March 6th, 1940 (WEDNESDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: RAF Fighter Command: Two Norfolk lighthouses and two convoys are bombed and machine-gunned by German aircraft. Little damage is caused.FRANCE: France and Italy conclude a trade agreement in Paris providing for an increase in the volume of trade between the two countries.
Battleship FS Jean Beart launched.
GERMANY: Chancellor Adolf
Hitler changes his plans for the invasion
of the west. At a military conference in Berlin, he decides to adopt the plan
put forward by General Gerd von Rundstedt, Commander in Chief Army Group A, and
his former chief of staff, General Erich von Manstein, Commander of the XXXVIII
Corps, for the Ardennes option. Code-named “Fall Sichelschnitt,” it calls for
the attack against the Low Countries to go ahead, but with slightly fewer
forces, in order to draw the allies forward, while the decisive thrust will be
mounted through the Ardennes. Holding attacks would be made against the Maginot
line.
FINLAND: The Finnish government decides on the delegation that goes to Moscow. It's composed of Prime Minister Risto Ryti, Foreign Minister Väinö Tanner, Juho Paasikivi (Minister without Portfolio), Commander-in-Chief's representative Major Gen. Rudolf Walden and Member of Parliament Väinö Voionmaa.
PARAGUAY: River Plate: The wreck of the Graf Spee is boarded by a British technical team, after they purchased it for £14,000 through a nominee. (Peter Beeston)