January 16th, 1940 (TUESDAY)
FRANCE: Angers: A report which vividly described Nazi atrocities in Poland was presented today to the exiled Polish government here. It contains graphic accounts of public executions, forced labour, looting and hostage-taking on a vast scale.
In Poznan, for example, the invaders are said to have shot 5,000 Poles. Thousands more are being held in makeshift concentration camps. Mass arrests of prominent Poles are commonplace. Germans take precedence over Poles for food, clothes and housing. The two-million Jews and gypsies in Nazi-occupied Poland suffer the most brutal persecution and indignities.
GERMANY: Following the loss to the Allies of invasion plans, and with the weather worsening, Hitler cancels the attack on the west until spring and orders preparations for an assault on Scandinavia.U-455, U-456, U-457, U-458, U-587, U-588, U-589, U-590, U-591, U-592, U-593, U-594, U-595, U-596, U-597, U-598 ordered.
U-651 laid down.
JAPAN: Tokyo: The emperor of Japan today appointed Admiral Mitsumasa Yonai, aged 60, to form a new cabinet after General Abe and his ministers resigned after an urgent session early on 14 January.
The resignation of General Abe's government is a set-back for the pro-war hawks in the army. It has come under mounting criticism for the way the war in China has been allowed to drag on. The army's plans to reduce the China Expeditionary Army and deploy troops to strengthen Japanese positions along the border with the Soviet Union have been thwarted by the Chinese Nationalists' winter offensive. Instead Japan has had to send additional troops to China.
Anti-war elements in the 'Diet' [parliament] have become increasingly reluctant to float yet more loans, which are crippling government finances, to support the war. It is now known whether the new premier, who was a compromise choice after the army failed to get its own candidate appointed, is a hawk or a dove.
ATLANTIC OCEAN:
At 0611, the unescorted SS Panachrandos was hit by one torpedo from U-44 west of Brest, broke in two and sank within three minutes.