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• Oliver Stanley became the Secretary of State for War with the resignation of Leslie Hore-Belisha. ww2dbase [TH]
• Finnish troops continued to pin Soviet troops along the Raate Road. Many Russians suffered frostbite, gangrene, and other effects from the severely cold weather; however, they fought back valiantly, causing heavy casualties on the Finnish side as well. ww2dbase [The Winter War | CPC]
• Germany forbade the transport of any form of aide into Finland across German territory. ww2dbase [CPC]
• The United Kingdom requested Norway for permission to send Royal Navy vessels into Norwegian waters, citing the German attacks on British ships in Norwegian waters as the reason. Secretly, this request also served as means to deliver British and French troops to Finland through Norway, should the need arise. ww2dbase [CPC]
• As the first Norwegian volunteer fighters left Oslo for Finland, the first Swedish volunteers arrived. In light of these events, Soviet Union accused Norway and Sweden of pursuing "unneutral" policies by allowing their citizens to volunteer to fight for Finland. ww2dbase [CPC]

• HMS Acasta completed a period of refitting at HM Dockyard, Devonport in Plymouth, England, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [Acasta | Plymouth, England | CPC]

5 Jan 1940 Interactive Map