February 28th, 1940 (WEDNESDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM:
RAF Bomber Command: 4 Group. Leaflets and Reconnaissance - Berlin. 51 Sqn. Two aircraft. One
returned early U/S. Moderate opposition.
Royal Navy: The first of a new class of battleship, HMS King George V, is launched.
Scotland: Divers have recovered three rotors from the top-secret Enigma enciphering
machine on board U-33. The U-boat, caught minelaying off Scotland, scuttled herself after
being forced to the surface by depth charges from the sloop HMS Gleaner, which marked the
spot and sent for the divers.
The rotors have been rushed to Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire where code-breaking
scientists are working furiously to solve the secrets of Enigma. The rotors could help
break the vital U-boat code.
Destroyer depot ship HMS Tyne launched.
Battleship HMS Duke of York launched.
Minesweeping trawler HMS Whitehorn commissioned.
GERMANY:
Berlin: The propaganda minister, Dr. Göbbels, tells neutral countries to "curb their
public opinion" and warns Sweden against aiding Finland.
The government closes factories unnecessary for the war
effort.
FINLAND: Finns receive an ultimatum from Moscow: Finland has to accept the Soviet terms for starting the negotiations in two days (by 11 am. on 1 March). The Finnish cabinet immediately gathers at Helsinki, where the majority of ministers agree that peace has to be made. PM Ryti and four other ministers travelled to Mikkeli to meet Mannerheim, who told them that the situation at the front is worrisome.
Lt. Gen. Ernst Linder's Swedish volunteers take over the defence of North Finland from Maj. Gen. Kurt Wallenius. Five Finnish infantry battalions are freed to strengthen the defence at the western coast of the Bay of Viipuri, where the Red Army threatens to attack over the frozen gulf.
PALESTINE: The British
government limits the acquisition of Arab land by Jews.
CHINA:
Communist troops retake Anding, near Yenan, from the Japanese.
AUSTRALIA: The War Cabinet adopts a plan to form a second Australian Imperial Force division, the 7th, which with the existing 6th Division, would form an Australian corps.
CANADA: Corvette HMCS Arvida laid down Quebec City, Province of Quebec.
U.S.A.: The Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) announces a limited commercial television service will be
authorized beginning on 1 September. Standards are not set, pending further
research until the best system can be determined. (Two days later the FCC
suspended its authorization for commercial service, declaring that the
marketing campaign of RCA disregarded the commission's findings and
recommendations.)
The National Broadcasting Company’s experimental TV station W2XBS in
New York City broadcasts the first basketball game, Fordham vs. the
University of Pittsburgh, from Madison Square Garden. Pittsburgh won,
50-37.