Germany invades Poland
week from September 1 to 3, 1939

Germany invades Poland (on September ,1) was the main event of the week !

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1939

GERMANY INVADES POLAND (code name, Weiss = 'White')
48 divisions (6 Panzer) and 1,600 aircraft invade without formal declaration of war on 3 fronts from Eastern Germany, East Prussia and Slovakia. Luftwaffe tactical raids on Polish airfields, communications and troop concentrations; Polish Air Force destroyed after three days.

German motor column is crossing the Polish border.

Air War: Strategic bombing raids on Warsaw by He 111s.

Sea War: German Navy blockades the Baltic. Training ship (old battleship) Schleswig-Holstein bombards small Polish garrison at Westerplatte, near Danzig.

Diplomacy: Poland appeals for British and French intervention under terms of Mutual Assistance Treaties. Britain and France demand the withdrawal of German forces from Poland.
US Pres. Roosevelt calls for ban on indiscriminate bombing of civilians and undefended towns.
Italy dissociates herself from the conflict.

Home Front Britain: General mobilization proclaimed (the Fleet mobilized on August 31). Evacuation of 3 million women, children and invalids from cities begins (completed September 3). ARP (Air Raid Precautions) introduced and the 'black­out' enforced from sunset. British Railways taken under Gouverment control.

Home Front France: General mobilization and 'state of siege' (martial law) proclaimed.

Home Front Germany: Hitler speaks in the Reichstag, Berlin: justifies Russo-German Pact (August 23), invasion of Poland, and the seizure of Danzig and the Polish Corridor; threatens the use of 'secret weapons'; names Goring and Hess as his successors.

Occupied Czechoslovakia: Gestapo arrest thousands of prominent Czechs and deport them to concentration camps.

Neutrals: in USA General Marshall appointed US Army Chief of Staff.

• German Orders of Battle: deployment, strength of Army divisions and tank inventory
• Polish Forces: Army divisions and strength, tank inventory, Air Force, Navy

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1939

Poland: German Blitzkrieg (lightning war) continues relentlessly. 18 Polish bombers attack German armour in Radom-Piotrkow area, south-west of Warsaw.

Map from the campaign in Poland until September 7th.

Air War: Luftwaffe enjoys overwhelming air superiority. Six raids on Warsaw.
RAF Advanced Air Striking Force flies to France.

Diplomacy: Hitler rejects Mussolini's offer (made August 31) to mediate in German-Polish dispute and the proposed five-power conference.

Home Front Britain: National Service Act passed: conscription for men age 19-41.

Neutrals: General mobilization in Switzerland. Scandinavian states proclaim absolute neutrality.

• German Luftwaffe Orders of Battle and aircraft equipment
  

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1939

Poland: Panzers cross river Warta, south-west Poland. 1st and 4th Panzer divsions attacked repeatedly by Polish bombers in Radom­Piotrkow area. Germans capture city of Czestochowa. The Polish Corridor cut in two.
Pro-British demonstrations in Warsaw.

Diplomacy: Germany rejects Anglo-French ultimatum of September 1. Final British and French Notes to Germany. Time limit set for agreement on withdrawal of German forces from Poland expires. BRITAIN AND FRANCE DECLARE WAR ON GERMANY at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. respectively. WAR DECLARED BY AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND BRITISH INDIA.

A London newspaper seller has the grim news of September 3, 1939.

Home Front Britain: P.M. Chamberlain broadcasts to nation at 11.15 a.m.: 'You can imagine what a bitter blow it is to me that all my long struggle to win peace has failed. ' King George VI broadcasts to the peoples of the Empire. War Cabinet formed: Churchill appointed First Lord of the Admiralty. Ministry of Economic Warfare (blockade) established. First House of Commons sitting on a Sunday since 1820. First air-raid warning in London - but false alarm.

Air War: Stukas sink Polsih destroyer Wicher at Hela.
Lone RAF Blenheim aircraft photographs German Fleet in Wilhelmshaven. First of series of propaganda leaflet raids on Germany (night September 3-4).

Sea War: British naval blockade of Germany announced.
First wave of U-boats begin North Atlantic operations (27 merchant ships sunk until October 3).
British liner SS Athenia torpedoed by German submarine U-30, NW. of Ireland; 112 passengers dead (inc. 28 Americans).

Neutrals: Belgium reaffirms her neutrality. King Leopold III assumes command of Belgium Army.

• French Forces: Army divisions and organisation, tank inventory, strength l'Armee de l'Air
• British and Empire Armies, divisions, organisation and tank inventory
• RAF Squadrons, aircraft equipment, base locations
• Ships of the Royal Navy, French and German navies