Replies

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.

Go Finns Go!!

Wait, alcohol rationing in France? Will there be mass suicides?

Lord HawHaw is ID’d! Tagged! Pwned!

French Senate Ousts Commies! Senator McCarthy was French?? lol

Could you imagine getting off light after sending an arrow through the window and nearly killing a cabinet member?? wow.

Sure, we’ll send someone to “talk peace” but we know there is no chance of peace.

Day 93 of the Winter War, March 1, 1940

In Sweden, a collection of gold rings has raised 1,500 rings.
Photo: SA-KUVA

Soviet troops attack delaying positions on the Isthmus

The Soviet force on the Isthmus follows closely behind the Finnish troops withdrawing to the backline positions and carries out a number of assaults on the delaying positions.
Soviet tanks dragging sled personnel carriers overtake the Finnish troops withdrawing to the delaying positions to the west of Perojoki.
The vanguard of the Russian tanks breaks through to Ukonmäki near the main road from Viipuri to Tali.
The enemy is also attacking along the Heinjoki-Lyykylä road and to the south of Viipuri.
In Vuosalmi, a Soviet detachment of approximately battalion strength attacking the church hill at Äyräpää is beaten back by the defending Finnish troops.
In Taipale, the command dugout in the Terenttilä sector receives a direct hit; 2 officers and 11 men are killed and a further 6 soldiers are seriously wounded.
In northern Finland, Lieutenant-Colonel Magnus Dyrssen is killed by enemy shelling. Dyrssen was commander of the Swedish volunteer battalion, Stridsgruppen SFK, which had just taken over responsibility for the front in Salla.
The fighting in Viipurinlahti bay leads to the establishment of a Coastal Group commanded by Jaeger Major-General K.M. Wallenius from the Lapland Group.
The Western Allies announce they are ready to send 50,000 troops and aircraft to Finland if they receive an official request for help before the 5th of March.
Finland delays its response to the peace terms put forward by the Soviet Union.
Foreign Minister Tanner gives an interview to the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter.
In his interview, Tanner underlines the urgent need for foreign aid, while also stressing Finland's willingness to seek peace through dialogue.
Finland's civil defence chief, Lieutenant-General Sihvo urges the general public to avoid going into the towns if at all possible.
In Sweden, a collection of gold rings has raised 1,500 rings.

Here at the six month anniversary of the start of the war against Germany it is striking to me just how profoundly phony the Phony War was. Since the end of November the primary fixation in the papers have been on the Russian war against the Finns. And rightfully so being that it is the only front where anything is happening.

At the start of the war we got to see reports on France’s great march into German territory only to see the story trail off within a few weeks. At the end of the first month Poland was almost an afterthought having fallen so fast. Now all we see is an occasional report of artillery exchanges across the border and the naval action which ebbs and flows as naval warfare does.

With the scarceness of daily action and the overshadowing of the Winter War it is real easy to forget that Britain and France are at war with Germany. It always struck me as odd that there was this 6 month lull between the fall of Poland and the action in Denmark and Norway. Actually following it on a daily basis has only made it more so. A strange event indeed.