Battle of the Atlantic

• U-59 sinks the Danish steamer Bogo (1214t) 75 miles east of May Island with the loss of 17 crewmen. Survivors are picked up by the British trawler River Earn.
• The Luftwaffe attack North Sea shipping off the British coast. 5 British trawlers are sunk: the Serenity (487t) 8 miles ENE of Whitby; the Pearl (198t) 65 miles from Outer Dousing Light Vessel with the loss of 1 crewman; the Compagnus (270t) 150 miles northeast of May Island with 1 crewman lost; the Isabella Greig (210t) 145 miles northeast of May Island; and the Zelos (227t) 110 miles northeast of May Island.

Battle of the River Plate

Admiral Graf Spee Leaving Montevideo

Since December 13 the British Admiralty has been sending ships speeding to Montevideo. Only the heavy cruiser Cumberland has arrived so far. Local British diplomats try to have the Graf Spee held for a few more days until stronger forces arrive and at the same time contrive to give the impression that heavy units, including the battlecruiser Renown, are already in position. Langsdorff, an extremely humane man, therefore decides to scuttle his ship rather than fight a hopeless battle. Admiral Graf Spee is sunk outside the port with an audience of thousands lining the waterfront. 1,039 officers and men are interred in Buenos Aires. On December 20 Langsdorff kills himself.

The burning wreck of the Admiral Graf Spee

Britain, Home Front

The first Canadian troops, 7,400 men of the 1st Div under the command of Maj-Gen McNaughton, arrive at Liverpool to join the war effort.

Diplomatic Relations

Panama's president protests in the name of the American republics to Britain, France and Germany about hostile activity in South American waters breaching the Pan-American security zone.

Finland - Winter War

Day 18

In the central Isthmus Soviet infantry and tanks launch their first major offensive at Summa. The tanks penetrate the Finnish postitions but the infantry are held at the front line. On the eastern Isthmus the Soviet offensive continues at Taipale. An attempted breakthrough is halted by Finnish artillery fire. The Finnish holding detachment near Porojärvi is overcome by the vanguard a Russian regiment. Detachment Pennanen retreats to the Kornettijoki River, 120 kilometers south of Petsamo. The Finns fighting at Mursula on the shores of Lake Ladoga lose 26% of their strength and have to retreat.

Central Isthmus