This Day in WWII 12-20-1939 - 1944

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1939: The Russians cease their attacks at Summa, leaving Finnish forces in control of the whole Mannerheim defensive line, except the Oinala Bulge.

1939: Captain Langsdorff of Admiral Graf Spee commits suicide.

1940: The Luftwaffe continues its attacks against British cities, this time hitting Liverpool.

1940: No Italian troops are now left on Egyptian soil, except as prisoners.

1941: Propaganda Minister, Josef Goebbels broadcasts an appeal for winter clothing for the German troops on the eastern front.

1941: German forces of Army Group Centre retreating from before Moscow reach a new defensive line more than 100km to the west, where, following strict orders by Hitler, they are to stand and fight off any further Soviet advances.

1941: Admiral Royal E. Ingersoll takes over command of the Atlantic Fleet, from Admiral Ernest J. King who is appointed as Commander, US Navy.

1941: The Flying Tigers, American pilots in China, enter combat against the Japanese over Kunming.

1942: The navigation and bombing radar aid 'Oboe' is used operationally for the first time by Bomber Command.

1942: The Japanese bomb Calcutta for the first time.

1943: The heaviest raid of war on Frankfurt with more than 2,000 tons dropped by RAF. Mosquito raiders follow half an hour later to hamper the fire fighters efforts.

1943: Franco disbands Falangist (Fascist) Militia in Spain.

1943: US counter intelligence reports the smashing of a Nazi spy ring in Sicily. A 19-year-old ringleader ‘Grammatico’ and 27 others are arrested.

1943: De Lattre de Tassigny meets de Gaulle in Algiers before taking command of ‘Army B’, for liberation of France.

1943: The British reach the Maungdaw plain in Arakan, Burma.

1944: In their torturous advance toward the Meuse river, armoured units of 6th SS Panzer Army capture Stavelot, searching for allied fuel dumps to replenish their nearly exhausted supplies of gasoline.