Battle of the Atlantic

• The British steamer Merel hits a mine and sinks just west of the Gull Light Vessel. This is the result of the German destroyer minelaying operation in the Thames Estuary the night of the November 12th. 16 of the crew are lost with only 2 being rescued.
• The British steamer Corea (751t) sinks on a mine 1-1/2 miles from the Cromer Coast Guard Station. This minefield was laid by German destroyer the night of the 6th. 8 of the crew are lost and 7 rescued by the Cromer lifeboat.
• U-48 sinks the British steamer Brandon (6668t), a straggler from convoy OB-48, 80 miles southwest of Fastnet with the loss of 9 crewmen. Survivors are picked up by the Belgian trawler Marie Jose Rosette and the British trawler Tritten.

Diplomatic Relations

The US State Department challenges the British right to seize German goods on neutral vessels and protests the blockade of Germany as an interference with the rights of neutral nations to trade.

Finland - Winter War

Day 9

On the southern Isthmus the advance guard of the Finnish 4th Div, which has been fighting forward of the main defensive postion, pulls back into the defenses. Meanwhile, the Russians in the area attempt to regroup. The Red Army's offensive through the wilderness between Lake Ladoga and the Arctic Ocean catch the Finns off guard completely by the size of the attack and the direction from which it comes. The Finns successfully repulse a Russian attack at Haukiperä in Suomussalmi. On the eastern Isthmus the Soviets begin a week-long artillery barrage at Taipale in order to destroy the Finnish positions there. On the Ladoga Karelia the Finns are overcome by the Soviet troops at Tolvajärvi. The Russians come close to capturing the village and the crossroads but during the night Col Pajari leads a flanking attack on the Russians which cause them to pull back. On the Isthmus K. A. Meretskov takes command of the Soviet 7th Army. In northern Finland the Russians enter the village at Salla.

Finnish troops successfully repulse an attempted Russian breakthrough launched at 7.20 at Haukiperä in Suomussalmi. Photo: SA-KUVA Russians Repulsed

Germany, Planning

Raeder again talks to Hitler of invading Norway. Alfred Rosenberg, the Nazi Party's political and racial 'expert' also introduces the head of the tiny Norwegian National Unity Party to Hitler. His name is Vidkung Quisling (see January 27, 1940).

Italy, Home Front

In Rome the Fascist Grand Council votes to confirm its support of the Axis allieance but also to stay out of the conflicty.