Air Operations, Europe

Russian bombers start big fires in Turku and Hangö.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-44 sinks the Greek steamer Ekatontarchos Dracoulis (5329t) west of Portugal with the loss of 6 crewmen. Survivors are picked up by the Italian steamer Ninopadre.
• The Estonian steamer Nautic (2050t) is lost northwest of Bergen to an unknown cause.

Britain, Home Front

In a speech admonishing neutral nations to support the Allied cause, Winston Churchill, Britain’s first lord of the admiralty, claims, 'Each one hopes that if he feeds the crocodile enough, the crocodile will eat him last.' Churchill also denounces the Soviet Union’s invasion of Finland.

Churchill Speech

Finland - Winter War

Day 52

On the eastern Isthmus fierce fighting breaks out in Taipale. The Russians attack the Finnish defenses at Terenttilä and Kirvesmäki. On the central Isthmus Russian artillery continues to bombard the Finns in Summa village.

In southwest Finland the armored coastal vessels Väinämöimen and Ilmarinen are sent to Turku to help the city's air defenses.

To the north of Lake Ladoga, Flight Luukkamen shoots down 4 Russian aircraft. Lahti is bombed by 37 aircraft. The radio transmitter is knocked out allowing the Russians to broadcast propaganda over the Lahti transmitter's frequency. 5 people are killed and 19 are injured in the attack. Also bombed this day are the cities of Turku, Tampere and Kouvola.

Enemy troops attack the Finnish strongholds at Terenttilä and Kirvesmäki. Photo: SA-KUVA Soviet Attack