Battle of the Atlantic

• An RAF Blenheim bombs and sinks U-31 in Schillig Roads northwest Germany. This U-boat is subsequently raised, re-commissioned and again sunk Nov 2, 1940. The second sinking is by the destroyer HMS Antelope.
• The Dutch steamer Amor (2325t) sinks on a mine 8 miles northwest of North Fairy Buoy. This is a result of a German minelaying operation on the night of the 9th. The entire crew is recued by the Irish steamer City of Bremen.
• RAF Bomber Command sinks U-31 at Schillig Roads. The entire crew of 45 and 13 other naval personnel are lost. Dockyard personnel are able to raise the submarine on the 19th. She is repaired and recommissioned on 30 July 1940.
• U-28 badly damaged the Dutch steamer Eulota (6236t) 120 miles west of Quessant. The entire crew of 42 is rescued by the British destroyer Wild Swan.

Britain, Home Front

Meat rationing begins. The north os Scotland is officially out of bounds for unauthorized people.

Finland - Winter War

Day 103

On the Karelian Isthmus the Soviets launch an offensive across the Vuoksi supported by artillery fire. Fighting is continuing in Viipuri as the Soviets are fiercely attacking the Finnish defenses. The Soviets break through into the suburbs of Viipuri. By early evening the Soviets have reached Tammisuo station northeast of the city. At 2:45p.m. the Russians break through to the northwest of Vasikkasaari, but they are contained by the Finns. During the night, after heavy fighting, the Finns in Vuosalmi withdraw from Vitsaari. Troops from the Coastal Group withdraw to new positions at Vilajoki. In the area of Tali-Portinhoikka, Russian tanks are supporting a breakthrough near the Portinhoikka crossroads.

The final terms of the armistice between the USSR and Finland are concluded. Finland is to give about 16,000 square miles which include the whole of the Karelian Isthmus, including Viipuri, territory in the 'waist' of the country near Salla, the Rybachiy Peninsula near Murmansk in the Barents Sea and is to grant a 30-year lease on the port of Hanko to the Soviets. Petsamo is returned to the Finns. When the recent Soviet military successes are taken into account these terms can be described as fairly moderate.

The Finnish press publishes a bulletin from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs telling the public for the first time of the peace talks being conducted in Moscow. Photo: SA-KUVA Peace Talks Announced

In a final bid to prevent the Finns agreeing to an armistice Chamberlain and Daladier announce that Britain and France will send help to Finland. The plan to do so is shelved when the Finns conclude their agreement with the Soviets and with it is abandoned the scheme to block the supply of Swedish iron ore to Germany.

German Raiders

The Atlantis, the first of a dozen German commerce raiders, puts to sea. These 'ghost' ships are to prey on merchantmen sailing without the protection of a convoy. Their 60,000 nautical miles range will see them in action in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Mediterranean

The French battleship Bretagne and the cruiser Algérie sail from Toulon for Canada with a large shipment of gold (2379 bars), part of the national reserve.

United States, Policy

The US lifts its arms embargo to allow the British and French to buy P-40 fighter planes.