August 10th, 1939 (THURSDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM:
Night-time air war exercises are conducted over England on a larger scale than any since
the Great War. 500 aircraft (Bombers with fighter support) sweep in from points east
to attack Birmingham, Rochester, Bedford,
Brighton and Derby. 800 defenders rise to challenge the attackers. Westland
(defending) forces had been largely successful in beating off the Eastland
(attacking) forces. Bombers approaching London had had particular difficulty because
of the balloon barrage above the capital.
Destroyers HMS Mendip and Meynell laid down.
GERMANY: Berlin: Julius Schnurre, head of the Economic Policy Department of the German Foreign
Ministry, picks up discussions with Georgi Astakhov, Charges d'affaires of the
Soviet Embassy, sounding out the possibility of a
pact between Germany and the Soviet Union.
U.S.S.R.: Drax and the other delegates spend the day sightseeing
in Leningrad.