16 Jan 1940 | World War II Database

16 Jan 1940

Kichisaburo Nomura stepped down as Foreign Minister of Japan. ww2dbase [Kichisaburo Nomura | CPC]

Atlantic Ocean

After penetrating Heligoland Bight, the British submarines Seahorse, Undine, and Starfish were reportedly sunk by the Germans. ww2dbase [Heligoland Bight, North Sea | CPC]
German submarine U-44 torpedoed and sank the Greek ship Panachrandos in the Bay of Biscay at 0611 hours. She sank within three minutes, killing all 31 aboard. ww2dbase [Bay of Biscay | CPC]

Germany

Due to the compromise of Fall Gelb plans, Adolf Hitler postponed the attack on France and the Low Countries. ww2dbase [Invasion of France and the Low Countries | TH]

Italy

Capitano Tarantini was delivered to the Italian Navy. ww2dbase [Capitano Tarantini | CPC]

Japan

Hachiro Arita was named the Minister of Foreign Affairs. ww2dbase [Hachiro Arita | CPC]

United Kingdom

British tanker Inverdargle, with 12,000 tons of aviation fuel aboard, struck a naval mine in the Bristol Channel at 1619 hours. All 49 aboard were killed. ww2dbase [Bristol Channel, England | CPC]

Photo(s) dated 16 Jan 1940

US Navy NAS Jacksonville (Florida, United States) commanding officer

Prime Minister Mitsumasa Yonai and his cabinet, Tokyo, Japan, 16 Jan 1940

Oiler Patoka off the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, United States, 16 Jan 1940; note SOC floatplane amidships, with its wings folded

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis

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