22 Sep 1939 | World War II Database

22 Sep 1939

Wilhelm Gustloff began its service as a Navy hospital ship. ww2dbase [Wilhelm Gustloff | CPC]

China

Chinese forces recaptured Gao'an, Jiangxi Province, China. ww2dbase [Gao'an, Jiangxi | CPC]

Germany

Georg von Küchler was awarded Clasp 1st Class to his Iron Cross. ww2dbase [Georg von Küchler | CPC]

Poland

Battle of the Bzura, also known as Battle of Kutno to the Germans, ended in Polish defeat; it was the largest battle of the Polish campaign during which more than 18,000 Polish troops and about 8,000 German troops were killed. At Lvov, over 210,000 Poles surrender to the Soviets, but at the Battle of Kodziowce the Soviets suffered heavy casualties. Also on this day, the Soviet NKVD began gathering Polish officers for deportation. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | TH]
Former German Army Commander-in-Chief Werner von Fritsch was mortally wounded by a Polish bullet whilst on a tour of inspection at Praga, Warsaw, Poland. ww2dbase [Werner von Fritsch | Warsaw | AC]
Following the Battle of Bzura, Polish General Tadeusz Kutrzeba arrived in Warsaw, Poland where he was briefly appointed as the Deputy Commander of the Warsaw Army. However, his valiant efforts proved futile. The commander of the Warsaw Army, Juliusz Rómmel, could see the writing on the wall and implored his colleague to begin surrender talks with the Germans. Kutrzeba, later captured by the Germans, spent the rest of the war in various prisoners of war camps until he was liberated by the Americans in Apr 1945. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | Warsaw | AC]

Romania

Josef Frantisek and his Polish Air Force squadron were evacuated to Romania. ww2dbase [Josef Frantisek | CPC]

United Kingdom

Petrol rationing was introduced in Britain. Cars were restricted to 20 gallons per month. ww2dbase [AC]
Sidney Cotton was made a Squadron Leader and honorary Wing Commander of the RAF. ww2dbase [Sidney Cotton | England | CPC]

United States

Chief of Naval Operations Harold Stark ordered US Navy Scouting Force (under Adolphus Andrews) to move from California, United States to Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii. ww2dbase [Harold Stark | California | CPC]

Photo(s) dated 22 Sep 1939

German Army Lieutenant General Heinz Guderian and Russian Army Brigadier General Semyon Krivoshein during the victory parade in Brest, Poland, 22 Sep 1939, photo 1 of 2

Polish civilians arrested by German troops during the invasion, Sep 1939

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis

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