Chronology of World War II

Friday, March 1, 1940

In France... The French government offers to purchase "heavy water" from Norway. There is stricter food rationing in France.

In Berlin... The final directive for the invasion of Norway and Denmark is issued. Sumner Welles (US Under-Secretary of State) arrives for talks and meets with Hitler who says "there is no other solution than a life-and-death struggle."

In Britain... Women are urged to wear light clothes in order to save darker dyes for forces uniforms. According to BBC audience research, about two-thirds of the adult population tunes in to Lord Haw-Haw's broadcasts from Hamburg. One person in six is a regular listener to his propaganda. Some 16 million listeners hear the BBC nine o'clock news every night and about 6 million of them them switch straight over to Lord Haw-Haw afterwards.

The Winter War... Soviet forces are within 6 km of the center of Viipuri. Fierce aerial dog fights take place over the city. The Soviet ultimatum putting peace proposals to Finland expires.

On the Western Front... The phoney war continues with a few artillery exchanges and a little patrol action.

Saturday, March 2, 1940

The Winter War... The Soviet forces begin major attacks on the new Finnish defense line under the direction of General Timoshenko. Pressure is exerted against all points but is strongest at the north and south ends. Vuosalmi in the north is attacked by Soviet 13th Army forces while the reserve corps of Soviet 7th Army is advancing over the sea ice toward the west side of Viipuri Bay. Soviets reach the southern suburbs of Viipuri. Meanwhile, Finnish fighters foil an attempted raid on Helsinki.

Over Germany... A high-flying RAF Spitefire photographs the entire Ruhr industrial region in one sortie.

In the North Atlantic... The British liner Domala is bombed off the Isle of Wight (100 killed).

From Paris... A formal request is sent to Sweden and Norway to allow Allied troops to be sent to Finland through the Scandinavian countries. (Units are intended to begin arriving by March 20th. Daladier has plans for a force of 50,000 French "volunteers" and 150 aircraft.)

From London... A formal request is sent to Sweden and Norway to allow Allied troops to be sent to Finland through the Scandinavian countries. (The British force is planned to reach a level of 100,000 men eventually.)

In the Denmark Strait... The British cruiser HMS Berwick intercepts the German Wolfsburg, which is scuttled in order to avoid capture.

In the West Indies... The cruiser HMS Dunedin intercepts the Heidelberg which is scuttled.

In France... Army intelligence reveals German preparations for an attack on Scandinavia.

Sunday, March 3, 1940

The Winter War... The Soviets begin attacks on Viipuri, Finland's second city. There is hand-to-hand fighting in the suburbs of Viipuri; Soviet troops capture the railway station.

In the North Atlantic... The cruiser HMS York intercepts the German SS Arucas off Iceland, but the German crew scuttles her.

In Britain... The public has now invested £100 million in National Savings since the war broke out.

From Berlin... The date for the invasion of Norway and Denmark is set as March 17th but this will be altered to early April.

Monday, March 4, 1940

The Winter War... Finnish forces defeat Soviet forces attacking from the east and west of Viipuri. The Soviet forces attacking from the west are attempting to cross the ice on Viipuri Bay.

Tuesday, March 5, 1940

The Winter War... Soviet forces cross the ice-bound Viipuri Bay but encounter Finnish resistance. Meanwhile, Soviet aircraft bomb Helsinki.

From Moscow... The USSR announces that it is prepared to negotiate peace on the terms offered before, which expired on March 1st.

From Helsinki... The Finns conclude that the British and French promises of military aid are valueless and, therefore, the government accepts the Soviet offer to reopen negotiations for a truce and for the cession of border areas.

From Toronto... Canada promises to send 1000 volunteers to fight with the Finns.

On the Western Front... German troops capture a British outpost in the Maginot Line (2 killed, 16 taken prisoner). The outpost is later recaptured.

In London... The British government announces a £300,000,000 3% War Loan to aid Finland.

Wednesday, March 6, 1940

The Winter War... A Finnish delegation leaves for Moscow, led by Ryti and Juho Kusti Paasikivi (an experienced politician and diplomat). Mannerheim, seeing it is useless to continue the once-sided struggle against the Soviet Union, has accepted that there must be talks. The delegation arrives the following day.

In the North Sea... German aircraft bomb and machinegun two lightships.

In Paris... France and Italy conclude a trade agreement providing for an increase in the volume of trade between the two countries.

Thursday, March 7, 1940

In the English Channel... British warships detain 6 Italian coal ships with cargos of German coal. This action follows a warning that Britain will seize all German coal found at sea. The ships are brought to Kent where they are anchored of the coast while the government decides whether to unload the cargoes. Four more Italian colliers have set sail from Rotterdam and a further six are loading with Rhineland coal destined for Italy where coal rationing is in force. Many Italians believe that the seizure of their ships is a deliberate attempt to force them to buy British coal on British terms. This becomes known as the "Coal Ships Affair".

In Paris... The prime minister, Edouard Daladier, meets the US envoy Sumner Welles.

The Winter War... Heavy fighting continues around Viipuri Bay.

Over Germany... RAF aircraft, operating from France, drop Polish language leaflets over German occupied Polish lands and German language leaflets over Leipzig and the Ruhr.

Friday, March 8, 1940

The Winter War... The Soviets capture part of Viipuri. Their pressure on the Finnish defenses northeast of the city is beginning to wear down the Finnish resistance. The Soviets reject a Finnish request, by the delegation in Moscow, for an immediate armistice. Meanwhile, large quantities of French arms, ammunition and aircraft (175) are now on the way to Finland.

Saturday, March 9, 1940

The Winter War... The Finns acknowledge that Soviet forces have established a bridgehead on the northwest shore of Viipuri Bay. However, the communiqué claims that the defenses along the rest of the Karelian Isthmus remain intact. Finland is now in danger of being overwhelmed by the Soviet offensive. Meanwhile, Britain and France promise Finland troops and planes to fight the Soviets provided that Helsinki makes a formal request.

In Berlin... Admiral Raeder tells Hitler the British and French might occupy Norway and Sweden under the pretext of aiding the Finns and encourages an invasion of Norway at the earliest time.

In London... An Anglo-Italian compromise solution to the "Coal Ships Affair" of March 7th is achieved. The Italian colliers detained by the British are released and Italy agrees to find an alternative (overland) supply route from the German coalfields.

Sunday, March 10, 1940

The Winter War... Soviet forces capture Repola, northeast of Viipuri, as well as Karppila and Ruhela on the north shore of Viipuri Bay.

In Helsinki... Marshal Mannerheim, president of Finland, urges the government to make terms with the USSR.

In Rome... The German foreign minister, Ribbentrop, meets with the Italian leader, Mussolini, and invites him to meet with Hitler.

Monday, March 11, 1940

In the Mediterranean... The French battleship Bretagne and cruiser Algerie set sail from Toulon for Canada carrying a shipment of gold (2,379 bars).

In Moscow... The final terms of the armistice between the USSR and Finland are concluded. Finland is to give up the whole of the Karelian Isthmus, including Viipuri, territory in the "waist" of the country near Salla, and Rybachiy Peninsula near Murmansk and is to grant a lease on the port of Hango to the Soviets. Petsamo is returned to the Finns. When the recent Soviet military successes are taken into account these terms can be described as fairly moderate.

In the North Sea... An RAF Blenheim sinks the U-boat U-31 off Borkum.

In Paris... In a final bid to prevent the Finns agreeing to an armistice Chamberlain and Daladier announce that Britain and France will send help to Finland. The plan to do so is shelved when the Finns conclude their agreement with the Soviets and with it is abandoned the scheme to block the supply of Swedish iron ore to Germany.

In Germany... RAF Blenheim bombers attack and sink U-31 in port at Schillig Roads, in northwest Germany. The submarine is subsequently raised and re-commissioned and later sunk again (see November 2, 1940).

In London... US envoy, Sumner Welles, meets the king and discusses possible peace and mediation condition terms with Chamberlain and Halifax.

In Britain... Meat rationing begins with a restriction of 1s 10d (9 pence) worth of meat per person per week.

In the United States... The government lifts its arms embargo to allow Britain and France to buy some P40 fighter planes.

Tuesday, March 12, 1940

In Britain... The British Home Fleet returns to Scapa Flow from Rosyth and Loch Ewe after the completion of a substantial improvement of the anti-aircraft and anti-submarine defenses at the base.

In Moscow... The Finnish delegation awaits final approval, from Helsinki, of the peace terms offered by the Soviets.

In Paris... The French prime minister, Daladier, informs the Chamber of Deputies that an Anglo-French expeditionary force is ready to embark for Finland on receipt of a formal Finnish appeal for assistance.

In Lublin... Seventy-two German Jews, out of 1000 deported to Poland in sealed freight cars from Stettin, die of exposure after an 18-hour march in a blizzard.

Wednesday, March 13, 1940

The Winter War... After the Finnish delegation have received formal permission from their government, the peace treaty with the Soviets is signed in the early hours of the morning. The ceasefire begins at 1200. This ends the 104-day war between Finland and the USSR -- the Winter War. In Field Marshal Mannerheim's last Order of the Day to the Finnish Army he states: "A severe peace [has been concluded] which cedes Russia nearly all the battlefields we have drenched with our blood... The deeds you have accomplished will shine for centures in the pages of our history." Finland loses the Karelian Isthmus (including the city of Viipuri and the Vuoksi industrial belt), the Hango naval base and border areas northwest of Lake Ladoga, in the "Waist" and on the Arctic coast. The Finns have never had more than 200,000 men in the fight and have lost 25,000 dead and 45,000 wounded. Altogether the war has absorbed, on the Soviet side, 1,200,000 men, 1500 tanks and 3000 planes. Official sources put their losses at 48,000 dead and 158,000 wounded but this may well be a considerable understatement. This disparity in losses suggests to Allied and Axis observers that the effects of Stalin's officer purges have still not been overcome. This impression of inefficiency contributes to Hitler's decision to invade the USSR and makes the British and Americans a little reluctant to send supplies to the Soviets when the Germans do invade because they expect that the Germans will win quickly.

In London... Sir Michael O'Dwyer, the former governor of the Punjub, is assassinated by an Indian nationalist.

Thursday, March 14, 1940

In Angers... The Polish government-in-exile publishes a white paper today giving a general view of Poland's relations with Germany between May 1933 and October 1939. Among the revelations is that Hitler tried to involve Poland in a plot to attack the Soviet Union. It was proposed by Goring during a visit to Warsaw in February 1935. In a discussion with the Polish leader, Marshal Pilsudski, he suggested that Poland and Germany should mount a joint invasion of the Ukraine. The Poles insist that they gave the Germans no encouragement whatsoever.

In Germany... Goring decrees that all articles made of copper, bronze, nickel and other useful metals must be given up for the war effort.

In Finland... The evacuation of 470,000 people from the territories ceded to the Soviet Union commences. (It is completed on March 26th.)

In China... Twenty-seven out of 30 Chinese fighter planes are shot down by 12 Japanese Zero fighters over Chengtu. The Japanese suffer no losses.

In Australia... Prime Minister Menzies forms a new coalition Cabinet to improve the direction of the war effort.

Friday, March 15, 1940

In Occupied Poland... During the night (March 15-16), RAF bombers drop leaflets over Warsaw. During the return flight, a British Whitley bomber, low on fuel, lands by mistake in a field in western Germany. The crew encounter and speak to some local inhabitants before taking off again before German authorities arrive. Some small arms fire is reported.

In Finland... The Finnish Diet, meeting in secret session during the evening, ratifies the Moscow peace agreement by 145 votes to three. Speaking before the vote, the prime minister, Mr. Ryti, says: "Finland, as well as the whole of Western civilization, is still in the greatest danger, and no one can say what tomorrow may bring. We believe that by choosing peace we have acted in the best way for the moment."

In Romania... An amnesty is granted to members of the fascist Iron Guard (see September 21, 1939). Eight hundred are released from prison camps after they swear an oath of loyalty to King Carol.

Saturday, March 16, 1940

In Britain... There is a German air raid by 32 bombers (2 are lost) on the British fleet base at Scapa Flow. One cruiser, HMS Norfolk, is slightly damaged. There are 7 naval casualties. The raid is more notable for causing the first civilian casualties in Britain. A German aircraft fleeing the battle released 19 bombs wounding seven civilians and killing James Isbister, aged 27.

In Rome... US envoy and Under-Secretary of State, Sumner Welles, holds talks with Mussolini, Count Ciano, the foreign minister, and King Victor Emmanuel III on the last stop of his mission to discuss conditions for mediation or peace talks in Europe. He receives a cordial but non-committal welcome.

In Argentina... The government deports the German crew of the Admiral Graf Spee into the interior and forbids them to wear their uniforms.

Sunday, March 17, 1940

In the United States... An editorial published in The Charlotte News suggests that Romania will be absorbed by Nazi Germany in the same manner as Czechoslovakia. It suggests that Hitler intends the same fate for all of the Balkans as well as Scandinavia, the Low Countries and France.

In Berlin... Dr. Fritz Todt is appointed Reich minister for armaments and munitions.

In Britain... Nottinghamshire miners vote to forgo part of their holidays to boost the war effort.

Monday, March 18, 1940

In Occupied Austria... Hitler and Mussolini meet at the Brenner Pass in the Austro-Italian Alps in their first meeting since Munich, 1938. Mussolini says that he is ready to join Germany and its allies in the war against Britain and France "at the decisive hour."

In London... A new organization is formed to liaise between British and French colonial authorities. Meanwhile, Walt Disney's new film Pinocchio opens to a warm reception from the critics.

Tuesday, March 19, 1940

Over Germany... RAF bombers -- 30 Whitleys and 20 Hampdens -- attack the a German seaplane base at Hornum, at the southern end of the North Sea island of Sylt. The raid, publicly disclosed in the House of Commons by the prime minister as it was happening, is a reprisal for the German bombing of Scapa Flow three days ago in which six sailors and a civilian were killed.

In London... Chamberlain makes a detailed statement in the Commons on British plans and actions on Finland's behalf. A 100,000-strong Anglo-French expeditionary force could not be sent due to the refusal of entry by Norway and Sweden. Large quantities of arms ammunition, equipment and aircraft (152) had been delivered or promised.

In Helsinki... Official figures are released showing that 25,000 Finns were killed in the war with the Soviet Union.

In Ottawa... The first strong condemnation of Nazism by an official representative of the US government take place. The American ambassador in Canada, James Cromwell, declares that Hitler's Germany is openly trying to destroy the social and economic order on which the government of the United States is based.

Wednesday, March 20, 1940

In Paris... Daladier, the French prime minister, is forced to resign. He has been criticized for failing to bring effective help to Finland. In France this has been seen as a way for the Allies to seize the initiative in the war and take the fighting away from French soil and, by association, avoid all the horrors of World War I.

From Moscow... The USSR forbids alliance between Finland, Norway and Sweden.

Thursday, March 21, 1940

In Paris... Paul Reynaud forms the new government of France.

Friday, March 22, 1940

In the Soviet Union... The Soviets occupy the formerly Finnish port of Hango.

Saturday, March 23, 1940

In the South Pacific... The British Royal Navy forms the "Malaya Force" to shadow 17 German merchant ships trapped in Dutch East Indies ports.

Sunday, March 24, 1940

On the Western Front... There are reports of French and German patrols being active long the lines.

Monday, March 25, 1940

From London... The government forbids British prisoners of war from making radio broadcasts for the enemy.

Tuesday, March 26, 1940

On the Western Front... The British 51st (Highland) Division replaces French forces on the line in the Saar region.

In Canada... In a general election, the Liberal Party under the leadership of Mackenzie-King wins 178 seats, the Conservative Party 39 and all others 28.

In New Zealand... Michael Savage, the Labour Party prime minister, dies at the age of 68.

Wednesday, March 27, 1940

On the Western Front... In the Saar and Vosges regions, there are artillery duels between German and French forces.

Thursday, March 28, 1940

From Paris... In their Supreme War Council the British and French decide to make a formal agreement that neither will make a separate peace. In the same meeting it is also decided to mine Norwegian coastal waters and, if the Germans seem ready to interfere, to send a military expedition to Norway. The contingency plan prepared for such an eventuality has had to be abandoned, however, because the excuse for landings in Norway was to have been a clause in the constitution of the League of Nations allowing transit for troops if they were going to the aid of a victim of aggression. This is now invalid, of course, because of the Finnish surrender. The operation is timed to start on April 5th but is later deferred to April 8th -- a vital difference in view of the timing the Germans fix for their own landings.

In Canada... Mackenzie King's Liberal Party is returned to power in the Canadian elections.

In Washington... Sumner Welles, Under-Secretary of State, reports to Roosevelt about his mission to the belligerent countries in Europe.

Friday, March 29, 1940

In the Soviet Union... Molotov announces USSR neutrality in the war between Britain, France and Germany.

Saturday, March 30, 1940

In China... A Japanese-sponsored Chinese government is established in Nanking. The Japanese have been able to persuade Wang Ching-wei, formerly a respected Nationalist politician, to lead this body.

Sunday, March 31, 1940

In the North Atlantic... The first German armed merchant cruiser, Atlantis, sails for operations against Allied shipping. It will prove to be the most successful raider. In a cruise lasting until November 22, 1941 she will sink 22 ships of 145,700 tons.