Yesterday            Tomorrow

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. (Marc Small)

Top of Page

Yesterday                   Tomorrow

Home