Allied Intelligence

Polish and French cryptanalysts working in France begin occasionally to read the Luftwaffe Enigma transmissions. This is the first such breakthrough of which later developments will give the British invaluable intelligence. The Luftwaffe is the least security conscious of the German services.

Battle of the Atlantic

The German submarine campaign is less effective this month, sinking only 21 ships of 51,600 tons. More than twice this tonnage is sunk by mines. (Allied Ships Lost)

Battle of the Atlantic

Deutschland is recalled from her patrol south of Greenland after an inauspicious mission. It will not be the last time in the war that the mere threat of the presence of a German capital ship is more potent than her performance.

Poland

The Free City of Danzig and the Polish Corridor are officially annexed to the Reich, along with the frontier territories ceded to Poland in 1919 under the Treaty of Versailles. These include eastern Upper Silesia, the area of Lodz and the district of Ciechanow. Stalin annexes the western Ukraine (formerly eastern Poland) into the USSR territory as the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.

Poland

Western White Russia, which had been part of Poland since the end of the First World War, is incorporated into Byelorussian SSR.

Diplomatic Relations

Russia and Finland continue talks in Moscow over Soviet requests for an exchange of territory and the rectification of the frontier.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The Greek steamer Nicolaos M Embiricos (5295t) is sunk when it hits a British defensive mine off the Goodwins 15 miles east of Dover. 1 crewman is lost and the survivors are picked up by the North Goodwin Light vessel and a Dutch boat.
• The Finnish steamer Otava (1290t) is seized by German warships in the Gulf of Bothnia and taken to Swinemünde.

United States, Policy

A modification of the Neutrality Acts passes into law in the United States as the Neutrality Act of 1939. Although by its terms the ban on American ships and citizens in clearly defined war zones is confirmed, it does provide for supply of arms to belligerents on a 'Cash and Carry' basis. Such arms must be ordered from private companies, paid for on the nail and transported to the war zone in the buyer's own ships. Because of British naval strength this means that only the Allies will benefit from this, and that is the intention. Within a few days both the British and the French establish Purchasing Missions in Washington.

This act also establishes the National Munitions Control Board composed of the Secretaries of State, Treasury, War, Navy and Commerce.

Germany, Home Front

Gen Franz Halder, Brauchitsch's Chief of Staff, leads a group which has planned to overthrow Hitler if he is not persuaded to abandon the plan and timing for the attack. Although fairly detailed plans have been made for an army takeover, Halder has received few firm promises of support from the senior officers he has sounded out. The more junior officers tend to follow the Nazi line more closely and, from their positions, can see little wrong with Hitler's leadership. Halder, in any case, is unwilling as a senior serving officer to murder the head of state in wartime. This, combined with the poor prospects of success and a chance remark of Hitler's that suggests that he knows of a plot, persuades Halder to cancel the preparations.

It is important to note that the army opposition to Hitler is at this time not really based on moral principle but rather on resentment of his usurpation of their function as strategic planners and advisers.

Germany, Planning

Walter von Brauchitsch meets Hitler to discuss the plans for the attack in the west. He argues very strongly that it should not take place as scheduled on November 12 because of weaknesses in the army. Hitler shouts him down.

Air Operations, Europe

In an air battle over the Saar, 9 French Hawk fighters shoot down 4 Me-109s from a flight of 27.

Baltic Sea

The Finnish steamer Jessie (1489t) is seized by a German warship and taken to Kiel.

Britain, Home Front

Britain's Coastal Guns

Air Operations, Europe

In the first torpedo attack by German aircraft, 2 Polish destroyers are narrowly missed off the east coast of Great Britain.

Diplomatic Relations

Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands and King Leopold of Belgium issue an appeal for peace offering themselves as mediators between the two sides in conflict. King George VI and President Albert Lebrun reply on November 12.

Germany, Planning

The German attack in the west planned for November 12 is postponed because of bad weather. This postponement will be repeated another 14 times until May 9, 1940.

United States, Home Front

The Academy Theater

Germany, Intelligence

2 officers of the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), Maj Richard H. Stevens and Capt S. Payne Best, are kidnapped at Venlo on the German-Dutch border. They have been lured there by a German agent who has promised that they will meet a disaffected German general. Unfortunately, one is carrying a list of British agents with him. From this and other indiscretions during their interrogation, the Germans are able to arrest many British agents in Czechoslovakia and other occupied territory. The Venlo Incident is a serious setback for British intelligence.

Germany, Home Front

Hitler in Munich

Baltic Sea

The Norwegian steamers Geisha (5113t) and Susanna (442t) are seized by German warships for contraband violations.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-34 seizes the Norwegian steamer Snar (3176t) as a prize off southern Norway.
• The German steamer Leander (989t) is captured by the British destroyer Isis and joins convoy HG-6 which the destroyer is escorting. She is taken to Falmouth and placed in British service under the name Empire Crusader.

Atlantic

The destroyer HMS Blanche is lost to a magnetic mine in the Thames Estuary.

France, Politics

Col Charles de Gaulle, concerned at the apathy of the French government, prepares a report urging more stringent preparations against invasion. His warnings are ignored.

Holland

The Dutch reinforce border troops and cancel all Army leaves and prepare to flood inundation areas if necessary.

US citizens in the Netherlands are advised by their consulate to leave the country.

Britain, Home Front

The Queen broadcasts to the women of the Empire.

Queen Elizabeth Broadcast

Occupied Poland

Polish Jews are forced to walk to the place where they will be killed.

Walking to the Execution Site

Battle of the Atlantic

• The German steamer Mecklenburg (7892t) is intercepted by the British light cruiser Delhi and scuttled to avoid capture northwest of the Faroes. Her 56 man crew is picked up by the Delhi and taken to Sullem Voe.
• U-41 badly damages the Norwegian tanker Arne Kjode (11,019t) with 5 of the crew being lost. An attempt is made to save the tanker, but it is determined she is beyond saving. The destroyer Isis rescues the rest of the crew and sinks the tanker.
• U-41 sinks the British trawler Cresswell (275t) 18 miles nortwest of Flannan Island, Outer Hebrides with the loss of 6 of her crew. The submarine picks up the survivors who are later transferred to the British trawler Phyllisia.

• During the night the German destroyers Karl Galster, Hermann Künne and Hans Lüdeman lay 288 magnetic mines in the Thames Estuary. The British destroyer Blanche and 13 merchant ships of 48,725 tons are sunk in this field.

Britain, Home Front

In a broadcast, Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty, says that if the British get through the winter without any serious setback, the first campaign of the war will have been won.

Air Operations, Europe

The first German bombs hit British soil when the Luftwaffe flies 600 miles to drop bombs on the Shetland Islands. Naval vessels are the intended target.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British destroyer Blanche hits a mine and sinks off the Thames estuary the result of a German destoyer mine-laying operation during the overnight period. Also hitting mines and sinking on this day are the British steamer Ponzano (1346t), her crew being rescued by 2 Norwegian trawlers, and the British steamer Matra (8003t) from convoy HXF-7 1 mile east of the Tongue Light Vessel. 16 of her crew are lost.
• The German steamer Parana (6038t) is intercepted by the British light cruiser Newcastle west of Iceland. She scuttles herself and the wreck is sunk by gunfire from the cruiser. The suvivors are picked up by the Newcastle.

• The British steamer Sirdhana (7745t) is sunk on a British defensive mine in Singapore Roads about 3 miles from Fort Canning Light with the loss of 20 of her crew.

Diplomatic Relations

King Carol of Rumania offers himself as a secret mediator between the two sides.

Not disillusioned about the outcome of the dispute, the Finns break off their talks with the Russians and mobilize their force of about 200,000 men. The talks began on October 12 with the arrival of the Finnish emissary Juho Kusti Paasikivi in Moscow. The Finns were faced with a series of proposals, which amounted to ultimata, for an exchange of territory with the Russians.

Baltic Sea

The Finnish steamer Verna H (983t) is seized by German warships and taken to Swinemünde.

Diplomatic Relations

Through von Ribbentrop, Hitler rejects the offer of mediation by Queen Wilhelmina and King Leopold.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The Belgian fishing vessel Maurice Marguerite (28t) sinks on a mine off Dyck Light Vessel with the loss of 3 crewmen.
• The German steamer Trifels (6198t) is captured by the French armed merchant cruiser Koutoubia off the Azores. She is taken to Casablanca and put in French service under the name Saint Louise.

Battle of the Atlantic

The British steamer Woodtown (794t) hits a mine and sinks just off the North East Spit Buoy, Margate. 8 crewmen are lost. This is the result of the German destroyer minelaying operation in the Thames Estuary the night of the 12th.

Indian Ocean

The Admiral Graf Spee sinks the British tanker Africa Shell (706t) south of Madagascar.

Africa Shell

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-34 sinks the British steamer Arlington Court (4915t) from convoy SL-7A 320 miles from Start Point with the loss of 5 of her crew. The Dutch steamer Algenib rescues 22 survivors from a lifeboat. Another 7 crewmen are picked up by the Norwegian tanker Spinanger on the 22nd.
• U-28 sinks the Dutch tanker Sliedrecht (5133t) 200 miles south of Rockall Bank. 26 crewmen are missing, but the British trawler Mersia rescues 5 survivors during the night of the 23rd.

Czechoslovakia, Resistance

After some recent unrest, martial law is declared in Prague. There are many shootings and deportations.

Allied Planning

The Supreme Allied Council meeting in Paris endorses Gen Maurice Gamelin's Plan D (see May 10, 1940). In case of a German attack through Belgium it is decided to defend a line from the Meuse to Antwerp. In past years Marshal Henri Philippe Pètain had opposed extension of the Maginot Line up to the Meuse on the grounds that the terrain in the Ardennes 'would make any attempted invasion in that sector impossible'.

Baltic Sea

The Swedish steamer Valapariso is seized by German warships for contraband violations.

Czechoslovakia, Politics

A Czechoslovak National Committee is established in Paris by ex-President Benes. It is recognized by Britain and France in mid-December.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The German steamer Henning Oldendorf (3986t) is captured by the British light cruiser Colombo near Iceland. She is escorted to Kirkwall where she is later placed in British service under the name Empire Industry.

• U-57 sinks the Lithuanian steamer Kaunas (1566t) 6-1/2 miles WNW of Noordhinder Light Vessel with 1 crewman lost. 15 survivors are picked up.
• During the night German destroyers Hermann Künne and Wilhelm Heidkamp lay 180 magnetic mines in the Thames Estuary. 7 merchant ships grossing 27,565 tons are sunk and one more is damaged in the field.
• U-19 lays mines off Orfordness during the night. The British destroyer Gipsy and 1 merchant ship are lost in this field.

Germany, Home Front

Hitler orders Deutschland to be renamed Lützow to avoid the possibility of a ship bearing his country's name being sunk.

Battle of the Atlantic

• 86 are killed on the Dutch liner Simon Bolivar (7906t) when it hits a mine in the North Sea as a result of the German destroyer minelaying operation the night of the 17th.
• The British steamer Blackhill (2492t) sinks after hitting a mine near Longsand Head Light Vessel losing 1 of her crew. The British destroyer Gipsy rescues the survivors.
• The Yugoslav steamer Carica Milica (6371t) sinks on a mine laid by U-19 the previous night 3-1/2 miles from Shipwash. The entire crew is rescued.

• The German merchant ship Borkum (3670t) is captured by the British armed merchant cruiser California in the Denmark Strait.
• The German merchant ship Eilbek (2185t) is captured by the British armed merchant cruiser Scotstoun in the Iceland-Faroes Channel. She is taken to the Clyde where she enters British service under the name Empire Scout.

• U-22 sinks the British fishing trawler Wigmore (345t) 25 miles northwest of Rattray Head. 16 crewmen are lost.

• U-18 sinks the British steamer Parkhill (500t) about 25 miles northwest of Rattray Head. All 9 crewmen are killed.
• During the night the German destroyers Erich Steinbrink and Friedrich Eckholdt lay mines off the Humber. 7 merchant ships grossing 38,710 tons are sunk and one more is damaged in this field.

Allied Planning

Churchill proposes to mine the waters of the Rhine between Strasbourg and the river Lauter, using mine-laying aircraft.

Baltic Sea

The Finnish steamer Toras (1016t) is captured by a German warship. It is later placed in German service under the name Fiducia.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The Italian steamer Grazia (5857t) hits a mine and sinks 5 miles north of North Foreland with the loss of 6 crewmen. This is the result of the German destroyer minelaying operation in the Thames Estuary the night of the 12th. 24 survivors are picked up by the British destroyers Griffin and Gipsy.
• The British steamer Torchbearer (1267t) sinks after hitting a mine 2 miles from the Shipwash Light Vessel. 4 of the crew are lost and the British destroyer Greyhound picks up 8 survivors.

• The French steamer Rhuys (2921t) hits a mine and sinks 2-1/2 miles south of Humber Light Vessel with the loss of 16 crewmen. This is the result of the German destroyer minelaying operation in the Thames Estuary the night of the 18th. 17 survivors are picked up.
• The Swedish steamer B O Borjesson (1586t) hits a mine and sinks off the Humber with the loss of 6 crewmen. This is the result of the German destroyer minelaying operation in the Thames Estuary the night of the 18th. Survivors are picked up by the British Rose Of England and the British trawler Frascati.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The brand-new British cruiser Belfast is seriously damaged by a magnetic mine in the Firth of Forth.
• The Japanese liner Terukuni Maru (11,930t) strikes a mine and sinks in the Thames Estuary. This is the result of the German destroyer minelaying operation in the Thames Estuary the night of the 17th. All 206 passengers and crew are picked up by by the British trawler Gava and other small vessels.
• U-33 sinks the British trawler Sculby (287t) and the British trawler William Humphries (276t) 73 miles northwest of Rathlin Island. 5 crewmen are lost from the Sculby with 7 survivors being landed at Tobermory.

• The British destroyer Gipsy leaving Harwich strikes a mine and is badly damaged. The minefield was laid by U-19 the night of the 17th.
• The German merchant ship Tenarife (2436t) scuttles herself west of Iceland when intercepted by the British armed merchant cruiser Transylvania. The crew of 73 is taken aboard the British ship.
• U-41 sinks the French steamer Les Barges II (296t). Survivors are picked up by the Spanish fishing vessel Paz Y Trabajo and taken to Pasajes.

Battle of the Atlantic

• Towards evening a German airplane is seen to drop unidentified objects by parachute into the sea near Shoeburyness on the Essex coast. The military authorities are alerted at once and send two officers of the Royal Engineers, who, when the tide goes out that night, are able to identify the objects as submerged magnetic mines - a secret weapon which the Germans have sown in the entrances to estuaries and the approaches to British ports. A British expert de-fuses one and it is taken to an ordnance depot for further examination with a view to working out counter-measures. During September and October German magnetic mines have destroyed 56,000 tons of Allied or neutral shipping.
• The British steamer Geraldus (2495t) strikes a mine and sinks 3 miles WNW of the Sunk Light Vessel. This is the result of the German destroyer minelaying operation in the Thames Estuary the night of the 17th. The British destroyer Wivern rescues the survivors.

• The British steamer Lowland (924t) strikes a mine and sinks 2 miles ENE of the Northeast Gunfleet Buoy. This is the result of the German destroyer minelaying operation in the Thames Estuary the night of the 17th. 9 of the crew are lost with and the British minesweeping trawler Myrtle rescues 3 survivors.

• The British armed merchant cruiser Laurentic intercepts the German merchant ship Antiochia (3106t) south of Iceland. The British ship gives chase until the German ship scuttles herself.
• The British minesweeping trawer Aragonite (315t) hits a mine and sinks near South Brade Buoy off Deal. 4 of the crewmen are injured in the explosion.
• U-43 sinks the French steamer Arijon (4374t) in the Bay of Biscay.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The German steamer Konsul Hendrick Fisser (4458t) is captured by the British light cruiser Calypso attempting to pass the Iceland-Faroes Passage. She is taken to Leith and later enters British service under the name Empire Soldier.
• The British steamer Hookwood (1537t) in convoy FS-40 hits a mine and sinks 3-1/2 miles ENE of Tongue Light Vessel with the loss of 2 crewmen. This is the result of the German destroyer minelaying operation in the Thames Estuary the night of the 12th. 15 survivors are picked up by the British sloop Bittern.

German Raiders

Between Iceland and the Faroes the British armed merchant cruiser Rawalpindi (16,697t), armed with only 4 6-inch guns, meets the German battlecruiser Scharnhorst and is blown out of the water with a loss of 265 lives. Scharnhorst has been sailing in the company of Gneisenau and because of this meeting they turn back from their raiding mission. They evade searches by many British ships including the battleship Warspite during the next few days and return to base safely. Their escape is made easier by the German ability to read many of the British naval codes.

Germany, Home Front

Hitler calls for a halt to rocket development at Peenemünde, believing that victory against Poland has shown that the war can be won without such weaponry.

Battle of the Atlantic

The British steamer Mangalore (8886) hits a mine and sinks 1-1/2 miles from Spurn Light House. This is the result of the German destroyer minelaying operation in the Thames Estuary the night of the 18th.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-28 sinks the British steamer Royston Grange (5144t) from convoy SL-8B south of Ireland. The survivors are rescued by another ship in the convoy.

• U-43 sinks the British steamer Uskmouth (2483t) off Cape Finisterre with the loss of 2 crewmen. The French destroyer L'indomptable rescues 1 survivor with the rest being picked up the next day by the Italian steamer Juventus.

Germany, Planning

Hitler orders the U-boat arm to pursue a strategy for cutting off the United Kingdom's seaborne contact with other countries.

Baltic Sea

The Danish steamer Cyril (2116t) is seized by German warships for contraband violations and take to Swinemünde.

Diplomatic Relations

Relations between the Soviet Union and Finland continue to deteriorate. There are attacks on Finland in the Soviet press and an official complaint is lodged concerning a spurious border incident. The Finnish reply to this is to suggest that both sides should pull their forces back from the border. The Soviets denounce this as ridiculous, saying that they would have to retreat to the suburbs of Leningrad to comply.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The Polish liner Pilsudski (14,294t) hits a mine and sinks off Outer Dowsing with the loss of 10 crewmen. This is the result of the German destroyer minelaying operation in the Thames Estuary the night of the 18th. 79 survivors are rescued by the British destroyer Valorous.

• U-48 sinks the Swedish steamer Gustafe Reuter (6336t) 14 miles WNW of Fair Island with the loss of 1 of her crew. 8 survivors are picked up by the British armed boarding vessel Kingston Beryl.

Battle of the Atlantic

The Dutch liner Spaarndam hits a mine and sinks 2 miles northeast of Tongue Light Vessel with the loss of 7 crewmen. This is the result of the German destroyer minelaying operation in the Thames Estuary the night of the 12th. The survivors are picked up by a pilot vessel.

Germany, Policy

German citizens are given a year to divorce their Jewish spouses.

Diplomatic Relations

Protesting violently that Russian troops in the Leningrad sector have been fired on by the Finns, the Soviet government renounces the Soviet-Finnish Non-Aggression Pact signed between the two countries in 1932. Helsinki of course denies that anything of the kind has occurred, but the Russians blow it up into their causus belli.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British steamer Ionian (3114t) from convoy FS-43 sinks on a mine 1-1/2 miles from Newarp Light Vessel. The mine was laid by U-20 on the 22nd. The British sloop Hastings rescues the entire crew.
• U-35 was spotted at sunrise by the British destroyer Icarus and attacked by depth charges. Two more destroyers joined in the search, Kashmir and Kingston. After a second depth charge attack, U-35surfaced. A warning shot was fired and the crew abandoned ship.

  U-35

  Class	Type VII
  CO	Kapitänleutnant Werner Lott
  Location	North Sea
  Cause	Depth charge
  Casualties	None
  Survivors	43

Diplomatic Relations

• The Soviet Union breaks off diplomatic relations with Finland, ignoring the Finns' last-minute offer to withdraw their border troops unilaterally. The approach of war can only be described as a failure for the Finnish government. They have no outside help, they are not well armed and the Soviets have no other worries for the moment. It should have been obvious that the Soviets meant business and that the correct interpretation of their willingness to negotiate was a desire to avoid war and not a sign of weakness.

• Spain secretly agrees to allow German use of Spanish ports and agrees to cooperation. Publicly they ratify a friendship pact.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The British steamer Sheaf Crest (2730t) hits a mine and sinks in the Thames Estuary with the loss of 1 crewman. This is the result of the German destroyer minelaying operation in the Thames Estuary the night of the 12th. 12 survivors are picked up by the Polish destroyer Blyscawica and taken to Harwich. 15 other survivors are picked up and taken to Ramsgate.
• The Norwegian steamer Realf (8083t) hits a mine and sinks off the Humber with the loss of 1 crewman. This is the result of the German destroyer minelaying operation in the Thames Estuary the night of the 18th. The survivors are rescued by the Italian steamer Santagata.

Finland - Winter War

The Russo-Finnish War begins. The Soviets invade Finland. Without a declaration of war they cross the border at several points including Rajajoki, Joutselkä and Lipola. On the Karelian Isthmus the Soviet artillery opens fire at 6:50am. In the Ladoga Karelia the Finnish covering force joins battle along the entire length of the eastern border. President Kyösti Kallio turns over control of the Armed Forces to Marshal Mannerheim and announces at 13:30 the the country is in a state of war. Soviet troops occupy the uninhabited island of Seiskari. On the Eastern Isthmus Group Rautu makes contact with the Soviets during the evening. There is intense fighting at Palkeala as the Finnish troops repulse an attempt to break through by the Russians. Many civilians are trapped or captured near Suojärvi and on the islands in the Gulf of Finland and at Salmi, Suomussalmi and Petsamo. During the course of the day 16 Finnish cities are bombed by Soviet aircraft. Among those are Viipuri (10 dead, 11 injured), Helsinki (91 dead, 236 injured), Enso, Lahti ( 5 dead, 1 injured) and Hanko.

Soviet Bombers

The Finnish army can only muster about 150,000 men in 9 divisions, with a tenth being formed. There are also a number of smaller independent units but their reserves of manpower are small. They have little heavy equipment and virtually no tanks. They are handicapped here in having relied on their limited domestic arms production since late 1938 in an attempt to confirm their neutrality. Ammunition is an especially pressing problem and even toward the end of the war shell production will be only about 10 rounds per day for each gun in the army. The air force has about 100 planes which are not very modern. These weaknesses are partly offset by the training and morale of the Finnish troops. They are especially adept in rapid cross-country movement in winter conditions. Such conditions do, however, partly devalue the normal defensive strength of much of the terrain in the Karelian Isthmus, interspersed as it is with river lines and marshy ground. There are also some fairly strong fortifications in this area but the system is by no means comprehensive.

Bombing of Finland