13 Nov 1939 | World War II Database

13 Nov 1939

German destroyers Z20, Z18, Z19, and Z21 mined the mouth of the River Thames in southern England, United Kingdom before dawn. At 0526 hours, British cruiser HMS Adventure hit one of the mines and was damaged, killing 23. At 0820 hours, British destroyer Blanche also hit one of the mines and was badly damaged, killing 1 and wounding 12; as Blanche sank while under tow by tugboat Fabia, she became the first British destroyer lost to enemy action in WW2. ww2dbase [CPC]
Finnish diplomats Paasikivi and Tanner departed Moscow, Russia after all negotiation attempts failed. ww2dbase [The Winter War | CPC]
Adolf Hitler again postponed the invasion of France; the next date for decision was to be 22 Nov 1939. ww2dbase [Invasion of France and the Low Countries | CPC]

Germany

U-56 arrived at Kiel, Germany, ended her third patrol. ww2dbase [U-56 | Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein | CPC]

Japan

Romania

King Carol II of Romania offered to mediate peace between Germany and the western powers. ww2dbase [Carol II | CPC]

United Kingdom

German bombers struck the Shetland Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom but did little damage. ww2dbase [Battle of Britain | Shetland Islands, Scotland | TH]

13 Nov 1939 Photos