Finland

Country

Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland. Around 5.4 million people reside in Finland, with the majority concentrated in the southern ...

Read more at Wikipedia

Documents about Finland

Saturday 6th January 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet meets to discuss Finnish progress against the Russians and the possibility of further assistance
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Samuel Hoare
place Finland
 

Meeting minutes

extract Churchill announces progress in tackling magnetic mines to Cabinet. 20 German staff in Moscow to assist against Finns
person Anthony Eden
person Samuel Hoare
person Winston Churchill
place Finland
place East Germany
place Moscow
 

Analysis of German Propaganda, December 1-15, 1939.

extract Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax presents an analysis of the main themes in Nazi propaganda at the beginning of December
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
place South Africa
place Great Britain
place Finland
place Slovakia
place Russian Empire
place Egypt
place Iraq
place Europe
place Syria
organisation Labour Party (UK)
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet informed of finance deal with Turks, new government in China by Japan. Rumour Hitler's HQ moved to Dutch frontier
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Adolf Hitler
place Finland
place Turkey
organisation New Zealand Treasury
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM meets with junior ministers. Warns Britons “must take the war more seriously” and response to Scandinavian situation
person Geoffrey Lloyd, Baron Geoffrey-Lloyd
person Joseph Stalin
person Andrew Duncan
person John Reith, 1st Baron Reith
place Finland
place Russian Empire
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Assistance to Finland.

extract War Office reports on all measures short of military action that could be deployed to assist Finland against Soviet forces
place Finland
place Turkey
 

Meeting minutes

extract Finns suffering “from a merciless and incessant bombing of their towns” reports Brigadier Ling on return from Finland
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Kingsley Wood
person Oliver Stanley
place Finland
 

Meeting minutes

extract Informal notes on recent Cabinet meetings: Prime Minister unhappy at prospect of operations at Narvik (Norway)
place Finland
place Narvik
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet discusses strategy for the Middle East and possibility of Italian pilots supporting Finland against the Russians
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person Arthur Robinson (Australian politician)
person Oliver Stanley
place Great Britain
place Afghanistan
place Greece
place Finland
place Turkey
place Kenya
place West Germany
place Iran
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet discusses propaganda, pensions and possible despatch of 60 fighter planes for Finland.
person Anthony Eden
person Samuel Hoare
person Franklin D. Roosevelt
person Ernest Brown
place Finland
place East Germany
 

Meeting minutes

extract Secret Annexe: Vatican passes on peace plan from German officers. PM opposes suggestion by Churchill of invasion of Sweden
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
person Adolf Hitler
place Great Britain
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place Vatican City
place Oslo
place Stockholm
place Rome
place Czechoslovakia
organisation German Army
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Meeting minutes

extract Informal notes on recent Cabinet meetings: “One of the most useful discussions which the War Cabinet has had”
person John Reith, 1st Baron Reith
person Roger Keyes, 1st Baron Keyes
place Finland
 

Meeting minutes

extract Informal notes on recent Cabinet meetings. “Humourous communication…a good deal of avoidable confusion”
place Finland
 

Meeting minutes

extract Progress in Italy talks, Soviets may swap Polish territory for German aid in Finland, explosion at Royal Gunpowder Factory
person Anthony Eden
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Ernest Brown
person Andrew Duncan
person Neville Chamberlain
person Arthur Robinson (Australian politician)
person John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon
person Oliver Stanley
place Greece
place Finland
place Slovakia
place Brussels
organisation United States Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract Churchill announces loss HMS Exmouth. Finns bomb Kronstadt, Baltiski. German press accuse UK of violating Dutch neutrality
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Winston Churchill
person Neville Chamberlain
person John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon
person Oliver Stanley
place Finland
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation BBC
 

Volunteers for Finland.

extract Cable from Lord Halifax to Paris shows government’s uncertainty over allowing British volunteers to fight in Finland
place Finland
place Moscow
place Paris
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet discusses US plans to disrupt Axis trade, agrees volunteers to Finns. Japan protests seizure of vessel Asama Maru
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person Arthur Robinson (Australian politician)
person John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon
place Greece
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place West Germany
organisation New Zealand Treasury
 

Meeting minutes

extract Confidential Annexe: Intelligence reports of new German heavy bombers. Chamberlain suggests naval attack on Petsamo
person Neville Chamberlain
place Murmansk
place Finland
place Turin
organisation Royal Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract U-boat sighted Swansea. Japanese Ambassador warns of “incalculable possibilities” over Asama Maru seizure.
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Harold Wilson
place Finland
place Egypt
organisation New Zealand Treasury
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet “doubtful” over use of colonial forces. Discusses price and wage control and solutions to Asama Maru dispute
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Kingsley Wood
person John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon
place Finland
place Tokyo
place Rome
organisation New Zealand Treasury
 

Meeting minutes

extract Hostility from US Secretary of State, Ambassador Kennedy’s gambling, concern Germans have captured UK sonar technology
person Duff Cooper
place Finland
place Caribbean
 

Meeting minutes

extract Anti-British demonstrations in Tokyo, Yokohama. PM intervenes to keep down numbers of British volunteers for Finland
person Anthony Eden
person Samuel Hoare
place Finland
place Vatican City
 

Civil Defence Report No. 11. Eleventh Report submitted by the Minister of Home Security covering the Period from Midnight 7th January, to Midnight 21st January, 1940.

extract Minister of Home Security reports that a high percentage of evacuated children have returned home, over 80% in some areas
person John Anderson (Maine)
place Finland
organisation Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (Netherlands)
 

Meeting minutes

extract Snowfall hampering air ops. Cabinet argues export deal with Italy extensively. Note of regret to Japan over ship seizure
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Kingsley Wood
person Woodrow Wilson
place Greece
place Finland
place Hong Kong
place Morocco
organisation New Zealand Treasury
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet suppresses report on health, housing conditions in West Indies. PM: “Would inflict serious damage on war effort”
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Samuel Hoare
person John Reith, 1st Baron Reith
place Finland
place Caribbean
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM Chamberlain meets junior ministers. Suggests Hitler plans “siege war”, says he “expects peace feelers to be put out”
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
place Lancaster, Lancashire
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place Burma
place West Germany
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Meeting minutes

extract U-Boat U-55 sunk by HMS Fowey. Soviet Ambassador urges British government to remain neutral over Finland
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Samuel Hoare
person Adolf Hitler
person Kingsley Wood
place Newcastle upon Tyne
place Finland
place East Germany
 

Thursday 1st February 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Air Minister updates on 144 aircraft destined for use by Finns. British Ambassador in Tokyo close to deal over Asama Maru
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
place Finland
place Washington
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet discuss new talks with Indian political leaders. First Australian and NZ troops now en route from Sri Lanka
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Samuel Hoare
person Woodrow Wilson
place Finland
place Brussels
organisation New Zealand Treasury
 

Meeting minutes

extract Secret Annexe: French plan for Petsamo attack “waste of effort”. Pressure on Sweden and Norway to assist Finns agreed
place Murmansk
place Finland
place Paris
 

Meeting minutes

extract Finns successfully repel heavy attack on Summa by Russian armoured sleighs. Return of 9 Germans by Britain pacifies Japan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Kingsley Wood
place Finland
place Stockholm
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet agrees meat rationing to begin 11th March. Air Ministry concerned by resilience of German Heinkel aircraft
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Samuel Hoare
place Finland
place Gisborne, New Zealand
 

Meeting minutes

extract Informal notes on recent meetings: London red balloon scare, jokes about Sir Stafford Cripps
person Stafford Cripps
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
place Finland
place Moscow
 

Meeting minutes

extract President Roosevelt sends Sumner Welles peace mission to European capitals
person Sumner Welles
person Adolf Hitler
place Great Britain
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place Vatican City
place Europe
place Berlin
place Washington
 

Meeting minutes

extract Russia delivers "a series of hammer blows” against Finland. Lord Halifax: Mussolini “no longer convinced” of Nazi victory
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Stafford Cripps
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person Kingsley Wood
place Finland
place Gisborne, New Zealand
place Iran
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Meeting minutes

extract Supreme War Council agrees to send 3 divisions to Finland. PM: “Finland must not be allowed to disappear off the map”
person Alexander Cadogan
person Stafford Cripps
person Sydney Brenner
person Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place Trondheim
place East Germany
place Hungary
place Moscow
place Republic of China
place Rome
place West Germany
organisation New Zealand Treasury
 

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax to ministers: “hope of peace without a blood bath”, Stafford Cripps reports Soviets “uneasy” with Nazi alliance
person Stafford Cripps
person Adolf Hitler
person Roger Keyes, 1st Baron Keyes
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place East Germany
place Halifax Peninsula
place Moscow
place Europe
place Bulgaria
place West Germany
place Iran
organisation Morning Star (UK newspaper)
organisation Labour Party (UK)
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet informed execution of two Coventry bombers causing tension in Irish Republic. Germ warfare preparedness discussed
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon
place Finland
organisation United States Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract War Secretary upbeat on Finland conflict. Finns suffering casualties but press reports Mannerheim Line broken unconfirmed
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Franklin D. Roosevelt
person Kingsley Wood
place Finland
place Liverpool
place Burma
 

Meeting minutes

extract Secret Annexe: Plans to sabotage Baku oil wells and to justify force in Norway even if Finns winning against Soviet force
place Murmansk
place Finland
place Syria
 

Meeting minutes

extract Collapse of Italy talks as Mussolini rejects agreement with the UK over arms sales
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Walter Hines Page
person Walter Citrine, 1st Baron Citrine
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
place Finland
place Rome
 

Meeting minutes

extract Finns urgently request more guns and ammunition. Churchill airs dissatisfaction with Palestine land policy
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Walter Citrine, 1st Baron Citrine
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person Winston Churchill
person Harold Wilson
person Arthur Greenwood
place Finland
place Rome
 

Meeting minutes

extract War Office warns news of despatch of ski unit to Finland “becoming public property”. Unit to be sent to train in France.
place Finland
 

Military Assistance to Finland.

extract Secret memo by MP Philip Noel Baker outlines in detail situation on Finnish-Russian front “and the prospects of peace”
person Joseph Stalin
place Great Britain
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place East Germany
place Moscow
place Stockholm
place Denmark
 

Meeting minutes

extract “Considerable rise” in shipping losses. “Fresh attacks of great intensity” by Russians. Spy network plan for Middle East.
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
place Finland
place Rome
 

The Employment of Allied Land Forces in Scandinavia and Finland.

extract Chiefs of Staff list planned forces to be landed at Narvik to seize Swedish iron ore fields and assist Finland
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place Trondheim
place Stockholm
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM Chamberlain: “good chance that Italian policy might develop in the direction that we desire”
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Samuel Hoare
person Malcolm MacDonald
person Ernest Brown
place Great Britain
place Finland
 

Meeting minutes

extract Finns forced to abandon some front-line positions. UK Ambassador Rome reports “no prospect” of economic deal with Italy
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Franklin D. Roosevelt
person Kingsley Wood
person Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
person John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon
place Finland
place Bulgaria
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation United States Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract Navy circulates detailed timetable for UK military action in Finland
place Finland
place Oslo
place Stockholm
organisation British Army
organisation United States Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract Informal notes on recent meetings: Churchill’s “glee” and “rush tactics”. Foreign Secretary “not having any”
person Winston Churchill
place Finland
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

Meeting minutes

extract Secret Annexe: Foreign Office to rewrite News of the World article by ex-War Secretary Hore-Belisha without his knowledge
place Finland
organisation ING Group
 

Meeting minutes

extract Harold Macmillan MP reports from Finland of grave situation and “urgent need” of artillery, ammunition and aircraft
extract Cabinet informed 300+ British POWs recovered from Altmark. Jubilant Admiralty and Information Ministry prepare statements
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Walter Hines Page
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
place Finland
 

Scandinavia - Assistance to Finland. The Time Factor.

extract Chiefs of Staff announce earliest date for landing troops in Finland is 20th March
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
place Finland
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Meeting minutes

extract Secret Annexe: First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill anxious to mine Norwegian territorial waters
place Finland
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

Meeting minutes

extract Churchill reports loss of HMS Daring. UK naval casualties estimated to have reached 2700 since the start of the war
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person Winston Churchill
place Finland
place Narvik
organisation New Zealand Treasury
 

Meeting minutes

extract Serious shipping losses. Air Officials consider sending bomber force to attack German fleet
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Kingsley Wood
person Ernest Brown
place Finland
place Rome
organisation Ministry of Supply
organisation New Zealand Treasury
 

Meeting minutes

extract UK Ambassador Rome regards Italian entry into the war on the side of Germany as “not probable”
person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn
place Finland
place Egypt
place West Germany
 

Meeting minutes

extract Air Chief expresses concern that German paratroops could prevent occupation of Stavanger
place Murmansk
place Finland
 

Meeting minutes

extract Australian, NZ forces arrive Middle East. Finnish Minister states "no danger of collapse for a number of weeks at least"
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Kingsley Wood
place Newcastle upon Tyne
place Finland
place Egypt
place Malta
place Africa
organisation KEF
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM informs junior ministers Finnish Mannerheim Line still holding but “future somewhat obscure”. Lord Haw-Haw discussed
place Finland
place Europe
 

Meeting minutes

extract Finnish Government urges Allies to apply pressure on Russians to bring hostilities to an end. Cabinet doubtful
person Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place Helsinki
place Stockholm
place West Germany
 

Meeting minutes

extract Blizzard conditions reported from Finland. Cabinet discusses legal justification for intervention in Norwegian territory
person Anthony Eden
person Samuel Hoare
person Woodrow Wilson
place Heligoland
place Finland
organisation New Zealand Treasury
 

Memorandum by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Translation of a memorandum from the French Ambassador advocating the immediate occupation of the principal Norwegian ports.

extract French urge British Navy to immediately occupy Norwegian ports in order to protect Allied shipping. Cabinet to consider
place Finland
organisation United States Navy
organisation Royal Navy
organisation French Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract Secret Annexe: Russia informs UK of required terms for settlement with Finland. Halifax to urge dialogue
place Great Britain
place Murmansk
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place East Germany
place Helsinki
place Iran
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
organisation Minister of Economic Warfare
organisation French Foreign Legion
 

Meeting minutes

extract After extended debate Cabinet agrees to postpone decision on mining Norwegian waters to prevent German attack for a week
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Walter Hines Page
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person Swedes (Germanic tribe)
person Woodrow Wilson
place Finland
organisation New Zealand Treasury
 

Finland and Russia.

extract Halifax reports more discussions with “ridiculous and sinister” Soviet Ambassador. Reluctantly resolves to approach Finns
place Finland
place Helsinki
place Stockholm
 

Scandinavia.

extract Lord Halifax proposes to inform French that Britain no longer supports plan to occupy Norwegian ports
place Finland
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

Meeting minutes

extract Secret Annexe: French attack on Norway rejected. Britain to offer full support to Finland and Sweden if they join Allies
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place Stockholm
place West Germany
organisation German Army
 

Meeting minutes

extract Norway suggests arbitration over naval dispute. Cabinet discusses statement on its planned blockade of Norwegian waters
person Anthony Eden
person John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon
place Finland
place Helsinki
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation United States Navy
 

Employment of Allied Land Forces in Scandinavia and Finland.

extract Chiefs of Staff warn that only two, rather than three, divisions will be available to fight in Scandinavia
place Finland
 

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax reports Finns unwilling to join Allies without support of other Scandinavian nations. Soviets have offered pact
place Finland
 

Meeting minutes

extract Two U-Boats sunk. Opposition Leaders express concern Norwegian blockade would represent lowering of UK’s “moral stature”
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Sumner Welles
person Samuel Hoare
person Richard Kiel
person Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
place Finland
place Europe
place Berlin
place Tokyo
place Rome
place Iran
 

Meeting minutes

extract Finnish Minister urges despatch of British force be hurried. Chiefs of Staff say arrival date cannot be brought forward
place Finland
place Helsinki
place Narvik
 

Meeting minutes

extract Finns forced to withdraw to second line of Mannerheim defence system. Rumour Germany anxious to mediate in this conflict
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
person Woodrow Wilson
place Finland
place East Germany
place Gisborne, New Zealand
place Turkey
organisation New Zealand Treasury
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM Chamberlain directs Cabinet to abandon plan to mine Norwegian waters. Winston Churchill registers his opposition
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Sumner Welles
person Winston Churchill
place Finland
place Europe
place Oslo
 

Friday 1st March 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Lord Halifax to inform Finnish government British Empire and France will “do all in their power to support them”
extract Chiefs of Staff inform Cabinet that Finland’s demands for manpower and armaments cannot be met
extract Finnish government notifies UK it may be forced to enter negotiations with Russia within 24 hours without more assistance
extract Norwegian and Swedish governments informed that Britain will shortly be requesting passage for military force
person Swedes (Germanic tribe)
person Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
place Finland
place Paris
place Oslo
place Stockholm
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet told shipping situation “greatest bottleneck" in whole war effort. Losses cause 10% cut in projected food supply
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Samuel Hoare
person Harold Wilson
person Andrew Duncan
person John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon
place Great Britain
place Finland
place Isle of Portland
place Narvik
organisation Ministry of Supply
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract US military attaché requests data on British forces and plans. Cabinet directs Foreign Office to refuse
extract German attacks on shipping now reaching as far west as Isle of Wight. UK has no technology to intercept night air attacks
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Sumner Welles
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Samuel Hoare
person John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon
person Oliver Stanley
person Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
person Woodrow Wilson
place Heligoland
place Finland
place Europe
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation French Army
 

Meeting minutes

extract Finnish Minister requests delivery of 100 UK bombers. Cabinet to delay response.
extract Britain insists to Finns that opposition by other Scandinavian governments will not prevent despatch of UK force
person Alexander Cadogan
person Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
place Finland
place Northern Ireland
organisation Royal Air Force
 

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax believes Finns have “no immediate intention of making terms” with USSR. Chamberlain predicts outcome in 24 hours
extract UK Ambassador Helsinki reports Finnish Foreign Minister “querulous not to say defeatist”. Repeats request for 100 bombers
extract Swedish government formally refuses to allow passage of Allied troops to assist Finland
person Alexander Cadogan
person Adolf Hitler
person Neville Chamberlain
person Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place Narvik
place Berlin
place West Germany
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Meeting minutes

extract Rumours of new German bomber operating at 35,000 feet. Unity Mitford refused permission to move to Scottish island
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon
place Aruba
place Finland
place Iceland
place Caribbean
place Rome
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

Propaganda: Appreciation of Action taken and its Effect. Sixth report submitted by the Minister of Information covering the period January and February 1940.

extract Minister of Information Sir John Reith delivers a report on Britain's propaganda work in the year so far
person John Reith, 1st Baron Reith
place Great Britain
place Portugal
place Greece
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place Hungary
place Paris
place Europe
place Kenya
place Bulgaria
place Denmark
place West Germany
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet believes Mannerheim exaggerating situation on Russian front. Awaiting formal appeal before sending further aid
person Swedes (Germanic tribe)
person Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place Paris
place Oslo
place Stockholm
 

Meeting minutes

extract Notes on recent meetings. Hitler “bully and boaster, but at bottom a coward”. Attack on Western Front "desperate gamble"
person Adolf Hitler
place Finland
place Turkey
place Denmark
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: “Finns perfectly free to take what action they think best”. He now considers prospect of a direct appeal unlikely
person Ronnie Campbell
place Finland
place Helsinki
organisation Royal Air Force
 

Meeting minutes

extract UK Ambassador Vatican passes on anxiety at Mussolini’s “increasingly pro-German course”
extract Cripps in Moscow says USSR wishes to improve relations with UK, does not want to be “too closely tied” to Germany
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Stafford Cripps
person Samuel Hoare
person Maxime Weygand
person Kingsley Wood
person John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon
place Hamburg
place Finland
place East Germany
place Moscow
place Turkey
place Rome
organisation Home Office
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Minister of Economic Warfare
 

Meeting minutes

extract Lord Chatfield meets junior ministers. Italy “more menacing”. “On balance little advantage in going to war with Russia”
place Finland
place Egypt
place Iraq
place Turkey
place Syria
place Iran
organisation Luftwaffe
 

Meeting minutes

extract Swedes putting pressure on Finns to make peace. Recent Russian attacks a “catastrophic surprise” to Finnish High Command
person Alexander Cadogan
person Swedes (Germanic tribe)
person Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
place Finland
 

Assistance to Finland. Draft Telegram to H.M. Minister at Helsinki.

extract Halifax to warn Finnish government that a UK force cannot be kept on standby indefinitely. Urges them to make a decision
place Finland
 

Assistance to Finland.

extract Cabinet agrees to offer 50 more aircraft to Finnish government. Chiefs of Staff question the wisdom of further support
person Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
place Great Britain
place Finland
place Russian Empire
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet informed of German raid on British lines in the Saarland. Two soldiers killed, 16 captured
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Stafford Cripps
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person Ernest Brown
person Harold Wilson
person Andrew Duncan
place Finland
place Egypt
place Rome
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

Scandinavia: Operations in the Face of Scandinavian Non-Co-operation.

extract Chiefs further inform Cabinet co-operation of Scandinavian governments “essential” for landing of Allied forces
place Finland
place Trondheim
place Narvik
 

Military implications of hostilities with Russia in 1940.

extract Chiefs of Staff report on "military implications of hostilities with Russia in 1940"
place Great Britain
place Afghanistan
place Murmansk
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place Egypt
place Iraq
place Narvik
place Turkey
place Basra
place Syria
place West Germany
place Iran
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
organisation Minister of Economic Warfare
 

Meeting minutes

extract Finnish Minister informs Lord Halifax his government is awaiting new terms from Russia. Promises decision by March 12th
person Swedes (Germanic tribe)
place Greece
place Finland
place Helsinki
place Turkey
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation Royal Air Force
 

Meeting minutes

extract Finnish delegation reportedly in Moscow for Soviet negotiations. Air Staff consider bombing raid on Russian positions
place Great Britain
place Finland
place Moscow
place Stockholm
organisation House of Lords
 

Meeting minutes

extract Deputy Chief of Naval Staff reports unsuccessful German attempt to mine harbour entrance of UK's Home Fleet at Scapa Flow
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon
place Finland
place Caribbean
place Liverpool
place Jamaica
organisation Scapa
 

Assistance to Finland.

extract Finnish Minister requests public statement of UK support within roughly 24 hours to aid peace negotiations with Russia
place Finland
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM Chamberlain arranges question to be asked in House of Commons to publicly confirm UK commitment to Finland
person Alexander Cadogan
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
place Finland
place Moscow
place Narvik
place Stockholm
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Labour Party (UK)
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract Secret understanding with Sweden delaying German ore imports at ports and railway stations. Von Ribbentrop to visit Rome
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person Harold Wilson
person Joachim von Ribbentrop
place Heligoland
place Finland
place Iceland
place Narvik
place Denmark
place Rome
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation Minister of Economic Warfare
 

Meeting minutes

extract Notes on recent meetings: “very strong smell of rum”. “Loud laughter”. French anxious to postpone Rhine mining
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Sumner Welles
place Finland
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet continues to discuss occupation of Norwegian ports to halt German ore imports. Initial landing at Narvik approved
place Athens
place Finland
place Narvik
place Oslo
place Stockholm
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet discusses war with Russia. Air Chief: “Embarrassing diversions" not "vital blows”. No hastening of German defeat
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
place Heligoland
place Afghanistan
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place Egypt
place Turkey
place Burma
place West Germany
place Iran
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM on Sumner Welles mission: “aiming for the impossible”. No peace without “real change of outlook in Germany”
person Sumner Welles
person Adolf Hitler
person Harold Wilson
person Joachim von Ribbentrop
place Great Britain
place Finland
place Halifax Peninsula
place Singapore
place Europe
place Berlin
place Rome
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
organisation Canadian Forces Maritime Command
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM meets junior ministers. “Nothing with which to reproach ourselves” on Finland. Germany “true villain of the piece”
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Adolf Hitler
person Winston Churchill
place Finland
place Berlin
place West Germany
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet resolves to order dispersal of ground forces prepared for Scandinavian expedition within hours
place Finland
place Narvik
place West Germany
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

Meeting minutes

extract Approach to be made to Japanese government to limit trade with Germany and Russia. Military aid to Finland halted
place Great Britain
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place East Germany
place Hong Kong
place Europe
place Tokyo
place Iran
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation United States Department of State
organisation Minister of Economic Warfare
 

Meeting minutes

extract Informal notes on recent meetings: Zetland describes shooting, French PM Daladier nervous, jumpy, not sleeping
person Joachim von Ribbentrop
person John Reith, 1st Baron Reith
person Arthur Robinson (Australian politician)
place Finland
place Narvik
place Malta
organisation Scapa
 

Meeting minutes

extract Zetland congratulated on surviving assassination attempt. PM to await Viceroy's new report before deciding India policy
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Adolf Hitler
person Harold Wilson
place Finland
place Burma
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Indian National Congress
organisation United States Congress
 

Meeting minutes

extract “Berlin better blacked out than London” says US envoy. Ambassador to Vatican reports Hitler and Mussolini to meet shortly
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Sumner Welles
person Samuel Hoare
person Adolf Hitler
person Joachim von Ribbentrop
place Finland
place Vatican City
place Hong Kong
place Singapore
place Turkey
place Berlin
place Rome
organisation Luftwaffe
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract Belgian Foreign Minister calls reports of “vast quantities of German troops” opposite Belgian frontier “disquieting”
extract Churchill suggests bombing shipping in Swedish port of Lulea to block harbour and disrupt German iron ore imports
person Winston Churchill
place Great Britain
place Finland
place Brussels
organisation German Army
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Meeting minutes

extract Churchill reports on defences after Scarpa attack. Warns of general feeling “Germans used bombs…we only dropped leaflets”
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Walter Hines Page
person Adolf Hitler
person Winston Churchill
person Neville Chamberlain
place Finland
place Gisborne, New Zealand
place Hong Kong
place Turkey
place Gibraltar
place South America
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation Scapa
organisation Home Fleet
 

Scandinavian Territorial Waters.

extract Lord Halifax circulates memo from French government urging revival of plans to occupy Scandinavian ports
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
place Finland
place Paris
organisation United Nations
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet approves development of standard men’s suit to save wool. Halifax warns against “depression” over policy failures
person Sumner Welles
person Harold Wilson
person Frederick Marquis, 1st Earl of Woolton
place New York, Lincolnshire
place Finland
place Halifax Peninsula
place Brussels
place Turkey
place Europe
place West Germany
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Scapa
 

Analysis of German Propaganda, March 1 to 16, 1940.

extract Lord Halifax presents analysis of recent Nazi propaganda themes. British weakness up, brutality and lies down
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
person Adolf Hitler
person Winston Churchill
person Joachim von Ribbentrop
person John Reith, 1st Baron Reith
person Oliver Stanley
place Great Britain
place Finland
place Ankara
place Slovakia
place Russian Empire
place Caribbean
place Berlin
place Rome
organisation Ministry of Supply
 

Supply and Production. Seventh Monthly Report of the Ministry of Supply covering the Month of February, 1940.

extract Supply Minister: Serious effects on production from February weather and flu outbreak. Explosives and ammo worst affected
place Finland
organisation Ministry of Supply
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation Minister of Economic Warfare
 

The Grand Strategy of the Allies.

extract Easter break continues. Lord Hankey circulates his notes on the direction of Allied strategy: “continue static warfare”
person Sumner Welles
place Greece
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place Gisborne, New Zealand
place Hungary
place Turkey
place Bulgaria
place West Germany
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation Royal Marines
 

Policy to be adopted towards Norway and Sweden in consequence of their attitude during the Finnish War.

extract Halifax concerned French plans against Norway will alienate neutrals. Suggests speaking “frankly” to Norway and Sweden
place Great Britain
place Finland
place East Germany
place Halifax Peninsula
place Narvik
place Europe
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

Publicity in Enemy Countries.

extract Halifax reports progress of leaflet dropping by RAF. “Produced considerable effect…even Germans cannot resist a picture”
person Richard Kiel
person Adolf Hitler
place Finland
place Paris
place Berlin
place Vienna
place Denmark
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
organisation Minister of Economic Warfare
 

Tuesday 2nd April 1940

The Air Strengths of Great Britain, France and Germany.

extract Air Ministry estimates German air force at 5000 aircraft, Britain has 1840. Projects 2146 by June to Germany’s 5350
person Kingsley Wood
place Great Britain
place Finland
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation Minister of Economic Warfare
 

Wednesday 22nd May 1940

Military implications of a complete withdrawal from Norway.

extract Chiefs of Staff recommend withdrawal from Norway to strengthen home defence. Urge “every effort” to capture Narvik first
person Claude Auchinleck
place Great Britain
place Murmansk
place Finland
place Narvik
organisation Canadian Forces Maritime Command
 

Sunday 9th June 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet approves Operation Paul to lay mines around neutral Swedish port of Lulea
place Finland
 

Friday 26th July 1940

The Baltic States.

extract Lord Halifax recommends British government refuse to recognise USSR's occupation by "force and fraud" of Baltic States
person Sumner Welles
person Joseph Stalin
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
place Finland
place East Germany
place Albania
organisation Bank of England
 

Thursday 8th August 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: Despite Foreign Minister's denials "good deal of evidence" Japan intends invasion of French Indo-China
extract Halifax: Japan tension has "certainly relaxed". Considering release of one or two Japanese, third party mediation
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Clement Attlee
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Finland
place Moscow
place Gibraltar
place West Germany
organisation Home Office
 

Tuesday 10th September 1940

Telegrams Exchanged with His Majesty's Minister in Stockholm.

extract Halifax: UK Embassy Stockholm has received apparent German peace offer ("World to be divided"). Draft rejection attached
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person Adolf Hitler
place Great Britain
place Finland
place East Germany
place Egypt
place Europe
place Republic of China
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

Thursday 3rd April 1941

Meeting minutes

extract General Haining: Some of our forward posts overrun in Libya. Our troops withdrawing to a position north of Agedabia
extract PM: President Roosevelt has allotted funds to build a further 200 ships for us. I stated urgent need for escort vessels
extract Admiralty: The air attack against our shipping was more intense during March than in any previous month
person Alexander Cadogan
person Herbert Morrison
place Greece
place Finland
place Cranborne
place Iceland
place Narvik
place Malta
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

Friday 23rd May 1941

Lord Hankey's Committee on Preventing Oil from reaching Enemy Powers. Seventh Report.

extract Petroleum Secretary again urges heavy bombing attacks on German oil resources. "Impact of events" so far preventing these
person Geoffrey Lloyd, Baron Geoffrey-Lloyd
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place Iraq
place Europe
place Albania
place West Germany
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation German Army
organisation Luftwaffe
organisation United States Navy
 

Monday 23rd June 1941

Meeting minutes

extract Eden: Soviets ready to receive British Military Mission, provided we accept they will "give help as well as receive it"
extract General Dill: No information received from Russo-German front. Russian concentrations appear to be too far forward
extract Cabinet approves daylight bombing of industrial targets in Northern France. Air Chief to consider if warning to be given
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Duff Cooper
person Ronnie Campbell
person Stafford Cripps
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place Cranborne
place Moscow
place London, Ontario
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Morning Star (UK newspaper)
organisation Labour Party (UK)
 

Meeting minutes

extract Attlee to nominate representatives from industry for Mission to United States. "Very unfortunate" details leaked to Press
extract Eden: Russians have bombed Finnish aerodromes. Prospects of Finnish neutrality being maintained "not very bright"
extract Eden: Spanish government apologises, promises compensation for damage to British Embassy Madrid in "organised riot"
extract General Dill: "Stiff fighting in Syria". Damascus and Merjayoun now in our hands. Have advanced 10-12 miles toward Beirut
extract General Dill: No first-hand information from USSR. Germans making some progress but Old Russian frontier not yet reached
person Walter Hines Page
person Duff Cooper
person Walter Citrine, 1st Baron Citrine
person Sumner Welles
place Finland
place Cranborne
place Madrid
place Moscow
place Turkey
place Gibraltar
place London, Ontario
place Beirut
place Syria
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Madrid, New York
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation House of Lords