Battle of the Atlantic

• The British steamer Baron Ailsa (3656t) sinks on a mine in the Wash with the loss of 2 crewmen. This is a result of the German destroyer mine-laying operation of February 9th. The survivors are picke up by the British minesweeping trawler Beech.
• U-10 sinks the Norwegian steamer Kvernaas (1819t) 4 miles northwest of Schouwen Bank. The 20 crewmen are rescued by the Dutch steamer Oranjepolder.
• U-48 sinks the Finnish steamer Wilja (3396t) southwest of the Scilly Isles. 27 survivors are rescued by the British destroyer Vanessa and the Dutch steamer Maasdam.
• U-37 attacks convoy OG-18 and torpedoes the British steamer Pyrrhus (7418t) breaking her in two. The aft section sinks immediately but the fore part remains afloat for 2 days before sinking. 8 Chinese crewmen are lost and the survivors are picked up by the British steamers Uskside and Sinnington Court.

Britain, Home Front

The Cossack returns to Leith after rescuing the British prisoners held in Admiral Graf Spee's supply ship Altmark. (See North Sea, 16 February) Cossack Returns Home

Finland - Winter War

Day 80

The Soviet advance has completely cleared the Mannerheim Line. The Soviets have breached the line at Postilambi near Kämärä station. The outnumbered Finns are fighting enemy tanks on the open snow without anti-tank guns. All the Finnish defenders are now established in their second line of defense. The Finnish 23rd Div, brought forward from the reserve, has been slow to arrive because of air attacks. The Soviet attack grinds to a halt before the intermediary defensive positions. The Russians try very hard to take Suursaari Island on Lake Muolaanjärvi to no avail. In northern Finland the Soviets in Kuhmo launch a new attack on the Kuusijoki line in another effort to free the trapped 54th Div.

Soviet aircraft hit Iisalmi. 41 people are killed. Viipuri is bombed by 130 Soviet aircraft.

The outnumbered Finnish troops are fighting enemy tanks on the open snow without anti-tank guns. Photo: SA-KUVA Finns Against Tanks

Germany, Planning

Gen von Manstein visits Hitler and discusses with him the plan for the armored attack through the Ardennes which von Manstein has devised. Hitler has been thinking along these lines himself and is very impressed with von Manstein's work.

Norway

Norway protests British violation of her neutrality. International arbitration is proposed on Feb 25.

United States, Politics

Pres Roosevelt sends Sumner Welles, Under-Secretary of State, on a fact-finding tour of Europe namely to Britain, France, Germany and Italy. He is to report back on 'present conditions in Europe'. Welles is actually sounding out the prospects for peace but finds no interest in any of the Axis or Allied capitals. The omission of Russia from Welles's itinerary is significant. The Soviet Union was a pariah among nations. Its Finnish and Polish invasions were roundly condemned internationally. With Welles visiting the other major combatants, Moscow's suspicions of the West and add to Russia's sense of isolation. Roosevelt also appoints Myron C. Taylor as his 'personal representative' to the Vatican.