September

1939 King George VI gives assent to National Registration Bill, providing government control over labour and introducing identity cards. Nine divisions of the French Army penetrate in to the Saarland, but their advance is very slow and no effort is made to attack the ‘Westwall’ itself. Polish forces trying to hold the line at the Narew River, […]

1939 General Smuts wins cabinet battle in South Africa and declares war on Germany. German troops advancing through Poland occupy the former German industrial area of Upper Silesia. German troops take Krakow, Poland. 1940 The Luftwaffe bring to a close the third phase of their air offensive “Battle of Britain”, having lost 308 aircraft in

1939 President Roosevelt declares US neutrality and upholds ban on export of weapons. The US establishes Neutrality Patrol to monitor military operations in western hemisphere and declares Neutrality Zone 300 miles off east coast. French forces begin a limited offensive towards Saarbrucken. Under the relentless pressure by the Wehrmacht, the Polish Army withdraws behind the

1939 The RAF attacks German shipping at Wilhelmshaven, Cuxhaven and Schillig Roads, with negligible results (7 out of 30 Wellington bombers are shot down by German fighters and Anti-Aircraft). The German 3rd Army and 4th Army join in the Corridor and re-establish the land connection between East Prussia and the Reich that was severed in

1939The official beginning of World War 2: After Germany rejects the Anglo-French ultimatum of September 1st, which called for the withdrawal of all German forces from Poland, Britain and France declare war on Germany at 11am. The Kriegsmarine begins its campaign against British merchant shipping with 17 U-boats putting to sea out of a total

1939 National Service Act passed in Britain. Hitler indicates to the Britain and France that he would withdraw from Poland provided that he was allowed to retain Danzig and the Polish Corridor. This was dismissed and a joint ultimatum was given to Germany to withdraw her troops from Poland within twelve hours or find herself

1939 World War II Begins Three German Army Groups begin the invasion of Poland at 4:45am. Massive strikes by the Luftwaffe destroy vital communications and assembly areas, decimating the Polish air force on the ground. Panzer and motorised divisions make deep penetrations into the Polish defences, using tactics soon to be known as the Blitzkrieg. Officially, the first

1938 Under German threats of war, Britain, France, Germany and Italy sign an accord permitting Germany to take control of Sudetenland–a region of Czechoslovakia inhabited by a German-speaking minority. Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain boasts, “I believe it is peace in our time.” 1939 Graf Spee sinks the British steamship Clement off Pernambuco, Brazil. Polish government-in-exile

1938 Hitler and Mussolini sign a treaty creating the Rome-Berlin Axis. Mussolini agrees to let Hitler do what he pleases in Europe, while Hitler agrees to assist Italy if war breaks out. 1939 Poland formally surrenders, relieving the 35,000 besieged Polish troops who are defending the fortress of Modlin of their obligations thereby enabling them

1937 In a speech given during a visit to Berlin, Mussolini assures the world;”There are no secret intentions in my visit. Nothing is being plotted”. 1939 The last Polish resistance, the fortress of Modlin, falls after 18-day siege. German and Soviet troops meet at Brest-Litovsk and together stage a military review. An agreement is signed