Year 1939

War Diary for Wednesday, November 1, 1939: Home Fronts Germany: Flight of world’s first jet aircraft. Heinkel He 178 experimental jet aircraft displayed to senior Luftwaffe officers. Occupied Countries Poland: […]

War Diary for Tuesday, October 31, 1939: Politics Molotov, Russian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, elucidates Soviet foreign policy: friendship with Germany, support for German ‘peace’ efforts and economic collaboration.

War Diary for Monday, October 30, 1939: Sea War Atlantic: The German U-boat U-56 hits battleship HMS Nelson west of Orkneys but torpedoes fail to explode.

War Diary for Sunday, October 29, 1939: Sea War Atlantic: German warships and U-boats given permission to attack passenger ships in convoys. These passenger ships were used mostly as troop

War Diary for Saturday, October 28, 1939: Politics At talks in Moscow, Russians demand strategic Finnish territory in Karelian Isthmus, Hangoe naval base and ice-free port of Petsamo (Arctic) in

War Diary for Friday, October 27, 1939: Neutrals Belgium: King Leopold in broadcast to USA declares Belgium’s determination to defend its neutrality.

War Diary for Thursday, October 26, 1939: Politics Soviet government denies Britain’s right to stop Soviet merchant ships bound for Germany.

War Diary for Wednesday, October 25, 1939: Sea War Mediterranean: Three U-boats despatched to Mediterranean. Only U-26 arrives and has no success.

War Diary for Tuesday, October 24, 1939: Politics Russo-German trade agreement: USSR to supply 1 M. tonnes of grain and fodder. Occupied countries Poland: Arrival in Paris of large hoard

War Diary for Monday, October 23, 1939: Sea War Atlantic: British Home Fleet escorts iron ore convoy from Narvik, Norway (arrives back on October 31).

War Diary for Sunday, October 22, 1939: Occupied Countries Poland: ‘Elections’ held in Russian-held West Ukraine and West White Russia (Russian-occupied Poland). Home Fronts India: Congress Party declines to support

War Diary for Saturday, October 21, 1939: Sea War Atlantic: French Force de raide (including world’s fastest destroyers) escorts large Atlantic convoy (until October 30) and intercepts German SS Sante

War Diary for Friday, October 20, 1939: Sea War Atlantic: Germany warns that neutral merchant ships joining Allied convoys will be sunk without warning.

War Diary for Thursday, October 19, 1939: Politics Anglo-French-Turkish Treaty of Mutual Assistance signed. The treaty is aimed primarily against Russia, which was always been interested in Istanbul and the

War Diary for Wednesday, October 18, 1939: Politics Four-Power Conference at Stockholm, attended by Kings of Denmark, Norway, Sweden and President of Finland opens (ends October 19).

War Diary for Tuesday, October 17, 1939: Air War Raid on Scapa Flow: Ju 88s cripple training battleship, HMS Iron Duke (World War One Fleet flagship). Sea War German destroyers

War Diary for Monday, October 16, 1939: Western Front Germans counter-attack in Saar region and within 48 hours expel remaining French ‘covering forces’; few casualties on either side. Air War

War Diary for Sunday, October 15, 1939: Neutrals Finland: Compulsory National Service introduced.

WW2 War Diary for Saturday, October 14, 1939: Sea War Atlantic: BATTLESHIP ROYAL OAK SUNK (833 dead) in ‘impregnable’ anchorage of Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands, by U-boat U-47 from Guenther

WW2 War Diary for Friday, October 13, 1939: Western Front Skirmishes East of river Moselle. French demolish 3 Rhine bridges.