November 1939
Politics:
1st: Large Arms shipments from the USA begin arriving in the Netherlands and Rumania.
2nd: Belgium grants military access to the French Republic.
4th: The Netherlands grants military access to the French Republic
8th: Massive peace rallies across the Netherlands. Smaller rallies organised in Brussels, Paris and Bucharest.
30th: Following Finnish refusal of Stalin's demands, the Soviet Union launches a massive assault on Eastern Finland
Maneouvers:
1st: German Army begins redeployment after the defeat of Poland
Naval Encounters:
On the morning of the 24th November, a reconaissance flight from the light Carrier HMS Hermes spotted two large warships steaming towards the Norwegian port of Trondheim. Both ships showed signs of gunfire, and were quickly identified as the Graf Spee and Deutschland. As the pilots radioed back to their ship, so the captain of the Graf Spee radioed to the commander of the recently established Luftwaffe command in Norway. Several squadrons were dispatched to give air cover to the two damaged warships, whilst the Deutschland increased speed, which had previously been limited so as to keep pace with her more damaged sister ship.
The first aircraft to arrive over the scene were Me-109s. Due to the short range of these aircraft they could not provide much protection far out to sea but nevertheless they were waiting when the two squadrons of Swordfish arrived and began their attack run. One third of the attacking aircraft were dispatched by the Germans, but due to their slow speed effective interception was difficult and sixteen torpedoes dropped into the water headed for the two capitol ships. Three ploughed into the side of the Graf Spee, causing her list to Port to increase dramatically. As the remaining Swordfish pulled out of their run, they were all destroyed, mainly by AA fire from the warship they had just crippled.
As HMS Nelson, the Battleship supporting HMS Hermes pulled into range to finish the work begun by the now late Swordfish pilots, the next wave of Luftwaffe aircraft appeared on the horizon- three squadrons each of Ju-87 divebombers and Me-110 fighter-bombers. These immediately headed for the British warships- however AA fire from the Destroyer escort forced them to release their bombs early, before they could reach their intended target of the British Aircraft Carrier. One Destroyer was sunk by this attack and another crippled, whilst 4 Ju-87s were shot down.
Nelson and the surviving Destroyers then began their bombardment of the Graf Spee, the massive 15" guns of the British capital ships ruthlessly punishing the stricken German vessel. However the British were overconfident, and HMS Hermes, now without an air group, had been brought forward in preparation to help rescue survivors. To their suprise, the Graf Spee was able to bring its guns to bear and inflict a crippling volley on the Aircraft Carrier, shortly before the German ship's own arsenal was hit and the ship destroyed.
The Destroyers then hastened to the aid of the Cruiser HMS Norwich which had been pursuing Deutschland. As they pulled into range the Germans unleashed a devastating blast from their rear turret, sinking the undamaged destroyer. The other was then abandoned as the earlier German air attack meant she could no longer stay afloat. Norwich fired once from her main guns, inflicting minor damage on the Deutschland, before turning to rescue survivors. Reports of fresh German aircraft heading from the mainland were sufficient to convince the captain of the Nelson to return home with his surviving escort.
Reports on the Battle of the Atlantic are still coming in. Early indications suggest very heavy action this month.