[Homer_J_Simpson]

Reported in Flight – 2-3
Reich Thanks U.S. for Aid To Crew of the Columbus – 3
Daily Worker Critic Forced Out of Job On Refusal to Attack ‘Gone With the Wind’ – 3
Incidents in European Conflict – 4
Paris Yellow Book Charges Hitler Gave Czech President ‘3d Degree’ – 6-8
Duchess of Windsor Aids Front’s Christmas Cheer – 8
French Deny Ore Contract Termed Deal With Reich – 8
Soviet Fliers Bomb Civilians in Waves – 10-11
Hitler Felicitates Stalin on Birthday - 14

[abb]

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1939/dec39/f22dec39.htm

Red Army suffers defeats in Finland
Friday, December 22, 1939 www.onwar.com

In the Winter War... The main Soviet attacks against the Mannerheim Line, around Summa, continues with less force. Meanwhile, Finnish forces catch the Soviet 44th Motorized Division as it approaches Suomussalmi to attempt the relief of the trapped Soviet 163rd Division. The Finns block the road in front and behind the Soviet force and inflict enormous casualties in the ensuing close quarter fighting.

In Bucharest... Romania signs a trade convention with Germany.

In Paris... The Chamber of Deputies votes credits of 304 billion francs for the production of armaments in 1940. Prime Minister Daladier announces the strengthening of the Maginot Line and the completion of new fortifications in northern France and the Jura Mountains.

In London... The British Ministry of Economic Warfare announces that the Allied Contraband Control has detained 870,000 tonnes of goods destined for Germany, since September 3rd.

[abb]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/22.htm

December 22nd, 1939
UNITED KINGDOM: The government states that it has seized 870,000 tons of goods destined for Germany since the war began.

Minesweeping trawler HMS Dromio sunk in collision off Whitby. (Dave Shirlaw)

NORWAY: Norway’s Defence Minister, Christian Frederik Monson is replaced by Colonel Birger Ljundberg. (Greg Kelley)

FINLAND: The Finns caught the Russian 44th Motorised Division as it approached Suomussalmi to attempt the relief of the trapped 163rd Division.

The Finns blocked the road in front of and behind the Russians and used their ‘motti’ tactics using Suomi sub-machine guns, very effective weapons for close range forest work, then going in with grenades and knives.

ROMANIA: Bucharest: Romania signs a trade convention with Germany.

INDIA: Viceroy, Lord Linlithgow recognises the Muslim League. Jinnah celebrates by declaring today a “day of deliverance and thanksgiving” to be observed by all Muslims in gratitude for their release from the “tyranny, oppression and injustice” of Congress Raj in the provinces.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-61 damaged SS Gryfevale. (Dave Shirlaw)

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Howard Rushmore, the movie reviewer fired by the Daily Worker, lived an interesting life. He became a fervent anti-communist, testifying to Congress about communists and fellow travelers in Hollywood. Then he became the editor of the notorious Confidential magazine, the basis of the magazine in the movie L A Confidential. In 1958 he broke into a taxicab in which his estranged wife was a passenger, killed her and committed suicide.

[dfwgator]

Hitler Felicitates Stalin on Birthday

I didn't know Hitler and Stalin swung that way.