1 Jan 1940 | World War II Database

1 Jan 1940

Age of conscription increased to 27 in the United Kingdom, thus adding two million potential conscripts for military service. ww2dbase [TH]
1,000 men from the Finnish 9th Division under the command of Captain Eino Lassila skied into their attacking position; when they arrived at 2300, they were looking down a large Russian tank and artillery concentration on the Raate Road. ww2dbase [The Winter War | CPC]
Between the start of the European War on 1 Sep 1939 and this date, 15,600 British men registered themselves as conscientious objectors. ww2dbase [AC]
10,000 Japanese troops launched a counter-attack in eastern Shanxi Province in China in an attempt to relieve the nearly-surrounded Japanese 36th Division. It would be driven back by stiff Chinese resistance within the next two days. ww2dbase [Winter Offensive | CPC]
Tingfang Bie passed away. ww2dbase [Bie Tingfang | CPC]
Gunner LAC T. Gibbin became the first airman from RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom to be killed in World War II when Spitfire fighters from No. 602 Squadron intercepted returning Hampden bombers and, mistaking them for German aircraft, shot down two of the bombers. The other seven crewmen were picked up by fishing boats. ww2dbase [AC]
Captain Ralph S. Wentworth relieved Captain William W. Wilson as the commanding officer of the cruiser USS Nashville. ww2dbase [Nashville | DS]
U-56 was assigned to the 1st Flotilla. ww2dbase [U-56 | CPC]

Atlantic Ocean

German submarine U-58 sank neutral Swedish steamer Lars Magnus Trozelli with one torpedo in the North Sea 50 miles northeast of Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom at 1100 hours, killing 7. The survivors were picked up Norwegian merchant ship Ask. ww2dbase [North Sea | CPC]

France

Lorraine was transferred to 2nd Battleship Division of 1st Squadron of the French Navy. ww2dbase [Lorraine | CPC]

Germany

Robert von Greim was promoted to the rank of Generalleutnant. ww2dbase [Robert von Greim | CPC]

Gibraltar

British authorities detained several American ships at Gibraltar to search for contraband. ww2dbase [CPC]

United Kingdom

German aircraft bombed RAF Coastal Command at Sullom Voe in the Shetland Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom damaging light cruiser HMS Coventry and ground facilities with the loss of one Ju 88 bomber. ww2dbase [Battle of Britain | Shetland Islands, Scotland | CPC]

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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