CHAMBERLAIN SHIFTS BRITISH CABINET; HORE-BELISHA IS OUT AS WAR MINISTER (1/6/40)

Microfiche-New York Times archives, McHenry Library, U.C. Santa Cruz | 1/6/40 | Raymond Daniell, Robert P. Post, Harold Denny

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[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” Or view Homer’s posting history .)
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]

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Winston S. Churchill, The Gathering Storm

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Friction is Blamed – 2-4
Stanley in Office that Father Held – 4-5
Allied Plane Orders Rise to 4,000 Here – 5
French Deny Desire for U.S. Aid in War – 5
The International Situation – 5
New Finnish Blows Dealt to Russians – 6-7
State A.F.L. Orders Boycott of Russia – 7
Britain Takes Ship of U.S. to War Zone – 8
4 British Cruisers Again Off Uruguay – 8
Text of Hull Note to British – 9
Merchant Ships Sunk in War – 9
Reich Establishes Ghettos in Poland – 10
Incidents in European Conflict – 10
Bill to Offer Finns U.S. Automatic Rifle – 10

[abb]

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/jan40/f06jan40.htm

Finn fighters eliminate Soviet bombers
Saturday, January 6, 1940 www.onwar.com

The Winter War... A pair of Finnish Fokker fighters destroy a formation of 7 Ilyushin bombers over Utti, 60 miles northeast of Helsinki.

In Oslo... The Norwegian government rejects the Soviet claim that Norway is pursuing an “unneutral” policy. (A claim made on January 5th.)

In the Heligoland Bight... German ships depth charge the Royal Navy submarine Undine.

In Dublin... Eamon de Valera, the prime minister of Eire, is calling for new emergency powers to aid a nationwide crackdown on the IRA. The move follows an Irish High Court ruling which set free 53 men detained under the Emergency Powers Act. An amended and draconian version of the act has been proposed in the Dail, the Irish parliament. The amended act would allow the government to arrest and detain suspects without trial.

In Britain... Dogs are reportedly wearing bicycle reflectors on their collars to boost their visibility in the blackout.

[abb]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/06.htm

January 6th, 1940
UNITED KINGDOM: Dogs are reportedly wearing bicycle reflectors on their collars to boost their visibility in the blackout.

Sir John Reith, the founder of the BBC and its first Director-General is to take over as Minister of Information. He inherits a troubled ministry whose 999 civil servants, based in the Senate House of London University, have been criticised in the press and parliament for their ineptitude at raising morale, against the constant sniping of Germany’s “Lord Haw-Haw”.

Many functions of the ministry of been taken away. The press and censorship bureau is independent under Sir Walter Monckton, British propaganda to enemy countries is a joint effort of the MoI, the foreign office and the Ministry of Economic Warfare, and postal censorship is a war office function. The resulting muddle has left the MoI open to the charge that it has no information and no use.

RAF Bomber Command: ‘Security Patrols’ - Hornum - Borkum. 10 Sq. Four aircraft. Opposition moderate. Cold intense.

Submarine HMS Tempest laid down. (Dave Shirlaw)

ÉIRE Dublin: Eamon de Valera, Prime Minister, is calling for new emergency powers to aid a nationwide crackdown on the IRA. The move came swiftly following an Irish High Court ruling which set free 53 men detained under the Emergency Powers Act. An amended and draconian version of the act has been proposed in the ‘Dail’.

The amended act would allow the government the right to arrest and detain suspects without trial. Most of the freed men - who include several IRA leaders - are on the run.

GERMANY: U-557, U-558 laid down. (Dave Shirlaw)

NORWAY: The Norwegian government rejects the Soviet claim that Norway is pursuing an “unneutral” policy. (Jack McKillop)

FINLAND: Two Finnish Fokker fighters destroy seven Ilyushin bombers over Utti, 60 miles north-east of Helsinki.

Mikko Härmeinen adds: This is the famous exploit of Lieutenant Jorma Sarvanto, who shot down six of the bombers in five minutes before running out of ammo. Another Fokker D.XXI later finished the remaining plane.

The Russians have been forced to abandon their offensive tactics and are now digging in opposite the entire length of the Mannerheim Line. They are barricading themselves behind tank traps and barbed wire, building pillboxes, using dynamite to blow trenches in the frozen ground and siting their guns in defensive positions. The Russians have now brought in their most modern aircraft, and now that the sea has frozen they have moved big guns over the ice to bombard the Finnish positions.

General Timoshenko is to replace Voroshilov and Meretskov.

GIBRALTAR: The U.S. passenger liner SS Manhattan is detained at Gibraltar by British authorities. (Jack McKillop)

NEW ZEALAND: The New Zealand 4th Brigade sails from Auckland for Egypt in six transports escorted by the battleship HMS Ramillies, heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra and light cruiser HMS Leander. (Jack McKillop)

U.S.A.: Richardson assumes command of the Pacific Fleet.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: SS City of Marseilles was damaged by a mine laid 12 Dec 1939 by U-13, 1.5 miles SE of Tay Fairway Buoy, River Tay. (Dave Shirlaw)

[Vendome]

Wish I could get a couple of Garands for $1.

Great articles.

(maybe you can find Barry O.’s Birth Certificate sometime? /s LOL)

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Wish I could get a couple of Garands for $1.

From #9: A bill to authorize the sale of 10,000 Garand semi-automatic rifles to the Finnish Government at $1 each for "experimental purposes" will be introduced in Congress shortly by Representative John D. Dingell of Michigan . . . "I am officially neutral, but you can tell the cock-eyed world I don't care who licks the Russians," said the Michigan Representative, who is of Polish origin, although he was born in Detroit.

The longest serving Congressional rep in history. (Or maybe it is a family seat.)

[Vendome]

His father, John D. Dingell, Sr. (1894–1955), represented Michigan’s 15th district from 1933 to 1955.

After his father’s death, a special election was held and John Jr. assumed the seat.

[investigateworld]

My thanks for your contributions here.

Just reading about the heroic Finns, just makes one want to....

Buy a bunch of Finnish Vodka for Christmas gifts next year.

[CougarGA7]

On the same page no less. I find this hilarious.

No, no. We don't need any help....er, you wouldn't happen to have any planes would you?

[Homer_J_Simpson]

We don't need any help....er, you wouldn't happen to have any planes would you?

I see by the tell-tale line through the text that the stories were not only on the same page, but the same column. Maybe an editor saw that irony, too.

I like this part from the second article.

French official opinion indicates United States entry into the war would not be welcomed by the Allies because they are confident of their victory.

OK kids. You go ahead and give Hitler a whuppin'. We will just watch and learn.

[CougarGA7]

Day 38 of the Winter War, January 6, 1940

Southern Finland: Lieutenant Jorma Sarvanto in his Fokker fighter shoots down six Soviet aircraft from a formation of nine on their way home from a bombing raid over Kuopio. The action in the skies between Utti and Kotka lasts around five minutes.
Photo: SA-KUVA

Another big Finnish victory

• Ladoga Karelia: the counteroffensive by the Finnish IV Army Corps north of Lake Ladoga begins in temperatures of -29° Celsius.

• Southern Finland: Lieutenant Jorma Sarvanto in his Fokker fighter shoots down six Soviet aircraft from a formation of nine on their way home from a bombing raid over Kuopio. The action in the skies between Utti and Kotka lasts around five minutes.

• Viipuri: enemy aircraft cause serious damage in the city.

• Northern Finland: the Russian commander of the Soviet 44th Division on the Raate road orders his troops to break out to the east, taking all their equipment with them. Just before midnight they make their final unsuccessful attempt to break out and Finnish troops record a crushing victory.

[CougarGA7]

That line made me chuckle too. But of course we have the advantage of hindsight. I think a lot of the upper echelon in France really thought that Germany had no change against them. France had a larger army, more tanks, better tanks, and the best fortified line to protect them all. All they had to do was blockage Germany and wait for their resources to run out. Unfortunately for them they were prepared to fight the last war while the Germans were ready to fight this one.