16-Nov-39: Finns Mobilize as Soviet Talks Break Down; Allies, Germany Reject Romanian Peace Offer; Prague Riots Violently Put Down by Germans; Inflation Increases in Britain
Today is 16-Nov-1939, the 47th day of World War II; there are 2,116 days left in the conflict.
The Finns mobilize their armed forces as talks with the Soviet Union over territory and border revisions end in mutually angry exchanges. The Soviets goal has been to protect its naval bases at Murmansk and Leningrad with strategic Finnish territory and long-term leases on Finnish ports; in exchange, the Soviets offer swamp and forest land in Karelia. The Finns have made counteroffers, but neither side has changed their respective general positions. The situation is considered critical.
Both the western allies and Germany officially reject an offer of peace mediation from Romania’s King Carol in Bucharest.
Another series of demonstrations and riots in Prague is put down by the German authorities in the Reichsprotektorate die Böhmen und Mähren; the Germans also declare martial law in the city and conduct mass arrests, deportations and summary executions.
The British government reports an inflation increase; the cost of living rose 2.5 percent in the previous month of October.