[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

[Homer_J_Simpson]

4 Germans Killed – 2-4
Exploit Saved Norway From Shame, Keyes Says – 3
Britons Acclaim Men Off Altmark – 5
Two More Ships Sunk in the War at Sea – 5
Merchant Ships Sunk in War – 5
The International Situation – 6
Scandinavians Will Form Policies Without Finland – 6
Convention Dates Set Latest Since Civil War – 6
Texts of British, Norwegian and German Versions of Altmark Incident – 7-8
Reich Press Irate – 9-10
Japan is Attacked in the Nazi Press – 10
Battle for Outposts Stirs Western Front – 11
Altmark Captives Relate Sufferings – 12-13
Finns Falling Back – 14-15

News of the Week in Review
Additional authors not named in thread header: Hanson W. Baldwin, Arno Dosch-Fleurot
Twenty News Questions – 17
Red Drive Ushers In New Phase in Finland – 18-19
Mannerheim Plays an Old Role Again – 20
Answers to Twenty News Questions – 21

Specify, 8-1 Shot, Triumphs at Santa Anita As Entry of Seabiscuit and Kayak II Trails* - 22

* See reply #3 from yesterday’s thread for the back story.

[Vigilantcitizen]

Military channel’s “World at War” talked about this last night.

[CougarGA7]

Day 81 of the Winter War, February 18, 1940

The old town suffers the worst damage, including the 500-year-old garrison church and the old cathedral containing the grave of the Finnish Lutheran reformer Mikael Agricola.
Photo: SA-KUVA

Over 200 enemy bombers hit Viipuri

• Viipuri suffers unprecedentedly ferocious enemy bombing.

• The first aircraft appear over the city at 8.45 in the morning.

• The air raid continues without a break until evening.

• During the course of the day over 200 enemy aircraft are in action over the city.

• The old town suffers the worst damage, including the 500-year-old garrison church and the old cathedral containing the grave of the Finnish Lutheran reformer Mikael Agricola.

• Numerous medieval buildings are damaged in the bombing.

• The electricity and water mains are cut, the newspapers fail to appear, and the last civilians finally leave Karelia's devastated capital.

• There is growing pressure from Soviet troops around Viipurinlahti bay, and the defending Finnish troops are forced to evacuate the mainland for the islands on the eastern side of the bay.

• The departing Finnish troops set fire to the houses in the municipality of Johannes.

• Eastern Isthmus: the enemy launches a massive assault on the Finnish defences in Taipale.

• In Kirvesmäki the infantry assault is preceded by a brief preliminary bombardment from the enemy artillery.

• The Finnish front line has just been replenished with troops from the 21st Division in their clean snow suits and freshly painted white vehicles. The new arrivals are quickly dubbed the 'porcelain division'.

• The artillery bombardment kills the commanding officers of the strongholds, and enemy bombers cripple most of the Finnish machine guns. Soon the whole front line is in enemy hands.

• Ladoga Karelia: Finnish troops take the 'regimental motti' formed to the north of Lake Ladoga on February 9. After several unsuccessful attempts, the breakthrough finally came this morning with an assault preceded by a relatively mild preliminary artillery bombardment.

• The Finns take charge of a considerable quantity of enemy war materiel: around 20 assault tanks, 35 pieces of artillery, 25 lorries, 17 tractors, 200 other vehicles and 32 field kitchens.

• Also captured is the enemy division's flag embroidered in gold and silver.

• Enemy dead number between 1,000 and 1,200 men, in addition to which around 250 are taken prisoner, including two officers and two political instructors.

• 166 Finnish troops die in the battle, equivalent to 30% of the unit's combat strength.

• Karelian Isthmus: Soviet tanks break through the intermediary positions in two places.

• Northern Finland: in Kuhmo, around 1,000 enemy troops attack the Kuusijoki line with the support of artillery and assault tanks.

• 300 Danish volunteer metal workers have arrived in Finland.

• France: the leader of the Garibaldi League, General Marabini is assembling a force of Garibaldi legionnaires for Finland.

[CougarGA7]

I've got a special treat today. As I was moving all my old bookmarks to this new laptop I ran across this old link that I had used in the past. I recall I stopped posting these because my former employer's firewall started blocking it for some strange reason. So without further ado I present Orson Wells and the Campbell Playhouse (formerly the Mercury Theater) and this weeks installment...

Dinner at Eight