15 Jan 1940
- German submarine U-44 torpedoed and sank Norwegian steamer Fagerheim in the Bay of Biscay at the early hours of the day, killing 15. The 5 survivors were taken to Vigo, Spain. At 0700 hours, U-44 fired shots at Dutch merchant freighter Arendskerk; realizing his ship could not out run the German submarine, captain of the Arendskerk gave the abandon ship order. Arendskerk was subsequently torpedoed and sank, but all 65 of her crew members survived, rescued by Italian steamer Fedora. ww2dbase [CPC]
- British government revealed that nearly twice as many people had been killed on the roads than the number of people killed in enemy action. The blackout was among the chief reasons. ww2dbase [CPC]
- Kapitän zur See Ernst Kretzenberg took command of cruiser Köln. ww2dbase [Köln | CPC]
- U-23 completed her sixth war patrol. ww2dbase [U-23 | CPC]
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