Diary January 21, 1940

War Diary, 01-1940, Diary WW2, Year 1940 / 1 minute of reading

Finnish aircrewman in Winter War — 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.

Sunday, January 21, 1904

Air War

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

Sea War

North Sea: RN destroyer Exmouth sunk with all hands by U-22.
Pacific – Asam Maru Incident: Japanese liner Asama 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.

Politics

Britain: Government rejects US protests concerning examination of mail carried aboard US merchant ships.

Home Fronts

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.
USA: Vatican radio broadcasts to the USA on Nazi terror campaign against Catholic clergy in Poland.

About The Author

Kretaner

My name is Norman 'Kretaner' and since my childhood I am interested in history and strategy games. Later, I have learned programming and the development of computer games, and finally with the Internet, also web design. I'm in the fortunate position to combine all my interests with my work and to live on a place of my choice, on Crete. All information, figures, specifications and statistics used here had been compiled from a variety of sources and the large, over decades collected, library of the author about military history, WW2 and weapons.