Polish cryptographers break Luftwaffe Enigma key
week from January 15 - 21, 1940

MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 1940

Winter War, Finland: Russian heavy artillery commences 17-day preparatory bombardment of Summa sector of Mannerheim Line.

Picture: one of the early Russian heavy artillery pieces, this 122 mm Gun Model 1931 could fire a shell of 55.1 lbs weight over 22,825 yards.

Home Front France: Meat rationing introduced (three 'meatless' days per week).

Neutrals, Japan: Government of General Abe resigns, following severe parliamentary criticism of its China policy. New government formed by Admiral Yonai.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1940

Home Front France: 66 Communist members ejected from Chamber of Deputies.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1940

Winter War, Finland: Finns recapture Kursu, southwest of Salla.

Secret War: (MAIN EVENT) Polish cryptographers in France break Luftwaffe Enigma key of October 28, 1939. Regular decoding now possible.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 1940

Home Front Britain: Five workmen killed in series of explosions at Waltham Abbey explosives factory.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 1940

Winter War, Finland: Heavy fighting continues on three fronts. 45°C (81°F) of frost recorded.

Sea War: Destroyer HMS Grenville mined and sunk off Thames Estuary.

Neutrals, USA: Death of Senator Borah, influential 'Isolationist' (aged 74).

SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 1940

Air War, Finland: Russian bombers start big fires in Turku and Hango.

Western Front: Hitler reduces 'alert period' before implementation of Operation 'Fall Gelb' (the attack in the West) from 4 days to 24 hours for security reasons.

Diplomacy: Churchill broadcasts appeal to neutral States to join Britain and France in resisting Nazi aggression. He compares their timid conduct with the crocodile's victims - each hoping to be eaten last.
Dutch Foreign Minister rejects appeal, January 25.

Home Front Britain: London has its coldest day since 1881, with 11°C (20° F) of frost.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 21, 1940

Air War, Finland: Finnish Blenheim bombers raid Kronstadt naval base, near Leningrad (today St.Petersburg). Russians bomb Oulu, northwest Finland.

Picture: Wearing a winter flying-suit and fur mittens, this Finnish aircrewman is very good equipped. But the cold was such that very few sorties could be flown and action was rare for the flyers.

Sea War: RN destroyer Exmouth sunk with all hands by U-22 in the North Sea.
In Pacific, Asama Maru Incident: Japanese liner Asamu Maru stopped by cruiser HMS Gloucester and 21 German technicians removed. Japan protests and demands return of Germans (February 1). British White Paper on subject, February 6. Nine Germans handed over on February 29.

Diplomacy: Britain rejects US protests concerning examination of mail carried aboard US merchant ships.
Vatican radio broadcasts to USA on Nazi terror campaign against Catholic clergy in Poland.

Home Front Britain: Duke of Windsor (who, as Edward VIII, abdicated in 1936) takes leave after five months' tour of duty with BEF.

China, Sino-Japanese War: two former associates of Wang Ching-wei, head of Japanese-controlled 'puppet' government at Nanking, publish text of agreement, signed by Wang, giving Japan total political and economic dominion in China. Wang issues strenuous denial.

Neutrals, Italy: Italian liner Orazio catches fire off Barcelona (104 dead); French destroyers rescue survivors.