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Children Evacuation
The evacuation of children in July 1939's purpose was to hide all children and expectant mothers from the places predicted to be most vulnerable the war and the destruction it caused and to make sure they were safe when the war broke out one month later in September. -
The Countdown to WWII begins
Adolf Hitler in Berlin sends a telegram to Herr Joachim von Ribbentrop, the Reich Foreign Minister in Moscow. That telegram granted Mr. Ribbentrop "full power to negotiate, in the name of the German Reich," on the subject of a non-aggressive treaty and also the liberty, if the occasion arises, to sign it and any others involving it provided that this treaty and agreements shall be enforced as soon as they are signed. -
Countdown, 09
The German-Soviet non-aggression pact is signed in Moscow and German Jews are ordered to turn in all radios or have them confiscated. Hitler also sets the date for the invasion of Poland for Aug, 26, Sat 4:30 AM. Belgium proclaims neutrality and mobilizes its army for defense. -
Countdown, 08
Poland and GB formally sign a treaty of mutual assistance.
Nazi Gauleiter Albert Foerster becomes head of state in Danzig.
Pope Pius appeals for peace. -
Countdown, 07
The number of incidents along the Polish-German border increase.
President Moscicki replies to President Roosevelt's appeals for peace.
Hitler writes to Mussolini, requesting his assistance invading Poland.
After reading the answering letter from Mussolini, Hitler canceled his invasion of Poland that was scheduled for 4:30 AM the next morning.
President Roosevelt appeals for peace to Hitler again. -
Countdown, 06
The British Chiefs of Staff advised the Cabinet that the earliest possible date for an ultimatum to Germany was September 1.
French Ambassador Robert Coulondre appeals to Hitler as one soldier to another.
The Polish Government in Warsaw increases the pace of its military mobilization. -
Countdown, 05
The GB Cabinet learns from Lord Halifax of Birger Dahlerus a.k.a "Mr. D" and his efforts on the Nazis behalf.
Italian FM (Foreign Minister) Ciano recommends British acceptance of Hitler's latest offer.
Polish FM Beck agrees to consider an exchange of population between areas that were predominantly German and predominantly Polish. -
Countdown, 04
Amateur peace envoy Mr.D continues his shuttle diplomacy.
Polish FM Beck refuses to go to Berlin.
Chamberlain requests info about Hitler's intentions for Poland.
Holland orders a general military mobilization. -
Countdown, 03
Chaim Weizmann informs England that Palestine Jews will fight in WWII.
Switzerland orders full mobilization of its frontier forces.
Unofficial peace envoy Mr. D continues his shuttle diplomacy.
Hitler meets with Ambassador Henderson.
German troops enter Slovakia on Poland's southern frontier. -
Countdown, 02
Henderson is advised by the Home Office that Hitler's demand for the arrival of a Polish plenipotentiary that day is unreasonable.
Unofficial peace envoy Mr. D continues his shuttle diplomacy.
The great evacuation of children from British cities begins. -
Countdown, 01
Unofficial peace envoy Mr.D continues his shuttle diplomacy.
At half-past noon, Hitler issued a Directive for the conduct of the war that stated the attack on Poland would be carried out on September 1, 1939, at 4:45 AM
At 8:20 PM Ciano is informed by the telephone central office that London cut its communications with Italy. -
WWII Begins!
The German battleship Schleswig-Holstein opens fire on the Polish front at Westerplatte
Germany invades Poland
Hitler speaks before the Reichstag
An 8 pm curfew is established for all German Jews
The Euthanasia Decree, which was not actually going to be written till October, was predated to go into effect on this date in Greater Germany. -
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The Fall of France and The Battle of Britain
In April 1940, Germany invaded Denmark and Norway. In May, they staged a successful two-pronged attack on France, with one division invading Belgium, and another coming through the Ardennes, located south of Paris. As the Germans advanced, they cut off the British troops which had to retreat across the English Channel. It was also during this year that Winston Churchill became Prime Minister of Great Britain. -
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June 3rd - 28th, 1940
Germany bombed Paris on 3rd, and a week later, Norway surrendered to the Nazis. On 14th Italy declared war on both Britain and France and two days later, the Germans entered Paris. On 18th, Marshal Petain became French Prime Minister and on 22nd, Hitler and Mussolini met in Munich. The next day, Soviets began occupying the Baltic States, France signed an armistice with Nazi Germany, and Hitler toured Paris. On 28th, Britain recognized General Charles de Gaulle as the Free French leader. -
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France's Armistice
In June 1940, Marshal Petain of France asked for an armistice; granting Germany victory over their historical enemy. The Germans occupied France until the Normandy landings June of 1944. -
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July 1st - 23rd, 1940
Even though the month of July wasn't as eventful as the previous month, there were still important events recorded. On the 1st of July, German U-boats attacked merchant ships in the Atlantic, and on the 5th, the French Vichy government broke off relations with Britain. On the 10th, the famous Battle of Britain began. Soviets took Latvia and Lithuania along with Estonia on the 23rd. -
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August 3rd - 26th, 1940
From the 3rd to the 19th, Italians occupied British Somaliland in East Africa. On the 13th, there was a German bombing offensive against airfields and factories in England. On the 15th, there were air battles and daylight raids over Britain, and on the 17th Hitler declared a blockade over the British Isles. From the 23rd to the 24th, Germany conducted its first air raid in Central London and Britain conducted its first air raid in Berlin from the 25th to the 26th. -
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September 3rd - 27th, 1940
On the 3rd of September, Hitler planned the invasion of Britain dubbed "Operation Sea Lion". On the 7th, German Blitz against Britain began and on the 13th Italians invaded Egypt. Massive German air raids on London, Southampton, Bristol, Cardiff, Liverpool, and Manchester occurred on the 15th. The US military conscription bill was passed on the 16th, and the Tripartite pact was signed on the 27th by Germany Italy and Japan (They were called the Axis). -
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October 7th - 28th, 1940
On the 7th of October 1940, German troops entered Romania, and on the 12th, Germans postponed "Operation Sea Lion" until the Spring of 1941. Italy invaded Greece on the 28th. -
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November 5th - 23rd, 1940
On November 5th, Roosevelt was elected as US President. From the 10th to the 11th, a torpedo bomber raid crippled an Italian fleet in Taranto, Italy. During the 14th through to the 15th, Germans bombed Coventry, England. On the 20th, Hungary joined the Axis powers and on the 22nd, the Greeks defeated the Italian 9th army. On the 23rd Romania joined the Axis powers. -
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December 9th - 30th, 1940
From 9th to 10th December, the British began a western desert offensive in Noth Africa against the Italians. From the 29th to the 30th of December, Germans commenced a massive raid on London.