Tuesday, November 28, 1939 - Soviets renounce pact with Finland.

[Louis]

In Moscow... The Soviet government renounces the non-aggression pact with Finland, signed in 1932. Claims of Finnish troops firing on Soviet forces around Leningrad are made. Meanwhile, orders are issued to the Red Army to invade Finland on November 30th.

In Helsinki... A Finnish investigation reveals that Soviet artillery fired the 7 shells at Mainila on November 26th. The Soviet government is informed.

In Occupied Poland... Dr. Frank orders the setting up of Judenrat (Jewish council) in each ghetto, to carry out Nazi orders.

In the Friesian Islands... RAF fighters attack Luftwaffe mine laying seaplanes at Borkum.

In London... The British government declares all German exports to be contraband.

 

[Fredrocker]

In Moscow... The Soviet government renounces the non-aggression pact with Finland, signed in 1932. Claims of Finnish troops firing on Soviet forces around Leningrad are made. Meanwhile, orders are issued to the Red Army to invade Finland on November 30th.

Note:

On 30 November 1939 the Red Army invaded Finland without a declaration of war and achieved tactical surprise at numerous points along the 900-mile common border. Despite their overwhelming odds in men and firepower and their virtual monopoly of armor, Soviet forces suffered severe and humiliating reverses during the first several weeks of that 105-day conflict. A partial explanation is that about a third of Finland is north of the Arctic Circle, where one of the coldest winters on record had already begun. The Finns were prepared for combat in snow at subzero temperatures; the invaders were not. It was almost that simple.

The most dramatic illustration of the price the Finns extracted was their annihilation of the 44th Motorized Rifle Division in January 1940. That battle is a classic example of what well-trained and appropriately equipped troops can accomplish against an enemy who has superiority in numbers and firepower but is not prepared for the special conditions of a sub-arctic environment. Such a region typically has dense coniferous forests, few and widely separated roads, and a very cold climate-not a favorable setting for the deployment of standard motorized or armored units in winter. It is a realm where specially trained and equipped light infantry may prove its worth.

 

[Louis]

Thanks for the comment, Fred .-
Interesting note .-