December 19th, 1940 (THURSDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM:Destroyer HMS Blankney launched.
Destroyer HMS Legion commissioned.
GERMANY: U-75, U-111 commissioned.
ITALY: The Italian High Command appeal to the OKW to send a German armoured division to North Africa as soon as possible.Mikko Härmeinen adds:
Kyösti Kallio had been the President of the Republic since 1937. The Winter War had been an especially hard time for him, even if the more immediate decision making had in practice been in other hands, in civilian affairs with PM Ryti and Foreign Minister Väinö Tanner, and in military matters with Marshal Mannerheim. When Kallio on 12 March 1940 gave the Finnish negotiators the powers to sign the harsh peace treaty, he uttered the famous words "May wither the hand that has signed a paper like this!" The next summer (1940) Kallio suffered a stroke that left his right arm paralysed.
Kallio's health deteriorated during the summer and autumn of 1940, and finally in December 19th, 1940 he gave up the presidency. The President was normally elected by a chamber of electors elected by popular vote. This time this process was dispensed with and the new President was elected by the electors of 1937. The new President Risto Ryti had been the Prime Minister during the Winter War and the Director of the Bank of Finland before that.
Later on the same day Kyösti Kallio left Helsinki for his estate in Nivala. But at the Helsinki railway station, as he was seen off by the Finnish political and military leadership, he suffered the final fatal stroke and died in the arms of his senior adjutant Colonel Aladar Paasonen.
EGYPT:
Wavell replies to Churchill asking for more planes, "every good gift and every
perfect gift is from above" (James I, 17).
He also telegrams the CIGS:
Italians have decided to hold Bardia and reconnaissance's have drawn fire from defences...
You must not expect rapid progress. Defences are strong, supply situation is difficult and
all vehicles are showing signs of hard work. Enemy air force is superior in numbers ...
our aircraft want time to establish in advanced aerodromes.
MEDITERRANEAN SEA:
Submarine FS Sfax sunk off Cape Juby, Morocco by
U-37.
TURKEY:
In a report from Istanbul, the newspaper 'Tan' states that Hitler "has either already
recommended or will recommend to Premier Mussolini that he withdraw altogether from
Albania.
CANADA: Fairmile B-class HMC ML
066, 067, 068, ML 069, ML 070, ML 071 ordered.
U.S.A.:
Washington: At five o' clock this morning, the British Purchasing Commission finished a
$750 million shopping list of war orders. The list has been prepared at President
Roosevelt's request, but contracts will not be signed until Congress has been consulted.
The first contract, the US Treasury Secretary, Henry Morgenthau, said today, will be for
60 merchant ships, to be completed within 12 months. The biggest single item will be
12,000 aircraft, costing about $300 million. Guns, tanks and other war supplied for
Britain will total $425 million.
The motion picture "One Night in the Tropics" opens at
the Roxy Theater in New York City. Directed by Edward Stutherland, this comedy
based on an Earl Derr Biggers novel, stars Allan Jones, Nancy Kelly, Bud Abbott,
Lou Costello, Robert Cummings and Leo Carrillo. This was Abbott and Costello's
film debut.
CLEARWATER - Maj. George Hatji Stavris, officer in the Greek army, told members of Turner-Brandon post of the American Legion last night that the Greeks are looking to the United States for aid in their struggle against Italy more than to any other nation.
Major Stavris, speaking with the assistance of interpreter Spyros Bossen, extended the thanks of the Greeks for help given by America. The Greeks, he said, are outnumbered 12 to 1 by the Italians but will win the war if the United States will aid them with supplies and equipment. Albania, the general said, is a land of little more than "sheep and mountains."
The Greek officer arrived in the United States 36 days ago for the purpose of seeking volunteers for army duty. He will leave soon, proceeding by clipper to England and then to Crete.
The Clearwater post voted to join with Tarpon Springs on Jan. 18. Mayor-elect George Seavy will proclaim that day Greek Relief Fund Day, and Greek girls from Tarpon Springs will come here to solicit funds.
At the invitation of Charles Criticos of Clearwater, the post will send a color guard and delegation to Greek Cross Day in Tarpon Springs on Jan. 6. The ceremonies will include public prayers for the Greek army and British navy.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-37 mistakenly attacks two Vichy French submarines and sinks FR Sfax off Cape Juby, French Morocco. Also attacks FR Rhône.