Battle of the Atlantic
- The British steamer Chagres (5406t) sinks about 5 miles from Bar Light Vessel off Mersey Light on a mine laid by U-30 on 9 January with the loss of 2 crewmen.
- The British trawler Agnes Ellen (293t) sinks on a mine en route from Holyhead to Workington on the west coast.
- During the night the German destroyers Friedrich Eckholdt, Richard Beitzen and Max Schultz lay 110 magnetic mines in The Wash on the British east coast. 6 merchant ships totaling 28,496 tons will be lost in this minefield.
- The German destroyers Bruno Heinemann, Wolfgang Zenker and Erich Zollner lay 157 mines in the Cromer Knoll area. 3 ships totaling 11,855 will be lost here.
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]Finland - Winter War
Day 72
On the Ladoga Karelia the Finns surround an entire Russian regiment in Vorojenkivi to the east of the great Kitelä 'motti'. This 'motti', north of Lake Ladoga, became known as the 'regimental motti' because the entire Russian regiment (JR 203) was trapped inside. The Finnish attempt to take the 'motti' fails due to the presence of Soviet tanks also trapped inside. On the Karelian Isthmus a general offensive is ordered by the commanders of the Soviet northwest front. Around noon, the Soviet infantry launches an assault supported by tanks on the positions of the Finnish 4th Div at Marjapellonmäki. Although the assault is repulsed, the Soviets managed to take the Karhu stronghold north of Marjapellonmäki on the Summa front. Finnish attempts to retake the stronghold are unsuccessful.
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| ]Germany, Planning
Gen von Manstein is appointed to command the German XXXVIII Army Corps. Although this promotion is well deserved it seems that the German High Command hopes to shift von Manstein to a less influential post than his present appointment as Chief of Staff to von Rundstedt at Army Group A. He has had considerable influence in policy making and has been the leading figure arguing for a radical change in the plans for the attack on the west (see Feb 17, 1940).
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