Friday, January 5, 1940 - Chamberlain shuffles Cabinet.

[Louis]

In Britain... There is a ministerial reshuffle. Oliver Stanley replaces Leslie Hore-Belisha at the War Office (i.e., the Army Ministry), Lord Reith becomes Minister of Information and Sir Andrew Duncan comes to the Board of Trade. Hore-Belisha was given the option of having another senior post in the government by Chamberlain, however, he replied that he preferred to leave the government. He had been involved in quarrels with the army generals over strategy and his own insistence on better welfare services for the troops.

The Winter War... The Soviet 18th Division is encircled north of Lake Ladoga. The first contingent of Swedish volunteer troops reach Finland.

In Moscow... The USSR accuses Norway and Sweden of pursuing "unneutral" policy.