[CougarGA7]

Day 98 of the Winter War, March 6, 1940

In the evening, the Finnish delegation under the leadership of Prime Minister Risto Ryti leaves for Stockholm en route to Moscow. The other members of the delegation were J.K. Paasikivi, Rudolf Walden and Väinö Voionmaa.
Photo: SA-KUVA

Soviet leadership announces readiness to open peace talks

• In Ladoga Karelia, the Soviet 11th Division launches a tank-supported offensive against the Finnish-controlled islands in the Pitkäranta sector at 9 o'clock in the morning.

• The offensive is preceded by a fierce three-hour artillery bombardment during which approximately 10,000 enemy shells rain down on the Finnish positions.

• In this way the Russians manage to break through the Pitkäranta section of the blockade encircling the great Kitelä 'motti'. The Finnish counterattack in Vilaniemi is unsuccessful. Russians also come ashore in Karjaniemi and Niskapohja. In the Sintolanniemi sector on the Isthmus the Russians cross the Vuoksi on a 2 km front. Paimio, Petäjä, Maksima and other islands on the eastern shore of Lake Ladoga are under heavy enemy shelling. 50 men from the municipality of Rantasalmi are killed.

• Foreign Minister Tanner asks the Allies for an extension of the deadline for requesting military assistance. Finland is given until the 12th of March to make a formal request.

• The Soviet Union announces its readiness to open talks with Finland in Moscow, but will not agree a ceasefire until the talks are actually underway.

• The Finnish Government meets twice to consider the composition of the Finnish delegation for the Moscow peace talks.

• In the evening, the Finnish delegation under the leadership of Prime Minister Risto Ryti leaves for Stockholm en route to Moscow. The other members of the delegation were J.K. Paasikivi, Rudolf Walden and Väinö Voionmaa.

• In San Francisco, the great Finnish runner Taisto Mäki wins a three-mile race in 14 minutes 15.3 seconds in an event organized to raise funds for Finland.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/06.htm

March 6th, 1940

UNITED KINGDOM: RAF Fighter Command: Two Norfolk lighthouses and two convoys are bombed and machine-gunned by German aircraft. Little damage is caused.
FRANCE: France and Italy conclude a trade agreement in Paris providing for an increase in the volume of trade between the two countries. (Jack McKillop)

Battleship FS Jean Beart launched. (Dave Shirlaw)

GERMANY: Chancellor Adolf Hitler changes his plans for the invasion of the west. At a military conference in Berlin, he decides to adopt the plan put forward by General Gerd von Rundstedt, Commander in Chief Army Group A, and his former chief of staff, General Erich von Manstein, Commander of the XXXVIII Corps, for the Ardennes option. Code-named “Fall Sichelschnitt,” it calls for the attack against the Low Countries to go ahead, but with slightly fewer forces, in order to draw the allies forward, while the decisive thrust will be mounted through the Ardennes. Holding attacks would be made against the Maginot line. (Jack McKillop)

FINLAND: The Finnish government decides on the delegation that goes to Moscow. It’s composed of Prime Minister Risto Ryti, Foreign Minister Väinö Tanner, Juho Paasikivi (Minister without Portfolio), Commander-in-Chief’s representative Major Gen. Rudolf Walden and Member of Parliament Väinö Voionmaa. (Mikko Härmeinen)

PARAGUAY: River Plate: The wreck of the Graf Spee is boarded by a British technical team, after they purchased it for £14,000 through a nominee. (Peter Beeston)