August 17th, 1939 (THURSDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: Aircraft carrier
HMS Formidable is launched.
GERMANY:
Hitler orders Admiral Canaris, the head of German Intelligence, to obtain Polish uniforms for a 'special SS operation'.
U.S.S.R.:
Moscow: Molotov is highly gratified by the German's obvious haste to achieve a political
agreement, and to Drax's outrage, Marshal Voroshilov - by now sure that neither the French
nor the British mean business - dismisses their delegates for four days.
U.S.A.: Sumner Welles, Under Secretary of State, passes information concerning the German
overtures to Moscow to British Ambassador Sir Ronald Lindsay. Lindsay immediately
telegraphs London, confident his message will be in the Foreign Office first thing in the
morning, London time. It is, but is not deciphered for four days.
The prototype Douglas DB-7 twin-engined Attack bomber flies at Los
Angeles Municipal Airport (El Segundo), California. (18)