February 10, 1940: Confiscation of Jewish Goods

Saturday 10 February 1940

Confiscation of Jewish property by "the Oberburgermeister" (the mayor of mayors). (Schultze, Federal Archive). 

Winter War: The Finnish Defense Council meets on 10 February 1940 to review the war situation, which is deteriorating. Commander-in-chief Field Marshal Mannerheim takes personal control of the fighting on the Karelian Isthmus.

The familiar pattern of the past week, with the Soviets launching probing attacks that occasionally gain some ground, continues. There are minor Soviet advances in the Munasuo swamp and the Merkki sector, both of which have few fixed defenses and rely primarily on barbed wire and infantry defenses.

The Soviet 7th and 13th Armies on the Karelian Isthmus make final preparations for a full-scale assault on the heart of the Mannerheim Line.

Winter War Army Operations: Siberian ski troops attack Finnish defenses. The Finns can ski, too, though, so the Siberian troops have no advantage.

Battle of the Atlantic: Four German freighters leave Vigo, Spain to run the Allied blockade.

U-48 (Kapitänleutnant (Kptlt.) Herbert Schultze) stops Dutch freighter Burgerdijk 40 miles off Land's End, England. It then sinks the ship. All of the crew survive after spending the night in a lifeboat.

British wooden minesweepers HMS Salve and HMS Servitor are using the new electrified cable which they drag behind to explode magnetic mines. They have their first success today when they explode a mine on a sunken lightship.

The British detain US freighter West Chatala at Gibraltar for a few hours, then release her.

Convoy OA 89 departs Southend, OB 89 departs Liverpool, and SL 20 departs Freetown.

Luftwaffe: Adolf Galland, a veteran of the Spanish Civil War who has flown ground attack planes, is transferred at his request to fighters with JG 27.

Holland: The Dutch government announces that it will build, with Italian technical assistance, three battlecruisers to defend the Dutch East Indies.

Sweden: The government protests to Moscow about the sinking of the Swedish freighter Wirgo by Soviet bombers on 5 February 1940.

Soviet Homefront: Stepan Bandera becomes the leader of his group of the Ukrainian National Movement (OUN-B) in Krakow. Their goal is the creation of an independent Ukrainian state.

Holocaust: The  Reichsprotektor of Bohemia-Moravia (former Czechoslovakia), Baron von Neurath, imposes new restrictions on Jewish commerce. He orders the closing of Jewish-owned textile, clothing and leather goods stores. He also orders the sale of jewelry, gold, silver, platinum, and art owned by Jews.

China: The Shangtung Operation continues. Japanese 21st Infantry Division, 32nd Infantry Division, and 5th Independent Mixed Brigade continue occupying the Shangtung peninsula.

BRITISH ARMY FRANCE 1940. Members of a mule transport company of the Royal Indian Army Service Corps on parade in France, 10 February 1940.

Future History: Of the six blockade runners leaving Vigo, Spain, only one reaches Germany. The Allies intercept four of them, and the other runs aground in Norway.

February 1940

February 1, 1940: Second Battle of Summa
February 2, 1940: Soviet Assaults at Summa February 3, 1940: Soviets Capture a Bunker
February 4, 1940: Peace Talks in Stockholm
February 5, 1940: Allies to Invade Norway
February 6, 1940: Careless Talk Costs Lives
February 7, 1940: IRA Terrorists Executed
February 8, 1940: Spies!
February 9, 1940: The Welles Mission
February 10, 1940: Confiscation of Jewish Goods
February 11, 1940: Soviets Attack Mannerheim Line
February 12, 1940: Breaches In Mannerheim Line
February 13, 1940: Soviets Inching Forward in Finland
February 14, 1940: Soviets Batter Mannerheim Line
February 15, 1940: Finns Retreat
February 16, 1940: Altmark Incident
February 17, 1940: Manstein and Hitler Discuss Fall Gelb
February 18, 1940: Operation Nordmark
February 19, 1940: King Gustav Says No
February 20, 1940: Falkenhorst Commands Weserubung
February 21, 1940: Radar Advances
February 22, 1940: Friendly Fire
February 23, 1940: Soviets Present Their Demands
February 24, 1940: Fall Gelb Revised
February 25, 1940: Mr. Welles Comes to Visit
February 26, 1940: Battle of Honkaniemi
February 27, 1940: Finns Retreat Again
February 28, 1940: Overseas Volunteers Help Finland
February 29, 1940: Finns Accept Soviet Terms In Principle

2019