LEHMAN PROPOSES TO SLASH BUDGET (3/5/40)

Microfiche-New York Times archives, McHenry Library, U.C. Santa Cruz | 3/5/40 | Warren Moscow, George Axelsson, K.J. Eskelund

[Homer_J_Simpson]

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

[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
Evolution of Plan Yellow, October 1939-January 1940
The Far East and the Pacific, 1941 – The Imperial Powers, 1 September 1939

[Homer_J_Simpson]

William L. Shirer, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Winston S. Churchill, The Gathering Storm

[Homer_J_Simpson]

A Veto Threatened – 2-3
Britain Is Massing Troops Near Ethiopia; African Units Are Concentrated in Kenya – 3
The International Situation – 3
Case on Flag Salute Going to High Court – 3
Russians Span Bay to Finns’ Mainland – 4-5
Sale of Maps to Aid Fund For the Finns – 6
Urge British Cession of Caribbean Islands – 6
War Incidents - 7

[abb]

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1940/mar40/f05mar40.htm

Finns ready to meet Soviet terms
Tuesday, March 5, 1940 www.onwar.com

The Winter War... Soviet forces cross the ice-bound Viipuri Bay but encounter Finnish resistance. Meanwhile, Soviet aircraft bomb Helsinki.

From Moscow... The USSR announces that it is prepared to negotiate peace on the terms offered before, which expired on March 1st.

From Helsinki... The Finns conclude that the British and French promises of military aid are valueless and, therefore, the government accepts the Soviet offer to reopen negotiations for a truce and for the cession of border areas.

From Toronto... Canada promises to send 1000 volunteers to fight with the Finns.

On the Western Front... German troops capture a British outpost in the Maginot Line (2 killed, 16 taken prisoner). The outpost is later recaptured.

In London... The British government announces a £300,000,000 3% War Loan to aid Finland.

[abb]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/05.htm

March 5th, 1940
UNITED KINGDOM: Dover: Six Italian ships carrying cargoes of German coal were arrested in mid-Channel today after a warning that Britain will seize all German coal found at sea. The ships are anchored off the Kent coast while the government decides whether their cargoes should be unloaded.

Four more Italian colliers sailed into Rotterdam today, and a further six are loading with Rhineland coal destined for Italian ports. All are likely to be seized following an announcement by the Ministry of Economic Warfare that German coal exported to any foreign port would be regarded as contraband.

Severe weather in Germany has reduced normal supplies of coal to Italy, where rationing is now in force. Many Italians believe that the seizure of the ships is a deliberate attempt to force them to buy British coal on British terms.

British sources are insisting that the blockade of German produce applies to all neutral ships, and deny discrimination against Italy.

The British government announces a GBP300 million 3 percent War Loan to aid Finland. (Jack McKillop)

RAF Bomber Command:- Leaflet raids on Rhineland; Ruhr; and Poznan (Poland). Reconnaissance’s of N-W German naval bases. (And during the two succeeding nights.)

Blackburn Botha L6129, on a test flight from Brough, crashes at Flixborough, Lincolnshire, with the loss of veteran test pilot B. R. Rolfe and his flight test observer.

Destroyer HMS Pathfinder laid down. (Dave Shirlaw)

FRANCE: German troops capture a British outpost in the Maginot Line killing 2 and taking 16 prisoner. The outpost is later recaptured. (Jack McKillop)

FINLAND: The Finnish Government decides to send a delegation to accept the Russian terms which include a truce and cession of border areas. Ryti and Paasikivi depart for Moscow. This decision is reached after reaching the conclusion that British and French promises of assistance are worthless.

The Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov suggests that the negotiations be held at Moscow. However, the Soviet government refuses the Finnish proposition that there be a cease-fire during the negotiations. (Mikko Härmeinen)

Soviet infantry fortified itself on the western banks of the Bay of Vyborg, going around the city fortress’s defence. (Hal Smith) More...

U.S.S.R.: A politburo memorandum signed by Stalin and five other leaders recommends executing 14,700 Polish offices, soldiers, civil servants, landowners and others being held in Soviet camps and 11,000 more being held in captivity in Soviet-occupied eastern Poland. (Benjamin B. Fischer) (127)

CANADA: Toronto: Canada promises to send 1,000 volunteers to fight with the Finns.

Patrol vessel HMCS Sans Peur commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)

U.S.A.: Destroyer USS Morris commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)

ATLANTIC OCEAN: At 2015, SS Grutto was spotted by U-17, heading ENE with all navigation lights burning. At 2040, a torpedo was fired, which missed. 18 minutes later, a second torpedo was fired and struck the ship amidships, breaking her in two. The stern section sank within one minute and the bow followed six minutes later. In the early morning of 6 March, a ship of the Dutch Batavier-line spotted wreckage and a raft marked Grutto 7.5 miles SW of Thornbank. The Belgian pilot-boat #8 also reported this raft and later picked up debris two miles west of the Belgian lightship Wandelaar. This wreckage was later identified as belonging to Grutto. The Belgian Pilot boat #5 salvaged the raft and delivered it to Oostende. On 29 March, the bodies of two crewmen washed ashore on the Dutch coast, the body of sailor B van der Spek near Callantsoog and the one of first steerman R. Teensma on Texel. Their families identified both. (Dave Shirlaw)

[abb]

http://worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com/

Day 187 March 5, 1940
USSR has about 15,000 Polish officers held in 3 POW camps in western Belarus & Ukraine. Stalin & the Politburo decide to murder the officers & other Polish prisoners, fearing anti-Soviet resistance if they are released and declaring them “enemies of the Soviet Union”. The Polish officers at Kozelsk camp are shot & buried in a forest near the village of Katyn. The whole episode becomes known as Katyn massacre. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Katyn_-_decision_of_massacre_p1.jpg

Finland. Red Army controls Viipuri Bay despite taking heavy losses from strafing by Finnish aircraft and shelling. They capture more islands and push inland on the Western shore. Clearly with the upper hand, USSR renews its peace offer on the same harsh terms that expired March 1. Finnish Government accepts defeat, its defenses crumbing, and decides to open peace talks.

At 9 PM, U-17 torpedoes Dutch steamer SS Grutto 20 miles from the Belgian coast. Grutto sinks in 6 minutes (all 18 hands lost). http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/285.html

[CougarGA7]

So the French Army are going to get 10,000 footballs. Might as well kick a football around since they aren’t doing anything else right?

[CougarGA7]

Day 97 of the Winter War, March 5, 1940

There is fierce fighting on the islands of Ravansaari, Turkinsaari and Neulasaari in Viipurinlahti bay.
Photo: SA-KUVA

Heavy bombing in Mikkeli

• There is fierce fighting on the islands of Ravansaari, Turkinsaari and Neulasaari in Viipurinlahti bay.

• On the western shore of the bay the enemy is advancing in Vilaniemi and Häränpäänniemi.

• The counterattack to retake the church hill at Äyräpää is delayed by the late arrival of the Finnish detachment at the starting position.

• The launch of the operation is put back until daylight.

• The Finnish attack founders with heavy losses in the face of intense enemy fire.

• During the half-hour attack up the church hill, the attacking Finnish soldiers from the Ostrobothnia municipality of Nurmo lose 40 dead and 30 wounded, some fatally. The hill remains in enemy hands.

• During the course of the morning the Russians occupy Vasikkasaari.

• General Headquarters sets up an office to coordinate recruitment of foreign volunteers.

• The town of Mikkeli, the home of General Headquarters, is heavily bombed and 33 civilians killed.

• The Red Army has already reached Viipurinlahti bay, and the deadline for Finland to formally appeal for help from the Western Allies runs out today.

• After a heated debate, the Finnish Government decides to accept the Soviet Union's preconditions for opening peace talks.

• Moscow announces its intention to stick to its demands: Finland will have to cede Viipuri and Sortavala.

• The first train of Finnish child evacuees arrives in Copenhagen with 93 children on board.

• A French ambulance arrives in Finland.

• The Soviet Government formally apologises to Sweden over the bombing of Pajala.