March 10, 1940: Germany Draws Closer to Italy

Sunday 10 March 1940

German Foreign Minister Ribbentrop meets with Mussolini.

Winter War Army Operations: The Finnish position on the Karelian Isthmus continues disintegrating on 10 March 1940. They lose Repola and nearby territory on the northeast of Viipuri, and also Karppila and Ruhela on the other side of the city along the shoreline. The massive Soviet pincer around Viipuri is wide open and getting ready to close. There is hand-to-hand fighting deep in the city itself. The city is the linchpin of the defense, once it is lost the Soviets will have multiple avenues into the heart of the country.

Finnish General  Öhqvist:

This is an awful gamble. We might hold Viipuri until tomorrow night. After that, either city or army is doomed.

Winter War Peace Talks: The government in Helsinki realizes the peril of the military situation - it could hardly be more perilous - and messages Ryti in Moscow:

Headquarters not sanguine about carrying on fighting- we authorise you to accept any terms.

Stalin still does not feel this negotiation is of sufficient importance for him to attend - another sign of how perilous it is for the Finns.

The Finnish negotiating team meets with Molotov at the Kremlin for two hours. Molotov says that the offer is take-it-or-leave-it, there can be no alterations. As Ryti puts it, they will alter "not a single comma." This causes some resentment in Finland, but nothing can be done about it - for now.

Winter War Air Operations: Three Finnish planes strafe Soviet columns, destroying vehicles.

European Air Operations: The RAF conducts reconnaissance over Vienna and Prague.

Battle of the Atlantic: The British commission another minesweeping trawler, the HMS Elm (J. Hutchinson).

The British at Gibraltar detain US freighters Explorer, Exchester, and West Cohas, but release them all the same day.

Convoy OA 107 departs from Southend.

German/Italian Relations: Ribbentrop visits Mussolini in Rome and encourages him to visit Hitler. Mussolini agrees. Ribbentrop casually mentions to Mussolini the prospect of Fall Gelb, the invasion of France and the Low Countries. He promises swift and sure victory in hopes of getting Italy to join in the fun. As always, Ribbentrop basically puts the success of the invasion as a done deal, but if Italy wants to share in the glory of the kill, Hitler would be willing to share because Mussolini is such a fine fellow. Mussolini gives a tentative commitment to intervene when he is able. Though Mussolini has a lot of troops, the vast majority are not combat-worthy.

Lord Halifax, Roosevelt's personal foreign policy adviser Sumner Welles, Neville Chamberlain, and US Ambassador Joseph Kennedy – London, 1940.

US Government: Undersecretary of State Sumner Welles, having consulted with Mussolini, Hitler, and Daladier, arrives in London. Welles meets with Lord Halifax and contends that the UK must "disarm" Germany. The British see this as hopelessly naive and believe that Germany remains a threat regardless of whether it is "disarmed."

British Homefront: Sir Oswald Mosley, the founder of the British Union of Fascists, calls for the deportation of British Jews.

Future History: Chuck Norris is born in Ryan Oklahoma. He becomes famous as... Chuck Norris. He also does some acting and teaches some singer karate. But, he becomes... Chuck Norris.

Sir Oswald Mosely being saluted by his female and male followers. Note that the women are wearing the approved Fascist outfit.

March 1940

March 1, 1940: Soviet Breakthroughs Past Viipuri
March 2, 1940: Soviets Swarm West in Finland
March 3, 1940: Soviets Across Gulf of Viipuri
March 4, 1940: USSR Apologizes to Sweden
March 5, 1940: Katyn Forest Massacre Approved
March 6, 1940: Finns Head to Moscow
March 7, 1940: The Coal Ships Affair
March 8, 1940: Peace Talks Begin in Moscow
March 9, 1940: Soviets Harden Peace Terms
March 10, 1940: Germany Draws Closer to Italy
March 11, 1940: Winter War Peace Terms Finalized
March 12, 1940: War is Over (If You Want It)
March 13, 1940: Winter War Ends
March 14, 1940: Evacuating Karelia
March 15, 1940: The Bletchley Bombe
March 16, 1940: First British Civilian Killed
March 17, 1940: Enter Dr. Todt
March 18, 1940: Mussolini To Join the War
March 19, 1940: Daladier Resigns
March 20, 1940: Soviets Occupy Hango Naval Base
March 21, 1940: Paul Reynaud Leads France
March 22, 1940: Night Fighters Arise!
March 24, 1940: French Consider Alternatives
March 25, 1940: Reynaud Proposes Action
March 26, 1940: C-46 First Flight
March 27, 1940: Himmler Authorizes Auschwitz Construction
March 28, 1940: Allies Ponder Invading Norway
March 29, 1940: Soviets Prefer Neutrality
March 30, 1940: Allied Uncertainty
March 31, 1940: The Tiger Cage

2019