Air Operations, Europe

Finnish Blenheim bombers raid Kronstadt naval base near Leningrad. The Russians bomb Oulu in northwest Finland.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British destroyer Exmouth is sunk by U-22 off Wick, Scotland. The entire crew of 189 are lost.

  British Destroyer HMS Exmouth

• The British steamer Ferryhill (1086t) sinks 1-1/2 miles north of St Marys Light on a mine laid by U-61 on December 2nd with the loss of 11 crewmen.
• U-57 sinks the Norwegian steamer Miranda (1328t) in the North Sea with the loss of 14 crewmen. 3 survivors are rescued.
• U-22 sinks the Danish steamer Tekla (1469t) in the North Sea with the loss of 9 of her crew. 9 survivors are picked up by the Norwegian steamer Iris and the British destroyer Sikh.
• The Swedish steamer Andalusia (1357t) is lost with all hands in the North Sea to an unknown cause. It possibly could have been a torpedo from U-55.

Finland - Winter War

Day 53

On the Ladoga Karelia, the Soviets attempt a breakthrough at Kollaa and on the Aittojoki River. They try the same thing at Ilomantsi. A Russian artillery barrage begins at 8:50a.m. on the Kollaanjoki River. The Finns in the area are outnumbered 3 to 1. The Russians lose 6 tanks and 450 men. On the Ladoga Karelia a general offensive is launched by the Russian 8th Army. During the morning the Russian 1st Army Corps attacks the defensive positions held by Group Talvela on the Aittojoki River. The Russian 155th Div launches similar attacks at Kallioniemi and Oimaansalmi in Ilomantsi. In northern Finland Gen Hjalmar F. Siilasvuo's 9th Div is moved from Suomussalmi to Kuhmo.

On the eastern Isthmus on the Taipallenjoki River the Finns shoot down a balloon being used to direct the Soviet artillery fire. In the Ladoga Karelia Finnish Blenheim bombers and dive-bombers hit the air base built by the Russians at Karkunlampi in Salmi.

In Stockholm, Hella Wuolijoki meets with Soviet emissaries Boris Yartsev and Grauer.

In the morning the Russian 1st Army Corps launches a broad offensive on Group Talvela's defensive positions on the River Aittojoki. The 155th Division launches a related assault at Kallioniemi and Oinaansalmi in Ilomantsi. Photo: SA-KUVA Russian Offensive Begins

Pacific

In the Pacific, the Japanese liner Asamu Maru is stopped by the British cruiser Gloucester and 21 German technicians are removed. Japan protests and demands the return of the Germans on Feb 1. The Germans are returned Feb 29.

The Vatican

The Pope criticizes the Nazi occupation and treatment of Poland.