Allied Planning

The Supreme Allied Council meeting in Paris endorses Gen Maurice Gamelin's Plan D (see May 10, 1940). In case of a German attack through Belgium it is decided to defend a line from the Meuse to Antwerp. In past years Marshal Henri Philippe Pètain had opposed extension of the Maginot Line up to the Meuse on the grounds that the terrain in the Ardennes 'would make any attempted invasion in that sector impossible'.

Baltic Sea

The Swedish steamer Valapariso is seized by German warships for contraband violations.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The German steamer Henning Oldendorf (3986t) is captured by the British light cruiser Colombo near Iceland. She is escorted to Kirkwall where she is later placed in British service under the name Empire Industry.
• U-57 sinks the Lithuanian steamer Kaunas 6-1/2 miles WNW of Noordhinder Light Vessel with 1 crewman lost. 15 survivors are picked up.
• During the night German destroyers Hermann Künne and Wilhelm Heidkamp lay 180 magnetic mines in the Thames Estuary. 7 merchant ships grossing 27,565 tons are sunk and one more is damaged in the field.
• U-19 lays mines off Orfordness during the night. The British destroyer Gipsy and 1 merchant ship are lost in this field.

Czechoslovakia, Politics

A Czechoslovak National Committee is established in Paris by ex-President Benes. It is recognized by Britain and France in mid-December.

Germany, Home Front

Hitler orders Deutschland to be renamed Lützow to avoid the possibility of a ship bearing his country's name being sunk.

Occupied Czechoslovakia

International Students' Day Begins During late 1939 the Nazi occupants in Czechoslovakia (at that time it was called the protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia), in Prague, suppresses a demonstration held by students of the Medical Faculty of the Charles University. The demonstration is held to commemorate the creation of an independent Czechoslovak Republic. This demonstration resulted in Jan Opletal’s death. 15th November is the date when he was meant to be transported from Prague back to his home in Moravia. His funeral procession consists of thousands of students, who turn this event to yet another anti–Nazi demonstration. This however results in drastic measures being taken by the Nazi’s. All Czech higher education institutions are closed down; more then 1200 students are taken and sent to concentration camps; and the most hideous crime of all: nine students/professors are executed without trial on the 17th of November. Due to this, the date of 17th November was chosen to be the International Students’ Day.