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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.

Day 66 of the Winter War, February 3, 1940

Battalion Mankonen completes destruction of the enemy ski battalion at Löytöjärvi. In three days the enemy death toll reaches around 400.
Photo: SA-KUVA

Mannerheim Line survives enemy offensive

Central Isthmus: Finnish defenders successfully repulse enemy attacks on the Mannerheim Line in Summa, Suokanta and Oinaala.
The Russian 7th Army and 13th Army are ordered to begin the work of breaking down the Finnish defences on the Isthmus.
Ladoga Karelia: detachments of enemy troops which had advanced from the south on skis are surrounded in a 'motti' at Lavajärvi.
Battalion Mankonen completes destruction of the enemy ski battalion at Löytöjärvi. In three days the enemy death toll reaches around 400.
Soviet aircraft bomb a number of localities across the country: in Kuopio the air raid leaves 34 dead and 38 injured.
Viipuri: enemy bombers hit hard in and around Torkkelinkatu, Punaisenlähteentori square, the market square, the old town and the district of Havi. The Lutheran cathedral is partly destroyed in the raid.
Kotka: the woodyard at the Enso Gutzeit sawmill is set ablaze and almost totally destroyed.
Eastern Isthmus: a Russian fire control aircraft is in the air all day over Taipale directing the enemy artillery fire.
A captured enemy map contains accurate details of the position of the Finnish command post in the Taipale sector.
Abroad: the International Labour Office announces that the Soviet Union has been expelled from the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Marshall Mannerheim's sister, Countess Eva Sparre arrives in New York to begin a series of lectures in the USA on Finland.
The great Finnish runners Paavo Nurmi and Taisto Mäki receive a hero's welcome on arrival in New York. Thousands of people and dozens of reporters come to the harbour to welcome them.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/03.htm

February 3rd, 1940

UNITED KINGDOM:
Whitby: A Heinkel He-111 bomber is the first German plane shot down over England.

RAF Fighter Command: Enemy aircraft attack shipping off the East coast. Two enemy aircraft are destroyed. 1 British ship is set on fire; 1 Norwegian ship is sunk; 12 seamen are killed. 2 more German bombers severely damaged.
Minesweeper HMS Sphinx under the command of Cdr. John Robert Newton Taylor, was sweeping an area 15 miles north of Kinnairds Head when attacked by enemy aircraft. A bomb pierced the forecastle deck and exploding; destroying the fore part of the ship. She remained afloat and was taken in tow by HMS Halcyon but steadily flooded and capsized and sank at 57 57N 02 00W. The wreck was later washed ashore north of Lybster and was sold for scrap. The commanding officer and forty of the men were killed in the explosion. (Alex Gordon and Dave Shirlaw)(108)

FINLAND: In Soviet air raids 10 were killed and 14 wounded at Seinäjoki, and 34 killed and 38 wounded at Kuopio. (Mikko Härmeinen)

GIBRALTAR: After being stopped by a French auxiliary patrol vessel yesterday, the U.S. passenger liner SS Manhattan is detained at Gibraltar by British authorities. (Jack McKillop)

ATLANTIC OCEAN:

At 1432, SS Armanistan in Convoy OG-16 was torpedoed and sunk by U-25 west of the River Tagus, Portugal. The crew was rescued by the Spanish SS Monte Abril and landed at Tenerife.
At 0936, SS Reet was hit by one torpedo from U-58 and sank within four minutes. She was reported missing after leaving Methil on 31 January. The ship had been first spotted at 2035 hours the day before and was chased by the U-boat, which had missed with the first two torpedoes at 0215 and 0452 hours. (Dave Shirlaw)