Battle of the Atlantic
- The British trawler Halifax (165t) sinks on a mine southeast of Aldeburgh. The is a result of the German destroyer mine-laying operation of February 9th. The entire crew is rescued by the British steamer Ipswitch.
- U-9 sinks the Estonian steamer Linda (1213t) 100 miles west of Utsire with the loss of 1 crewman. Survivors are rescued by the Swedish steamer Birgitta.
- U-37 sinks the British trawler Togimo (290t) 68 miles southwest of Milford Haven with the loss of 1 of the crew. Survivors are picked up by the Spanish steamer Monte Navajo.
- U-50 sinks the Swedish steamer Orania (1854t) 60 miles northeast of the Shetlands with the loss of 14 crewmen. 10 survivors are picked up by the British destroyer Fearless.
- U-53 sinks the Norwegian steamer Snestad (4114t) 100 miles west of the Hebrides. The crew is picked up by the Norwegian tanker Albert L. Ellsworth.
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]Diplomatic Relations
The Germans and Soviets sign an expanded trade and economics agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, which covers a period of 27 months, the Soviets will supply raw materials, especially wheat, cotton and oil, in return for manufactured products of all kinds, including arms. (By the time Germany invaded Russia, Moscow had delivered 1.5 million tons of grain, a million tons of mineral oil, and vast amounts of chrome and manganese. Germany procrastinated during the 16 months the treaty was in effect but did provide substantial amounts of raw materials and military goods, including the heavy cruiser Lützow.)
Additionally, the Soviet Union declares its willingness to act as a buyer of metals and raw materials in third-party countries for the German war effort. Ironically, Soviet metal ore will be used to produce bombs that will be used in the Battle of Britain.
President Roosevelt condemns the agreement and says the US supports Finland.
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Finland - Winter War
Day 74
Intense fighting develops between the Russians and Finns on the Karelian front as the Red Army launches what was to become the decisive assault on the Mannerheim line. After a four hour artillery bombardment, about 140,000 Russians attack on a 12-mile front, a massive concentration of about seven men per yard. The Soviet 123rd Div of 7th Army succeeds in breaking into the Finnish defenses on the Mannerheim Line near Summa. The defending Finns knock out 72 Soviet assault tanks. Around 1 o'clock the 'Fort Poppius' fortress is taken by the Russians. By evening the Russians have penetrated to the support line in the Lähde sector. The Finns launch counterattacks but retire in good order to a second defensive line. In northern Finland at Löytövaara in Kuhmo, Battalion Arponen launches an assault at 7:00a.m. By infiltrating the Soviet lines the Finns put the Soviets on the run. By evening the area is in Finnish hands. A Few of the Soviets manage to escape across Lake Löytöjärvi to Riihivaara.
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