August 12th, 1939 (SATURDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: A detachment of No. 10 Squadron RAAF, consisting of one officer and 14 enlisted men arrive in the UK. This detachment was to receive conversion training with the RAF to enable RAAF crews to fly six Sunderland Mk Is to Rathmines, New South Wales, Australia.
In Scotland the grouse-shooting season opens.
Mine-sweeping trawlers HMS Walnut and Rowan are launched.
GERMANY:
Ciano goes to Berchtesgaden to see Hitler. Hitler is pondering over his maps planning the
war against Poland. Hitler believes that the war will be localised.
There was not the slightest danger that Britain and France would fight. When Ciano
protested that so little would be gained at such vast risk, Hitler says to him "You
are a southerner, and you will never understand how much I as a German, need to get my
hands on the timber of the Polish forests." Ciano notes: "He has decided to
strike, and strike he will."
Astakhov sends Schnurre new information from Moscow indicating Russian willingness to open
political negotiations with Germany.
U-49 and U-61 are commissioned.
ROMANIA: Heinkel He-112s are declared in
the official strength roster of the Royal Romanian Air Force. (Greg Kelley)
U.S.S.R.:
In Moscow, the Anglo-French-Russian military talks begin. Drax and Doumenc meet with
Marshal Voroshilov and his senior officers.
U.S.A.: War Department informs
MacArthur">
MacArthur that more
equipment will be lent to the Philippine Army, most in 1941 or afterwards.