Battle of the Atlantic
Battle of the River Plate
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. []
Britain, Home FrontThe 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 RelationsPanama'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 WarDay 18In 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.
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[ Dec 16th - Dec 18th] |