[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

[CougarGA7]

Day 82 of the Winter War, February 19, 1940

Karelian Isthmus: in Taipale, Finnish troops repulse the strongest enemy assault so far: this particular assault was concentrated on the Terenttilä strongholds. The bodies of 300 Russian soldiers are left lying in the trenches.
Photo: SA-KUVA

Finns beat back strong enemy assault in Taipale

• Commander-in-Chief Mannerheim promotes Jaeger Major-General Erik Heinrichs to Lieutenant-General and names him as the new commander of the Army of the Isthmus.

• A new I Army Corps is established on the Isthmus under the command of Jaeger Major-General Taavetti Laatikainen.

• The commander of Group Talvela, Major-General Paavo Talvela, is appointed commander of III Army Corps. Talvela, too, is a jaeger.

• Karelian Isthmus: in Taipale, Finnish troops repulse the strongest enemy assault so far: this particular assault was concentrated on the Terenttilä strongholds. The bodies of 300 Russian soldiers are left lying in the trenches.

• The Finns have also suffered heavy losses: between 260 and 290 died yesterday in Kirvesmäki.

• The Larkko battalion which had been held in reserve, has lost 41 dead, 57 wounded and 45 missing in action.

• A new Soviet division attacks across Lake Suvanto. The defending Finnish troops repel the assault with concentrated artillery fire.

• The Soviet division suffers heavy losses on the Suvanto ice, which is black with the bodies of fallen Soviet troops. Between 700 and 1,000 dead enemy soldiers are strewn along the shores and the ice of the lake.

• The Finns are forced to withdraw from Revonsaari island.

• Further south the troops on the mainland pull back to Koivisto.

• The volunteer Danish pilot Count Erhard Frijs is killed over Heinjoki when his Fokker fighter bursts into flames during aerial combat.

• 100 enemy bombers pound Uuras and Antrea.

• King Gustav V of Sweden calls a meeting of the Swedish Government in response to the controversy caused by the visit of Finland's foreign minister, Väinö Tanner.

• King Gustav issues a statement confirming Sweden's decision not to help Finland in its struggle against the overwhelmingly superior numerical force of the Soviet invader.

• Despite the King's statement, schoolchildren in Linköping decide to publish an appeal for Sweden to help Finland and organize a collection to buy a fighter aircraft for Finland as a gift from the schoolchildren of Sweden.

• Hungary: leading performers give a concert in Budapest to raise money for the Finnish Red Cross.