Tuesday 10 October 1939

The Huntsman as seen from the Admiral Graf Spee, 10 October 1939.

Battle of the Atlantic: The Admiral Graf Spee captures the 8,196 ton British freighter Huntsman on 10 October 1939 and puts a prize crew on it.

The British detain the US freighter Patrick Henry.

 The British remove US mail destined for Holland and Belguim from the US freighter Black Gull.

German authorities release the Norwegian freighter Brott from detention in Sivinemünde.

Western Front: On 10 October 1939, there is artillery action and German reconnaissance between the Moselle and Saar.

General von Bock, who had commanded Army Group North in Poland, re-locates his headquarters for the newly renamed Army Group B to Godesberg.

Lithuania: In a Soviet-Lithuanian Mutual Assistance Treaty, Lithuania agrees to Soviet bases on its territory. In exchange, the Polish city of Vilnius that is historically Lithuania will be given to Lithuania, including accompanying territory. This is a backrolling of one of the territorial revisions that were part of the settlement of World War I.

Finland: The government orders a black-out in fear of air attacks. Civilians are evacuated from Helsinki and Viipuri (Vyborg) on a voluntary basis. The army begins maneuvers and begins bringing staffs up to full strength. Two divisions are deployed to the Karelian Isthmus.

Estonia: The Estonian government resigns. Uluots is the new Premier and Piip the new Foreign Secretary.

Poland: Hitler orders a General Government in Poland. This is popularly seen as a sham state that simply acts as another province of Germany.

Peace talks: French Prime Minister Édouard Daladier, in a radio address, rejects Hitler's peace offers and that France will continue to fight for assured peace. Agreeing to terms now "would only consecrate conquests by deceit or violence and would not prevent preparation for new ones."

British Government: Winston Churchill speaks before the House of Commons and advocates mining the Norwegian coastal waters, which are a supply route for German iron ore from Narvik.

Sir Kingsley Wood tells the House of Commons that there will be a doubling of aircraft production.

Two participants in the 4 September 1939 raid on Wilhelmshaven are to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

German Government: Hitler opens the winter relief fund campaign.

Admiral Raeder suggests invading Norway to gain naval bases and protect German iron-ore shipments.

October 1939

October 1, 1939: Occupation of Warsaw
October 2, 1939: Hel Peninsula Falls
October 3, 1939: The Diamantis Incident
October 4, 1939: Otto Kretschmer Gets Rolling
October 5, 1939: Polish Resistance Ends
October 6, 1939: Hitler Peace Effort
October 7, 1939: The British Have Arrived
October 8, 1939: First RAF Kill from UK
October 9, 1939: "City of Flint" Incident
October 10, 1939: Lithuania Under Pressure
October 11, 1939: The Atomic Age Begins
October 12, 1939: England Rejects Hitler's Peace Offer
October 13, 1939: Charles Lindbergh Speaks Out
October 14 1939: Royal Oak Sunk
October 15, 1939: Cuban Rockets
October 16, 1939: First Aircraft Shot Down Over UK
October 17, 1939: Marshall Mannerheim Returns
October 18, 1939: Prien Receives His Award
October 19, 1939: Preliminary Plan for Fall Gelb
October 20, 1939: Hitler Grapples with the Jews
October 21, 1939: Hurricanes to the Rescue!
October 22, 1939: Goebbels Lies Through His Teeth
October 23, 1939: Norway the Center of Attention
October 24, 1939: German "Justice" Gets Rolling
October 25, 1939: Handley Page Halifax Bomber First Flies
October 26, 1939: Jozef Tiso Takes Slovakia
October 27, 1939: King Leopold Stands Firm
October 28, 1939 - First Luftwaffe Raid on Great Britain
October 29, 1939: Tinkering with Fall Gelb
October 30, 1939: Defective Torpedoes
October 31, 1939: Molotov Issues an Ultimatum

2019