Russian division encircled north of Lake Ladoga
week from January 1 - 7, 1940

MONDAY, JANUARY 1, 1940

Winter War, Finland: Finns repulse Russian probing attack in Taipale sector of Mannerheim Line.

Home Front Britain: Royal Proclamation: 2 Million men aged 20-27 made liable for military service.

Home Front France: Rail links with Spain reopened, after 3 1/2-year break due to Spanish Civil War.

Neutrals, Denmark: In New Year addresses to the nation, P.M. and Foreign Minister express grave doubts about the prospects for continuance of Danish independence in 1940.

Neutrals, Turkey: 32,741 die in severe floods after earthquake.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 1940

Winter War, Finland: Snowstorms halt fighting in Karelian Isthmus.
Battle of Salla begins: Finns make unsuccessful attempts to encircle Russian 122nd Division in the 'Waist' (ends late January).

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 1940

Sea War: British warships detain American SS Mormacsun.

Air War: Finnish aircraft drop 3 Million pamphlets on Leningrad.

Western Front: In Vosges area, French patrols ambush two German detachments and take several prisoners.

Picture: A German reconaissance patrol is cutting their way through enemy barbed wires.

Neutrals, Ireland: Eire government introduces emergency legislation to intern IRA men without trial (becomes law on February 9).

THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 1940

Winter War, Finland: First contingent of Norwegian volunteers leaves Oslo for Finland.

Home Front Britain: All merchant shipping requisitioned.

Home Front Germany: Goring appointed head of German war economy in an effort to beat the Allied blockade.

Occupied Poland: Franco-Polish military agreement: Polish Army in France to be equipped and maintained at French expense.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1940

Winter War, Finland: (MAIN EVENT) Russian 18th Division encircled north of Lake Ladoga. 18,000 Russians are killed or captured by February 19.
First contingent of Swedish volunteer troops reaches Finland.

Picture: Finnish soldiers with a captured Russian tank.

Diplomacy: USSR accuses Norway and Sweden of pursuing 'unneutral' policy (rejected by Norway January 6 and by Sweden January 10).

Home Front Britain: Hore-Belisha, popular Minister of War, forced to resign by opposition of reactionary generals, led by Lord Gort. Replaced by Oliver Stanley. Lord Macmillan, Minister of Information, replaced by Sir John Reith, formerly BBC Dir.-Gen.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 1940

Air War: Two Finnish Fokker fighter planes destroy formation of seven Ilyushin bombers over Utti, northeast of Helsinki.

Picture: Two aircrafts of the new Russian Ilyushin Il-4 bombers.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 1940

Winter War, Finland: 400,000 Finnish civilians have now been evacuated from battle areas and large towns.
Marshal Voroshilov to command the Russian armies in Finland, with General Timoshenko directing 7th and 13th Armies in Karelian Isthmus.