14-Dec-39: League of Nations Expels Soviet Union, Urges Help for Finland; Winter War Continues; Hitler Orders Operational Planning for Invasion of Norway; Chinese Nationalists/Communists Clash in Ningxian; German Liner Attempts to Run British Blockade as US Ship Shadows Her

Today is 14-Dec-1939, the 75th day of World War II; there are 2,088 days left in the conflict.

The League of Nations, meeting in emergency debate in Geneva, formally expels the Soviet Union and names it an aggressor in violation of treaties with Finland, the League Covenant and the Pact of Paris. League member states are asked to give all possible assistance to Finland; the League will coordinate international aid programs for the Finns. The Soviets launch a new offensive near Petsamo, while the Finns continue to hammer away a the Soviet Eighth Army.

German Reichskanzler Adolf Hitler orders the OKW – Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (armed forces high command) to begin preparations for the invasion of Norway under the codename Weserubung (Exercise Weber). He is now convinced he must secure Norwegian natural resources for the Reich before Britain cuts them off.

In the Asian theater, Chinese Nationalist forces occupy Ningxian after bitter fights with Chinese Communist troops.

The German liner Columbus departs the Mexican port of Vera Cruz in an effort to run the British blockade back to Germany. An American cruiser USS Tuscaloosa shadows the ship as part of neutrality patrol and broadcasts its location on open radio channels.