13-Nov-39: First British Destroyer Sunk in War; Shetlands Attacked by Luftwaffe; Romanian King Offers Peace Mediation; Finns Break Off Negotiations So Stalin Orders Preparations for War with Finland

Today is 13-Nov-1939, the 44th day of World War II; there are 2,119 days left in the conflict.

The British destroyer HMS Blanche strikes a mine and sinks near the Thames estuary, the first Royal Navy destroyer lost in World War II. The Shetland Islands off the Scottish coast becomes the target for the first German bombs dropped on British territory; the Luftwaffe bombers target naval vessels and flying boats, but cause little damage, except to a small rabbit.

Meanwhile in London, Canadian General Henry Crerar arrives to organize the first military headquarters for his nation in World War II.

King Carol of Romania sends a confidential message from Bucharest to the belligerent governments, offering to provide secret mediation between the warring powers, France, Britain and Germany. No immediate reply is received.

Once again in Moscow, negotiations between the Soviets and Finns over border and territory revisions break off. The Finns depart Moscow for Helsinki; they are completely unwilling to accept the Soviet demands that the port of Hanko be ceded to the USSR, since it would give the Soviet complete domination over the Gulf of Finland, as well as one of the most important regions in Finland. In response to this final breakdown after weeks of back-and-forth talks, Soviet General Secretary Josef Stalin orders the military to begin preparations for a war with Finland.