1939 Two more U-boats are reported to have been destroyed as the British campaign to destroy three a week continues. 1940 Franco says Spain is not prepared to enter war. Italian Naval Chief resigns, to be replaced by Admiral Campioni. The Western Desert Force is now fully concentrated for ‘Operation Compass’. Greeks take Argyrokastro and […]

1939 Norway, Denmark and Sweden declare their neutrality. The Soviet Ninth Army launches an offensive in central Karelia. Britain and France agree to send troops and material to help Finland fight against the Soviet Union. However, there is virtually no way to get these forces to Finland and so the promises mean little. Italy reaffirms

1938 France and Germany sign a treaty of friendship. 1939 Soviet attacks against the Mannerheim line are beaten back by the Finns with heavy Red Army casualties. Germany warns neutral ships to resist the  British blockade. 1940 The Western Desert Force begins Training Exercise No.2. This was a 60 mile approach march to their concentration

1939 Heavy fighting in Karelia, Finland. Two Polish submarines escape from the Baltic Sea to join Royal Navy. 1940 McGovern’s ILP peace amendment is rejected by House of Commons, 341 votes to 4. The German draft plan for the Invasion of Russia Operation ‘Otto’ is presented to Hitler. Admiral William Leahy takes oath of office

1939 The German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee sinks the liner Doric Star off the western coast of South Africa. 1940 Greeks capture Premeti, Pogradec and the Albanian port of Sarande. F4F-3 Wildcat fighter enters service with US Navy. 1941 Temperature falls to -31°F (-37°C) on Russian Front. The Japanese Embassy in Washington begins to

1939 The RAF scores a number of direct hits on German warships at the Heligoland Bight naval base. Finnish troops withdraw in good order towards the Mannerheim line defensive position. 1940 Britain allots each person an extra 4 oz of sugar and 2 oz of tea for Christmas. 1941 Hitler issues Rationalization Decree, urging modern

1939 Russian troops capture Petsamo in the extreme north of the Finland. The German liner Watussi is scuttled after her interception by South African Defence Force bombers. 1941 Churchill introduces a new National Service Bill, including compulsory service for women. Germans patrols are just five miles from the Kremlin. Soviet troops evacuate the last territory

1939 The Soviet Union creates a puppet Finnish government in Moscow under the leadership of a Finnish communist, Otto Kuusinen, who immediately accedes to the Soviets territorial demands. Finnish coastal guns at Russar engage the Russian cruiser Kirov and its screen of destroyers. The Kirov and one destroyer damaged. 1940 The Italian submarine Argo torpedoes