[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]

Selections from West Point Atlas for the Second World War
Finland – The Decisive Offensive, 1-21 February 1940
Evolution of Plan Yellow, October 1939-January 1940
The Far East and the Pacific, 1941 – The Imperial Powers, 1 September 1939

[iowamark]

"FIRST LADY BALKS AT ADVISING YOUTH TO UPHOLD FINLAND"

Eleanor was always Stalin's apologist, due to the influence of her Communist friends.

[pyx]

Please CONTINUE posting these reminders of history. Thank you in advance.

[CougarGA7]

One thing is for certain. While it is clear by the statements by FDR yesterday that he is giving responses that are political expedient, his wife has no such political savvy.

She is clearly a communist sympathizer, and unfortunately you know that she has influence in policy even if not publicly. It may partially explain some of the horrendous domestic policies put forth by FDR.

[CougarGA7]

Day 75 of the Winter War, February 12, 1940

The Ministry of Supply announces new maximum prices for coffee: the maximum permitted retail price for roasted ersatz containing at least 25% coffee is 20 markkaa per kilo, with Rio blend at 34 markkaa, the Central American Santos blend 32 markkaa and Quality blend at 50 markkaa per kilo.
Photo: SA-KUVA

Fierce fighting continues in Summa

• Northern Finland: Colonel Dolin, commander of the enemy ski brigade bearing his name, is killed in a skirmish with a Finnish patrol in Kuhmo.

• Karelian Isthmus: the Red Army enlarges its breakthrough in the Lähde sector.

• The enemy fails to break through in other sectors of the front.

• The enemy continues to attack on the Muolaanjärvi-Punnusjärvi isthmuses.

• The Kirvesmäki stronghold in Taipale is lost and attempts to retake it prove unsuccessful.

• Heavy fighting continues in Summa.

• Referring to the aid Finland is expecting from the international community, Foreign Minister Väinö Tanner issues a statement in his own name via the Finnish News Agency in which he denies claims of attempts to broker a peace.

• Prime Minister Ryti and Minister without Portfolio J.K. Paasikivi describe Tanner's statement as ill-considered.

• While in Turku en route for a secret trip to Stockholm, Tanner receives details from Chargé d'Affaires Erkko of the Soviet Union's terms for peace.

• The Soviet terms are passed on to the Finnish Government.

• The Ministry of Supply announces new maximum prices for coffee: the maximum permitted retail price for roasted ersatz containing at least 25% coffee is 20 markkaa per kilo, with Rio blend at 34 markkaa, the Central American Santos blend 32 markkaa and Quality blend at 50 markkaa per kilo.

• Abroad: Karl J. Ewerts, the director of volunteer recruitment in Sweden, returns from a trip to the Karelian Isthmus and issues a statement to the press calling for weapons, men and vehicles to be sent to Finland.

• The first 10 Finnish flying cadets arrive in Stockholm for training provided by the Royal Swedish Aero Club.

• In the United States, the 'one dollar collection' organized by the Finnish committee has already raised over a million dollars.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/feb40/f12feb40.htm

Commonwealth troops in Egypt

Monday, February 12, 1940 www.onwar.com

In Egypt... The first echelon (4th Brigade) of the New Zealand Division and the Australian Imperial Force arrive at Suez.

In the North Sea... The sloop HMS Gleaner sinks a U-boat (U-33) in the Firth of Clyde. German naval Enigma cipher machine rotors are recovered.

In the North Atlantic... As part of an operation to intercept 6 German merchant vessels, the destroyer HMS Hasty captures the Morea in the Atlantic and the cruiser HMS Glasgow captures a trawler off Tromso, Norway.

In Britain... Paper rationing is introduced, with supplies cut by 40 percent.

The Winter War... A counterattack late in the day by the Finnish 5th Division fails to expel the Soviet forces from their hold on the Summa position. It becomes apparent the Karelian defense line will not hold.

In Helsinki... In the diplomatic negotiations the Soviets raise their terms a little further to match their growing military success. The Finnish cabinet now favors peace and authorizes moves to end the war against the USSR. At the same time, Finland requests aid from Sweden (which Stockholm rejects).

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/12.htm

February 12th, 1940

UNITED KINGDOM:
U-33 on a minelaying operation in the Firth of Clyde is sunk by minesweeper HMS Gleaner.
Paper rationing is introduced with supplies cut by 40%.

London: Women living in the London postal area whose husbands are away in the services are to receive increased allowances, payable immediately. The rise brings the separation allowance to 3/6 a day and will date back to 4 December. Oliver Stanley, the new Secretary of State for War, promised a full review of the army pay system when he took office last month. This increase follows widespread complaints about hardships experienced by service wives while their husbands are away.

RAF: No.2 AACU (Based in Gosport, Plymouth and Eastchurch) take delivery of the first target towing conversion of the Blackburn Skua (L2978).
Destroyer HS Aegion (ex-HMS Avon Vale) laid down. (Dave Shirlaw)

GERMANY: U-501 laid down. (Dave Shirlaw)

FINLAND: The Finnish troops at the Lähde sector are withdrawn to the second line of defence. (Mikko Härmeinen)

POLAND: The German government begins the deportation of German Jews to Poland. (Jack McKillop)

EGYPT: Convoy US.1 carrying the (ANZAC Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) New Zealand 4th Brigade and the Australian 16th Brigade arrives at Ismailia. The convoy had left Auckland on 6 January and Sydney on 10 January. (Jack McKillop)

U.S.A.: The motion picture “Abe Lincoln in Illinois” is released. Directed by John Cromwell, this biography of Abe Lincoln’s life stars Raymond Massey, Gene Lockhart, Ruth Gordon and Howard da Silva. (Jack McKillop)

“The Adventures of Superman,” a 15-minute transcribed syndicated radio show featuring the comic strip hero, debuts on station WOR in New York City this Monday afternoon. The identity of the actor playing “mild-manned reporter” Clark Kent was unknown to listeners until 1946. The secret eventually leaked out that Superman’s voice was actually that of Bud Collyer, who would later host the hit television program, “To Tell the Truth” on CBS. (Jack McKillop)

ATLANTIC OCEAN: As part of an operation to intercept six German merchant vessels, the destroyer HMS Hasty captures the ‘Morea’ in the Atlantic and the cruiser HMS Glasgow captures a trawler off Tromsø , Norway.

The British heavy cruiser HMS Dorsetshire stops German freighter SS Wakama 12 miles (19 kilometres) off Cabo Frio, Brazil; Wakama’s crew scuttles her so that their ship will not fall into British hands. (Jack McKillop)

At 0955, the unescorted Nidarholm was hit amidships by one torpedo from U-26 after she had been stopped at 0925 by two shots across her bow. The ship broke in two, the bow sank and the afterpart remained afloat. The U-boat fired two coups de grâce at 1009, one torpedo detonated prematurely while the other sank the wreck. The survivors were picked up about 10 hours later by the Norwegian SS Berto, which was enroute from Torrevieja to Bergen via Gibraltar and Kirkwall.
SS Dalarö sunk by U-53 at 56.44N, 11.44W. 1 dead and 29 survivors. (Dave Shirlaw)