of these vessels was astounding.
The Normandy comes to mind....

[Homer_J_Simpson]

abb’s gone fishing so I will post the onwar.com stuff for today.

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1939/dec39/f20dec39.htm

In Argentina... Langsdorff, former commander of the now scuttled German pocket battleship Graf Spee, kills himself in his hotel room. Meanwhile, British experts examine the radar equipment on board the wreck of the Graf Spee.
In the United States... The American cruiser USS Tuscalossa arrives in New York with 579 survivors from the scuttled German liner Columbus. They disembark on Ellis Island.
In the Winter War... The main Soviet attacks against the Mannerheim Line, around Summa, continues with less force. The Soviet 122nd Division is cut off by Finnish attacks while advancing toward Salla from positions near the White Sea.
In Washington... The government forbids the export of technical data for producing aviation fuel to belligerent countries.

[CougarGA7]

This is the last radio report I have for this year unless I find some alternative source other than OTR.

CBS - Elmer Davis Reports and Swedish Volunteer Units and other Headlines

[CougarGA7]

Day 21 of the Winter War, December 20, 1939

Abroad: donated ambulances leave Sweden and Denmark en route to Finland.
Photo: SA-KUVA

Finns grab the initiative in Salla

• Karelian Isthmus: Soviet troops continue their assault at Summa. The first Soviet offensive on the Isthmus runs out of steam. By evening the main defensive positions are entirely under Finnish control.

• The Finnish II Army Corps commanded by Lieutenant-General Öhquist are ordered to launch a counteroffensive.

• Northern Finland: at Joutsijärvi in the Salla sector a Russian battalion manages to infiltrate behind the Finnish positions at Mäntyvaara. The Russian battalion is finally destroyed in hand-to-hand fighting.

• A battalion of the Soviet 122nd Division surprises two companies of Detached Battalion 17 which had been moved into reserve. After four hours of fighting, the enemy withdraws with the loss of 300 dead. Finnish losses are 17 dead, including the two company commanders.

• The Finns take the initiative at Salla.

• Colonel Paavo Talvela is promoted to Major-General, and Lieutenant-Colonel A.O. Pajari to Colonel.

• Ladoga Karelia: the enemy bombs and machine-guns a train carrying evacuees at Jänisjärvi Station in the parish of Harlu. 16 civilians are killed.

• Northern Finland: the enemy bombs Kontiomäki. One person is killed.

• Ladoga Karelia: the enemy bombs Sortavala. Two people are killed and three injured.

• Soviet aircraft also bomb Matkaselkä. Five people are killed and three seriously injured.

• Abroad: donated ambulances leave Sweden and Denmark en route to Finland.

[GeronL]

2 Crowd dead, 1 injured?