1910 | 1911 | 1912 | 1913 | 1914 | 1915 | 1916 | 1917 | 1918 | 1919
1920 | 1921 | 1922 | 1923 | 1924 | 1925 | 1926 | 1927 | 1928 | 1929
1930 | 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939
1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949
1 Jan 1939
- Strasbourg was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Strasbourg | CPC]
- Friedrich Christiansen was promoted to the rank of General der Flieger. ww2dbase [Friedrich Christiansen | CPC]
- Commander Graeme Bannerman was named the commanding officer of USS Canopus. ww2dbase [Canopus | CPC]
United States
2 Jan 1939
- The British Chief of Naval Staff called for a suitable coastal escort vessel capable of being fitted for minesweeping. ww2dbase [Flower-class | AC]
United Kingdom
- Bruce Fraser was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath. ww2dbase [Bruce Fraser | CPC]
3 Jan 1939
- Walther von Brauchitsch was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus of Italy. ww2dbase [Walther von Brauchitsch | CPC]
United States
- The Hepburn Board of the US Navy submitted a request to the US Congress for the expansion to Midway, Wake, Johnston, and Palmyra Atolls in the Pacific Ocean. ww2dbase [CPC]
4 Jan 1939
- Borjas Blancas, Spain was captured by Spanish Nationalist forces during the eastward Republican retreat towards Barcelona, causing the retreat to become a rout. ww2dbase [The Spanish Civil War | AC, CPC]
Spain
- Walter Grabmann shot down an I-15 fighter over Spain. ww2dbase [Walter Grabmann | CPC]
United States
5 Jan 1939
- Kiichiro Hiranuma became the 35th Prime Minister of Japan. ww2dbase [CPC]
- Adolf Hitler met Polish Foreign Minister Józef Beck at Berchtesgaden in southern Germany and, in a friendly manner, mentioned that Danzig was German, and it was in his interest to one day see it return within German borders. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | CPC]
Japan
- Hachiro Arita stepped down as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. ww2dbase [Hachiro Arita | CPC]
Luxembourg
- Prince Jean was formally styled Hereditary Grand Duke. ww2dbase [Jean | ]
Photo(s) dated 5 Jan 1939
6 Jan 1939
Photo(s) dated 6 Jan 1939
7 Jan 1939
- Scharnhorst was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Scharnhorst | CPC]
China
Germany
Photo(s) dated 7 Jan 1939
8 Jan 1939
Photo(s) dated 8 Jan 1939
9 Jan 1939
Germany
- Karl Burk was made the commanding officer of the 8th SS-Standarte (Niederschlesien) regiment. ww2dbase [Karl Burk | CPC]
Libya
- Italian Royal Decree No. 70 was issued to make Italian Libya within the metropolitan territory of Italy, thus lifting the region's status from a mere colony to a part of the Italian Empire. ww2dbase [CPC]
10 Jan 1939
- Fuciliere was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Fuciliere | CPC]
China
Photo(s) dated 10 Jan 1939
11 Jan 1939
France
- The French Army took delivery of its first 37L tracked carrier. ww2dbase [37L | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 11 Jan 1939
12 Jan 1939
United Kingdom
- The British Air Ministry announced the formation of the RAF Auxiliary Air Force Reserve. ww2dbase [AC]
United States
- Tatsuta Maru arrived at San Francisco, California, United States. ww2dbase [Tatsuta Maru | San Francisco, California | CPC]
- US President Franklin Roosevelt acknowledged that "...our existing air forces are so utterly inadequate that they must be immediately strengthened". ww2dbase [Franklin Roosevelt | AC]
Photo(s) dated 12 Jan 1939
13 Jan 1939
- US Marine units under Brigadier General Richard P. Williams began its participation in US Navy's Fleet Exercise No. 5 in the Caribbean Sea. ww2dbase [CPC]
France
- Jean Decoux was named the commander of naval forces in the Far East. ww2dbase [Jean Decoux | CPC]
Panama Canal Zone
Photo(s) dated 13 Jan 1939
14 Jan 1939
- Tarragon, Spain surrendered to Spanish Nationalist forces. ww2dbase [The Spanish Civil War | AC]
- Captain Tomoichi Mori was made the commanding officer of seaplane carrier Kamoi while concurrently holding his previous position as the commanding officer of minelayer Itsukushima. ww2dbase [Kamoi | CPC]
15 Jan 1939
- In the Soviet Union, the Regime introduced the compulsory "Labour Book" for all workers, in which were inscribed details of all the jobs that the worker had held and any infraction of discipline, punishments and reprimands. No worker could change employment without written permission from his Plant Director in the Labour Book. ww2dbase [AC]
16 Jan 1939
Sweden
Photo(s) dated 16 Jan 1939
17 Jan 1939
France
United Kingdom
- HMS Acasta completed a period of refitting at HM Dockyard, Devonport in Plymouth, England, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [Acasta | Plymouth, England | CPC]
19 Jan 1939
Germany
Yugoslavia
- The prototype of the IK-3 fighter crashed near Zemun airfield in Yugoslavia, killing the pilot Captain Pokorni. ww2dbase [IK-3 | Serbia, Zemun | AC]
Photo(s) dated 19 Jan 1939
21 Jan 1939
Germany
- Czechoslovakian foreign minister visited Adolf Hitler in Berlin, Germany; Hitler demanded Czechoslovakia to decrease the size of its military, to hand over a large portion of its gold reserves to be stored in Germany, and to begin excluding Jews in society. ww2dbase [Dismemberment of Czechoslovakia | Berlin | CPC]
22 Jan 1939
United States
Photo(s) dated 22 Jan 1939
24 Jan 1939
- Spanish Nationalist forces were within three miles of Barcelona, Spain. At this point the Spanish Republican government, led by Dr. Juan Negrín, fled to Girona, Catalonia, Spain. The Republican troops in Barcelona continued to maintain a token resistance. ww2dbase [The Spanish Civil War | AC]
Germany
Spain
- The Legionnaires of the Moroccan Corps stormed the imposing rock citadel of Montjuich overlooking Barcelona, Spain, freeing 1,200 Political prisoners who had miraculously escaped execution. ww2dbase [Barcelona | AC]
25 Jan 1939
- British destroyer HMS Mashona (L59) was commissioned into service with Commander P. A. McLaughlin in command. ww2dbase [AC]
Germany
- Adolf Hitler resolved to wipe the entire Polish state off the map should Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop's final approach to persuade the Poles of German territorial proposals become rejected. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | Adolf Hitler | AC]
- Mircea was completed. ww2dbase [Mircea | CPC]
United States
- Uranium atom was split for the first time at Columbia University in the United States. ww2dbase [Operation Trinity and Manhattan Project | New York | CPC]
- The US Army Air Corps announced a new competition for a new fighter design. The requirements were 310-370 miles per hour top speed, 15,000 feet ceiling, and 2 hours endurance at cruise speed. The firm Curtiss-Wright would ultimate win the competition with the P-40 design. ww2dbase [Kurt Zeitzler | CPC]
26 Jan 1939
Poland
- Joachim von Ribbentrop arrived in Warsaw, Poland and spoke to Polish leaders regarding the German wish to annex Danzig and to have Poland sign the Anti-Comintern Pact. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | Warsaw | CPC]
Spain
27 Jan 1939
- The Lockheed XP-38 fighter made its maiden flight. The flight lasted just 24 minutes but the prototype was damaged on landing. ww2dbase [P-38 Lightning | AC]
- Britain and France pledged a £8,000,000 loan and a £4,000,000 gift for Czechoslovakia in an attempt to save the country from falling apart. ww2dbase [Dismemberment of Czechoslovakia | CPC]
- Adolf Hitler ordered Plan Z, the expansion of the German Navy. ww2dbase [Adolf Hitler | CPC]
United States
- Franklin Roosevelt approved the sale of military aircraft to France. ww2dbase [Franklin Roosevelt | CPC]
29 Jan 1939
- The NA-40 prototype aircraft took its first flight; it was judged underpowered and unstable. ww2dbase [B-25 Mitchell | CPC]
30 Jan 1939
Germany
- In a Reichstag speech, Adolf Hitler spoke of German-Polish peace and warned that if the "international Jewish financiers" threatened the world with another war, he would embark on eliminating the Jews to rid the world of this threat. ww2dbase [Adolf Hitler | TH]
- Josias was awarded the Golden Party Badge. ww2dbase [Josias | CPC]
United Kingdom
- The British Admiralty published its war plans for the Royal Navy. ww2dbase [AC]
Photo(s) dated 30 Jan 1939
31 Jan 1939
- German SS leader Reinhard Heydrich ordered that Jews can only be released from protective custody if they present documents for emigration, and that Jews who were being committed to a concentration camp a second time would be committed to concentration camps for life. ww2dbase [Reinhard Heydrich | CPC]
1 Feb 1939
- Georg von Bismarck was promoted to the rank of Oberst. ww2dbase [Georg von Bismarck | CPC]
- Lieutenant Commander Wilhelm Fröhlich took command of U-36. ww2dbase [U-36 | CPC]
- Granatiere was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Granatiere | CPC]
2 Feb 1939
- Polish submarine Orzel was commissioned into service with the Polish Navy. ww2dbase [Orzel | CPC]
Hungary
- Hungary broke relations with the Soviet Union. ww2dbase [CPC]
4 Feb 1939
- U-52 was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [U-52 | CPC]
United States
- Hammann was launched at Kearny, New Jersey, United States, sponsored by Miss Lillian Hammann, daughter of Ensign Charles Hammann. ww2dbase [Hammann | Kearny, New Jersey | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 4 Feb 1939
7 Feb 1939
- Sargo was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Sargo | CPC]
8 Feb 1939
- The United Kingdom and France inquired Germany on why no German guarantee of Czechoslovakian sovereignty has been signed as agreed upon in the Munich Agreement. ww2dbase [Dismemberment of Czechoslovakia | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 8 Feb 1939
9 Feb 1939
China
- The Japanese 5th Fleet arrived off Qinghai Bay, Hainan island in southern China some time between 2300 hours and the end of the day. ww2dbase [Battle of Hainan | Hainan | CPC]
10 Feb 1939
- Pope Pius XI of the State of Vatican City passed away. ww2dbase [AC]
China
11 Feb 1939
China
Germany
- U-40 was commissioned into service with Kapitänleutnant Werner von Schmidt in command. She was assigned to the 6th Submarine Flotilla. ww2dbase [U-40 | CPC]
United States
- A Lockheed XP-38 prototype aircraft from California to New York in the United States in 7 hours and 2 minutes. ww2dbase [P-38 Lightning | CPC]
12 Feb 1939
China
- Cen Zeliu, flying an I-15bis fighter, damaged a Japanese aircraft over Lanzhou, Gansu Province, China. ww2dbase [Cen Zeliu | Lanzhou, Gansu | CPC]
Germany
- Slovakian nationalist leader Vojtech Tuka met with Adolf Hitler in Berlin, Germany, seeking support for Slovakian independence. Hitler answered in the affirmative. ww2dbase [Dismemberment of Czechoslovakia | Berlin | CPC]
13 Feb 1939
Photo(s) dated 13 Feb 1939
14 Feb 1939
Germany
Photo(s) dated 14 Feb 1939
15 Feb 1939
- France ordered 100 DB-7 medium bombers from the Douglas Aircraft Company of the United States. ww2dbase [A-20 Havoc | CPC]
Italy
- The keel of Luigi Torelli was laid down at the Odero Terni Orlando shipyard in La Spezia, Italy. ww2dbase [Luigi Torelli | La Spezia | CPC]
16 Feb 1939
- Pál Teleki became the Prime Minister of Hungary. ww2dbase [Pál Teleki | CPC]
17 Feb 1939
- Ellet was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Ellet | CPC]
19 Feb 1939
Russia
- A trade agreement was signed between the Soviet Union and Poland in an attempt to strengthen Poland as a buffer against Germany. ww2dbase [CPC]
Photo(s) dated 19 Feb 1939
20 Feb 1939
China
- Cen Zeliu, flying an I-15bis fighter, shot down a Japanese BR.20 bomber over Lanzhou, Gansu Province, China. ww2dbase [Cen Zeliu | Lanzhou, Gansu | CPC]
21 Feb 1939
- Battleship King George V was launched. ww2dbase [King George V | CPC]
23 Feb 1939
- A group of fighters flown by Soviet volunteers intercepted 57 Japanese bombers near Lanzhou, Gansu, China, shooting down 6 Japanese bombers and turning back the rest of the formation. ww2dbase [Bombing of Shanghai, Chongqing, and other Cities | CPC]
China
- Mao Yingchu, flying an I-16 fighter, shared the credit for the downing of a Japanese BR.20 bomber over Lanzhou, Gansu Province, China. ww2dbase [Mao Yingchu | Lanzhou, Gansu | CPC]
Spain
- Spanish moderate, Colonel Segismundo Casado, the temporary XVIII Corps commander at the Battle of Brunete, staged an uprising against communist power and formed the Council of National Defence, hoping that Francisco Franco would be prepared to discuss terms with a fellow officer. This resolved into a civil war within a civil war, with over 1,000 deaths before the Casado faction gained the upper hand. ww2dbase [The Spanish Civil War | AC]
Photo(s) dated 23 Feb 1939
24 Feb 1939
Photo(s) dated 24 Feb 1939
25 Feb 1939
United Kingdom
- In Britain, the first of two and a half million Anderson shelters began to be issued to households in vulnerable areas. ww2dbase [Anderson Shelter | AC]
27 Feb 1939
- The British Admiralty approved William Reed's sketch design for a coastal escort vessel requested during the previous month. ww2dbase [Flower-class | AC]
- The British and French governments recognised General Francisco Franco's regime in Spain. ww2dbase [The Spanish Civil War | AC]
28 Feb 1939
- Manuel Azaña resigned from the post of President of the Republic of Spain. ww2dbase [The Spanish Civil War | AC]
- Germany responded to the British and French inquiry of 8 Feb 1939 regarding why Germany had not yet guaranteed Czechoslovakian sovereignty, noting that Germany must "await first a clarification of the internal development of Czechoslovakia". ww2dbase [Dismemberment of Czechoslovakia | CPC]
1 Mar 1939
- British destroyer HMS Matabele (L26) was commissioned into service with Commander G. K. Whitmy-Smith in command. ww2dbase [AC]
Italy
United States
2 Mar 1939
Canada
- A Hurricane fighter was sent to Canada in preparation for license production. ww2dbase [Hurricane | CPC]
United Kingdom
- HMS Acasta began aiding Vickers-Armstrongs in testing ASDIC equipment for the Argentinian light cruiser La Argentina. ww2dbase [Acasta | England | CPC]
Vatican City
- Eugenio Pacelli became the head of the Catholic Church; he took on the papal name Pius XII. ww2dbase [Pius XII | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 2 Mar 1939
4 Mar 1939
- The failure of Dr. Negrin's Communist Government to sue for peace resulted in a civil war within a civil war on the streets of Madrid, Spain. The National Defence Council, led by Colonel Casada, triumphed in the struggle for control of the Republic and tried to negotiate peace terms with General Franco. In the meantime Dr. Negrin, accompanied by his Cabinet and Russian advisers, flew out of Madrid to safety. ww2dbase [The Spanish Civil War | AC]
- Corazziere was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Corazziere | CPC]
5 Mar 1939
Photo(s) dated 5 Mar 1939
6 Mar 1939
- Czechoslovakian President Emil Hácha dismissed the Ruthenian government in an attempt to quell nationalist sentiments that was breaking apart his country. ww2dbase [Dismemberment of Czechoslovakia | CPC]
Romania
- King Carol II appointed Armand Calinescu as the Prime Minister of Romania. ww2dbase [Carol II | CPC]
7 Mar 1939
China
- Choibalsan ordered the arrest of Prime Minister Amar of the separatist Mongolian state in China. ww2dbase [Choibalsan | Mongolia | CPC]
9 Mar 1939
- Czechoslovakian President Emil Hácha suspended Jozef Tiso's Slovakian government and placed Slovakia under martial law. ww2dbase [Dismemberment of Czechoslovakia | CPC]
- Chen Changjie was named the deputy commander of the 13th Army while still retaining command of the 61st Corps. ww2dbase [Chen Changjie | CPC]
Japan
- Haruki Isayama stepped down as the Chief of General Affairs Section of the Japanese Army and was made the commanding officer of the 11th Depot Regiment. ww2dbase [Haruki Isayama | CPC]
10 Mar 1939
- British destroyer HMS Tartar (F43) was commissioned into service with Captain G. H. Warner in command. ww2dbase [AC]
- Czechoslovakian President Emil Hácha ordered the arrest of Slovakian political leader Jozef Tiso. ww2dbase [Dismemberment of Czechoslovakia | CPC]
- Walther von Brauchitsch was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland. ww2dbase [Walther von Brauchitsch | CPC]
11 Mar 1939
- In response to Czechoslovakian President Emil Hácha's sudden moves to consolidate power within Czechoslovakia, thus threatening German attempts to divide the nation, Adolf Hitler issued a ultimatum for Czechoslovakia to hand over Bohemia and Moravia, moving up the German schedule for the occupation of the remainder of Czechoslovakia. At 2200 hours, Austrian Nazi leader Arthur Seyß-Inquart visited Slovakian leaders, demanding them to proclaim independence immediately, otherwise Germany would no longer support their movement. ww2dbase [Dismemberment of Czechoslovakia | CPC]
12 Mar 1939
- German leaders demanded Slovakian leader Jozef Tiso to visit Berlin, Germany, where he was told to declare Slovakian independence immediately otherwise Germany would withdraw its support for such a movement. ww2dbase [Dismemberment of Czechoslovakia | CPC]
China
- Japanese troops began advancing from Hubei Province, China toward Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China. ww2dbase [Battle of Nanchang | Hubei | CPC]
13 Mar 1939
- At 1900 hours, Adolf Hitler once again demanded Jozef Tiso to declare Slovakian independence from Czechoslovakia; meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop presented him reports of Hungarian troop movements on its border, hinting that Hungary, friendly to Germany, was ready to strike should the negotiations in Berlin, Germany fail. ww2dbase [Dismemberment of Czechoslovakia | CPC]
- Throughout Germany, the Gestapo raided the offices of the patriotic Pan-German League. A number of its leaders were arrested, their offices sealed and the League compelled to close. ww2dbase [AC]
Germany
United Kingdom
- HMS Acasta completed ASDIC testing work with Vickers-Armstrongs. ww2dbase [Acasta | England | CPC]
14 Mar 1939
- The Martin Maryland medium bomber took its first flight. Built to a USAAC specification, the Maryland was only ever employed by France and Britain. It would be the first US supplied bomber to be used by the RAF in North Africa. ww2dbase [Model 167 Maryland | AC]
- Slovakia and Ruthenia declared independence from Czechoslovakia; as Czechoslovakia had fallen into pieces, the United Kingdom and France considered it to be the evidence that Czechoslovakia no longer existed as a nation, thus they no longer had any alliance obligations to the now defunct nation. During the day, Czechoslovakian President Emil Hácha traveled by train to Berlin, Germany to conduct last-minute negotiations with Adolf Hitler to save his country. ww2dbase [Dismemberment of Czechoslovakia | CPC]
Czechoslovakia
- Warned by the German Abwehr's Paul Thummel that Prague would be occupied on 15 Mar 1939, Colonel Franyišek Moravek, Chief of the Czechoslovak intelligence service, and ten members of his staff embark on a Dutch civilian aircraft hired by the British MI6. Later, in London, the group would offer their valuable services to Prime Minister Edvard Beneš' Czech government in exile. ww2dbase [Dismemberment of Czechoslovakia | AC]
15 Mar 1939
- Erwin Rommel was made the commanding officer of Hitler's headquarters during Hitler's visit of the recently annexed Czechoslovakia. ww2dbase [Erwin Rommel | CPC]
Germany
- At 0115 hours, Czechoslovakian President Emil Hácha met with Adolf Hitler, who was accompanied by Wilhelm Keitel, Hermann Göring, Joachim von Ribbentrop, and Theodor Morell, in Berlin, Germany. Hitler threatened Hácha that German forces were poised to invade Czechoslovakia at 0600 hours, so it was up to Hácha to either agree to a peaceful occupation or face a destructive invasion. At 0215 hours, Hitler left the conference room, and Göring and Ribbentrop continued to threaten Hácha with, among other things, the bombing of Prague. Hácha fainted twice during the negotiations, and both times were revived by injections by Dr. Morell. Hácha gave in at 0355 hours, and German troops marched across the borders at 0600 hours unopposed. In the evening, Adolf Hitler entered Prague in a grand parade. During the day in eastern Czechoslovakia, Hungarian forces marched into Ruthenia, ending the one-day-old nation of Capatho-Ukraine. ww2dbase [Dismemberment of Czechoslovakia | Berlin | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 15 Mar 1939
16 Mar 1939
- In eastern Czechoslovakia, Slovakian leader Jozef Tiso sent a telegram, originally authored by Hermann Göring, to ask for German troops to enter Slovakian borders. In western Czechoslovakia, Germany declared the formation of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, with Konstantin von Neurath as the German Protector, immediately enacting anti-Semitic laws. ww2dbase [Dismemberment of Czechoslovakia | CPC]
17 Mar 1939
- Portugal and Spain signed a treaty of friendship and non-aggression. ww2dbase [CPC]
United Kingdom
- British Field Marshal Lord Gort told Secretary of State Hore-Belisha that "It would be murder to send our Field Force overseas to fight against a First-class power". ww2dbase [AC]
18 Mar 1939
- Spain and Portugal entered into a non-aggression pact. ww2dbase [CPC]
Austria
- While in Vienna in German-occupied Austria, Adolf Hitler approved the formation of a German protectorate in Slovakia. Elsewhere, France, United Kingdom, and Soviet Union lodged official protests regarding the German occupation of Czechoslovakia. ww2dbase [Dismemberment of Czechoslovakia | Vienna | CPC]
China
- A group of Japanese troops boarded barges at Xingzi, Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province, China, sailed south 10 kilometers on the Yangtze River, and disembarked to attack Chinese positions at Wucheng. ww2dbase [Battle of Nanchang | Wucheng, Jiangxi | CPC]
Russia
- In Russia, the "Industry of Socialism" Exhibition finally opened, sixteen months behind schedule, having finally satisfied the censors that the pictures displayed proved that life had got better in Russia since the removal of the Tsars. ww2dbase [AC]
- At the 18th Party Congress, Joseph Stalin declared that the western aggressor states of United Kingdom and France were pushing Germany toward Eastern Europe, thus provoking an eventual war between Germany and the Soviet Union, a venture that he did not wish to embark the Soviet Union upon. ww2dbase [Joseph Stalin | CPC]
United States
19 Mar 1939
- Fleet Exercise No. 5 in the Caribbean Sea, participated by US Navy and US Marine Corps personnel, drew to a close. ww2dbase [CPC]
- British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Lord Halifax explained to the Soviet ambassador in the United Kingdom that the reason for the rejection for Joseph Stalin's call for a multi-power conference to contain Germany was due to the lack of available personnel to embark on these negotiations. ww2dbase [Halifax | CPC]
20 Mar 1939
- German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop demanded Memel from Lithuania. ww2dbase [Annexation of Klaipeda | CPC]
China
- The German expedition team consisting of Ernst Schäfer, Bruno Beger, Karl Wienert, Ernst Krause, and others departed Lhasa, Tibet. They studied Tibetan culture, measured the physical traits of 376 people, and took over 40,000 photographs. ww2dbase [Lhasa, Tibet | CPC]
- Chinese troops repulsed a Japanese attack across the Xiushui River near Wucheng, Jiangxi Province, China; Chinese defenders reported that the Japanese were mixing chemical weapons among traditional artillery shells. To the west of Nanchang, the primary objective, Japanese troops reached the Ganjiang Bridge. ww2dbase [Battle of Nanchang | Jiangxi | CPC]
21 Mar 1939
- Édouard Daladier resigned as the French Prime Minister. ww2dbase [Édouard Daladier | CPC]
- German heavy cruiser Deutschland set sail for Memel, Lithuania. Meanwhile, Germany demanded Lithuania to sent representatives to the warship on the following day to sign Memel over to Germany. ww2dbase [Annexation of Klaipeda | CPC]
- Dong Zhao was relieved of his position and the commander of the 28th Division so he could focus on his corps-level command. ww2dbase [Dong Zhao | CPC]
China
- Japanese 6th Division crossed the Xuishui River west of Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province, China and marched toward Wuning. ww2dbase [Battle of Nanchang | Jiangxi | CPC]
United Kingdom
- French President Albert Lebrun visited London, England, United Kingdom. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain attempted to persuade Lebrun to enter into a British-French-Polish alliance to contain Germany; a similar proposal was also sent to the Polish leadership via the British ambassador in Warsaw, Poland, but the Polish responded coolly. On the same day, in Berlin, Germany, German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop expressed that if Poland continued to not agree with German demands for Danzig and if Poland continued to resist signing the Anti-Comintern Pact, then the present German-Polish friendship would deteriorate. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | London, England | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 21 Mar 1939
22 Mar 1939
- Lithuanian representatives boarded German heavy cruiser Deutschland to negotiate for Memel as Germany demanded, but they resisted signing away the territory. ww2dbase [Annexation of Klaipeda | CPC]
- Poland requested consultations with United Kingdom and France regarding German demands for Danzig. United Kingdom and France expressed willingness to go further than mere consultation and suggested a formal treaty. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | CPC]
- The Republic Aviation Company's AP-4 prototype aircraft was destroyed by an accidental in-flight engine fire; the pilot was able to bail out to safety. ww2dbase [P-43 Lancer | CPC]
China
23 Mar 1939
- Erwin Rommel returned to his position as the commanding officer of the military academy at Wiener Neustadt in southern Germany. ww2dbase [Erwin Rommel | CPC]
China
- At dawn, the largest bombardment of the Second Sino-Japanese War was commenced on Chinese positions at Wucheng near the Xiushui River in Jiangxi Province, China where Japanese troops were held down by Chinese defenses since 18 Mar 1939; this bombardment would continue until 26 Mar 1939. Nearby, Japanese troops captured Fengxin County and Anyi County. ww2dbase [Battle of Nanchang | Jiangxi | CPC]
Czechoslovakia
Germany
- Joachim von Ribbentrop and Vojtech Tuka signed the official document in Berlin, Germany that declared Slovakia as an independent nation under German protection. ww2dbase [Dismemberment of Czechoslovakia | Berlin | CPC]
Japan
- Hisao Tani was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure 1st Class. ww2dbase [Hisao Tani | CPC]
Lithuania
- The Lithuanian representatives aboard German heavy cruiser Deutschland gave in to German demands, signing the city of Klaipeda, Lithuania, known as Memel in German, to Germany in the early hours of the day. In the afternoon, Adolf Hitler visited the newly gained territory. ww2dbase [Annexation of Klaipeda | Klaipeda | CPC]
24 Mar 1939
- Slovakian forces counterattacked the Hungarian invaders, pushing Hungarian troops nearly to the Okna River. ww2dbase [The Slovak-Hungarian War | CPC]
- Destroyer Yukikaze was launched. ww2dbase [Yukikaze | CPC]
China
- Yosuke Matsuoka stepped down as the President of the South Manchuria Railway. ww2dbase [Yosuke Matsuoka | CPC]
- Takuichi Ohmura was named the President of the South Manchuria Railway. ww2dbase [CPC]
- Choibalsan was made the prime minister of the separatist Mongolian state in China. ww2dbase [Choibalsan | Mongolia | CPC]
Germany
- Adolf Hitler returned from recently annexed Memel to Berlin, Germany. ww2dbase [Adolf Hitler | Berlin | CPC]
Panama Canal Zone
25 Mar 1939
- British cruiser HMS Phoebe was launched by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company in Govan, Scotland, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [AC]
- Lanciere was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Lanciere | CPC]
- Slovakian forces resumed their counterattack against the invading Hungarian forces. Hungarian aircraft raided the Slovakian airfield at Spisská Nová Ves, killing 13. ww2dbase [The Slovak-Hungarian War | CPC]
- German intelligence chief Wilhelm Canaris reported to Adolf Hitler that his agents had detected Polish troop movements on the Polish border with Danzig. Hitler met with Army chief Walther von Brauchitsch regarding this latest development in his attempt to acquire Danzig. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | CPC]
China
United States
26 Mar 1939
- Slovakian forces gathered on the Hungarian border in preparation of a renewed counteroffensive, planning on pushing into Hungary if possible. ww2dbase [The Slovak-Hungarian War | CPC]
China
- Japanese troops captured Wucheng, Jiangxi Province, China. To the southwest, Japanese troops reached the west gate of the primary objective, Nanchang, and began the assault. ww2dbase [Battle of Nanchang | Nanchang, Jiangxi | CPC]
28 Mar 1939
- Polish Foreign Minister Józef Beck met with the German Ambassador in Poland that any further demand on Danzig by Germany might result in war between Poland and Germany. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | CPC]
China
- While the Japanese 101st Division secured Nanchang in Jiangxi Province, China, the 106th Division at Fengxin prepared for an additional offensive whose target was to be Chinese positions further west or the town of Gao'an. ww2dbase [Battle of Nanchang | Nanchang, Jiangxi | CPC]
Spain
- Francisco Franco's Nationalist forces occupied Madrid, Spain and declared victory in the Spanish Civil War. ww2dbase [The Spanish Civil War | Madrid | TH]
29 Mar 1939
- British destroyer HMS Punjabi (F21) was commissioned into service with Commander J. T. Lean in command. ww2dbase [AC]
Atlantic Ocean
- Emden began operating as a fishery protection ship in the North Atlantic. ww2dbase [Emden | CPC]
China
Spain
- The besieged Republican garrison in Valencia, Spain surrender to the Nationalists, ending all hostilities in the country. ww2dbase [The Spanish Civil War | AC]
Photo(s) dated 29 Mar 1939
30 Mar 1939
- German pilot Hans Dieterie flew the Heinkel He 100 V8 at 463.82 mph to set a new world air speed record. ww2dbase [AC]
Pacific Ocean
- Japanese troops occupied the Spratly Islands (Japanese: Shinnan Shoto) in the South China Sea. They were to be administered by Japanese authorities in Taiwan. The Japanese Navy would soon built a seaplane base and a submarine base on the island of Itu Aba (Japanese: Nagashima). ww2dbase [Spratly Islands, South China Sea | CPC]
Poland
- British Ambassador in Poland Howard Kennard offered Poland a British-French-Polish agreement in which the three countries would mutually guarantee each others' borders; this agreement arose from the build-up of tension between Germany and Poland over Danzig. The Soviet Union was purposely excluded from the negotiations per Polish demands. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | CPC]
31 Mar 1939
- The fighting between Slovakia and Hungary largely ceased. ww2dbase [The Slovak-Hungarian War | CPC]
- British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain noted that the United Kingdom and France would guarantee Polish borders, with military force if necessary. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | CPC]
Japan
- Cruiser No. 72, under construction at Mitsubishi Yokohama shipyards in Japan, was officially named Katori. ww2dbase [Katori | Yokohama, Kanagawa | CPC]
United Kingdom
- The first M.9A Master aircraft took flight. ww2dbase [M.9 Master | AC]
1 Apr 1939
- Bersagliere was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Bersagliere | CPC]
- At the launching ceremony of German battleship Tirpitz, Adolf Hitler gave a fiery speech that was so extreme that it was decided at the last minute that it would not be broadcast to foreign nations in fear of talks of war provocation. The broadcast to the United States was cut off halfway, leading to false rumors that Adolf Hitler was assassinated amidst the speech. ww2dbase [Adolf Hitler | CPC]
Germany
- Battleship Tirpitz was launched at the Kriegsmarinewerft shipyard in Wilhelmshaven, Germany. Grossadmiral Alfred von Tirpitz's daughter Ilse von Hassel christened the battleship named after her father. ww2dbase [Kriegsmarinewerft | Tirpitz | Wilhelmshaven, Weser-Ems | CPC]
- The Deutsche Werke Kiel AG operations in Kiel, Germany and the Kriegsmarinearsenal merged and became Kriegsmarinewerft Kiel. ww2dbase [Howaldtswerke Kiel | Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein | CPC]
Japan
- Prototype A6M Zero fighter took its maiden flight at Kagamigahara airfield, Japan. ww2dbase [A6M Zero | Kagamigahara, Gifu | CPC]
- Minoru Ota was assigned to the 6th Defense Unit of 6th Base Force. ww2dbase [Minoru Ota | CPC]
United States
- The order for the future battleship Alabama was issued. ww2dbase [Alabama | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 1 Apr 1939
3 Apr 1939
- The US Congress granted US$300,000,000 for the purchase of 3,200 new military aircraft over the next two years. ww2dbase [AC]
Germany
- Adolf Hitler, on his own authority, ordered the armed forces to prepare "Case White" for the invasion and occupation of the whole of Poland later in the summer. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | AC]
Photo(s) dated 3 Apr 1939
4 Apr 1939
- Tatsuta Maru arrived at Honolulu, US Territory of Hawaii. ww2dbase [Tatsuta Maru | CPC]
- USS Astoria arrived at Honolulu, US Territory of Hawaii. ww2dbase [Astoria (New Orleans-class) | CPC]
- Spanish Nationalist air ace Garcia Morato (with 40 kills during the Civil War) was killed when his Fiat CR32 Chirri aircraft crashed, due to engine failure, whilst performing for a newsreel take. ww2dbase [AC]
China
- Japanese troops occupied the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. They were to be declared a Japanese protectorate. ww2dbase [Paracel Islands | CPC]
- Curtiss-Wright test pilot Bob Fausel, flying the CW-21 prototype fighter, claimed one Japanese bomber shot down over China. ww2dbase [CW-21 | CPC]
Czechoslovakia
- Slovakia and Hungary signed a peace treaty, ending the Slovak-Hungarian War (Little War). ww2dbase [The Slovak-Hungarian War | CPC]
5 Apr 1939
- Vannevar Bush appeared before the Senate Appropriations Committee in support of funding for a new aeronautical research laboratory in Sunnyvale, California, United States that later became the Ames Research Center. ww2dbase [Vannevar Bush | DS]
Italy
- The keel of Capitano Tarantini was laid down at the Cantieri navali Tosi di Taranto shipyard in Taranto, Italy. ww2dbase [Capitano Tarantini | Taranto, Puglia | CPC]
6 Apr 1939
United Kingdom
- The 30 Mar 1939 British-French-Polish agreement to mutually guarantee each others' borders was signed into a formal treaty in London, England, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | London, England | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 6 Apr 1939
7 Apr 1939
- Spain officially signed the Anti-Comintern Pact, joining Germany, Italy, and Japan. ww2dbase [Anti-Comintern Pact | AC]
Albania
Photo(s) dated 7 Apr 1939
10 Apr 1939
- German Gestapo report published on this date noted that, between 1933 and 1939, a total of 162,734 prisoners were placed in protective custody, of which most of them were categorized as political prisoners. ww2dbase [CPC]
United States
11 Apr 1939
United States
- The NA-40B prototype aircraft was destroyed in a crash during testing at Wright Field, Ohio, United States. The entire crew survived the crash. ww2dbase [B-25 Mitchell | Riverside, Ohio | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 11 Apr 1939
12 Apr 1939
Photo(s) dated 12 Apr 1939
13 Apr 1939
- Cruiser Köln began training in the North Atlantic. ww2dbase [Köln | CPC]
- Soviet ambassador Maxim Litvinov brought offers to London, England, United Kingdom and Paris, France seeking a military alliance between Britain, France, and the Soviet Union to counter potential German military aggression against Poland or Romania. ww2dbase [CPC]
Germany
14 Apr 1939
Germany
- The construction of battleship H was ordered. ww2dbase [H | CPC]
- The construction of battleship J was ordered. ww2dbase [J | CPC]
United States
- Franklin Roosevelt wrote to Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini in attempt to maintain peace, asking them to guarantee the borders of 31 countries for at least 10 years. ww2dbase [Franklin Roosevelt | CPC]
15 Apr 1939
- The British and French responded negatively to the Soviet offer of alliance to protect Poland and Romania, noting that they would only engage in an alliance only for the protection of the three nations in question. ww2dbase [CPC]
Atlantic Ocean
- Emden ended her role as a fishery protection ship in the North Atlantic. ww2dbase [Emden | CPC]
Italy
- Hermann Göring arrived in Rome, Italy to meet with Benito Mussolini. ww2dbase [Hermann Göring | Rome | CPC]
Japan
- Minoru Ota was made the executive officer of Kure Sailor Corps. ww2dbase [Minoru Ota | CPC]
United States
- USS S-26 entered a period of partial duty while at New London, Connecticut, United States. ww2dbase [S-26 | New London, Connecticut | CPC]
16 Apr 1939
Italy
- Hermann Göring met with Benito Mussolini in Rome, Italy. ww2dbase [Hermann Göring | Rome | CPC]
- King Vittorio Emanuele III of Italy took on the additional title of the King of the Albanians. ww2dbase [Vittorio Emanuele III | CPC]
United Kingdom
- The Soviet ambassador in Britain made the final attempt to form some kind of alliance between the United Kingdom, France, and the Soviet Union to contain German aggression. ww2dbase [London, England | CPC]
17 Apr 1939
- Germany sent out messages to 30 of the 31 countries named by US President Roosevelt on 14 Apr 1939 (the exception being Poland), asking them whether they felt threatened by Germany. Many countries responded in the negative, while the others were coaxed into responding in the negative. ww2dbase [CPC]
- USS Astoria arrived at Yokohama, Japan and disembarked the ashes of Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Saito. ww2dbase [Astoria (New Orleans-class) | CPC]
- Chiang Kaishek cabled Bai Chongxi his plans for a counter offensive toward Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China, which was to be launched on 21 or 22 Apr 1939. ww2dbase [Battle of Nanchang | CPC]
18 Apr 1939
Czechoslovakia
United States
19 Apr 1939
Photo(s) dated 19 Apr 1939
20 Apr 1939
- Alpino was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Alpino | CPC]
Germany
- Italian Ambassador in Berlin, Germany, Attalico, sent a message to Rome, Italy, noting that war between Germany and Poland seemed imminent. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | Berlin | CPC]
- Walther von Brauchitsch was awarded the Golden Party Badge. ww2dbase [Walther von Brauchitsch | CPC]
United States
Photo(s) dated 20 Apr 1939
21 Apr 1939
- The US Marine Corps' Division of Operations and Training was renamed the Division of Plans and Policies. ww2dbase [CPC]
China
- Chinese 3rd and 9th War Areas attacked toward Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China, engaging Japanese troops at Fengxin and Gao'an. ww2dbase [Battle of Nanchang | Jiangxi | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 21 Apr 1939
23 Apr 1939
China
- 16th Division, 79th Division, and 5th Reserve Division of Chinese 32th Army crossed the Fu River near Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China. ww2dbase [Battle of Nanchang | Jiangxi | CPC]
26 Apr 1939
China
Germany
- German aircraft manufacturer Messerschmitt captured the world air speed record with a specially prepared Me 209 (later named Me 109R by Nazi propaganda agents) aircraft. The aircraft reached a speed of 469.22 miles per hour, just beating the record set by the Heinkel He H00-V8. ww2dbase [AC, CPC]
United States
- The US Army Air Corps placed an order for 524 P-40 fighters; it was the largest contract to date at the value of US$13,000,000. ww2dbase [P-40 Warhawk | CPC]
27 Apr 1939
- The British government introduced a national conscription policy for 20 and 21-year-old males. ww2dbase [CPC]
- The British Air Ministry awarded the largest-ever order for a US-built fighter aircraft with an order for 524 Tomahawk fighters. ww2dbase [P-40 Warhawk | AC]
China
- Japanese troops counterattacked against the Chinese offensive at Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China, engaging in combat south and southeast of the city. ww2dbase [Battle of Nanchang | Nanchang, Jiangxi | CPC]
Czechoslovakia
- Alois Eliás was named the prime minister of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. ww2dbase [CPC]
Russia
- Viktor Abakumov was named the head of the UNKVD Directorate of Rostov Oblast, Russia. ww2dbase [Viktor Abakumov | Rostov | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 27 Apr 1939
28 Apr 1939
- Lieutenant Commander Edwin Layton assumed command of Wickes-class destroyer USS Boggs. ww2dbase [Edwin Layton | DS]
China
- General Duan Lang ordered his Chinese 79th Division to disengage south of Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China after suffering high casualties during a Japanese counterattack. ww2dbase [Battle of Nanchang | Nanchang, Jiangxi | CPC]
Germany
- In a two-hour speech to the German Reichstag which was widely broadcast around the world, Adolf Hitler repudiated the Anglo-German Naval Agreement and expressed the wish to annex Danzig. In regards to the recent British-Polish treaty, Hitler claimed that it broke the terms of the 1934 German-Polish non-aggression treaty, thus the 1934 agreement was now void; he was, however, willing to negotiate a new one with Poland. Finally, addressing US President Franklin Roosevelt's letter of 14 Apr 1939, in which Roosevelt requested Germany to guarantee the borders of 31 nations, Hitler noted the result of the subsequent survey that revealed most of the nations (Poland excluded) responded they were not at all threatened by Germany. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | Adolf Hitler | AC]
Photo(s) dated 28 Apr 1939
29 Apr 1939
- Admiral Hipper was commissioned into German Navy service. ww2dbase [Admiral Hipper | CPC]
China
United States
- US Army Deputy Chief of Staff Brigadier General George Marshall boarded USS Nashville to attend the Pan American Defense Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. ww2dbase [George Marshall | Nashville | DS]
Photo(s) dated 29 Apr 1939
30 Apr 1939
Germany
United States
- Franklin Roosevelt's address at the opening ceremonies of the New York World's Fair was broadcast on television, making him the first US President to appear in this medium. ww2dbase [Franklin Roosevelt | Flushing, New York | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 30 Apr 1939
1 May 1939
- US Marine Corps aviation units Aircraft One and Aircraft Two were renamed 1st and 2nd Marine Aircraft Group, respectively. ww2dbase [CPC]
China
- Admiral Harry E. Yarnell visited USS Astoria in the morning; in the afternoon, the cruiser departed Shanghai, China for Hong Kong. ww2dbase [Astoria (New Orleans-class) | Shanghai | CPC]
- Chiang Kaishek ordered Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China to be taken back by 5 May 1939. He also relieved General Duan Lan of his duties for ordering his 79th Division to fall back, while General He Ping, who had also fallen back with his Chinese 16th Division, was told to redeem himself. ww2dbase [Battle of Nanchang | Nanchang, Jiangxi | CPC]
Germany
- The German Kampfgeschwader 55 wing was formed with two groups; Major General Wilhelm S¸ssmann was named its first commanding officer. ww2dbase [CPC]
- Hans-Joachim Marseille was promoted to the rank of Fahnenjunker-Gefreiter. ww2dbase [Hans-Joachim Marseille | CPC]
Japan
- I-68 was recommissioned into service. ww2dbase [I-68/I-168 | CPC]
United States
2 May 1939
China
- Chinese troops launched a second counterattack on Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China, but all conquered positions would be retaken by the Japanese by the end of the day. ww2dbase [Battle of Nanchang | Nanchang, Jiangxi | CPC]
Germany
- The construction order of battleships K was issued to Deutsche Werke Kiel, battleship L to Kriegsmarinewerft, battleship M to Blohm und Voss, and battleship N to Deschimag. Due to war demands, none of these keels would be laid down. ww2dbase [K | L | M | N | CPC]
Panama Canal Zone
- USS Enterprise departed the Panama Canal Zone for California, United States. ww2dbase [Enterprise | CPC]
United States
- Benjamin Kelsey was promoted to the rank of captain. ww2dbase [Benjamin Kelsey | CPC]
3 May 1939
- Molotov replaced Litvinov as the Foreign Minister of the Soviet Union. ww2dbase [Vyacheslav Molotov | CPC]
China
4 May 1939
- Werner Mölders was awarded the Medalla de la Campaña and Medalla Militar by Spain. ww2dbase [Werner Mölders | CPC]
China
Photo(s) dated 4 May 1939
5 May 1939
- Polish Foreign Minister Józef Beck spoke to the Polish Parliament, noting that the German-Polish relationship was rapidly deteriorating due to Germany's bullying tactics. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | CPC]
- Harry Dimoline was promoted to the rank of colonel. ww2dbase [Harry Dimoline | CPC]
China
- Troops of the Chinese 26th Division broke through to the Xinlong airfield at Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China, destroying three Japanese aircraft. ww2dbase [Battle of Nanchang | Nanchang, Jiangxi | CPC]
France
- Capitaine de vaisseau Rouyer was named the commanding officer of Jeanne d'Arc. ww2dbase [Jeanne d'Arc | CPC]
6 May 1939
- Ascari was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Ascari | CPC]
- Italian Foreign Minister Galeazzo Ciano met with his German counterpart Joachim von Ribbentrop in Milan, Italy, where Ciano informed Ribbentrop that Italy would not be ready for war for another three years. Ribbentrop noted the comment, and informed Ciano that Adolf Hitler did not yet have any plans for war. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | CPC]
- Upon learning from Italian Foreign Minister Galeazzo Ciano, who had met German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop earlier on that day, that Adolf Hitler did not wish to launch a war in the foreseeable future, Benito Mussolini eagerly ordered Ciano to engage in talks for a military alliance between the two countries. ww2dbase [The Pact of Steel | CPC]
- Lieutenant Commander Donald Sidley Evans was made the commanding officer of USS Stewart. ww2dbase [Stewart | CPC]
7 May 1939
- German Generals Rundstedt, Manstein, and other General Staff members presented to Hitler an invasion plan for Danzig and Poland. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | CPC]
China
Germany
- The French ambassador in Berlin, Germany dispatched a warning to French leadership of deteriorating German-Polish relations. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | Berlin | CPC]
8 May 1939
- The United Kingdom rejected what would be the last Soviet request to form a British-French-Soviet pact to contain German aggression. ww2dbase [Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact | CPC]
China
- The Japanese advance in Hubei Province, China was briefly halted by a counterattack conducted by 31st Army Group of the Chinese 5th War Area and the 2nd Army Group of the Chinese 1st War Area. ww2dbase [Battle of Suixian-Zaoyang | Hubei | CPC]
9 May 1939
China
Germany
- The French ambassador in Berlin, Germany dispatched another warning to French leadership, noting that he had reasons to believe that Adolf Hitler was presenting or was about to present a plan to Joseph Stalin for the partition of Poland. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | Berlin | CPC]
10 May 1939
Photo(s) dated 10 May 1939
11 May 1939
- The US Navy placed an order for the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver carrier-borne dive-bomber. ww2dbase [SB2C Helldiver | AC]
China
- Small Mongolian and Manchukuo cavalry units clashed near the village of Nomonhan in the border region. ww2dbase [Battle of Khalkhin Gol | Nomonhan, Mongolia | CPC]
- A Chinese man shot a Japanese citizen on Gulangyu island, an international settlement off Xiamen, China, giving the Japanese to dispatch a Special Naval Landing Force detachment near Gulangyu. ww2dbase [Xiamen, Fujian | CPC]
- American gunboat USS Asheville departed Gulangyu island, an international settlement off Xiamen, China. ww2dbase [Fujian, Xiamen | CPC]
12 May 1939
China
French Indochina
- Jean Decoux entered his office as the commander of naval forces in the Far East. ww2dbase [Jean Decoux | CPC]
United States
- Destroyer USS Cummings returned to San Diego, California, United States after completion of Fleet Problen XX in the Panama Canal Zone and Caribbean. ww2dbase [Cummings | San Diego, California | DS]
13 May 1939
China
- American destroyer USS Bulmer arrived at Gulangyu island, an international settlement off Xiamen, China in response to the arrival of a Japanese Special Naval Landing Force detachment nearby. ww2dbase [Xiamen, Fujian | CPC]
- Mongolian cavalry forces occupied the area near Nomonhan, Mongolia Area, China. ww2dbase [Battle of Khalkhin Gol | Nomonhan, Mongolia | CPC]
- Joseph Stilwell began a period of leave in China. In the following two months he would visit various locales in French Indochina; Siam; British Malaya; Java, Dutch East Indies; and the Philippine Islands. ww2dbase [Joseph Stilwell | CPC]
Netherlands
14 May 1939
China
Italy
Photo(s) dated 14 May 1939
15 May 1939
China
- Japanese troops in Hubei Province, China began to falter from the Chinese counteroffensive which began a week prior. ww2dbase [Battle of Suixian-Zaoyang | Hubei | CPC]
Germany
16 May 1939
- Cruiser Köln completed training in the North Atlantic. ww2dbase [Köln | CPC]
- Admiral Erich Raeder presented to Adolf Hitler German Navy's plan for conducting war against Poland in the Baltic Sea and against Britain and France in the Atlantic Ocean. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | CPC]
China
- HMS Birmingham arrived at Gulangyu island, an international settlement off Xiamen, China in response to the arrival of a Japanese Special Naval Landing Force detachment nearby. She disembarked a contingent of sailors and marines. ww2dbase [Birmingham | Xiamen, Fujian | CPC]
- USS Marblehead arrived at Gulangyu island, an international settlement off Xiamen, China in response to the arrival of a Japanese Special Naval Landing Force detachment nearby. She disembarked a contingent of US Marines. ww2dbase [Marblehead | Xiamen, Fujian | CPC]
18 May 1939
China
- Clifton Cates was made the executive officer of the 4th Marine Regiment. ww2dbase [Clifton Cates | Shanghai | CPC]
Germany
- A degree from Adolf Hitler permitted Heinrich Himmler to call up older men on the outbreak of war to replace the permanent units of concentration camp guards. This would allow the younger men to be drafted into the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Regiments of a new SS Division, to be called Totenkopf. ww2dbase [Heinrich Himmler | AC]
19 May 1939
China
United States
- Cruiser USS St. Louis was commissioned at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Norfolk, Virginia with Captain Charles Morrison in command. ww2dbase [St. Louis | Norfolk, Virginia | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 19 May 1939
20 May 1939
- Chikuma was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Chikuma | CPC]
22 May 1939
- Kurt Fricke was awarded the Sudetenland Medal. ww2dbase [Kurt Frike | CPC]
China
- Myoko, flagship of Vice Admiral Koichi Shiozawa of Japanese Navy 5th Fleet, arrived in Xiamen, China in response to recent British, French, and American troop arrivals in the international zone. ww2dbase [Myoko | Xiamen, Fujian | CPC]
Germany
23 May 1939
- Adolf Hitler held a long speech before his top military commanders, starting by noting Danzig as a means to engage Poland in a war to gain Lebensraum ("living space") for the German people, and then digressing to note the possibility of war with Britain and France, the need to occupy the Low Countries for their airfields, and strategies for a war in western Europe and the Atlantic. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | CPC]
China
Russia
- The Soviet Air Force transferred 35 I-15bis fighters from the 22nd Fighter Aviation Regiment (IAP) to airfields close to the border with the Mongolia region of China. ww2dbase [I-15 | CPC]
United States
- USS Squalus sank off the Isles of Shoals in northeastern United States due to the failure of the main induction valves, which flooded the aft portions of the ship. 26 were killed from drowning, 33 were rescued. ww2dbase [Sailfish | CPC]
24 May 1939
United Kingdom
- The British Fleet Air Arm was transferred from the Royal Air Force to Admiralty control and renamed as the Air Branch of the Royal Navy. ww2dbase [AC]
25 May 1939
China
Panama Canal Zone
26 May 1939
- Chen Changjie was named the commanding officer of the 6th Army. ww2dbase [Chen Changjie | CPC]
China
- HMS Birmingham departed Xiamen, China with Vice Admiral Percy Noble aboard. ww2dbase [Birmingham | Xiamen, Fujian | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 26 May 1939
27 May 1939
- USS Arizona became the flagship of Battleship Division 1's Rear Admiral Russell Wilson. ww2dbase [Arizona | CPC]
- British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain finally agreed to hold a talk with the Soviet Union. Later on the same day, British and French ambassadors in Moscow, Russia presented a draft agreement for Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov to review, who received the wording coolly. ww2dbase [Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact | CPC]
United States
- The United States Navy Fleet Auxiliary USS Dixie was launched at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard in Camden, New Jersey, United States. Under the command of Lieutenant Commander G. H. Bahn she would spend the war employed as a destroyer tender in the Pacific, and later earned five battle stars during the Korean War. ww2dbase [Camden, New Jersey | AC]
Photo(s) dated 27 May 1939
28 May 1939
China
- A combined Soviet and Mongolian force, having surrounded a two-regiment Japanese force near Nomonhan in Mongolia Area of China days earlier, wiped out the Japanese. ww2dbase [Battle of Khalkhin Gol | Nomonhan, Mongolia | CPC]
Germany
- The Italian Foreign Minister Count Galeazzo Ciano visited Berlin, Germany where he was given a great reception in his honour by Adolf Hitler. ww2dbase [Galeazzo Ciano | Berlin | AC]
United States
30 May 1939
Photo(s) dated 30 May 1939
31 May 1939
- Vyacheslav Molotov gave his first speech as the Soviet foreign minister before the Supreme Council of the Soviet Union. He called for the Soviet Union to guarantee the borders of neighboring countries in Eastern Europe as means to contain German aggression, but at the same time, friendly relations should be maintained with Germany and Italy as commercial agreements with them were still of interest to the Soviet Union. ww2dbase [Vyacheslav Molotov | CPC]
1 Jun 1939
- The Japanese Navy deployed a new code, later to be named JN-25 by Allied code breakers. ww2dbase [CPC]
- The Focke-Wulf Fw-190 fighter made its maiden flight at Bremen, Germany. The aircraft displayed excellent handling characteristics and was highly maneuverable but suffered from engine overheating problems which required the fitting on a redesigned engine cowling to overcome. ww2dbase [Fw 190 Würger | AC]
Germany
- Walther von Brauchitsch was awarded the Order of the Yugoslav Crown 1st Class. ww2dbase [Walther von Brauchitsch | CPC]
Japan
- Kiyoshi Ito joined the Yokosuka Naval Air Group. ww2dbase [Kiyoshi Ito | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 1 Jun 1939
3 Jun 1939
China
- USS Stewart arrived in Chinese waters. ww2dbase [Stewart | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 3 Jun 1939
6 Jun 1939
- Werner Mölders was awarded the German Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords and Diamonds. ww2dbase [Werner Mölders | CPC]
- Captain Ralph Wood relieved Captain McCain as commanding officer of USS Ranger. ww2dbase [John McCain | Ranger | DS]
China
- Clifton Cates stepped down as the executive officer of the 4th Marine Regiment. ww2dbase [Clifton Cates | Shanghai | CPC]
Germany
- Korvettenkapitän Hans-Georg von Friedeburg was named the commanding officer of U-27, replacing Korvettenkapitän Johannes Franz. ww2dbase [U-27 | CPC]
7 Jun 1939
Germany
- In the German capital of Berlin, Germany signed separate non-aggression pacts with Latvia and Estonia. The documents were signed for Germany by Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop; Foreign Minister Vilhelms Munters signed for Latvia, and Foreign Minister Karl Selter signed for Estonia. ww2dbase [Berlin | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 7 Jun 1939
9 Jun 1939
Photo(s) dated 9 Jun 1939
10 Jun 1939
Brazil
- Cruiser USS Nashville departed Rio de Janeiro, Brazil bound for Annapolis, Maryland, United States. Nashville was transporting US Army staff officers from the Pan American Defense Conference including Deputy Chief of Staff, Brigadier General George C. Marshall. Also aboard was Brazilian Army Chief of Staff General Goes Monteiro who was beginning a good-will visit to the United States. ww2dbase [George Marshall | Nashville | Rio de Janeiro | DS]
Photo(s) dated 10 Jun 1939
11 Jun 1939
China
- Cen Zeliu, flying an I-15bis fighter, damaged a Japanese G3M2 bomber over Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. ww2dbase [Cen Zeliu | Chengdu, Sichuan | CPC]
13 Jun 1939
- Stanley Page Moseley was named the commanding officer of USS Pollack. ww2dbase [Pollack | CPC]
- The US Navy carrier USS Saratoga completed a two day trial of underway refueling tests with the fleet tanker Kanawha. These sea replenishment techniques greatly extended the range of the US carrier force and proved invaluable for later operations in the Pacific War. ww2dbase [Saratoga | AC]
United States
- James Gavin was promoted to the rank of captain. ww2dbase [James Gavin | CPC]
14 Jun 1939
- The United Kingdom dispatched a relatively low-level diplomat to engage in talks with Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov instead of sending Lord Halifax. Molotov took this as a sign that Britain was not seriously interested in forming friendly relations with the Soviet Union. ww2dbase [Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact | CPC]
China
Germany
- The German elite infantry regiment Grossdeutschland was created. The 1st Battalion was made up from elements from the Wach Regiment (the Berlin ceremonial Guard Regiment) and consisted of three rifle companies, a machine gun company and a heavy weapons company. The 2nd Battalion was formed from men from the 92nd Infantry Regiment (with the same organisation as the 1st Battalion). The 3rd and 4th Battalions were formed from men from the Infantry Instruction Regiment (the 3rd with a similar organisation as the 1st, the 4th comprised a light infantry gun company, an anti-tank company and a heavy infantry gun company). In Jul 1940 a fifth Battalion was added to the establishment made up of a motor cycle company, and one company each of pioneers, signals and anti-aircraft. ww2dbase [AC]
United States
15 Jun 1939
- The German Army presented a plan to Adolf Hitler for the invasion of Poland, with much of the strategy focusing on concentrated surprise attacks to quickly eliminate Polish opposition. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | CPC]
Ireland
- Irish Prime Minister Eamon de Valera declared the IRA (of which he and many of his cabinet had been members in former times) to be an unlawful organisation. ww2dbase [AC]
16 Jun 1939
- Captain A. R. M. Bridge suceeded Captain Clement Moody as the commanding officer of HMS Eagle. ww2dbase [Eagle | CPC]
- Ancon was delivered to the Panama Railroad Company. ww2dbase [Ancon | CPC]
Hawaii
United States
19 Jun 1939
- The German Army reported that thus far 168 officers had been infiltrated into Danzig in prepration of action. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | CPC]
22 Jun 1939
- Ancon began cargo and passenger service between New York, New York, United States and Cristobal, Panama Canal Zone. ww2dbase [Ancon | CPC]
23 Jun 1939
- Martin Bormann issued a secret order to the German Minister of Education to suppress Divinity Schools. ww2dbase [CPC]
- Pope Pius XII reached an agreement with Brazilian President Getúlio Vargas for Brazil to issue 3,000 visas to allow non-Aryan Catholics, some of whom were Jews recently converted to Catholicism to escape prosecution, to travel to Brazil. Ultimately, however, only under 1,000 visas would be issued. ww2dbase [Pius XII | CPC]
- The country of Siam was officially renamed Thailand. ww2dbase [CPC]
- Hermann Göring headed up the Reich Defense Council in Germany to plan for total mobilization of the country for war. Minister of Economics Walther Funk offered the idea of using future prisoners of war as forced laborers, while SS chief Heinrich Himmler offered his prisoners in concentration camps for the same propose. ww2dbase [Hermann Göring | CPC]
United States
24 Jun 1939
Thailand
- Siam was renamed to Thailand. ww2dbase [CPC]
26 Jun 1939
United Kingdom
- The British Royal Navy and the British Foreign Office reported that Britain could only break the Japanese blockade on the British concession in Tianjin, China by deploying warships to the area. However, given the current tensions with Germany, such a deployment would not be advisable. ww2dbase [Tianjin Incident | London, England | CPC]
27 Jun 1939
China
United States
28 Jun 1939
- The German ambassador in Moscow, Russia met with a very friendly Vyacheslav Molotov. ww2dbase [Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact | CPC]
United Kingdom
- The British Womens Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) was formed. ww2dbase [AC]
29 Jun 1939
- Adolf Hitler suddenly ordered a pause to Soviet-German trade talks for unknown reason. ww2dbase [Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact | CPC]
- Roger Backhouse was promoted to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet. ww2dbase [Roger Backhouse | CPC]
30 Jun 1939
- The active duty strength of the US Marine Corps was reported to be 1,380 officers and 16,052 enlisted men for a total of 19,432. ww2dbase [CPC]
United States
- The US 1st Marine Brigade was activated at Quantico, Virginia, United States, supported by the 1st Marine Aircraft Group. ww2dbase [Quantico Marine Corps Base | Quantico, Virginia | CPC]
- The 2nd Marine Brigade was activated at San Diego, California, United States, supported by the 2nd Marine Aircraft Group. ww2dbase [San Diego, California | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 30 Jun 1939
1 Jul 1939
- The US Lighthouse Service, founded in 1789, was incorporated into the US Coast Guard service as a result of the Presidential Reorganization Plan No II. ww2dbase [AC]
- Edmund Wooldridge was promoted to the rank of commander. ww2dbase [Edmund Wooldridge | CPC]
- Peter Drummond was promoted to the rank of air commodore. ww2dbase [Peter Drummond | CPC]
- Commander Philip Kinney was named the commanding officer of USS Canopus, replacing Commander Graeme Bannerman. ww2dbase [Canopus | CPC]
China
- Wang Guangfu graduated from the Central Aviation Academy. ww2dbase [Wang Guangfu | CPC]
- Wang Guangfu graduated from the Chinese Air Force Central Aviation Academy. ww2dbase [Wang Guangfu | CPC]
Germany
Japan
United States
- The order for the construction of battleships Iowa and New Jersey was issued. ww2dbase [Iowa | New Jersey | CPC]
- (appx date) Planning of the new Essex-class carrier began at the United States Navy's Bureau of Ships at the Washington Navy Yard. ww2dbase [Washington Navy Yard | Essex-class | Washington DC | DS]
Photo(s) dated 1 Jul 1939
2 Jul 1939
China
Photo(s) dated 2 Jul 1939
5 Jul 1939
- Carrier Hiryu was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Hiryu | CPC]
China
United States
- The keel of the battleship USS South Dakota (BB-57) was laid down at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard in Camden, New Jersey, United States. ww2dbase [South Dakota | Camden, New Jersey | AC]
Photo(s) dated 5 Jul 1939
6 Jul 1939
China
- Four Japanese Army Ki-27 fighters strafed ground targets at Pingliang, Gansu Province China. One of the fighters was damaged by ground fire, and its pilot safely landed on the ground and was picked up by another fighter in the group. Chinese troops quickly moved in to capture the relatively good specimen of Japanese technology. Chinese fighter pilot Arthur Chin was sent to study the aircraft; correctly determining that it was flyable, he brought the fighter to a Chinese airfield for further evaluations. ww2dbase [Arthur Chin | Pingliang, Gansu | CPC]
Panama Canal Zone
Photo(s) dated 6 Jul 1939
7 Jul 1939
France
- The first of two Latécoère 299 prototypes, land-based three-seat aircraft derived from the Latécoère 298 design, took flight. The design would not enter production. ww2dbase [Latécoère 298 | CPC]
8 Jul 1939
Germany
- Korvettenkapitän Johannes Franz was named the commanding officer of U-27, replacing Korvettenkapitän Hans-Georg von Friedeburg. ww2dbase [U-27 | CPC]
9 Jul 1939
China
- A Soviet counterattack defeated the southern prong of the Japanese offensive in the Mongolia Area of China. ww2dbase [Battle of Khalkhin Gol | Mongolia | CPC]
13 Jul 1939
United States
- The stern of the sunken USS Squalus was briefly raised in the Isles of Shoals off northeastern United States, but the wreck would slip under the surface again. ww2dbase [Sailfish | CPC]
14 Jul 1939
- Royal Romanian Air Force began operating the German-built He 112 fighters. ww2dbase [He 112 | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 14 Jul 1939
15 Jul 1939
- German submarine U-42 was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [CPC]
Germany
- The keel of battleship H was laid down at the Blohm und Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany. ww2dbase [Blohm und Voss | H | Hamburg | CPC]
United Kingdom
16 Jul 1939
United States
- USS Nashville arrived in San Diego, California, United States as the ship was transitioning from the Atlantic to the Pacific. ww2dbase [Nashville | San Diego, California | DS]
17 Jul 1939
- Bristol Beaufighter multi-role aircraft took its first flight. ww2dbase [Beaufighter | AC]
- British destroyer Havant was launched. ww2dbase [CPC]
- American destroyer Grayson was laid down. ww2dbase [Grayson | CPC]
- Submarine USS Spearfish was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Spearfish | CPC]
18 Jul 1939
- British light cruiser Kenya was launched at the Stephen Shipyard at Govan on the River Clyde, Scotland, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [CPC]
- British light cruiser Nigeria was launched. ww2dbase [CPC]
- British anti-aircraft cruiser Dido was launched. ww2dbase [CPC]
- The Soviet Union proposed a trade agreement to Germany. ww2dbase [Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact | CPC]
19 Jul 1939
United Kingdom
- British light cruiser HMS Mauritius was launched at the Swan Hunter shipyard in Wallsend, England, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [Wallsend, England | CPC]
- HMS Mauritius was launched at Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [Mauritius | Newcastle upon Tyne, England | CPC]
United States
- The keel of submarine Tuna was laid down. ww2dbase [Tuna | CPC]
20 Jul 1939
- The United Kingdom limited Jewish immigration to Palestine. ww2dbase [CPC]
- The keel of British light cruiser HMS Uganda was laid down. ww2dbase [CPC]
- Captain Aiji Hashimoto was made the commanding officer of seaplane carrier Kamoi while concurrently holding his previous position as the commanding officer of light cruiser Isuzu. ww2dbase [Kamoi | CPC]
Danzig
- 2,000 Nazi Party members arrived in the Free City of Danzig from Germany. ww2dbase [CPC]
Germany
- Dithmarschen was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Dithmarschen | CPC]
United Kingdom
- British Foreign Secretary Halifax met with Swedish businessman Birger Dahlerus in London, England, United Kingdom, telling him to approach Hermann Göring for possible Anglo-German negotiations to avoid war. ww2dbase [Halifax | London, England | CPC]
United States
- The keel of battleship Massachusetts was laid down by the Bethlehem Steel Company in Quincy, Massachusetts, United States. ww2dbase [Massachusetts | Quincy, Massachusetts | CPC]
21 Jul 1939
- British Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax wrote to British Ambassador to Poland Clifford Norton, asking him to expressed to the Polish government the British desire for Poland to refrain from acting defiantly to recent German threats. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | CPC]
- British minesweeping trawler HMS Windermere was launched. ww2dbase [CPC]
Photo(s) dated 21 Jul 1939
22 Jul 1939
Germany
- German submarine U-60 was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [CPC]
Latvia
- Latvia ratified the Geneva Convention for the Suppression of Counterfeit Currency. ww2dbase [CPC]
Russia
- Soviet newspapers announced that the Soviet Union and Germany had resumed trade agreement talks. It was a cover for the secret negotiations that would ultimately result in the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. ww2dbase [Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact | CPC]
United States
- USS Swordfish was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Swordfish | CPC]
23 Jul 1939
- Alerted that Germany and the Soviet Union were engaged in talks once again, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain began preparations to engage with the Soviets as well. ww2dbase [Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact | CPC]
China
- Japanese artillery bombarded Soviet positions at the Kawatama Bridge in Mongolia Area of China while infantry units launched small scale attacks. ww2dbase [Battle of Khalkhin Gol | Mongolia | CPC]
24 Jul 1939
- Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov met with British and French representatives to work out a potential agreement against Germany; the plan Molotov proposed was similar to the 1914 alliance in an attempt to contain the German Empire. ww2dbase [Vyacheslav Molotov | CPC]
- Hungarian Prime Minister Pál Teleki informed Germany and Italy that should a war broke out between Germany and Poland, Hungary would not participate in a joint invasion; German leader Adolf Hitler would soon intimidate Teleki to retract the statement. On the same day, Italian leader Benito Mussolini warned Hitler that should war break out due to the Polish-German tension, Italy would come to Germany's help, but Mussolini believed it would not be a simple Polish-German War, but rather, other nations such as the United Kingdom and France would be dragged in, leading to another great war. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | CPC]
China
Philippines
- Joseph Stilwell boarded USAT Grant in the Philippine Islands. ww2dbase [Joseph Stilwell | CPC]
25 Jul 1939
- The prototype Avro Manchester made its first flight. Although it served with eight Bomber Command Squadrons, the Manchester suffered from persistent engine problems and was withdrawn from service in 1942. ww2dbase [Manchester | AC]
- The British Admiralty placed an order for 26 Flower-class corvettes under the 1939-40 Naval Estimates. ww2dbase [Flower-class | AC]
China
- Japanese 64th Infantry Regiment and 72nd Infantry Regiment launched a failed main attack on Soviet forces defending the Kawatama Bridge in Mongolia Area of China. ww2dbase [Battle of Khalkhin Gol | Mongolia | CPC]
United Kingdom
- The British Royal Navy issued an order to Henry Robb, Limited of Leith, Scotland, United Kingdom for the contruction of a corvette which would later be named Dianthus. ww2dbase [Dianthus | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 25 Jul 1939
26 Jul 1939
Czechoslovakia
- Adolf Eichmann was placed in charge of the Prague branch office of the German National Central Office in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, responsible for deportation of Jews. ww2dbase [Adolf Eichmann | Prague | CPC]
Germany
- Low level German and Soviet diplomats had a friendly dinner together in Berlin, Germany, their discussions lasting a little after midnight. They concluded that a treaty between Germany and Soviet would mean peace in Eastern Europe, and that the Soviet Union should be aware of the United Kingdom, whose aggressiveness would undoubtedly drag the Soviet Union into a war should the two countries sign any military agreement with each other. ww2dbase [Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact | Berlin | CPC]
27 Jul 1939
- B-23 Dragon aircraft took its maiden flight. ww2dbase [B-23 Dragon | CPC]
Italy
28 Jul 1939
United Kingdom
- The German embassy in London, England, United Kingdom reported to the Foreign Ministry in Berlin, Germany that the British was attempting to start talks with the Soviet Union. ww2dbase [Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact | London, England | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 28 Jul 1939
29 Jul 1939
Ukraine
- Pavel Sukhoi was named the Chief Designer of aircraft factory number 135 in Kharkov, Ukraine. ww2dbase [Pavel Sukhoi | Kharkov | CPC]
30 Jul 1939
- British Prime Minister Chamberlain wrote in regards to the German oppression of Jews "[n]o doubt Jews aren't a lovable people, I don't care about them myself. But that is not sufficient to explain the pogram." ww2dbase [Neville Chamberlain | CPC]
31 Jul 1939
- Neville Chamberlain spoke before the House of Commons of the British Parliament, noting that he was engaging in talks with the Soviet Union as a means to contain German aggression. ww2dbase [Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact | CPC]
- Repair ship Akashi was completed and placed on the reserve list. ww2dbase [Akashi | CPC]
Spain
- The Italian Raggruppamento Carristi (tank corps group) was disbanded after the victory parade in Madrid, Spain. The remaining Italian tanks were handed over to the Spanish Army. ww2dbase [Madrid | AC]
1 Aug 1939
- Erwin Rommel was promoted to the rank of Generalmajor. ww2dbase [Erwin Rommel | CPC]
- Sims was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Sims | CPC]
- Crown Prince Yi Un was made the commanding officer of the Japanese 2nd Brigade. ww2dbase [Yi Un | CPC]
Australia
- Edmund Herring was promoted to the rank of temporary colonel and was given command of the Australian 3rd Division Artillery. ww2dbase [Edmund Herring | CPC]
China
- The Chinese 18th Squadron was relocated to Chongqing, China. ww2dbase [Chongqing | CPC]
- Colonel Katsumura Fukujirou was named the commanding officer of Japanese Unit 516 chemical weapons research unit based in Qiqihar, Nenjiang Province, China. ww2dbase [Qiqihar, Nenjiang | CPC]
Germany
- The keel of Herbert Norkus was laid down by Blohm und Voss in Hamburg, Germany. ww2dbase [Blohm und Voss | Herbert Norkus | Hamburg | CPC]
- U-23 was detached from the 1st Submarine Flotilla. ww2dbase [U-23 | CPC]
Japan
- Hiroshi Nemoto was attached to the Army Chief of Staff in Tokyo, Japan. ww2dbase [Hiroshi Nemoto | Tokyo | CPC]
- Kanemasa Akiyama was named the Chief of Research Section of Narashino Chemical Warfare School in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. ww2dbase [Kanemasa Akiyama | Narashino, Chiba | CPC]
United Kingdom
- German Ambassador to Britain Herbert von Dirksen reported to the Foreign Ministry in Berlin, Germany that the British-Soviet talks did not seem to be proceeding well. ww2dbase [Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact | London, England | CPC]
United States
- Admiral Harold Stark was appointed Chief of Naval Operations of the United States Navy. ww2dbase [Harold Stark | AC]
2 Aug 1939
Japan
- Prince Morihiro was transferred back to Japan. ww2dbase [Morihiro | CPC]
United States
- In a letter written by Leó Szilárd and signed by Albert Einstein, the two physicists urged US President Franklin Roosevelt to allocate funding for atomic weapons research. ww2dbase [Operation Trinity and Manhattan Project | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 2 Aug 1939
3 Aug 1939
- 30 Soviet-built I-16 fighters were delivered to the Chinese Air Force. ww2dbase [I-16 | CPC]
- Vyacheslav Molotov informed Joseph Stalin that Germany was requesting the Soviet Union to engage in talks over the future of Eastern Europe. While he did request permission to speak to the Germans on this topic, he expressed skeptism as Germany was concurrently pushing Poland to sign the Anti-Comintern Pact. ww2dbase [Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact | CPC]
China
4 Aug 1939
- Polish customs officials on the Danzig border began carrying arms, which alerted the Germans. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | CPC]
China
- After sundown, Cen Zeliu, flying an I-15bis fighter, claimed a Japanese bomber over China. ww2dbase [Cen Zeliu | CPC]
Germany
- The German expedition team consisting of Ernst Schäfer, Bruno Beger, Karl Wienert, Ernst Krause, and others, having departed Lhasa, Tibet in Aug 1939, arrived in Berlin, Germany. ww2dbase [Berlin | CPC]
5 Aug 1939
- Belfast was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Belfast | CPC]
- The United Kingdom and France dispatched a joint delegation by passenger ship to the Soviet Union for talks. The ship was not scheduled to arrive at Leningrad, Russia until 11 Aug. It was unknown why the delegation traveled by ship rather than by air, which would be much faster. ww2dbase [Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact | CPC]
United States
- US Navy awarded a US$15,505,000 contract to build a new naval air facilities in Hawaii, Midway, Johnston, and Palmyra Islands. ww2dbase [CPC]
7 Aug 1939
- A group of British businessmen met with Hermann Göring in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, warning him that British public sentiment would not allow another act of appeasement, and that the public would push the British government to declare war on Germany. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | CPC]
United States
- The United States Congress authorized the establishment of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. ww2dbase [CPC]
9 Aug 1939
- Germany sent a message to Poland noting that its uncooperativeness to work with Germany, ie. its refusal of German demands to annex Danzig, might lead to war, and Germany would not hold the responsibility for starting an armed conflict. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 9 Aug 1939
10 Aug 1939
- Reinhard Heydrich ordered SS Officer Alfred Naujocks to fake an attack on a radio station near Gleiwitz, Germany, which was on the border with Poland. "Practical proof is needed for these attacks of the Poles for the foreign press as well as German propaganda", said Heydrich, according to Naujocks. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | CPC]
- Poland responded to Germany's message from the previous day, noting that should a war between the two nations start, it would be German aggression that started it, and Poland could not be blamed. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | CPC]
- Léon Henri Charles Cayla was named the Governor-General of French West Africa. ww2dbase [CPC]
Italy
- Italian Foreign Minister Galeazzo Ciano departed Rome, Italy for Salzburg in southern Germany (occupied Austria) to meet with his German counterpart Joachim von Ribbentrop. ww2dbase [Galeazzo Ciano | Rome | CPC]
United States
- P-39 Airacobra fighter entered production with a US Army order for 80 aircraft. ww2dbase [P-39 Airacobra | CPC]
11 Aug 1939
- German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop met with Italian Foreign Minister Galeazzo Ciano at Salzburg, Germany (occupied Austria), during which he said that "we want war". ww2dbase [Joachim von Ribbentrop | CPC]
United States
- USS Hammann was commissioned into service under the command of Lieutenant Commander Arnold E. True. ww2dbase [Hammann | CPC]
12 Aug 1939
- Italian Foreign Minister Galeazzo Ciano met with German leader Adolf Hitler and German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop. During the meeting, upon hearing Hitler's hypothesis that Britain and France could not go into a war for Poland, Ciano expressed doubts and that it was his belief that Europe would be engulf in a general war should German and Poland become entangled in a war. As he realized Hitler was set on going to war with Poland, Ciano expressed Italian unpreparedness for conflict. Ribbentrop responded by saying Germany did not need Italy's military assistance. Ciano, skeptical, noted that time would tell whether that was true. ww2dbase [Galeazzo Ciano | CPC]
- The Soviet Union expressed to Germany that it was willing to host a visit by a high-level German diplomat in Moscow, Russia for talks. ww2dbase [Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact | CPC]
- Light carrier Hosho was designated a training carrier. ww2dbase [Hosho | CPC]
Singapore
- HMS Eagle began her refitting work at Singapore. ww2dbase [Eagle | Singapore | CPC]
13 Aug 1939
- U-36 departed Kiel, Germany. ww2dbase [U-36 | CPC]
- As Italian Foreign Minister Galeazzo Ciano departed Germany after the completion of a meeting with German leader Adolf Hitler and German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop, he was told not to make any public announcements. Germany, however, would violate this agreement within hours, releasing a statement that Italy completely agreed with Germany's plans for the near future; this statement was false as Ciano had serious concerns regarding Hitler's determination to go to war with Poland. ww2dbase [CPC]
14 Aug 1939
- Germany sent a message to its embassy in Moscow, Russia, ordering the ambassador to push Soviet leader Joseph Stalin to make a quick decision on the future of Soviet-German relationship. In Russia, the British-French delegation negotiated with Kliment Voroshilov for a potential treaty to contain German aggression; Voroshilov wanted the western powers to convince Poland to agree to allow Soviet troops to move into Polish territory to counterattack a potential German invasion, but the British and the French knew it was something the Polish leadership was adamantly against. ww2dbase [Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact | CPC]
- Adolf Hitler announced to his top military commanders that Germany was to enter in a war with Poland at the end of Aug 1939, and that the United Kingdom and France would not enter the fray, especially if Poland could be decisively wiped out in a week or two. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | CPC]
United States
- Joseph Stilwell disembarked USAT Grant in the United States. ww2dbase [Joseph Stilwell | CPC]
15 Aug 1939
- Germany secretly canceled the upcoming annual Nazi Party rally in Nürnberg, Germany due to the planned war. ww2dbase [CPC]
- German Ambassador to the Soviet Union Friedrich-Werner von der Schulenburg read a mesage from German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop to Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov regarding Germany's request to send a high-level diplomat to Soviet Union for talks. Meanwhile, French Prime Minister Édouard Daladier ordered his representatives in Russia to quickly conclude the negotiations with the Soviet Union. ww2dbase [Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact | CPC]
Italy
- Italy mobilized the "San Marco" naval infantry battalion. ww2dbase [CPC]
Photo(s) dated 15 Aug 1939
16 Aug 1939
- The US Ambassador in Moscow, Russia warned Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov that the United States believed Germany would betray the Soviet Union even if the two country engaged in an alliance. ww2dbase [Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact | CPC]
France
- In France, British General Stewart Menzies received a Polish-built Enigma machine based on the successful Polish attempt to German military codes. The machine was immediately sent, via diplomatic protection, to Britain. ww2dbase [Enigma Code Broken | CPC]
United States
17 Aug 1939
- The Germany military was ordered to supply the SS organization with 150 Polish Army uniforms. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | CPC]
- American diplomat Sumner Welles warned the British that the Soviet Union was likely to make an offer to Germany. In the evening, Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov contacted Germany in response to the 15 Aug 1939 request for a meeting; he noted skepticism due to the Anti-Comintern Pact backed by Germany, but also noted happily that, unlike Britain, Germany was willing to send a high-level diplomat. ww2dbase [Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 17 Aug 1939
18 Aug 1939
- Romania placed an additional order to purchase 6 more German He 112 fighters. ww2dbase [He 112 | CPC]
- German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop pushed for his visit to the Soviet Union, offering Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov favorable terms in terms of spheres of influence in Eastern Europe. Meanwhile, the Soviet Union's negotiation with the western powers stalled again as Polish Foreign Minister Józef Beck continued to resist allowing Soviet entry into Polish territory even in the face of a German invasion. ww2dbase [Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact | CPC]
Germany
- The order for the construction of Havelland was issued. ww2dbase [CPC]
Japan
- Prince Hiroyasu's wife Tsuneko Tokugawa passed away. ww2dbase [Hiroyasu | CPC]
19 Aug 1939
- Sir Malcolm Campbell set a new World Water Speed Record on Coniston waters in England, United Kingdom with a recorded speed of 141 miles per hour. ww2dbase [AC]
- The German Navy ordered 21 submarines and two capital ships to prepare for sailing at any given time. The captains of Admiral Graf Spee and Deutschland received orders to go to Brazilian and North Atlantic waters, respectively. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | CPC]
Germany
- U-40 departed Wilhelmshaven, Germany for her first war patrol. She was to patrol waters off of Gibraltar. ww2dbase [U-40 | Wilhelmshaven, Weser-Ems | CPC]
Russia
- At 1910 hours, Berlin, Germany received the official response from the Soviet Union, via the German embassy in Moscow, Russia, for Joachim von Ribbentrop's visit; the proposed date of the conference was set for 26 Aug, but Ribbentrop would soon attempt to move up the date of the meeting. Shortly before Berlin received the message, Joseph Stalin announced to the Politburo his intention to befriend Germany. ww2dbase [Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact | Moscow | CPC]
20 Aug 1939
- German leader Adolf Hitler personally asked Soviet leader Joseph Stalin to move up the date for the meeting of the respective foreign ministers, preferably to 22 Aug or 23 Aug from the originally-proposed 26 Aug. Meanwhile, Polish Foreign Minister Józef Beck formally rejected British and French request for Poland to allow Soviet troops to enter Poland in case of a German invasion. ww2dbase [Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact | CPC]
China
- Georgy Zhukov commenced a large-scale surprise offensive against Japanese forces in the Mongolia Area of China. ww2dbase [Battle of Khalkhin Gol | Georgy Zhukov | Mongolia | CPC]
- The British turned over four Chinese nationals to the Japanese despite protest from the Chinese government. The four men had been accused of killing a pro-Japanese Chinese collaborationist. The four Chinese accused would soon be executed by the Japanese. ww2dbase [Tianjin Incident | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 20 Aug 1939
21 Aug 1939
- French Prime Minister Édouard Daladier ordered his representatives in Russia to speed up negotiations with the Soviet Union; since Poland would not agree to Soviet troops within its borders, the French representatives were given the authority to accept a miltiary treaty excluding Poland. Soviet representative Kliment Voroshilov noted to the British and the French that if Poland was unwilling to allow Soviet troops to cross its borders, then there was little point for the Soviet Union to be a part of this military alliance. At 2100 hours, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin responded to the request from German leader Adolf Hitler to move the date of the meeting between the respective foreign ministers to 22 or 23 Aug 1939; with the two sides having agreed on a draft of a German-Soviet non-aggression agreement, the radio in Berlin, Germany interrupted a musical program to announce the upcoming signing of such a treaty between the two countries. ww2dbase [Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact | CPC]
- Kurt Fricke was awarded Order of Naval Merit 3rd Class in White of Spain. ww2dbase [Kurt Frike | CPC]
Germany
- German warship Admiral Graf Spee and her tanker Altmark departed Germany on a raiding mission against British shipping. ww2dbase [Admiral Graf Spee | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 21 Aug 1939
22 Aug 1939
- With a non-aggression pact nearly secured with the Soviet Union, German leader Adolf Hitler ordered the Polish invasion to commence on 26 Aug 1939. He told his top military commanders to be brutal and show no compassion in the upcoming war. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | CPC]
- Adolf Hitler said that even though he was important for Germany, but he could be killed by anybody at any time. ww2dbase [July Plot | CPC]
Arctic Ocean
- Westerwald began supporting German cruiser Deutschland in the Arctic Sea. ww2dbase [Deutschland | Nordmark | CPC]
Germany
- Joachim von Ribbentrop and the German delegation departed Berlin, Germany aboard two Condor aircraft for Königsberg, East Prussia, Germany. ww2dbase [Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact | Berlin | CPC]
- Georg von Küchler was named the commanding officer of 3rd Army. ww2dbase [Georg von Küchler | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 22 Aug 1939
23 Aug 1939
- Albert Forster became the State President of the Free City of Danzig. ww2dbase [Albert Forster | CPC]
- Joachim von Ribbentrop and the German delegation arrived aboard two Condor aircraft at Moscow, Russia and met Joseph Stalin and Vyacheslav Molotov in two sessions, with the second session going late into the night and resulting in the signing of the German-Soviet non-aggression pact. It eliminated the possibility of Soviet Union allying with the western powers; in addition, a secret clause effectively set the plans for a partition of Poland. ww2dbase [Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact | TH]
- Italy sent a message to Germany noting that when the two nations negotiated the Pact of Steel, article 3, which obliged one nation to go to join in any war the other nation engaged in, the two had the understanding that Italy would not be ready for war until 1943. Should Germany invade Poland before 1942, Italy would not be ready. ww2dbase [The Pact of Steel | CPC]
- France partially mobilized its military to bolster its border defenses. ww2dbase [CPC]
Danzig
- Albert Forster was appointed by the German government as the State President of the Free City of Danzig. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | CPC]
Germany
- Erwin Rommel was promoted to the rank of major general and was posted to the Staff of the Adolf Hitler's Headquarters, to be responsible again for Hitler's safety. ww2dbase [Erwin Rommel | CPC, AC]
- U-27 departed Wilhelmshaven, Germany for her first and only war patrol. ww2dbase [U-27 | Wilhelmshaven, Weser-Ems | CPC]
United Kingdom
- Captain F. E. P. Hutton was named the commanding officer of HMS Hermes, relieving Captain G. Fraser. ww2dbase [Hermes | CPC]
- HMS Kelly was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Kelly | AC]
United States
Photo(s) dated 23 Aug 1939
See all photos dated 23 Aug 1939
24 Aug 1939
France
- The French Army called up its reserves. ww2dbase [CPC]
Germany
- German warship Deutschland departed Germany on a raiding mission against British shipping. ww2dbase [Deutschland | CPC]
- In Berlin, Germany, journalist William Shirer noted in his diary "it looks like war" based on his observations throughout the day. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | Berlin | CPC]
- M1 ferried 230 naval infantry troops of the German Navy Marinestosstruppkompanie to the battleship Schleswig-Holstein during the preparations for the invasion of Poland. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | M1 | CPC]
- U-23 began her first war patrol. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | U-23 | CPC]
Russia
- The British and the French delegation in Soviet Union requested further meetings with Kliment Voroshilov, who was slow to respond. ww2dbase [Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact | Moscow | CPC]
United Kingdom
- The United Kingdom enacted emergency powers and partially mobilized the British military in preparation of war with Germany. Among the forces mobilized was the troops of General Pile's Air Defence of Great Britain (ADGB). ww2dbase [AC]
- HMS Hermes was recommissioned into service. ww2dbase [Hermes | CPC]
- The Emergency Powers (Defence) Bill was passed by the British Parliament, which bill was renewed on an annual basis throughout the war. In theory all existing laws were set aside. In future Ministers and departments would issue new regulations as Orders in Council, which would have the force of law. The Government was empowered to enter and search premises; to prosecute and punish offenders, detaining indefinitely and without trial those whose detention "appears expedient"; and to suspend or alter any existing laws. ww2dbase [London, England | AC]
25 Aug 1939
- U-56 began her first patrol in the North Sea. ww2dbase [U-56 | CPC]
China
Germany
- In the morning, Adolf Hitler sent a message to Benito Mussolini, noting that the reason why Italy was not informed of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was because Hitler had not imagined the negotiations would conclude so quickly. He also revealed to him that war was to commence soon, but failed to let him know that the planned invasion date was on the following day. Later on the same day, however, Hitler hesitated in the face of the Anglo-Polish mutual defense agreement; he would quickly decide to postpone the invasion date. Meanwhile, in Berlin, Germany, journalist William Shirer noted in his diary that war seems to be imminent. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | AC]
- Joachim von Ribbentrop arrived in Berlin, Germany. ww2dbase [Joachim von Ribbentrop | Berlin | CPC]
Russia
- Kliment Voroshilov rejected the request from the British and French delegation, noting that since Germany and the Soviet Union had just signed a non-aggression pact, a military treaty with the western powers was no longer possible. In light of this new development, a renewed mutual defense agreement was signed between the United Kingdom and Poland. ww2dbase [Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact | Moscow | TH]
United States
26 Aug 1939
- Benito Mussolini sent Adolf Hitler a message noting that Italy would offer political and economic aid if Germany chose to go to war with Poland, but Italy was in no position to offer military assistance. ww2dbase [The Pact of Steel | CPC]
- Some German units ordered to lead the invasion of Poland, originally planned for this date, did not receive the message that the invasion had been postponed in the previous evening and crossed the borders, attacking Polish defenses with rifles, machine guns, and grenades; they would be withdrawn back into Germany within hours. Because Poland had experienced so much German provocation in the past few days, Polish leadership brushed off the attacks as another series of provocation, despite having reports that the attacks wore regular uniforms. In the late afternoon, Adolf Hitler set the new invasion date at 1 Sep 1939. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | CPC]
- French Prime Minister Édouard Daladier sent a message to German leader Adolf Hitler, noting that while France desired peace, it would fight for Poland should it be invaded. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | CPC]
- German ambassadors in Belgium and the Netherlands informed each of the two countries that Germany was friendly to them during the current political tensions. ww2dbase [Invasion of France and the Low Countries | CPC]
China
- A Japanese attack failed to break the Soviet envelopment at Nomonhan, Mongolia Area, China. ww2dbase [Battle of Khalkhin Gol | Nomonhan, Mongolia | CPC]
- Luo Yingde led three I-15bis fighters in a joint attack that brought down a Japanese G3M bomber over Chongqing, China after sundown, with the help of searchlights. ww2dbase [Luo Yingde | Chongqing | CPC]
Germany
- German Navy ordered all German merchant ships to sail for the nearest German port. ww2dbase [CPC]
- The German Foreign Minister, Joachim von Ribbentrop, handed the British Ambassador, Sir Neville Henderson, a list of terms that would allegedly ensure peace. These terms stipulated that Danzig would be returned to Germany, there would be a plebiscite in the Polish Corridor based on 1919 residency and there would also be an exchange of minority populations between Poland and Germany. The British thought these were fair demands and so the Polish Ambassador Józef Lipski went to see Ribbentrop, but was thrown out when he revealed that he did not have the power to sign the agreement. Germany then announced that Poland had refused its fair demands. ww2dbase [Joachim von Ribbentrop | Berlin | AC]
United Kingdom
- 70% of Britain's Air Defences forces were now deployed, which effectively meant that 900 guns and 3,000 searchlights were ready for action. ww2dbase [AC]
27 Aug 1939
- Germany publicly announced that the annual Nazi Party rally in Nürnberg, Germany and the upcoming Tannenberg memorial event were both canceled. Additionally, the government announced the start of food, footwear, textile, and coal rations. ww2dbase [CPC]
- German leader Adolf Hitler responded to the message from French Prime Minister Édouard Daladier from the previous day, noting that Germany had no intention of fighting France, so if France was to attack Germany due to the German-Poland situation, it would be a war initiated by France, and Germany could not be faulted for such a conflict; additionally, Hitler stressed that Germany had no territorial demands on the German-French border. Meanwhile, Hermann Göring's friend Birger Dahlerus, a Swedish national, attempted a parallel route to negotiate for peace. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | CPC]
- Adolf Hitler responded to Benito Mussolini's message from the previous day, noting that he accepted Italy's inability to participate in direct fighting should a German-Polish war broke out, but he would very much appreciate political (by means of threatening to entering the war, thus tying down French troops on the French-Italian border) and economic (by offering Italian workers for German industry and agriculture) support. ww2dbase [The Pact of Steel | CPC]
- Togo departed Douala, French Cameroon. ww2dbase [Togo / Coronel | CPC]
China
Germany
- German Air Force Captain Erich Warsitz successfully took the prototype He 178 jet aircraft into the air, thus making it the first aircraft to fly using a turbojet engine. The test flight was conducted out of Rostock-Marienehe Airfield on the Baltic Sea coast. ww2dbase [He 178 | Rostock, Pommern | CPC]
United States
28 Aug 1939
Germany
- Citizens in Berlin, Germany observed troops moving toward the east. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | Berlin | CPC]
- Karl Wiligut was officially placed on the SS retired list; in actuality he had been pushed out of his office since Feb 1939. ww2dbase [Karl Wiligut | CPC]
29 Aug 1939
- Through the Swedish businessman Birger Dahlerus, Germany expressed that Germany only desired Danzig and a small section of the Polish Corridor, while a plebiscite should be held in the near future to determine the fate of the remainder of the Polish Corridor. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | CPC]
Germany
- Adolf Hitler summoned the three leading representatives of the German armed forces, Walther von Brauchitsch, Hermann Göring, and Erich Raeder together with senior Army commanders to his mountain villa at Obersalzberg in southern Germany, where he announced the details of the recently-signed Soviet-German non-aggression pact, the plan to isolate and destroy Poland, and the formation of a buffer state in conquered Poland against the Soviet Union. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | Berchtesgaden, München-Oberbayern | AC]
Poland
- A Polish destroyer squadron was evacuated to the United Kingdom as the invasion from Germany seemed imminent. ww2dbase [Operation Peking | CPC]
Russia
- Georgy Zhukov was awarded the Order of Lenin for the second time. ww2dbase [Georgy Zhukov | CPC]
Switzerland
- Switzerland mobilized about 100,000 soldiers. The Swiss Federal Council meeting at Bern decreed a state of active service throughout the country. ww2dbase [Bern | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 29 Aug 1939
30 Aug 1939
- Poland refused to dispatch a delegation to Germany to negotiate over the topics of Danzig and the Polish Corridor. Polish Commander-in-Chief, Marshal of Poland, Edward Rydz-Smigly ordered the mobilization of the army. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | CPC, AC]
Japan
- Isoroku Yamamoto was appointed the commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet by Navy Minister Mitsumasa Yonai. ww2dbase [Isoroku Yamamoto | CPC]
31 Aug 1939
- The formal order for the German invasion of Poland was given; specific instructions were made for German troops on the western border to avoid conflict with the United Kingdom, France, and the Low Countries. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | CPC]
- Adolf Hitler offered the United Kingdom that Germany would not risk war if Poland was willing to turn over Danzig and a small section of the Polish Corridor, and that Poland was to allow a plebiscite for the remainder of the Polish Corridor in the near future; British Ambassador in Germany Nevile Henderson expressed that the United Kingdom, while desiring peace, could not sacrifice Poland to achieve that goal. Meanwhile, Henderson continued to press Poland to send a delegation to Germany in a last attempt to negotiate peace over Danzig and the Polish Corridor. When Polish Ambassador in Germany Józef Lipski attempted to send Henderson's message to Poland later in the evening, he found that Germany had cut telephone and telegraph communications to Poland. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | CPC]
- In Italy, Galeazzo Ciano sent the United Kingdom and France a secret message noting that Italy would not fight should Germany start a war over Poland. ww2dbase [The Pact of Steel | CPC]
China
Germany
- German official Hermann Göring hosted British Ambassador Nevile Henderson and Swedish businessman Birger Dahlerus at his home in Berlin, Germany for tea between 1700 and 1900 hours, during which the latter two made a last attempt to broker peace. ww2dbase [Hermann Göring | Berlin | CPC]
United Kingdom
- Evacuation order for London civilians orders given by the United Kingdom Ministry of Health, to be executed on the next day, with special note stressing that it did not necessarily meant war was inevitable. ww2dbase [London, England | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 31 Aug 1939
1 Sep 1939
- Norway, Finland, Denmark, and Sweden all proclaimed their neutrality in the European War; Germany pledged to respect Norway's and Sweden's sovereignty. ww2dbase [TH]
- 12 Swordfish torpedo bombers of 814 Naval Air Squadron landed aboard HMS Hermes to join her air crew. ww2dbase [Hermes | CPC]
Atlantic Ocean
- U-23 was officially assigned to the 1st Submarine Flotilla, although she was already at sea on her first war patrol. ww2dbase [U-23 | CPC]
France
- France mobilized its military. ww2dbase [TH]
Germany
- Germany placed a curfew on German Jews: 9pm in the summer, 8pm in the winter. ww2dbase [Discovery of Concentration Camps and the Holocaust | CPC]
- As the Free City of Danzig ceased to exist, Gauleiter Albert Forster's title of State President of the Free City of Danzig was abolished. He would soon be named the Gauleiter and Reichstatthalter of Danzig-West Prussia. ww2dbase [Albert Forster | Danzig-Westpreußen | CPC]
- Adolf Hitler authorized Reichsleiter Bouhler and Dr. Brandt to "grant merciful deaths" for the mentally ill and those who were suffering from incurable diseases. This was the beginning of Action T4 euthanasia program. ww2dbase [Discovery of Concentration Camps and the Holocaust | CPC]
- Reinhard Heydrich presided a meeting attended by the heads of Security Police and Commanders of Special Units, during which the deportation of the "remaining 30,000 Gypsies" from Germany to the soon-to-be-conquered territory of Poland was ordered. ww2dbase [Discovery of Concentration Camps and the Holocaust | CPC]
- The Iron Cross awards were established in Germany as an award for those who displayed bravery in combat or in command of military personnel. Four grades were specified: Iron Cross 2nd Class, Iron Cross 1st Class, Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, and the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross. ww2dbase [CPC]
- German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop warned Adolf Hitler that the invasion of Poland would compel France to fight. Hitler (exceptionally irritable, bitter and sharp with anyone advising caution) replied: "I have at last decided to do without the opinions of people who have misinformed me on a dozen occasions... I shall rely on my own judgement." ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | Joachim von Ribbentrop | AC]
- Wilhelm Gustloff was requisitioned by the German Navy. ww2dbase [Wilhelm Gustloff | CPC]
- The keel of battleship J was laid down at the Deschimag shipyard in Bremen, Germany. ww2dbase [Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau AG | J | Bremen, Weser-Ems | CPC]
Italy
- Britain and France turned to Italy in response to his proposal to revamp the conditions of the Versailles Treaty rather than declaring war on Germany. Meanwhile, Italy declared itself a non-belligerent nation in the European War. ww2dbase [TH]
- Adolf Hitler relieved Italy from having to fight in the war against Poland and possibly with the western powers in writing, asking only for political and economic support. ww2dbase [The Pact of Steel | CPC]
Poland
- Using the staged Gleiwitz radio station attack as an excuse, Germany declared war on Poland. Meanwhile, the radio station in Minsk, Byelorussia increased the frequency of station identification and extended its playing time in an attempt to help German aviators navigate. Among the opening acts of the European War, the German Luftwaffe bombed the town of Wielu in Poland, causing 1,200 civilian casualties. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | TH, AC]
- Over Warsaw, Poland, Oberst Walter Grabmann's Messerchmitt Bf 110 squadron (I.(Z)/Lg.1) led by Hauptmann Schleit, shot down five Polish PZL P.11 fighters whilst escorting the Heinkel He 111P bombers of II/KG.1. He sustained wounds as one of the P.11 fighters damaged his Bf 110 fighter. ww2dbase [Walter Grabmann | AC, CPC]
Russia
- Moscow City Party Committee secretary Semyon Korytny was executed for the crime of having married the sister of military leader Iona Yakir, a perceived enemy of Joseph Stalin. ww2dbase [Joseph Stalin | CPC]
United Kingdom
- In Britain, evacuation of civilians in large cities began; three million women and children would be evacuated, though most of these will return when the anticipated air raids did not materialize. Also, Air Raid Precautions were introduced and a blackout enforced from sunset to sunrise. ww2dbase [TH]
United States
- Henry Arnold submitted a report on the organization of US Army air units and recommendations on doctrine to US Army Chief of Staff George Marshall. ww2dbase [Henry Arnold | CPC]
- George Marshall was appointed as the US Army's Chief of Staff. ww2dbase [George Marshall | Washington | AC]
- Clifton Cates began his studies at the Army War College in Washington DC, United States. ww2dbase [Clifton Cates | Washington | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 1 Sep 1939
See all photos dated 1 Sep 1939
2 Sep 1939
Danzig
- Germany annexed the Free City of Danzig. Adolf Hitler advised the United Kingdom and France that he would withdraw from Poland if allowed to keep Danzig and the Polish corridor. ww2dbase [The Danzig Crisis | TH, CPC]
- The Germans began the construction of Stutthof Concentration Camp in Sztutowo (German: Stutthof) in the Free City of Danzig with labor of 65,000 Polish Christians. ww2dbase [Discovery of Concentration Camps and the Holocaust | Sztutowo | CPC]
France
- No. 1 Group, British RAF Bomber Command, relocated to France with its squadrons of single-engine Fairey Battle aircraft. ww2dbase [AC]
Italy
- Benito Mussolini continued to urge peace between Germany, United Kingdom, and France, without any success. ww2dbase [Benito Mussolini | CPC]
South Africa
- In a fateful cabinet meeting South African Prime Minister Barry Hertzog declared that he was going to remain neutral and that under no circumstances would he allow the Union of South Africa to enter the war. ww2dbase [AC]
United Kingdom
- During the day, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and French Prime Minister Édouard Daladier issued a joint ultimatum to Germany, demanding the withdraw of troops from Poland within 12 hours. During the late hours of the night, Chamberlain attempted to convince Dalalier to carry out the threat from the earlier ultimatum by declaring war on Germany early in the next morning. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | TH, CPC]
- The Times Literary Supplement reported that the copy of the Magna Carta owned by the Lincoln Cathedral of England, United Kingdom, currently on display at the 1939 New York World's Fair, would remain in the United States under the care of the Library of Congress for the duration of the war. It would be stored at Fort Knox until its return to Lincoln in 1944. ww2dbase [England | CPC]
- The National Service (Armed Forces) Act was passed in Great Britain. It would be enacted on the following day upon Britain's official entry into the European War. ww2dbase [TH, AC]
Photo(s) dated 2 Sep 1939
3 Sep 1939
- HMS Cumberland on passage in Atlantic to join South American Division of 8th Cruiser Squadron. ww2dbase [Cumberland | DS]
Atlantic Ocean
Austria
- Otto Skorzeny was sent home from Trost Barracks, Vienna, Austria despite the outbreak of war due to the lack of instructors to train new recruits. ww2dbase [Otto Skorzeny | Vienna | CPC]
Belgium
- The government of Belgium announced their neutral stance in the European War. ww2dbase [CPC]
Germany
- At 0900 hours, British Ambassador in Germany Nevile Henderson delivered the British declaration of war to German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop, effective at 1100 hours; British Commonwealth nations of New Zealand and Australia followed suit. France would also declare war later on this day, effective at 1700 hours. In the afternoon, Adolf Hitler issued an order to his generals, again stressing that German troops must not attack British and French positions. Finally, Hitler also sent a message to the Soviet Union, asking the Soviets to jointly invade Poland. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | Berlin | TH]
- German government issued orders that executions by members of the SS were to be carried out in concentration camps, effective 20 Sep 1939. ww2dbase [Discovery of Concentration Camps and the Holocaust | CPC]
- The first RAF operation flight over Germany was a reconnaissance mission, but later in the night RAF bombers would conduct a leaflet raid. ww2dbase [TH]
- Adolf Hitler departed Berlin, Germany for the Eastern Front. ww2dbase [Adolf Hitler | Berlin | CPC]
Poland
- 55 Polish peasants at Truskolasy, Poland were executed. ww2dbase [Truskolasy | TH]
United Kingdom
- The National Service (Armed Forces) Act, which had passed the British Parliament the day before, was officially enacted upon the British declaration of war on German. The Act contained a proviso that if a man required to register under the Act objected to being placed on the Military Service Register and thus be eligible for call-up, he should apply for his name to be placed on the Register of Conscientious Objectors instead. He would then be called before a local tribunal to explain why he should be exempt from a service his fellow men were compelled to undertake. ww2dbase [AC]
- British General Edmund Ironside became the Chief of the Imperial Staff. ww2dbase [CPC]
- British Member of Parliament Winston Churchill became the First Lord of the Admiralty, a post he had held during the Great War. ww2dbase [Winston Churchill | London, England | AC]
- The British government announced the immediate closure of all theatres, cinemas, music halls and other places of public entertainment. Football matches and other events likely to be attended by large crowds were banned, as was the blowing of whistles or sounding of horns. ww2dbase [AC]
- At 1115 hours, British Prime Minsiter Neville Chamberlain announced over radio that because Germany had failed to withdraw troops from Poland by 1100 hours, a state of war now existed between the United Kingdom and Germany. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | Neville Chamberlain | London, England | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 3 Sep 1939
![King George VI of the United Kingdom delivering his radio address announcing Britain’s entry into the war with Germany, Buckingham Palace, London, England, UK, Sept 3, 1939 [staged press photo].](/images/imagemagick/tmb_547e8b4291049.jpg)
See all photos dated 3 Sep 1939
4 Sep 1939
China
- USS Stewart departed China to patrol Philippine waters. ww2dbase [Stewart | CPC]
Germany
- Adolf Hitler forbade any further attacks on passenger ships. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | AC]
- 30 RAF bombers attacked the German Navy at Wilhelmshaven, Cuxhaven, and Shillig Roads in Germany. Seven of thirty aircraft were shot down and the handful of bombs that hit their targets failed to explode. No.107 Squadron from Wattisham lost four out of five Blenheim bombers, which was the RAF's first fatalities. ww2dbase [Bombing of Hamburg, Dresden, and Other Cities | TH]
- In Germany, a War Economy Decree was published which laid down guidelines for the rapid mobilization of civilian resources and the conversion of the economy to war. ww2dbase [AC]
- Emden was damaged during a British air raid at Wilhelmshaven, Germany when a damaged Blenheim aircraft crashed into the foreship, killing 9 and wounding 20. The aircraft's pilot was Flying Officer H. L. Emden, whose name matched that of the ship he had crashed into by pure chance. The RAF officer was later buried at the Sage War Cemetery in Großenkneten, northwestern Germany. ww2dbase [Emden | Wilhelmshaven, Weser-Ems | CPC]
- Fritz Todt declared that Organization Todt would function as a fortress construction organization with Xaver Dorsch as his deputy and operational commander. ww2dbase [Fritz Todt | CPC]
- U-23 completed her first war patrol. ww2dbase [U-23 | CPC]
Poland
- Germans executed 1000 Poles near Bydgoszcz, including a number of Boy Scouts. ww2dbase [Bydgoszcz | TH]
South Africa
- In the South African Assembly Prime Minister Barry Hertzog declaration of neutrality was defeated by 80 votes to 67 and South Africa committed itself to entering the war. ww2dbase [AC]
United Kingdom
- Alan Turing reported to Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire, England, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [Bletchley Park | Alan Turing | Milton Keynes, England | CPC]
- Steam passenger ship Rajputana of the P. & O. Steam Navigation Co Ltd of London, England, United Kingdom was requisitioned by the British Admiralty for war use. She would be converted into an armed merchant cruiser with the hull number F 35. ww2dbase [CPC]
United States
- United States increased patrols on its east coast. ww2dbase [CPC]
5 Sep 1939
- France aimed limited offensive at Saarbrücken. ww2dbase [TH]
- In a private conversation, Franz Halder and Walther von Brauchitsch both agreed that the war against Poland was effectively won. ww2dbase [Franz Halder | CPC]
Atlantic Ocean
- An Avro Anson aircraft of No. 500 Squadron RAF made the first attack of the war on an enemy submarine. ww2dbase [Anson | AC]
Germany
- Heinz Guderian was awarded Clasp to his Iron Cross Second Class. ww2dbase [Heinz Guderian | AC]
Poland
- German Army units crossed the Vistula River in Poland. Meanwhile, Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov responded to the German invitation to jointly invade Poland in the positive, but noted that the Soviet forces would need several days to prepare; he also warned the Germans not to cross the previously agreed upon line separating German and Soviet spheres of influence. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | TH]
- Wolfgang Falck shot down one Polish two-seater aircraft. ww2dbase [Wolfgang Falck | CPC]
South Africa
- Jan Smuts became the 4th Prime Minister of South Africa. ww2dbase [Jan Smuts | CPC]
United States
- The United States publicly declared neutrality in the war. ww2dbase [TH]
- Franklin Roosevelt put the arms embargo in place in response to the start of the European War as required by law, but he would soon approach the United States Congress in attempt to remove the ban. ww2dbase [Franklin Roosevelt | CPC]
- President Franklin Roosevelt issued two Neutrality Proclamations. Roosevelt also ordered the Navy to perform a neutrality patrol to track any belligerent naval force approaching the US's Atlantic coast or the West Indies. ww2dbase [United States Neutrality Patrol | Franklin Roosevelt | DS]
Photo(s) dated 5 Sep 1939
6 Sep 1939
Egypt
Germany
- German escort ship F9 was transferred from the Baltic Sea to the Helgoland archipelago north of Wilhelmshaven, Germany. ww2dbase [F9 | Helgoland, Schleswigj-Holstein | CPC]
- German escort ship F10 was transferred from the Baltic Sea to the Helgoland archipelago north of Wilhelmshaven, Germany. ww2dbase [F10 | Helgoland, Schleswig-Holstein | CPC]
- Fleet escort ship F7 was transferred from the Baltic Sea to the German archipelago of Helgoland. ww2dbase [F7 | Helgoland, Schleswig-Holstein | CPC]
- Fleet escort ship F8 was transferred from the Baltic Sea to the German archipelago of Helgoland. ww2dbase [F8 | Helgoland, Schleswig-Holstein | CPC]
Poland
- German troops captured the Upper Silesian industrial area in Poland. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | TH]
South Africa
- South Africa declared war on Germany after tough Cabinet battle. ww2dbase [TH]
United Kingdom
- German aircraft attacked Great Britain for the first time. ww2dbase [Battle of Britain | CPC]
- The first Royal Air Force fighter pilot to be killed during the war lost his life when two Hurricane fighters were shot down in error by two Spitfire fighters. ww2dbase [AC]
United States
- US Navy's Neutrality Patrol for Atlantic Ocean was formed under Rear Admiral A. W. Johnson, Commander Atlantic Squadron. ww2dbase [United States Neutrality Patrol | DS]
7 Sep 1939
- On arrival at Freetown, British West Africa (now Sierra Leone), HMS Cumberland was deployed on trade protection duty in Atlantic became part of Hunting Group G for interception of blockade runners and commerce raiders off east coast of South America. ww2dbase [Cumberland | DS]
China
- General Yoshijiro Umezu succeeded General Kenkichi Ueda as the Governor-General of Kwantung Leased Territory in northeastern China. Jo Iimura was named Umezu's chief of staff. ww2dbase [Yoshijiro Umezu | CPC]
- Kenkichi Ueda stepped down as the commander of the Kwantung Army in northeastern China and was attached to the Army General Staff. ww2dbase [Kenkichi Ueda | CPC]
Germany
- French Army entered the Saarland region of Germany, but made no move on the Westwall. ww2dbase [TH]
- Adolf Hitler ordered Erich Raeder to hold back German Navy from attacking British and French vessels. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | CPC]
Korea
- Lieutenant General Yakutaira Kato was named the chief of staff of the Japanese Chosen Army in occupied Korea. ww2dbase [CPC]
Poland
- German troops captured Kraków, Poland. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | Kraków | TH]
- Julien Bryan arrived in Warsaw, Poland. ww2dbase [Julien Bryan | Warsaw | CPC]
- In western Poland, the German 30th Infantry Division crossed the Warta River (German: Warthe) on bridges erected by German engineers. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | AC]
- The city of Łódź, Poland was captured by the German 8th Army after the Łódź Army failed to halt their advance. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | Łódź | AC]
United Kingdom
- The BBC began broadcasts in Polish. ww2dbase [TH]
- King George VI of the United Kingdom provided approval to the National Registration Bill, which gave control of labor to the government as well as requiring identity cards for citizens. ww2dbase [George VI | CPC]
8 Sep 1939
- Werner Mölders crash landed his fighter aircraft after developing engine trouble; his back was injured, which kept him out of action for 11 days. ww2dbase [Werner Mölders | CPC]
- U-56 ended her first patrol. ww2dbase [U-56 | CPC]
Danzig
Poland
Russia
- Lavrentiy Beria organized two NKVD operational groups, to be based in Kiev in Ukraine and Minsk in Byelorussia, for near-future deployment to eastern Poland to arrest resistance elements. The two groups in Ukraine and Byelorussia were led by Ivan Serov and Lavrentiy Tsanava, respectively. ww2dbase [Katyn Massacre and Related Atrocities | CPC]
United Kingdom
- King George VI of Britain suggested to Lord Hankey, Minister without Portfolio, that the Government might not reject any German peace proposals out of hand, but should instead say that "We are prepared to discuss terms with the German people, but not with Hitler or his regime". ww2dbase [George VI | London, England | AC]
United States
- US President Franklin Roosevelt declared a limited state of emergency. One of his orders of the day was to increase the US Marine Corps enlisted strength to be increased from 18,325 to 25,000, partially to be achieved by authorizing the recall of officers and men from the Marine Corps retired lists. ww2dbase [United States Neutrality Patrol | Franklin Roosevelt | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 8 Sep 1939
9 Sep 1939
France
- British Expeditionary Forces (BEF) began landing in France. ww2dbase [TH]
Germany
Poland
- Battle of the Bzura, also known as Battle of Kutno to the Germans, began; it was to become the largest battle in the Poland campaign. Elsewhere, German forces captured Łódź and Radom. South of Radom, Stuka dive-bombers of Colonel Gunter Schwarzkopff's St.G.77 finished off the great Polish attempt to cross the Vistula River, crushing the last pockets of resistance in conjunction with tanks; "Wherever they went", reported one Stuka pilot after the action, "we came across throngs of Polish troops, against which our 110-lb fragmentation bombs were deadly. After that we went almost down to the deck firing our machine guns. The confusion was indescribable." At Warsaw, German attempts to enter the city were repulsed. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | Kutno, Łódź | TH, AC]
Russia
- In Moscow, Russia, Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov informed the German ambassador that Soviet forces would be ready to attack Poland within a few days. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | Vyacheslav Molotov | Moscow | CPC]
United Kingdom
United States
Photo(s) dated 9 Sep 1939
10 Sep 1939
Atlantic Ocean
- HMS Oxley became the first Royal Navy submarine to be lost in the war when she was either torpedoed or rammed in error off the Norwegian coast by another Royal Navy submarine. Only two of the fifty-three crew survived. ww2dbase [AC]
Canada
- Canada declared war on Germany. ww2dbase [TH]
Ceylon
- HMS Eagle arrived at Colombo, Ceylon. ww2dbase [Eagle | Colombo | CPC]
Poland
- Soviet ambassador to Poland Nikolai Szaranow was recalled from Warsaw. ww2dbase [Warsaw | TH]
- SS-Brigadeführer Wilhelm Fritz von Roettig became the first German general to die in World War II when he was killed in Action at Opoczno, Poland at about 1415 hours. ww2dbase [Wilhelm von Roettig | Opoczno | AC]
- German troops made a breakthrough near Kutno and Sandomierz in Poland. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | TH]
United Kingdom
Photo(s) dated 10 Sep 1939
See all photos dated 10 Sep 1939
11 Sep 1939
- British submarine Triton tropedoed and sank British submarine Oxley by mistake. ww2dbase [CPC]
- HMS Cumberland on passage to Rio de Janeiro. Aircraft sighted German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee and tanker Altmark but enemy ships escaped interception. ww2dbase [Admiral Graf Spee | Cumberland | DS]
Germany
- Georg von Küchler was awarded Clasp 2nd Class to his Iron Cross. ww2dbase [Georg von Küchler | CPC]
- "Lord Haw-Haw", began broadcasting his "Germany calling" programme on Radio Hamburg. The name was eventually linked to William Joyce, a US citizen who had spent some time in Ireland, had been Propaganda Director of Oswald Moseley's (qv) British Union of Fascists and who had fled to Berlin a week before the outbreak of war. By 1940 30 per cent of the British population would be regularly tuning in to Radio Hamburg for his programme. ww2dbase [William Joyce | Hamburg | AC]
Poland
- Wolfgang Falck shot down two Polish aircraft, a bomber and a reconnaissance aircraft. ww2dbase [Wolfgang Falck | CPC]
Saudi Arabia
- Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic relations with Germany. ww2dbase [CPC]
United Kingdom
- Air Vice Marshal Arthur Harris assumed command of British Royal Air Force Bomber Command's Lincolnshire-based No. 5 Group with his headquarters at St. Vincent's House in Grantham. No. 5 Group was the sole operator of the Handley-Page Hampden bomber with six Hampden squadrons available at the outbreak of war - Nos. 44 and 50 Squadrons based at Waddington, 49 and 83 Squadrons based at Scampton, and 61 and 144 Squadrons at Hemswell. Harris would command the group for fourteen months before being appointed G. O. C. Bomber Command on 22 Feb 1942. ww2dbase [Arthur Harris | AC]
United States
- Franklin Roosevelt wrote to Winston Churchill and Neville Chamberlain, encouraging them to communicate with him personally, ie. bypass the official diplomatic channels. ww2dbase [Franklin Roosevelt | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 11 Sep 1939
12 Sep 1939
- Neville Chamberlain and Édouard Daladier convened an Anglo-French Supreme War Council, during which the French called off their offensive in the Saar region after an advance of only five miles. ww2dbase [TH]
- Ferdinand Schörner was awarded Iron Cross 2nd class. ww2dbase [Ferdinand Schörner | CPC]
- U-56 began her second patrol in the North Sea. ww2dbase [U-56 | CPC]
Japan
- Korechika Anami was attached to the Army General Staff. ww2dbase [Korechika Anami | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 12 Sep 1939
13 Sep 1939
Atlantic Ocean
- U-27 sank British trawler Davara 39 kilometers (24 miles or 21 nautical miles) northwest of Tory Island, Ireland at 0255 hours. The 12 survivors were rescued by merchant ship Willowpool. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | U-27 | CPC]
China
- Yasuji Okamura moved his command center for Japanese 11th Army to Xianning, Hubei Province, China in preparation for the upcoming attack on Changsha in the neighboring Hunan Province. ww2dbase [Yasuji Okamura | Xianning, Hubei | CPC]
Germany
- Heinz Guderian was awarded Clasp to his Iron Cross First Class. ww2dbase [Heinz Guderian | AC]
- Karl von Le Suire was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class and Iron Cross 1st Class. ww2dbase [Karl von Le Suire | CPC]
Poland
United States
- The US Navy ordered the recommission of 40 destroyers from the reserve fleet. ww2dbase [CPC]
- The wreck of USS Squalus was raised in the Isles of Shoals off northeastern United States and towed to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, United States for repairs. ww2dbase [Sailfish | Kittery, Maine | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 13 Sep 1939
See all photos dated 13 Sep 1939
14 Sep 1939
Atlantic Ocean
- The new aircraft carrier, HMS Ark Royal, was operating west of the Hebrides, Scotland, United Kingdom when lookouts spotted the tracks of torpedoes passing astern. Her escorting destroyers counter-attacked and sank the German submarine U-39. ww2dbase [Ark Royal | AC]
- German submarine U-39 attacked HMS Ark Royal; the torpedoes swam straight at the carrier but they prematurely detonated. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | CPC]
China
- Japanese 106th Division under Lieutenant General Ryotaro Nakai engaged with Chinese 184th Division near Fengxin County, Jiangxi Province China. ww2dbase [Fengxin, Jiangxi | CPC]
United States
- The world's first production helicopter, the Sikorsky VS-300, made its maiden flight. Sikorsky would go on to equip military units in both Britain and the US. ww2dbase [AC]
- Aircraft carrier USS Ranger and battleships USS New York and Texas are designated as a striking force held in reserve at Hampton Roads, Virginia in support of destroyers and Coast Guard cutters on Neutrality Patrols in the Atlantic. ww2dbase [United States Neutrality Patrol | Texas | Louisville | Ranger | Hampton Roads, Virginia | DS]
Photo(s) dated 14 Sep 1939
15 Sep 1939
- The first Atlantic convoy set sail from Jamaica for Britain. ww2dbase [AC]
- Richard O'Connor was Mentioned in Despatches. ww2dbase [Richard O'Connor | CPC]
- HMS Cumberland carried out patrol off south of Ascension Island. ww2dbase [Cumberland | DS]
China
- Japanese 101st Division under Lieutenant General Masatoshi Saito engaged in Chinese troops near Mount Lianhua near Gao'an, Jiangxi Province, China, capturing the city shortly after. ww2dbase [Gao'an, Jiangxi | CPC]
Poland
- German troops captured Gdynia, Poland. Meanwhile, Polish troops failed to break out of the Kutno Pocket. At Warsaw, with it surrounded by German troops, the Polish Army was ordered to the Romanian border to hold out until the Allies arrive; the Romanian government offered asylum to all Polish civilians who could make it across the border; Polish military personnel who crossed the border, however, would be interned. In Berlin, Germany, German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop asked the Soviet Union for a definite date and time when Soviet forces would attack Poland. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | TH]
Russia
- Soviet Union and Japan signed a ceasefire in Moscow, Russia, ending the Battle of Khalkhin Gol. ww2dbase [Battle of Khalkhin Gol | Moscow | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 15 Sep 1939
See all photos dated 15 Sep 1939
16 Sep 1939
Atlantic Ocean
- In the first German submarine attack on an Atlantic convoy the merchantman Aviemore was sunk off Land's End, England, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | AC]
- U-27 attacked British trawler Rudyard Kipling 190 kilometers (120 miles or 100 nautical miles) west of Ireland at 0353 hours. The crew of U-27 boarded Rudyard Kipling and destroyed the ship with scuttling charges. U-27 rescued the survivors, gave them food and warm clothing, and sent them off in lifeboats. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | U-27 | CPC]
Germany
Italy
Poland
- Polish troops counterattacked, destroying 22 tanks of Leibstandarte SS "Adolf Hitler" regiment. Elsewhere in Poland, German troops captured Brest-Litovsk (now in Belarus). In Moscow, Russia, Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov proposed that the Soviet Union would enter the war with the reason of protection of Ukrainians and Byelorussians; Germany complained that it singled out Germany as the lone aggressor. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | CPC]
- Polish general Józef Kustron was killed in the village of Ulazow, Poland; he was the second general-rank officer to be killed in action during the European War. ww2dbase [Ulazow | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 16 Sep 1939
17 Sep 1939
Atlantic Ocean
- German submarine U-29 torpedoed British carrier HMS Courageous off Ireland. Courageous sank in 20 minutes, taking down 518 of the crew of 1,200, including the captain. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | AC]
- German submarine U-29 sank British carrier Courageous southwest of Ireland, killing 500. ww2dbase [CPC]
China
- Japanese 101st Division (Lieutenant General Masatoshi Saito) and 106th Division (Lieutenant General Ryotaro Nakai), having recently captured strategic locations in Jiangxi Province, China as a preparation, began marching toward Changsha in the neighboring Hunan Province. Meanwhile, 3rd Division (Lieutenant General Shinichi Fujita), 6th Division (Lieutenant General Shiro Inaba), 13th Division (General Shizuichi Tanaka), and 33rd Division (Lieutenant General Shigetaro Amakasu) attacked targets in northern Hunan Province. In support of this attack, Japanese Navy's China Area Fleet dispatched 13th Gunboat Unit of 11th Battle Squadron, Shanghai Special Naval Landing Force, and 4th Guard Unit. ww2dbase [First Battle of Changsha | Changsha, Hunan | CPC]
Germany
- Friedrich Ruge was awarded clasp to his Iron Cross 2nd Class medal. ww2dbase [Friedrich Ruge | CPC]
- Adolf Hitler arrived in Berlin, Germany. ww2dbase [Adolf Hitler | Berlin | CPC]
Italy
Mediterranean Sea
- Garland suffered an accidental detonation of her own depth charges while underway in the Mediterranean Sea, badly damaging the aft end. ww2dbase [Garland | CPC]
Poland
- In Poland, German troops captured Kutno west of Warsaw. East of Warsaw, Heinz Guderian's XIX Panzerkorps of Army Group North made contact with XXII Panzerkorps of Army Group South, just to the south of Brest-Litovsk; virtually the whole Polish Army (or what remained of it) was now trapped within a gigantic double pincer. In Russia, Joseph Stalin declared that the government of Poland no longer existed, thus all treaties between the two states were no longer valid; Soviet troops poured across the border to join Germany in the invasion, ostensibly to protect Ukrainian and Byelorussian interests from potential German aggression. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | TH, AC]
Romania
- In Romania, the Polish government was interned after attempting to obtain asylum. On the same day, one hundred Polish Air Force planes, as well as 50 civilian aircraft, flew to safety in Romania; many of the escaping airmen would eventually make their way to Britain to continue the fight. ww2dbase [AC]
Russia
- Lavrentiy Beria, head of the Soviet NKVD, established the Directorate for Prisoners of War and Interned Persons (UPVI), which would run camps for 240,000 Polish prisoners of war in the near future. ww2dbase [Lavrentiy Beria | TH, CPC]
United States
- US aviator Charles Lindbergh made an address over radio against any American intervention in the European War. ww2dbase [CPC]
Photo(s) dated 17 Sep 1939
See all photos dated 17 Sep 1939
18 Sep 1939
- When the British merchant ship Kensington Court was torpedoed 70 miles of the Isles of Scilly west of the southwestern tip of England, United Kingdom, two patrolling Sunderland aircraft had the entire crew of thirty-four personnel back on dry land within an hour of the vessel sinking. ww2dbase [S.25 Sunderland | AC]
- Aircraft from HMS Hermes located a German submarine escorted by destroyers Isis and Imogen; the subsequent attack was ineffective. ww2dbase [Hermes | CPC]
- Captain Max Burke DeMott was named the commanding officer of USS Helena, relieving Lieutenant Commander Donald Hendry Johnston. ww2dbase [Helena (St. Louis-class) | CPC]
Albania
- Italy organized the Milizia Fascista Albanese (Albanian Fascist Militia) in occupied Albania. ww2dbase [CPC]
Danzig
- Adolf Hitler arrived in Danzig; he would remain in the region for the next week, staying at the Casino Hotel in Zoppot. ww2dbase [Adolf Hitler | CPC]
France
- Polish cipher experts fled to Paris, France with vital knowledge of the German Enigma code. ww2dbase [Enigma Code Broken | Paris | AC]
Germany
Libya
- Italy deployed four Blackshirt divisions to Libya. ww2dbase [CPC]
Poland
United States
- USS Helena was commissioned into service with Captain Max B. Demott in command. ww2dbase [Helena (St. Louis-class) | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 18 Sep 1939
See all photos dated 18 Sep 1939
19 Sep 1939
- U-56 ended her second patrol. ww2dbase [U-56 | CPC]
China
- En route toward Changsha, Hunan Province, China, Japanese troops used poison gas against Chinese defensive positions along the Sinchiang River. ww2dbase [First Battle of Changsha | Changsha, Hunan | CPC]
- Zang Shiyi was captured by Japanese troops in Liaoning Province, China. ww2dbase [Zang Shiyi | Liaoning | CPC]
- Chinese forces recaptured Cunqianjie near Gao'an, Jiangxi Province, China. ww2dbase [Cunqianjie, Jiangxi | CPC]
Czechoslovakia
- Germans put down a rebellion in Czechoslovakia. ww2dbase [TH]
Danzig
- Adolf Hitler entered Danzig and again proposed a peace with Britain and France, provided Germany was allowed to retain the territory that Germany had already seized. He also referred to "weapons with which we ourselves can not be attacked", which led to speculation that Germany is developing secret weapons. ww2dbase [Adolf Hitler | CPC, AC]
France
- Commander of the British Expeditionary Force Lord Gort arrived in France. ww2dbase [John Vereker | CPC]
French Indochina
- While flying a reconnaissance missiong in a unarmed Polish aircraft, Josef Frantisek attacked advancing German columns by throwing hand grenades from the cockpit near Kamionka Strumilowa, Poland (now Kamianka-Buzka, Ukraine). ww2dbase [Josef Frantisek | Kamionka Strumilowa | CPC]
Germany
- The construction of Graf Zeppelin was halted temporarily as Erich Raeder and Hermann Göring competed for resources. ww2dbase [Deutsche Werke Kiel | Graf Zeppelin | Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein | CPC]
- The work on light cruiser M ceased at Deutsche Werke Kiel, Germany. ww2dbase [Deutsche Werke Kiel | M | Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein | CPC]
- The order for gunboat K4 was canceled prior to keel laying. ww2dbase [K4 | CPC]
- The order for gunboat K1 was canceled prior to keel laying. ww2dbase [K1 | CPC]
- The order for gunboat K2 was canceled prior to keel laying. ww2dbase [K2 | CPC]
- The order for gunboat K3 was canceled prior to keel laying. ww2dbase [K3 | CPC]
Poland
- West of Warsaw, Poland, at the bend of the Vistula River, German troops imprisoned 170,000 Polish troops as they surrendered. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | Warsaw | TH]
- The German Army told the SS organization to hold off the rounding up and mass murder of Polish Jews until Dec 1939 when the Army would be out of the area. ww2dbase [Discovery of Concentration Camps and the Holocaust | CPC]
United Kingdom
- The first official British casualty list was published to the public. ww2dbase [TH]
20 Sep 1939
- Werner Mölders scored his first kill of the European War; the victim was a P-36 fighter. For this victory, he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class. ww2dbase [Werner Mölders | CPC]
- Blücher was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Blücher | CPC]
- Ferdinand Schörner was awarded Iron Cross 1st class. ww2dbase [Ferdinand Schörner | CPC]
Atlantic Ocean
- German submarine U-27 was sunk by destroyers HMS Fortune and HMS Forester off Hebrides, Scotland, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [CPC]
- U-27 was sunk by British destroyers HMS Fortune and HMS Faulknor west of Scotland, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | U-27 | CPC]
French Indochina
- Josef Frantisek was shot down near Zloczów, Poland (now Zolochiv, Ukraine) but escaped unharmed. ww2dbase [Josef Frantisek | Zloczów | CPC]
Germany
- The RAF and Luftwaffe clashed for the first time over the Westwall, the German defensive line on the border with France. The British lost two aircraft, the Germans one. ww2dbase [AC]
- Georg von Bismarck was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class. ww2dbase [Georg von Bismarck | CPC]
- Fleet escort ship F6 completed her conversion into a fleet tender and was recommissioned Königin Louise. ww2dbase [F6 | CPC]
Japan
Poland
- German General Johannes Blaskowitz noted in his order of the day that, at the Battle of the Bzura in Poland, also known as Battle of Kutno to the Germans, his troops was fighting "in one of the biggest and most destructive battles of all times." Elsewhere, German troops withdrew to the agreed demarcation line in Poland, with Soviet forces moving in behind them. Finally, also on this day, the remaining Polish garrison in Grodno managed to kill 800 Soviet troops and at least 10 tanks. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | TH]
United States
Photo(s) dated 20 Sep 1939
21 Sep 1939
Germany
Poland
- 60,000 survivors of the Polish Southern Army surrendered at Tomaszov and Zamosz, Poland. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | TH]
- Reinhard Heydrich authorized the formation of Jewish ghettos in Poland, each governed by a Judenrat (Jewish Council); the ghettos were to be formed in large Polish cities with access to major railroads. He also authorized the formation of Einsatzgruppen. ww2dbase [Reinhard Heydrich | CPC]
- Julien Bryan departed Warsaw, Poland. ww2dbase [Julien Bryan | Warsaw | CPC]
Romania
- Romanian Prime Minister Armand Calinescu was assassinated by fascists for his sympathetic treatment of Poles. ww2dbase [AC]
United States
- President Franklin Roosevelt told the US Congress that the United States should relax its neutrality laws to enable its arms manufacturers to sell to belligerent countries. ww2dbase [Franklin Roosevelt | Washington | AC]
Photo(s) dated 21 Sep 1939
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
23 Sep 1939
China
- In Hunan Province, China, Japanese Army 6th Division crossed the Sinchiang River at dawn, followed by a similar crossing by another division at 0620 hours at Yingtian (now Miluo). Also on the same day, naval vessels landed Japanese Navy Shanghai Special Naval Landing Force and Japanese Army 3rd Division east of the city of Changsha. Surrounded on three sides, Chinese troops fell back to prevent encirclement, opening the way to Changsha. ww2dbase [First Battle of Changsha | Changsha, Hunan | CPC]
French Syria and Lebanon
- Émile Bertin embarked 57 tons of Polish gold at Syria-Lebanon. ww2dbase [Émile Bertin | CPC]
Germany
Italy
Poland
- German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop expressed approval for the Soviet proposal on the partition of Poland. Meanwhile, at Krasnobrod, Poland, three squadrons of the Nowgrodek Cavalry Brigade attacked and surprised the German 8th Infantry Division which had entrenched on a hill. The German made a disorderly retreat to a nearby town, hotly pursued by the Polish cavalry. Despite heavy losses from machine-gun fire the Poles secured the town, capturing the German divisional headquarters including General Rudolf Koch-Erpach and about 100 other German soldiers. In addition forty Polish prisoners were freed. During the action Lieutenant Tadeusz Gerlecki, commanding the second squadron, defeated a German cavalry unit - one of the last battles in military history between opposing cavalry. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | CPC, AC]
United States
- Joseph Stilwell ended a period of leave in the United States. ww2dbase [Joseph Stilwell | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 23 Sep 1939
24 Sep 1939
Germany
- Limited food rationing began in Germany. ww2dbase [TH]
Norway
- The 1,510-ton Swedish merchant steamer Gurtrud Bratt was stopped by German submarine U-4 (Oberleutnant zur See Harro von Klot-Heydenfeldt) firing two rounds across her bows, 12 miles southeast of Jomfruland, Norway. As the ship was registered in a neutral country, the Germans demanded to see the ship's papers. The Swedish ship was loaded with wood pulp, paper and cellulose and bound for Bristol, England, United Kingdom. Regarding this cargo as contraband the Germans ordered the master of the Gurtrud Bratt, E. K. Jönssen, to get his crew into the lifeboats as he was going to sink his ship. As there were no more scuttling charges on board, the submarine fired torpedoes to sink her. The first two failed, the third hit and exploded amidships, sinking the ship within minutes. According to the survivors the Germans had promised to tow the two lifeboats towards the nearby Norwegian coast but apparently the submarine left without helping them after sighting an aircraft. The boats were spotted later that day by the Norwegian customs cruiser T-II and towed to Langesund, Norway. ww2dbase [HM]
Poland
Russia
- The Soviet Union gave an ultimatum to the Estonian Foreign Minister in Moscow, Russia, demanding land to build a Soviet minitary base in Estonia. ww2dbase [Annexation of the Baltic States | Moscow | CPC]
United Kingdom
- Winston Churchill noted that the past three weeks since the European War had begun had been the longest he had ever lived. ww2dbase [Winston Churchill | England | CPC]
United States
- Joseph Stilwell was made the commanding officer of the 3rd Brigade at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas, United States. ww2dbase [Joseph Stilwell | San Antonio, Texas | CPC]
25 Sep 1939
- Artillery duels took place on the Western Front of the European War. ww2dbase [TH]
- HMS Cumberland after meeting HM Cruiser Neptune and HM Destroyers Hunter and Hyperion carried out joint search for blockade runners. ww2dbase [Cumberland | Neptune | DS]
Germany
- Germany introduced food rationing. ww2dbase [AC]
- Franz Halder noted in his diary that he believed Adolf Hitler was ready to plan a war with France and Britain. ww2dbase [Franz Halder | CPC]
- Adolf Hitler arrived in Berlin, Germany. ww2dbase [Adolf Hitler | Berlin | CPC]
Japan
- Kichisaburo Nomura was named the Foreign Minister in Prime Minister Nobuyuki Abe's cabinet. ww2dbase [Kichisaburo Nomura | CPC]
- Captain Shutoku Miyazato was made the chief equipping officer of both Katori and Kashima. ww2dbase [Katori | Kashima | Yokohama, Kanagawa | CPC]
Poland
- Warsaw, Poland suffered heavy Luftwaffe bombing and artillery bombardment as Adolf Hitler arrived to observe the attack. To the east, Soviet troops captured Bialystok, Poland. Meanwhile, Joseph Stalin proposed to the Germans that the Soviet Union would take Lithuania which was previously within the German sphere of influence; in exchange, the Soviets would give the portions of Poland near Warsaw which were previously within the Soviet sphere of influence but had already been overrun by German troops. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | Warsaw | TH, CPC]
Photo(s) dated 25 Sep 1939
26 Sep 1939
- Three Skua aircraft of 803 Naval Air Squadron of HMS Ark Royal were collectively credited with the first confirmed British kill (a Do 18 flying boat) against Germany. ww2dbase [Skua | CPC]
- Werner Mölders was relieved of his duty as the commanding officer of 1./JG 53 as he was named the commanding officer of III./JG 53. ww2dbase [Werner Mölders | CPC]
- A German seaplane shot down a civilian KLM aircraft, killing one. ww2dbase [CPC]
Germany
- Former German Army Commander-in-Chief Werner von Fritsch was buried in Berlin, Germany. Neither Adolf Hitler, nor Joachim von Ribbertrop, nor Heinrich Himmler attended the ceremonial state funeral. ww2dbase [Werner von Fritsch | Berlin | AC]
Poland
- Armia Krajowa, or Polish Home Army, was established in Warsaw, Poland. ww2dbase [Warsaw | TH]
27 Sep 1939
- Sir John Simon’s first war budget for Britain called for income tax to increase from 5 shillings and 6 pence per pound to 7 shillings and 6 pence per pound. ww2dbase [AC]
- Adolf Hitler ordered to his top military leaders to begin planning for a war in the west, with a target launch date of 12 Nov 1939. The generals would complain that the date was too soon. ww2dbase [Invasion of France and the Low Countries | CPC]
France
- The Polish government in exile was established in Paris, France. ww2dbase [Paris | TH]
Germany
Poland
- Warsaw, Poland fell to the Germans after two weeks of siege. Near Grabowiec, Soviets executed 150 Polish policemen. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | TH]
- Representatives of the German Gestapo organization and the Soviet NKVD organization met at Bugiem, Poland (now Brest, Belarus) to coordinate the suppression of Polish resistance efforts. ww2dbase [Gestapo-NKVD Conferences | Bugiem | CPC]
28 Sep 1939
Australia
- The Australian 6th Infantry Division was established under the command of Lieutenant General Thomas Blamey for service overseas. ww2dbase [Thomas Blamey | AC]
Estonia
- Estonia and the Soviet Union signed a 10-year mutual assistance pact which allowed Soviet troops to be stationed in Estonia. ww2dbase [Annexation of the Baltic States | CPC]
Poland
Russia
- Joachim von Ribbentrop arrived in Moscow, Russia, where would announce jointly with the Soviets an attempt to negotiate for peace with the western powers; should Britain and France reject this peace offer, Germany then could not be blamed for the aggression, he reasoned. ww2dbase [Joachim von Ribbentrop | Moscow | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 28 Sep 1939
See all photos dated 28 Sep 1939
29 Sep 1939
- Russia signed pacts with Estonia and Finland. ww2dbase [AC]
- The 1,819-ton neutral Norwegian merchant steamer Kvernaas was stopped and searched by the German destroyer Wilhelm Heidkamp. The ship was en route from Sundsvall, Sweden to Amsterdam, the Netherlands with a cargo of 2,585 tons of cellulose and was instructed to sail to Kiel, Germany. ww2dbase [HM]
China
- Japanese troops reached the outskirts of Changsha, Hunan Province, China; the Japanese had thus far suffered 40,000 casualties on this assault. ww2dbase [First Battle of Changsha | Changsha, Hunan | CPC]
Germany
- Adolf Hitler issued a repatriation order for the 86,000 ethnic Germans living in Estonia and Latvia, knowing that the Soviet Union would soon demand the Baltic States. ww2dbase [Annexation of the Baltic States | CPC]
Poland
- With the formal surrender of Poland, including the last 35,000 besieged troops in Modlin, the Germany and Soviet Union finished dividing up Poland. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | TH]
United States
- Joseph Rochefort was ordered to transfer to heavy cruiser Indianapolis currently based out of San Pedro, California, United States. ww2dbase [Joseph Rochefort | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 29 Sep 1939
30 Sep 1939
- No. 150 Squadron RAF lost four out of five Fairey Battle light bombers to German Bf 109 fighters. After this unescorted missions were ordered to cease. ww2dbase [AC]
- At 0059 hours, German destroyer Hermann Künne stopped the 1,819-ton neutral Norwegian merchant steamer Kvernaas, which had already been intercepted by German destroyer Wilhelm Heidkamp on the previous day and was already obeying orders to sail to Kiel, Germany. A prize crew from Hermann Künne took control of the ship for the remainder of her journey to Kiel. ww2dbase [HM]
Atlantic Ocean
- The German pocket-battleship, Admiral Graf Spee (Kapitän Zur See Hans Langsdorff), intercepted her first victim, the SS Clement, off Brazil. But the 5,084-ton ocean-going tramp steamer reported the pocket-battleship as the Admiral Scheer, a report that confused the eight Raider Hunting Forces formed jointly by the British Admiralty and the French Ministry of Marine. ww2dbase [Admiral Graf Spee | AC]
France
- French forces on the French-German border fell back to the Maginot Line in anticipation of a German invasion. ww2dbase [Maginot Line | CPC]
Germany
United Kingdom
- Deaths in automobile accidents in Britain at night in the month of Sep 1939 increased from 617 in the previous month to 1,130; night time blackout was blamed. ww2dbase [CPC]
United States
Photo(s) dated 30 Sep 1939
1 Oct 1939
- Kurt Fricke was awarded Clasp 2nd Class to his Iron Cross. ww2dbase [Kurt Frike | CPC]
Atlantic Ocean
- The 2,239-ton Belgian merchant steamer Suzon was sailing to Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom loaded with 2,400 tons of pit props for the Welsh mines. The ship had been built in Sunderland, England, United Kingdom by S. P. Austin & Sons, and was owned by a London shipping Company and then named Portwood. In 1930 she was sold to the Belgians and renamed. At 1845 hours German submarine U-35 (Kapitänleutnant Werner Lott) attempted to stop the neutral and unarmed steamer with light signals about 42 miles 330 degrees from the French island of Ushant but the Belgians put on steam and tried to escape. Warning shots were fired which actually hit the ship forcing the Belgian Captain, R. Lejeune, to stop and abandon the ship, knowing that the cargo would be classed as contraband. After the crew were clear the submarine fired a torpedo that struck on the port side of the Suzon abreast the funnel which broke the vessel's back, the two halves sinking almost immediately. The Belgian crew were picked up by HMS Acheron (H 45) commanded by Lieutenant Commander R. F. W. Northcott RN which was escorting the nearby convoy MB-10. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | HM]
China
Germany
United Kingdom
- British men between the ages of 20-22 became eligible for conscription. ww2dbase [TH]
- Rawalpindi was commissioned into British Royal Navy service. ww2dbase [Rawalpindi | AC]
Photo(s) dated 1 Oct 1939
2 Oct 1939
- Searaven was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Searaven | CPC]
Germany
- Friedrich Ruge was awarded clasp to his Iron Cross 1st Class medal. ww2dbase [Friedrich Ruge | CPC]
- German Luftwaffe Friegerkorps X under the command of General Hans Geissler was formed at Hamburg, Germany. The Korps would specialise in anti-shipping operations. ww2dbase [Hamburg | AC]
Photo(s) dated 2 Oct 1939
3 Oct 1939
- The Declaration of Panama, signed by the United States and several countries in the Americas, was established. It established a zone of neutrality within 300 to 1,000 nautical miles of the coast of the Americas. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | CPC]
Atlantic Ocean
China
- Seeing that the Japanese assault on Changsha, Hunan Province, China was beginning to falter, an order for general counter offensive was given. Chinese troops pushed Japanese troops to Jinjing and Fulinpu, while Chinese aircraft bombed the Japanese airfield at Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. ww2dbase [First Battle of Changsha | CPC]
Poland
- Hans Frank ordered a "ruthless exploitation" of occupied Poland. ww2dbase [Hans Frank | CPC]
Turkey
- Sir Hughe Knatchbull-Hugessen, the British ambassador in Ankara, Turkey, telegraphed London with the main points that Adolf Hitler intended to cover in a speech dealing with his peace proposals. His source was the Dutch ambassador in Ankara who, in turn, was quoting a rumour started by the Geerman ambassador, Franz von Papen. ww2dbase [Ankara | AC]
Photo(s) dated 3 Oct 1939
4 Oct 1939
Atlantic Ocean
- U-23 spotted British merchant ship Glen Farg (Master Robert Galloway Hall) at 0445 hours about 110 kilometers (about 69 miles) south-southwest of Sumburgh Head, Shetland Islands in the North Atlantic, and stopped the ship with machine gun fire. At 0600 hours, when she detected that the British was sending out distress calls, she sank the ship with one G7a torpedo and gunfire. One crew member was killed. The 16 survivors were picked up by HMS Firedrake. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | U-23 | North Sea | CPC]
China
France
- HMS Acheron (H 45) disembarked the survivors of Belgian merchant steamer Suzon, which was sunk by German submarine U-35 three days earlier, at Brest, France. ww2dbase [Brest, Bretagne | HM]
5 Oct 1939
- HMS Eagle made rendezvous with light cruiser Liverpool. ww2dbase [Eagle | CPC]
- HMS Cumberland after refueling at Freetown, British West Africa (now Sierra Leone) was sent to join cruisers Exeter, Achilles and Ajax for continuation of interception patrols as Force G. ww2dbase [Cumberland | Exeter | DS]
Arctic Ocean
- Westerwald was officially commissioned into service, though she was already on a mission supporting cruiser Deutschland at this time. ww2dbase [Nordmark | CPC]
Atlantic Ocean
China
- In a downed aircraft, Chinese troops discovered General Yasuji Okamura's order calling off the offensive on Changsha, Hunan Province, China. Nearby, Chinese 23rd Division attacked a Japanese Navy anchorage at Yingtian (now Miluo), damaging several vessels. ww2dbase [First Battle of Changsha | Yingtian, Hunan | CPC]
Hawaii
Latvia
Poland
United Kingdom
- HMS Firedrake disembarked the 16 survivors of British merchant ship Glen Farg, sunk by U-23 on the previous day, at Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [Kirkwall, Scotland | CPC]
United States
- Franklin Roosevelt spoke to Winston Churchill for the first time over the telephone. Roosevelt, who initiated the call, engaged Churchill in a discussion on the German attempt to attack American shipping as an attempt to sabotage British-American relations; such an effort would later found to be a mere rumor. ww2dbase [Franklin Roosevelt | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 5 Oct 1939
6 Oct 1939
Australia
- Edmund Herring was named the commanding officer of Royal Artillery units within 6th Division of Second Australian Imperial Force; the appointment was made by Major General Thomas Blamey. ww2dbase [Edmund Herring | CPC]
China
Germany
- In a speech at the Reichstag in Berlin, Germany, Adolf Hitler noted that he did not wish to wage war against France and the United Kingdom, and it would not be worth the blood of British, French, and German soldiers for Poland, since it was created unjustly by the Versailles Treaty. He proposed a multi-power conference to achieve peace. ww2dbase [Adolf Hitler | Berlin | CPC]
Poland
- The final Polish forces surrendered near Kock and Lublin after fighting both Germans and Soviets. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | TH]
United Kingdom
- The Hawker Tornado aircraft took its first flight with test pilot P. G. Lucas at the controls. ww2dbase [Tornado | AC]
Photo(s) dated 6 Oct 1939
7 Oct 1939
Atlantic Ocean
- HMS Hermes made rendezvous with French battleship Strasbourg in the Atlantic Ocean. ww2dbase [Hermes | CPC]
France
- French Prime Minister Édouard Daladier rejected Adolf Hitler's proposal for a multi-power conference for peace on the previous day. ww2dbase [Édouard Daladier | CPC]
Germany
- Adolf Hitler appointed Heinrich Himmler as Reich Commissar for the protection of the German Race and issued a decree empowering Himmler to deport all Jews from Greater Germany to the east, where they would be resettled together with almost 2 million Polish Jews now under German rule. ww2dbase [Heinrich Himmler | AC]
- The German Army reported to Adolf Hitler that there was a general shortage of steel, ammunition, and other war materials necessary to wage war against Britain and France. ww2dbase [Invasion of France and the Low Countries | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 7 Oct 1939
8 Oct 1939
Atlantic Ocean
- A RAF reconnaissance plane shot down a German flying boat conducting reconnaissance over the North Sea. ww2dbase [North Sea | TH]
- Cruiser Köln began in a raid in the North Sea. ww2dbase [Köln | North Sea | CPC]
China
- Chinese 195th Division pursued the retreating Japanese troops in the Miluo River and Sinchiang River region in Hunan Province, China. ww2dbase [First Battle of Changsha | Hunan | CPC]
Poland
United Kingdom
- The prototype of the Percival Proctor, designed to British Air Ministry Specification 20/38 for a communications and radio training aircraft, made its maiden flight. ww2dbase [Proctor | AC]
- Approximately on this date, U-12 strike a mine just off Kingsdown, England, United Kingdom near Dover and sank; the entire crew of 27 was lost. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | U-12 | Kingsdown, England | CPC]
United States
- Joseph Stilwell was made the Infantry Commander of the 2nd Division at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas, United States. ww2dbase [Joseph Stilwell | San Antonio, Texas | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 8 Oct 1939
9 Oct 1939
- British Prime Minister Chamberlain announced a committee of ministers to coordinate the war time economy. ww2dbase [Neville Chamberlain | CPC]
Finland
Photo(s) dated 9 Oct 1939
10 Oct 1939
- Erich Raeder informed Adolf Hitler the strategic importance of Norway to the German Navy. ww2dbase [Invasion of Denmark and Norway | CPC]
- The highly successful Empire Air Training Scheme was set up to train Australian, Canadian and New Zealand aircrew. ww2dbase [AC]
Austria
China
- Chinese troops recaptured all territory in Hubei, Hunan, and Jiangxi Provinces in China that the Japanese had captured as part of the recently-failed advance on Changsha, Hunan. ww2dbase [First Battle of Changsha | CPC]
Germany
- Adolf Hitler announced the victorious end to the Polish campaign and called on France and England to end hostilities, which was ignored by both governments. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | TH]
- Adolf Hitler ordered the invasion of the Low Countries and France, but without a specific start date. ww2dbase [Invasion of France and the Low Countries | TH]
- U-40 departed Wilhelmshaven, Germany for her second war patrol. She was to patrol waters off of Portugal and Spain. ww2dbase [U-40 | Wilhelmshaven, Weser-Ems | CPC]
Japan
- Vice Admiral Matome Ugaki was named the chief of staff of Admiral Shigetaro Shimada at Kure Naval District, Japan. ww2dbase [Matome Ugaki | CPC]
Lithuania
United Kingdom
- The United Kingdom removed 303 sacks of letters destined for the United States from the freighter Black Gull to censor any potential intelligence useful for the Axis. ww2dbase [CPC]
11 Oct 1939
Germany
- The radio station in Berlin, Germany reported the false rumor of the fall of the British government, and that the new government was to offer Germany peace terms. "Old women in the vegetable markets tossed their cabbages into the air, wrecked their stands in sheer joy and made for the nearest pub to toast the peace", reported journalist William Shirer. ww2dbase [Berlin | CPC]
- Wilhelm von Leeb wrote a note to Walther von Brauchitsch and other German Army leaders, noting that Germany should not invade neutral Belgium due to moral reasons. ww2dbase [CPC]
Russia
- Russia demanded from Finland rights to establish airfields on Finnish territory as well as ceding of large amounts of Finnish soil; Finland rejected the demands. ww2dbase [The Winter War | TH]
United States
- Leó Szilárd and Albert Einstein's letter (sent on 2 Aug 1939) reached Franklin Roosevelt, who agreed to establish a committee for the research of nuclear energy as a weapon. This led to Roosevelt's decision to establish the Uranium Advisory Committee shortly after. ww2dbase [Operation Trinity and Manhattan Project | CPC]
- US President Franklin Roosevelt sent a cable to Soviet President Mikhail Kalinin, asking the Soviet Union to de-escalate the tension with Finland. ww2dbase [The Winter War | Franklin Roosevelt | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 11 Oct 1939
12 Oct 1939
- German submarine U-48 sank French tanker Emile Miguet and British freighter Heronspool. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | CPC]
- Finland and Russia were deadlock in negotiations. ww2dbase [The Winter War | TH]
- Fedor von Bock was appointed the commanding officer of the German Army Group B (Heeresgruppe B). ww2dbase [Fedor von Bock | CPC]
Poland
- Hans Frank is appointed Gauleiter of the General Government in occupied Poland. ww2dbase [Hans Frank | TH]
United Kingdom
- British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain rejected Adolf Hitler's proposal for a multi-power conference for peace made on 6 Oct 1939. ww2dbase [Neville Chamberlain | CPC]
13 Oct 1939
- General Wilhelm List was named the commanding officer of the German 12th Army. ww2dbase [Wilhelm List | CPC]
- With the offer for peace rejected by the French on 7 Oct and by the British on 12 Oct, Germany announced that the western powers desired war, and Germany could not be blamed for military action on the German-French border. ww2dbase [Invasion of France and the Low Countries | CPC]
Atlantic Ocean
Germany
- The 1,819-ton neutral Norwegian merchant steamer Kvernaas, captured by the Germans in Sep 1939, was released from Kiel, Germany along with its cargo of 2,585 tons of cellulose. ww2dbase [Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein | HM]
Photo(s) dated 13 Oct 1939
14 Oct 1939
- Chuichi Nagumo was placed on a committee studying capital ship bridge design. ww2dbase [Chuichi Nagumo | CPC]
French West Africa
- Dupleix arrived at Dakar, French West Africa. ww2dbase [Dupleix | Dakar | CPC]
Japan
- Korechika Anami was made the deputy commanding officer of the Japanese Army. ww2dbase [Korechika Anami | CPC]
United Kingdom
- German submarine U-47 penetrated defenses and entered Scapa Flow in Scotland, United Kingdom and sank British battleship HMS Royal Oak, killing 833 out of a crew of 1,257. ww2dbase [Scapa Flow | U-47 | Scapa Flow, Scotland | CPC]
United States
15 Oct 1939
- German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee refueled from tanker Altmark. ww2dbase [Admiral Graf Spee | CPC]
- Walter Krupinski began flight training. ww2dbase [Walter Krupinski | CPC]
- HMS Cumberland resumed patrol between Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires ww2dbase [Cumberland | DS]
Photo(s) dated 15 Oct 1939
16 Oct 1939
- Carrier USS Ranger and cruiser USS San Francisco were dispatched by US Navy to locate the German tanker recently departed from Mexico to supply German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee. ww2dbase [CPC]
Atlantic Ocean
- Duguay-Trouin intercepted German merchant ship Halle 320 kilometers southwest of Dakar, French West Africa; Halle was scuttled by her own crew to prevent capture. ww2dbase [Duguay-Trouin | CPC]
French West Africa
- HMS Hermes arrived at Dakar, French West Africa. ww2dbase [Hermes | Dakar | CPC]
Germany
- Grand Admiral Erich Raeder announced Adolf Hitler's orders that "all merchant ships definitely recognized as enemy can be torpedoed without warning." ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | CPC]
- U-23 completed her third war patrol. ww2dbase [U-23 | CPC]
United Kingdom
- British Royal Navy Commander R. F. Jolly, despite being seriously wounded by an air attack by a German Junkers Ju 88 bomber in the Firth of Forth, Scotland, United Kingdom, steadfastly refused medical treatment or requests that he left the bridge of HMS Mohawk until some eighty minutes later when he had finally brought his damaged destroyer into the safety at Rosyth. Taken ashore he lived on for another five hours before his death in hospital at South Queensferry, Scotland. For his heroism Commander Jolly was awarded, a week later, with a posthumous Empire Gallantry Medal (later replaced by a George Cross, a decoration only second in precedence to the Victoria Cross). ww2dbase [Rosyth, Scotland | AC]
- HMS Edinburgh was slightly damaged by German aircraft while in the Firth of Forth, Scotland, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [Edinburgh | Firth of Forth, Scotland | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 16 Oct 1939
17 Oct 1939
- Tribune was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Tribune | CPC]
Germany
- Germans forced back French troops in Saarland, Germany. ww2dbase [TH]
- Reinhard Heydrich ordered all Gypsy populations to cease travelling or face a concentration camp. ww2dbase [Discovery of Concentration Camps and the Holocaust | Reinhard Heydrich | AC]
- The Ministerial Council for the Defence of the Reich issued the "Decree relating to a special Jurisdiction in Penal Matters for members of the SS and for members of Police Groups on Special Tasks" which, in effect, was to free the armed SS from the legal jurisdiction of the Wehrmacht. ww2dbase [AC]
United Kingdom
- German aircraft attacked the British naval base at Scapa Flow, Scotland, United Kingdom, damaging the training ship HMS Iron Duke. ww2dbase [Scapa Flow | Scapa Flow, Scotland | CPC]
- In Britain, the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps (AMPC) was created to provide manpower to act as labourers on the BEF supply lines in France. Built around a nucleus of reservists considered too old or unfit for front-line service the Corps soon became filled with a mix of volunteers of German, Austrian or Italian descent (barred from other forms of service), newly called up conscripts and men recruited from similar civilian jobs. Given little or no military training and issued with just one uniform for both work and parade, they quickly gained a reputation for scruffiness and poor discipline. Morale further declined when three quarters of the rifles issued to the AMPC were withdrawn to provide weapons for newly formed infantry units. By the end of 1939 more than 18,000 AMPC men were working in France, mostly far behind the lines to unload ships, move supplies and build railways and camps for the "real" soldiers. ww2dbase [AC]
18 Oct 1939
- Germany and Soviet Union conducted a prisoner exchange. ww2dbase [TH]
- The heads of state of Finland, Norway, and Sweden met to discuss the tension between Finland and the Soviet Union. Meanwhile, Germany sent a message to Sweden noting that Germany would remain neutral should war break out between Finland and the Soviet Union, advising Sweden to do the same. ww2dbase [The Winter War | CPC]
- Dutch liner Simon Bolivar struck a German magnetic mine in the English Channel 10 miles east of Harwich, England, United Kingdom at 1030 hours; the mine was laid in this shipping lane without warning on the previous day; 86 were killed. The Netherlands made an official protest to Germany regarding this violation in international shipping law. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | CPC]
- British armed merchant cruiser HMS California stopped and captured German merchant ship Borkum in the Denmark Strait. ww2dbase [CPC]
China
- Representatives from Britain, Japan, and the United States reached an agreement regarding to the presence of troops of all three powers in and near the Gulangyu island international zone near Xiamen, China since May 1939; all three pledged to withdraw troops from the international zone and to suppress anti-Japanese activities in the international zone. ww2dbase [Xiamen, Fujian | CPC]
Germany
- Adolf Hitler ordered the German military to plan for the invasion of the Soviet Union, using Poland as a staging point. ww2dbase [Operation Barbarossa | CPC]
Poland
United States
- US President Franklin Roosevelt banned any American port from taking in any foreign combat submarines. ww2dbase [Franklin Roosevelt | CPC]
19 Oct 1939
Pacific Ocean
- American gunboat Erie arrived off Manzanillo, Mexico on neutrality patrol to monitor movements of German freighter Havelland. ww2dbase [CPC]
Poland
- Western Poland was incorporated into the Großdeutsches Reich, but not Germany itself, as the General Government. ww2dbase [TH, CPC]
Photo(s) dated 19 Oct 1939
20 Oct 1939
- Soviet Union and Finland both mobilized their military. ww2dbase [The Winter War | CPC]
Germany
- Maximilian von Weichs was made the commanding officer of German 2nd Army. ww2dbase [Maximilian von Weichs | CPC]
- The German Navy officially noted U-12 as missing; she had struck a mine in the Strait of Dover on 8 Oct 1939. ww2dbase [U-12 | CPC]
Norway
- The German-captured US freighter City of Flint arrived in neutral Norway. The Norwegians refused entry and told the German prize crew that they have 24 hours to leave. ww2dbase [AC]
21 Oct 1939
- Arthur Greiser was named the Gauleiter of Reichsgau Posen. ww2dbase [Arthur Greiser | CPC]
- Nobutake Kondo was named the deputy commander of the Navy General Staff. ww2dbase [Nobutake Kondo | CPC]
Atlantic Ocean
Germany
- General Erich von Manstein, Chief of Staff of Army Group A, obtained a copy of Plan Yellow whilst passing through Berlin, Germany on his way to set up Army Group A Headquarters at Koblenz. He found little to admire in the plan, considering it to be too much like the strategy of 1914, and even predicting that the advance would bog down at the same place – on the Somme River in France. ww2dbase [Erich von Manstein | Berlin | AC]
Poland
United States
- The Uranium Advisory Committee in the United States, headed by Lyman Briggs of the National Bureau of Standards, met for the first time. The committee had a budget of US$6,000 at this time. ww2dbase [Operation Trinity and Manhattan Project | CPC]
22 Oct 1939
- American freighters Endicott and West Gambo were detained by France; portions of their cargo were deemed contraband and confiscated. ww2dbase [CPC]
- Gallup revealed the results of an American public opinion poll, revealing that while 95% of the US population was against participating in the war, 62% agreed that the US should aid the Allies in other ways, largely by means of supplying weapons, steel, and the likes. ww2dbase [CPC]
- Joseph Goebbels publicly accused Winston Churchill of ordering the passenger liner Athenia attacked so that he could blame Germany and persuade the United States to join the Allies. ww2dbase [Joseph Goebbels | CPC]
Poland
- Western Byelorussia, Western Ukraine, and the Soviet-occupied areas of Poland held elections. ww2dbase [TH]
- Polish currency was replaced with Soviet rubles, Polish Industries moved into Russia, and the Soviet Union began phasing out Polish education, language, and religion. ww2dbase [TH]
23 Oct 1939
- U-56 began her third patrol. ww2dbase [U-56 | CPC]
Germany
- On being told by Admiral Erich Raeder that he lacked adequate support from both the civil administration and the other two military branches, Adolf Hitler sent a memorandum to the Air Force and Army Commanders-in-Chiefs as well as to the Ministers concerned. The memo made it clear that "All measures for attacking the merchant shipping and economic resources of Great Britain were to be directed through the O.K.W. (Oberkommando der Wehrmacht)." This gave Raeder the chance to press for a relaxation of the restrictions on sinking neutral vessels trading with England. Hitler however remained adamant that any incidents should be forbidden until he was ready to strike on land. He told the admiral that he was worried about the name of the heavy cruiser Deutschland. As soon as she arrived back her name was to be changed to Lützow. "Should she be sunk with her present name it would have serious repercussions back home." Hitler then ordered a meeting of Naval Staff in Berlin, Germany on 1 Nov 1939. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | Adolf Hitler | Erich Raeder | Deutschland | Berlin | HM]
Italy
- Comandante Faà di Bruno was commissioned into service with Aldo Enrici in command. ww2dbase [Comandante Faà di Bruno | CPC]
United Kingdom
United States
- Life Magazine published 15 of war time photographs of Warsaw, Poland taken by Julien Bryan. ww2dbase [Julien Bryan | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 23 Oct 1939
24 Oct 1939
- German submarine U-37 sank British steamships Menin Ridge by torpedoes and Ledbury by gunfire off Gibraltar. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | CPC]
- German RSHA organization noted that generally no prisoners would be released from protective custody during the war. ww2dbase [CPC]
Atlantic Ocean
- British light cruiser HMS Orion and Canadian destroyer HMCS Saguenay intercepted German tanker Emmy Friedrich in the Yucatán Channel; Emmy Friedrich's crew scuttled the ship to avoid capture. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | Yucatan Channel | CPC]
Danzig
- German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop delivered a speech in Danzig in which he accused the British government of preparing for a war with Germany for the past few years. ww2dbase [Joachim von Ribbentrop | CPC]
25 Oct 1939
Atlantic Ocean
- French cruiser Dupleix, destroyer Le Fantasque, and destroyer Le Terrible attacked and captured German freighter Santa Fé west of French West Africa. ww2dbase [Dupleix | CPC]
French West Africa
- HMS Hermes departed Dakar, French West Africa as a part of Force X patrolling Atlantic waters for German raiders. ww2dbase [Hermes | Dakar | CPC]
Japan
- Mitsubishi delivered the second Zero fighter prototype to the Japanese Navy for testing. ww2dbase [A6M Zero | CPC]
26 Oct 1939
- Kurt Fricke was awarded the Memel Medal. ww2dbase [Kurt Frike | CPC]
Czechoslovakia
- Jozef Tiso was declared the President of Slovakia. ww2dbase [Jozef Tiso | CPC]
Poland
United Kingdom
- In Britain, the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps was established by Royal Warrant. Made up of volunteers between the ages of 30 and 50 years (many veterans from the Great War) their role would be the construction of defences to turn Britain into an impregnable fortress. During the London Blitz this force would assist the civilian services with bomb damage and rescue. ww2dbase [AC]
Photo(s) dated 26 Oct 1939
27 Oct 1939
- Francis Tuker was promoted to the rank of colonel. ww2dbase [Francis Tuker | CPC]
Germany
- Heinz Guderian was awarded the Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross. ww2dbase [Heinz Guderian | AC]
Gibraltar
- The US Consul at Gibraltar met with British authorities to protest the detention of American merchant ships by the United Kingdom. ww2dbase [CPC]
United Kingdom
- The Gloster Aircraft Company produced its first Hurricane I fighter. They would deliver one thousand machines by the end of 1940 and attained a peak production rate of 130 Hurricane aircraft per month. In total Gloster would eventually build 1,850 examples for Hawker Aircraft. ww2dbase [Hurricane | AC]
28 Oct 1939
Atlantic Ocean
- German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee received fuel from and transferred British prisoners to tanker Altmark near Tristan de Cunha in the South Atlantic. ww2dbase [Altmark Incident | Admiral Graf Spee | Altmark | CPC]
Hawaii
Italy
Photo(s) dated 28 Oct 1939
29 Oct 1939
Atlantic Ocean
- The 7,976-ton British merchant steamer Malabar was on the return trip from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada to London, England, United Kingdom full of general cargo, including lumber and tobacco when torpedoed by German submarine U-34, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Wilhelm Rollmann at 0150 hours. Rollmann had fired two torpedoes and claimed to hit the Malabar and an escorting destroyer, however only Malabar was hit. Malabar was the ship of the convoy commodore, five crew were killed in the explosion, the remaining 66 crew and the master, Henry Herbert, the commodore Rear Admiral G. W. Taylor and his two staff members all got away in lifeboats and were clear when the vessel sunk 180 miles south of Land’s End, Cornwall, England. They were all picked up by the G- and H-class destroyer HMS Grafton (H 89) and taken to Plymouth on the south coast. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | HM]
France
- The body of Kapitänleutnant Dietrich von der Ropp, commanding officer of U-12, washed ashore near Dunkerque, France; the submarine was lost to a mine on 8 Oct 1939. ww2dbase [U-12 | Dunkerque, Nord-Pas-de-Calais | CPC]
Germany
Latvia
United Kingdom
- The first German aircraft to be shot down in Britain, a He 111 bomber, crashed near Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland, United Kingdom. The kill was claimed by No. 602 and No. 603 Squadrons RAF. Two members of the crew of four survived the crash and were captured. ww2dbase [Battle of Britain | Haddington, Scotland | CPC]
30 Oct 1939
Atlantic Ocean
- Leutnant Wilhem Zahn in German submarine U-56 fired three torpedoes at the battleship HMS Nelson off the Orkney Islands in Scotland, United Kingdom. Two of the torpedoes hit home but fortunately both proved to be duds. ww2dbase [AC]
- British anti-submarine Trawler HMS Northern Rover out from Grimbsy, north-east Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom, was sunk with a torpedo fired from German submarine U-59 (Oberleutnant zur See Harald Jürst) at 2335 hours. The trawler had been requisitioned by the Admiralty to be used against German submarines, as an armed boarding vessel and to be used as contraband hunters. U-59 attacked as the Northern Rover was patrolling the Kirkwall area, 100 miles west of Sumburgh Head in the Shetland Islands. The Commander, Lieutenant H. M. Macpherson RN and the 25-man crew were lost. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | HM]
Russia
- An act was signed in Moscow, Russia which formally annexed occupied Polish territories. ww2dbase [Invasion of Poland | Moscow | CPC]
United Kingdom
- The 4,666-ton steam merchant Cairnmona was making her way to Newcastle, England, United Kingdom with a cargo of copper and grain and 3 miles off Rattray Head, Aberdeenshire, northeast Scotland, United Kingdom when she was torpedoed by German submarine U-13 (Kapitänleutnant Karl Daublebsky von Eichhain) at 2250 hours. The Cairnmona had been dispersed from convoy HX-5 and would be the only ship sunk from it. Three crew were killed in the explosion, the master, Fred Wilkinson Fairley and 41 crew members took to lifeboats and were later picked up by the British drifter HMS River Lossie. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | Scotland | HM]
- The first WAAF Recruit Depot opened in West Drayton, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [WAAF: Women in the WW2 Royal Air Force | West Drayton, England | AC]
- U-56 fired three G7e (TII) torpedoes on HMS Rodney near the Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom; all three missed the target, but two of them hit HMS Nelson situated directly behind HMS Rodney. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | Rodney | U-56 | Nelson | Scotland | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 30 Oct 1939
31 Oct 1939
Atlantic Ocean
- At 0525 hours the 5,874-ton French merchant steamer Baoulé was heading to Bordeaux, France with a cargo of palm kernels, rubber, cocoa, and coffee in convoy K-20. The ships had just passed 45 miles west-northwest of A Coru?a, northwest Spain when Baoulé was torpedoed by German submarine U-25 commanded by Kapitänleutnant Viktor Schütze. Two torpedoes hit the ship which sank quickly, 13 crewmembers lost their lives. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | HM]
Germany
- The commanding officer of the German Wehrkreis IV district in Dresden, Germany gave the order to convert Colditz Castle to a prisoner of war camp named Offizierslager IV-C, or Oflag IV-C for short. ww2dbase [Dresden, Sachsen | CPC]
Russia
- Vyacheslav Molotov, Soviet Foreign Minister, gloated over the dissolution of Poland, "ugly offspring of the Versailles Treaty", by the combined Soviet-German attack. He also accused the British of aggressive acts. ww2dbase [Vyacheslav Molotov | TH]
United Kingdom
- The British Royal Navy was mobilized. ww2dbase [TH]
- The keel of Dianthus was laid down by Henry Robb, Limited of Leith, Scotland, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [Dianthus | Leith, Scotland | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 31 Oct 1939
1 Nov 1939
- Kurt Fricke was promoted to the rank of counter admiral. ww2dbase [Kurt Frike | CPC]
- U-23 began her fourth war patrol. ww2dbase [U-23 | CPC]
Austria
China
- Colonel Oyanazu Masao was named the commanding officer of Japanese Unit 516 chemical weapons research unit based in Qiqihar, Nenjiang Province, China, replacing Colonel Katsumura Fukujirou. ww2dbase [Qiqihar, Nenjiang | CPC]
Germany
- Heinkel demonstrated the first jet aircraft He 178 to the German Air Ministry, but the German officials were not impressed. ww2dbase [He 178 | CPC]
- The German military complained that the Soviet Union purchases too much war materials from Germany, which was hampering with the German ability to prepare for a war against France; it was acknowledged, however, the import of Soviet oil was vital. ww2dbase [CPC]
- Georg von Küchler was named the commanding officer of 11th Army. ww2dbase [Georg von Küchler | CPC]
- In a meeting with General Wilhelm Keitel and Lieutenant Commander Karl-Jesko von Puttkamer, Adolf Hitler's liaison officer with the Naval War Staff in Berlin, Hitler repeatedly told the officers that the name of the cruiser Deutschland should be changed and the ship was to avoid any action the same orders were to be issued to the Scharnhorst and the Gneisenau. Hitler was worried that any action would bring out the British Grand Fleet before air protection was organised. The Graf Spee, on station in the South Atlantic was to be ordered to be ready to sail to the Indian Ocean. Any operations of battleships must be held until Italy entered the war and the British Forces consequently held down. Submarine warfare was to be intensified. Passenger ships could be attacked and neutral ships would be attacked once a state of siege be declared against Britain. Hitler would not give priority to the production of submarines however, as Army equipment and ammunition supplies were of prime importance. Erich Raeder sent a copy to Admiral Karl Dönitz, Commander of the Submarine Arm with a note saying that in order to carry out a large scale submarine war then continuous pressure would be necessary. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | Adolf Hitler | Erich Raeder | Wilhelm Keitel | Deutschland | Berlin | HM]
Japan
- Captain Aritomo Goto was relived as the commanding officer of battleship Mutsu. ww2dbase [Mutsu | CPC]
- Captain Shutoku Miyazato was named the chief equipping officer of repair ship Akashi. Miyazato would supervise the installation of five cranes and various tools and equipment aboard the ship. ww2dbase [Akashi | CPC]
- Captain Hisashi Ichioka was made the chief equipping officer of Katori and Kashima, relieving Shutoku Miyazato. ww2dbase [Katori | Kashima | Yokohama, Kanagawa | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 1 Nov 1939
2 Nov 1939
China
- Arthur Chin, flying a Gladiator fighter, damaged a Japanese Navy C5M reconnaissance aircraft over Wuming Airfield, Guangxi Province, China. Observer Sub-Lieutenant Yonetaro Ueda was seriously injured, but the pilot was able to nurse the damaged aircraft back to its base on Hainan Island off the southern Chinese coast. ww2dbase [Arthur Chin | Wuming, Guangxi | CPC]
Germany
Poland
Photo(s) dated 2 Nov 1939
3 Nov 1939
Germany
- Franz Halder sent a message to Ludwig Beck telling him to be ready to move against Adolf Hitler on or shortly after 5 Nov 1939, which was the date the plans for the invasion of France, was supposed to be made known to top German military leaders. ww2dbase [Franz Halder | CPC]
Norway
- Hunted by Royal Navy destroyers, the German-captured US freighter City of Flint entered the harbour of Haugesund, Norway where she was boarded and seized by sailors from the Norwegian minesweeper Tryggvason. ww2dbase [Haugesund | AC]
United Kingdom
- The British government reduced the nightly blackout regulations by an hour. ww2dbase [CPC]
United States
- The Cash and Carry clause was introduced in US Statute of Neutrality. ww2dbase [AC]
Photo(s) dated 3 Nov 1939
4 Nov 1939
China
- Cen Zeliu led seven D.510 fighters to intercept a group of Japanese bombers attacking Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. He shot down the G3M bomber carrying commanding officer of 13th Kokutai Captain Kikushi Okuda, but his D.510 fighter was damaged by return fire, forcing him to bail out. ww2dbase [Cen Zeliu | Chengdu, Sichuan | CPC]
United Kingdom
- Colonel Stewart Menzies became head of British intelligence agency MI6 when Rear Admiral Hugh Sinclair died of cancer. ww2dbase [TH]
United States
- The Neutrality Act of 1939, which repealed the arms embargo of 1937, became a law in the United States. It allowed the US to sell arms to the Allies. ww2dbase [CPC]
- Franklin Roosevelt laid the cornerstone of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library in Hyde Park, New York, United States. ww2dbase [Franklin Roosevelt | Hyde Park, New York | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 4 Nov 1939
5 Nov 1939
Germany
- A plot to arrest or even kill Adolf Hitler, hatched by of his most senior military staff, collapsed. Led by General Franz Halder, the architect of the invasion of Poland, many Generals were appalled by Hitler's plans to continue the conflict by invading Belgium and the Netherlands and feared that the adventure would founder in another Great War quagmire. Walther von Brauchitsch, who met with Hitler and was supposed to be the one to issue the order for his arrest, got cold feet and lost the opportunity to prevent Hitler from plunging Europe into another World War. However one of the conspirators, Colonel Hans Oster of German Military Intelligence, tipped off the Dutch and Belgians about Hitler's invasion intentions. ww2dbase [Franz Halder | Walther von Brauchitsch | AC]
Japan
- Shigeru Fukudome was named the chief of staff of the Japanese Navy Combined Fleet. ww2dbase [Shigeru Fukudome | CPC]
6 Nov 1939
Atlantic Ocean
- With her German prize crew interned by the Norwegians, the captured US freighter City of Flint was handed back to her Master, Captain Gainard, and sailed under ballast to return to the United States. ww2dbase [AC]
Poland
- German occupation forces in Poland arrested the professors of University of Krakow. ww2dbase [Warsaw | CPC]
7 Nov 1939
- Belgium and Dutch Crowns stated their neutrality and offer to act as negotiators for peace, which was rejected by Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. ww2dbase [TH]
Germany
- Adolf Hitler postponed the decision for the western invasion; the next date of decision was to be 9 Nov 1939. ww2dbase [Invasion of France and the Low Countries | TH]
- Hermann Göring met with American journalists at the Soviet embassy in Berlin, Germany and mocked the quality and quantity of the US-built aircraft that would soon arrive in Britain. ww2dbase [Hermann Göring | Berlin | CPC]
- Herbert Norkus was launched prematurely by Blohm und Voss in Hamburg, Germany to make way for submarine construction. ww2dbase [Blohm und Voss | Herbert Norkus | Hamburg | CPC]
United Kingdom
8 Nov 1939
Belgium
- Belgian King Leopold III revealed to Dutch Queen Wilhelmina that Belgium was aware of a German plan to invade the Low Countries, and it could be launched as soon as within a few days. ww2dbase [Invasion of France and the Low Countries | CPC]
Finland
- Finland refused a Russian demand for territorial exchange. ww2dbase [The Winter War | CPC]
Germany
- An assassination attempt on Hitler by German carpenter Georg Elser failed at the annual commemoration of the Beer Hall Putsch in München, Germany. Ostensibly, Hitler and other top Nazi leaders escaped death because Hitler had ended his speech early and left the building eight minutes before the bomb planted by Elser detonated (which killed 8 and wounded 65). In actuality, however, it had been planned by Hitler to elevate his own standing in Germany and to create a situation where he could blame the western powers for an assassination attempt. ww2dbase [Adolf Hitler | München, München-Oberbayern | TH]
Poland
- Hans Frank was appointed the head of General Government in Poland. ww2dbase [Hans Frank | CPC]
9 Nov 1939
- Adolf Hitler again postponed the invasion of France; the next date for decision was to be 13 Nov 1939 for a possible invasion date of 19 Nov 1939. ww2dbase [Invasion of France and the Low Countries | CPC]
- German newspapers noted that the attempted assassination on Adolf Hitler which took place on the previous day in Munich, Germany was the work of British secret service agents. In actuality, it was a plot by Hitler to elevate his own standing. ww2dbase [CPC]
- Kurt Fricke was awarded Order of the Yugoslav Crown 2nd Class with Star of Yugoslavia. ww2dbase [Kurt Frike | CPC]
- U-23 completed her fourth war patrol. ww2dbase [U-23 | CPC]
Germany
- Adolf Hitler issued directive No. 9 which called for German aircraft and submarines to attack British shipping and port facilities. ww2dbase [Battle of Britain | CPC]
Russia
- In Moscow, Russia at 1800 hours, Finnish diplomats Paasikivi and Tanner met with Joseph Stalin and Vyacheslav Molotov in the final attempt to avoid war. They did not reach an agreeable conclusion. ww2dbase [The Winter War | Moscow | CPC]
United States
- Joseph Rochefort was evaluated for promotion, but a promotion was not granted; it was speculated that he had made too many political enemies. ww2dbase [Joseph Rochefort | CPC]
10 Nov 1939
- The Dutch Army canceled leave and reinforced border defenses. ww2dbase [CPC]
- HMS Cumberland on passage to Capetown, South Africa. ww2dbase [Cumberland | DS]
France
- British Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs Anthony Eden met with French Prime Minister Édouard Daladier and Commander-in-Chief General Maurice Gamelin in Paris, France, joined by representatives from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and India. ww2dbase [Anthony Eden | Paris | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 10 Nov 1939
11 Nov 1939
Czechoslovakia
- The funeral of Czech student Jan Opletal, killed earlier during the Czech independence celebrations, turned into a demonstration, which was crushed by German troops. Czech universities were closed; 1,200 students are sent to camps, and 9 are sentenced to death. ww2dbase [TH]
Germany
United Kingdom
- In a broadcast message to the nation, Queen Elizabeth called on English women to participate in the war effort. ww2dbase [TH]
- Built by Newport Ship Building in the United States, the 4,576-ton Greek owned Elenor R. struck a mine off the Shambles, Portland on the British south coast. The ship was on her way to Antwerp, Belgium from Rosario, Argentina and sank immediately. The crew were rescued; there were no casualties. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | England | HM]
12 Nov 1939
- German submarine U-41 sank British trawler Cresswell by gunfire off the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, United Kingdom at 0700 hours; 6 were killed, 8 survived and rescued by U-41. At 1000 hours, U-41 struck agin, sinking Norwegian tanker Arne Kjøde; 34 survived in 2 lifeboats, but one of them would soon capsize, killing 5. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | CPC]
- British and French governments politely rejected the offer from Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands and King Leopold of Belgium to mediate toward the end of the war. ww2dbase [CPC]
- Westerwald completed supporting German cruiser Deutschland in the Arctic Sea. ww2dbase [Deutschland | Nordmark | CPC]
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
Japan
- Prince Nagahisa's daughter Princess Hatsuko was born. ww2dbase [Nagahisa | CPC]
Romania
- King Carol II of Romania offered to mediate peace between Germany and the western powers. ww2dbase [Carol II | CPC]
United Kingdom
Photo(s) dated 13 Nov 1939
14 Nov 1939
Austria
- In Vienna, Austria detachments of the SS-Verfügungstruppe placed stocks of hand grenades at Jewish synagogues preparatory to setting fire to the buildings. ww2dbase [Vienna | AC]
Germany
- Theodor Eicke was named the commander of all SS Death's Head units; Richard Glucks was to take over Eicke's former position as the inspector of concentration camps. ww2dbase [Discovery of Concentration Camps and the Holocaust | CPC]
- In Germany, the Netherlands was added back to the German invasion plan for Western Europe as the German Air Force stressed the importance of having airfields in the Netherlands. ww2dbase [Invasion of France and the Low Countries | CPC]
Japan
- Kenkichi Ueda was dismissed from the Army General Staff. ww2dbase [Kenkichi Ueda | CPC]
15 Nov 1939
- Anticipating Adolf Hitler's wishes, Erich Raeder asked his staff officers to evaluate the possibility of an invasion of Britain. ww2dbase [Erich Raeder | CPC]
- Repair ship Akashi was assigned to the Combined Fleet. ww2dbase [Akashi | CPC]
- Koichi Shiozawa was promoted to the rank of admiral. ww2dbase [Koichi Shiozawa | CPC]
- Chuichi Nagumo was promoted to the rank of vice admiral. ww2dbase [Chuichi Nagumo | CPC]
- Captain Katsuji Hattori was made the commanding officer of Kamoi. The ship was assigned to the newly established Fourth Fleet which was to be based in Truk, Caroline Islands. ww2dbase [Kamoi | CPC]
China
- Vice Admiral Boshiro Hosogaya succeeded Vice Admiral Ichiro Sato as the commanding officer of the Ryojun Military Port (previously known as Port Arthur; now Lushunkou, Liaoning Province, China), Kwantung Leased Territory in northeastern China. Rear Admiral Isamu Takeda was named Hosogaya's chief of staff. ww2dbase [Ryojun Guard District | Lushunkou, Liaoning | CPC]
Japan
- Captain Teruo Akiyama was named the commanding officer of Naka. ww2dbase [Naka | CPC]
- Captain Zensuke Kanome was named the commanding officer of Tenryu. ww2dbase [Tenryu | CPC]
- Masafumi Arima became the commanding officer of Yokohama Naval Air Corps. ww2dbase [Masafumi Arima | Kanagawa | CPC]
- Captain Kaku Harada was named the commanding officer of Settsu. ww2dbase [Settsu | CPC]
- Captain Sukeyoshi Yatsushiro was named the commanding officer of Nachi. ww2dbase [Nachi | CPC]
- Masaichi Niimi was promoted to the rank of vice admiral and was made the commandant of the Japanese Navy Academy at Etajima, Japan. ww2dbase [Masaichi Niimi | Etajima, Hiroshima | CPC]
Korea
Poland
Taiwan
- Vice Admiral Ibo Takahashi was named the commanding officer of the Mako naval port at Pescadores islands, Taiwan. Rear Admiral Akira Matsuzaki was named his Chief of Staff. ww2dbase [Mako Guard District | Mako, Hoko | CPC]
- Raizo Tanaka stepped down as the Chief of Staff of the Mako naval port at Pescadores islands, Taiwan. ww2dbase [Raizo Tanaka | Mako, Hoko | CPC]
United States
- USS Squalus was decommissioned from service at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine, United States. ww2dbase [Sailfish | Kittery, Maine | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 15 Nov 1939
16 Nov 1939
- In Egypt, Major General Michael O'Mare Creagh replaced Major General P. C. S. "Hobo" Hobart as GOC of the Mobile Division (Later 7th Armoured). ww2dbase [AC]
17 Nov 1939
- Supreme Allied War Council approved a plan for British and French war production. ww2dbase [TH]
- Plans were made for British and French troops to move into Belgium to counter a possible German invasion, but reconnaissance parties were denied entry into Belgium to avoid provoking Germany. ww2dbase [TH]
- U-36 set sail for Basis Nord, a secret base on the Kola Peninsula in northern Russia provided by the Soviet Union. ww2dbase [U-36 | CPC]
China
- Japanese troops landed at Fangcheng and Beihai in Guangxi Province, China. ww2dbase [Guangxi | CPC]
Czechoslovakia
18 Nov 1939
- HMS Cumberland deployed with Force G ships off coast of Brazil in search for Admiral Graf Spee. ww2dbase [Cumberland | DS]
Austria
- At Salzburg, Austria, Adolf Hitler told the Italian Foreign Minister Count Galeazzo Ciano that Benito Mussolini's invasion of Albania was to blame for the Royal Air Force being allowed to establish bombers in Greece within reach of Germany's main fuel supply, the oil fields of Ploesti, Romania. In reality, Ioannis Metaxas's government refused to allow the British to threaten the Romanian oilfields in order to avoid provoking the Germans. ww2dbase [Adolf Hitler | Salzburg | AC]
19 Nov 1939
- The Heinkel He 177, the German Luftwaffe's only real heavy bomber of the war, took its first flight. ww2dbase [He 177 Greif | AC]
China
- Japanese troops overran the Xiaodong defensive line in Guangxi Province, China, advancing toward Nanning. ww2dbase [Guangxi | CPC]
20 Nov 1939
- German submarine U-33 sank three small British trawlers (Thomas Hankins at 1030 hours, Delphine at 1600 hours, and Sea Sweeper at 1700 hours) off Tory Island, Ireland. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | CPC]
China
- Chiang Kaishek was made the head of the Executive Yuan. ww2dbase [Chiang Kaishek | CPC]
United States
- The US Navy Chief of Naval Operations ordered the Commandant of the US Marine Corps Fourteenth Naval District to plan a Marine garrison at Midway. ww2dbase [CPC]
21 Nov 1939
- Lufthansa's Do 18F flying boat, upgraded with BMW 132N radial engines and redesignated Do 18L, took its first flight after the upgrade work. After two days of testing, it was found that the BMW engine suffered overheating problems. ww2dbase [Do 18 | CPC]
- Heinrich Himmler announced that the United Kingdom was responsible for the 8 Nov 1939 attempt on Adolf Hitler's life. Two British agents were kidnapped in the Netherlands several days prior, who were blamed for plotting the attack. The attack, however, was actually planned by the Germans as means to raise Hitler's standing within Germany. ww2dbase [CPC]
United Kingdom
- The United Kingdom declared an embargo on Germany, seizing all goods in the UK en route to Germany. ww2dbase [TH]
22 Nov 1939
- Overnight, German aircraft dropped magnetic mines in River Thames in southern England, United Kingdom, but at least one fell in nearby mud and was observed by the British. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | CPC]
- HMS Cumberland on passage to Plate estuary. ww2dbase [Cumberland | DS]
United Kingdom
- The 1,006-ton merchant steamer Lowland struck a mine two miles east-north-east from the NE Gunfleet Buoy in the Thames Estuary in Britain. Nine crew members died. She belonged to the Shipping and Coal Company and was taking coal into London. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | England | HM]
23 Nov 1939
- RAF claimed seven Luftwaffe aircraft over France. ww2dbase [TH]
- Rawalpindi stumbled upon German battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. When asked to abandon ship, Captain Edward Kennedy turned toward the German ships in an attempt to get into range of her 6-inch guns. She was to be sunk by the German 11-inch guns before she could get close enough. ww2dbase [Rawalpindi | AC]
- Adolf Hitler gathered the top German leaders and lectured them on his vision for the future of Germany, which involved an invasion of France. ww2dbase [Invasion of France and the Low Countries | CPC]
- In an aerial battle over the French border, Leutnant Werner Methfessel became the Luftwaffe's first Bf 110 fighter pilot ace (although the veracity of his claim remained in some doubt). ww2dbase [Bf 110 | AC]
Germany
Poland
United Kingdom
24 Nov 1939
- Gestapo executed 120 Czech students accused of participating in an anti-Nazi conspiracy. ww2dbase [CPC]
China
- Japanese 5th Division captured Nanning, Guangxi Province, China. ww2dbase [Nanning, Guangxi | CPC]
25 Nov 1939
- German submarine U-28 sank British merchant ship Royston Grange of Allied convoy SL-8B 50 miles southwest of Land's End, England, United Kingdom at 1319 hours. Between 2200 hours and midnight, German submarine U-43 attacked and sank British ship Uskmouth 120 miles northwest of Cape Finisterre, Spain with gunfire and torpedoes; 2 were killed, 22 survived and rescued by Italian merchant ship Juventus. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | CPC]
26 Nov 1939
Russia
- Soviet troops under the direction of the Soviet NKVD organization fired 7 mortar shells southward into a field near the village of Mainila, Russia at 1430 hours, claiming the Finnish Army was responsible for the attack. NKVD agents then kidnapped two Soviet soldiers. The actions were immediately blamed on Finland. At 2100 hours, the Soviets issued the demand to Finnish ambassador Yrjo-Koskinen for the Finnish Army to move back 20 to 25 kilometers from the border. In response, Finland demanded a neutral party to investigate the incident. ww2dbase [The Winter War | Mainila, Leningrad | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 26 Nov 1939
27 Nov 1939
- Sealion (Sargo-class) was commissioned into service. ww2dbase [Sealion (Sargo-class) | CPC]
- Finland sent Soviet Union a message noting that the Finnish Army had not fired any shots into Soviet territory. In response to the Soviet request on the previous day for Finnish troops to fall back 20 to 25 kilometers from the border, Finland suggested Soviet troops to do the same. ww2dbase [The Winter War | CPC]
- German submarine U-48 damaged Swedish tanker Gustaf E. Reuter near Fair Isle northwest of Scotland, United Kingdom; 1 was killed, 32 survived. An attempt to tow Gustaf E. Reuter to port failed overnight, causing her to finally sink. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | CPC]
- Douglas Bader made his first solo flight since his 1931 air accident that cost him both of his legs. ww2dbase [Douglas Bader | CPC]
- Kurt Fricke was awarded Clasp 1st Class to his Iron Cross. ww2dbase [Kurt Frike | CPC]
- U-56 began her fourth patrol. ww2dbase [U-56 | CPC]
28 Nov 1939
- The Soviet Union tore up the Soviet-Finnish non-aggression pact, noting that Finland had committed an act of aggression for the shelling of Mainila, Russia two days prior. Finland presented a witness, a Finnish border guard, who saw that it was the Soviets who fired the mortar rounds. ww2dbase [The Winter War | CPC]
Atlantic Ocean
- British Royal Navy trawler HMS Kingston Beryl scuttled the stern section of Swedish tanker Gustaf E. Reuter in the North Sea. Gustaf E. Reuter had been attacked by German submarine U-48 on the previous day, and the bow section had sunk overnight during an unsuccessful towing attempt. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | North Sea | CPC]
China
- Ding Zhipan was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general in the Nationalist Army. ww2dbase [Ding Zhipan | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 28 Nov 1939
29 Nov 1939
- Finnish diplomats in Moscow, Russia made the final pleas to avoid war. At midnight, Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov ordered the invasion to commence. ww2dbase [The Winter War | CPC]
Atlantic Ocean
- British destroyers HMS Kingston, HMS Icarus, and HMS Kashmir forced German submarine U-35 to surface and surrender in the North Sea with depth charges. U-35's crew scuttled the submarine to prevent capture. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | North Sea | CPC]
Poland
- Residents of Soviet-occupied Poland had Soviet citizenship forced on them. ww2dbase [TH]
30 Nov 1939
Finland
- 21 Soviet divisions crossed the border into Finland at 0800 hours after about one hour of artillery bombardment, starting what was to be known as the Winter War. Soviet aircraft bombed Helsinki. ww2dbase [The Winter War | TH]
Photo(s) dated 30 Nov 1939
See all photos dated 30 Nov 1939
1 Dec 1939
- Otto Kuusinen was made head of the puppet government forming in Moscow for Finland. ww2dbase [TH]
- Firefight between Finnish coastal batteries at Russaro and the Soviet cruiser Kirov and her destroyer screen; Kirov and one of her destroyers were damaged. ww2dbase [Kirov | TH]
- Chinese 3rd Army Group cut the Lung'hai Railway line at several locations and attacked highways, both actions interrupted Japanese logistics. Meanwhile, troops of the Chinese 81st Division attacked the cities of Kaifeng and Lanfeng. ww2dbase [Winter Offensive | CPC]
China
- Hiroshi Nemoto was named the chief of staff of the 21st Army based in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China. ww2dbase [Hiroshi Nemoto | Guangzhou, Guangdong | CPC]
- Asasaburo Kobayashi stepped down as the chief of staff of Japanese 12th Army in China and became the chief of the 1st Section of the Inspectorate-General of Military Training of the Army General Staff. ww2dbase [Asasaburo Kobayashi | CPC]
Germany
- In Germany, Ernst Udet was appointed Director General of Air Force Equipment (Generalluftzeugmeister). ww2dbase [Ernst Udet | AC]
- The third group of the German Kampfgeschwader 55 wing was established. ww2dbase [CPC]
- The title "Waffen-SS" became official. This organisation embraced the SS Verfugungs Division, the Liebstandarte, the SS Totenkopf Division, the SS Polizei Division, the SS Junkerschulen (training schools), together with their training and replacement units. Service in these formations would count as active military duty. ww2dbase [AC]
Japan
- Tenryu was assigned to Maizuru Naval District, Japan for service as a guard ship and training vessel for the Japanese Navy Engineering Academy. ww2dbase [Tenryu | Maizuru, Kyoto | CPC]
- Kenkichi Ueda was forced into the reserve. ww2dbase [Kenkichi Ueda | CPC]
Taiwan
- Lieutenant General Mitsuru Ushijima was named the commanding officer of the Taiwan Army. ww2dbase [Mitsuru Ushijima | CPC]
3 Dec 1939
Atlantic Ocean
- After following the target for about 45 minutes, U-56 sank neutral ship Rudolf (Master Bertil Persson) with one G7e torpedo in the North Sea about 60 kilometers east of May Island at 0013 hours. Six survivors were picked up by British trawler Cardew later in the day; they were landed at Dundee. Eight other survivors remained in lifeboats. 9 were killed. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | U-56 | North Sea | CPC]
Italy
Photo(s) dated 3 Dec 1939
4 Dec 1939
- En route to Basis Nord in northern Russia, U-36 was sunk by British submarine HMS Salmon with the loss of all hands. ww2dbase [U-36 | CPC]
Atlantic Ocean
- Eight survivors of neutral ship Rudolf, sunk by U-56 in the North Sea on the previous day, were rescued by Swedish merchant ship Gunlög; they were landed at Newcastle upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [North Sea | CPC]
France
- King George VI arrived in France to inspect British Army and RAF units and to view the French Maginot Line. ww2dbase [Maginot Line | George VI | AC]
French Morocco
5 Dec 1939
- U-56 ended her fourth patrol. ww2dbase [U-56 | CPC]
- U-23 began her fifth war patrol. ww2dbase [U-23 | CPC]
Atlantic Ocean
- HMS Cumberland in company with HMS Ajax intercepted German ship Ussukuma which scuttled 400 miles south of Buenos Aires, Argentina. ww2dbase [Cumberland | DS]
Finland
- Heavy fighting took place between Soviet Army and Finnish Army in the Karelia region in southern Finland. ww2dbase [The Winter War | TH, CPC]
United States
- Look Magazine published 26 of war time photographs of Warsaw, Poland taken by Julien Bryan. ww2dbase [Julien Bryan | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 5 Dec 1939
6 Dec 1939
- Finns held off heavy Soviet attacks on the Mannerheim Line, inflicting heavy casualties. ww2dbase [The Winter War | TH]
- First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill honored the officers and crew of Rawalpindi, "[w]hose glorious fight against overwhelming odds deserves the respect and honour of the House [of Commons] and of the nation". ww2dbase [Rawalpindi | AC]
7 Dec 1939
- England and France pledged support to Finland, but an inability to follow through left the promises rather empty. ww2dbase [TH]
- Soviet 9th Army attacked in central Karelia, Finland. ww2dbase [The Winter War | TH]
Atlantic Ocean
- U-23 fired a torpedo at Danish ship Scotia, sailing in ballast, in the North Sea at 2326 hours. The submarine would continue to pursue into the next day. ww2dbase [U-23 | North Sea | CPC]
Italy
- Italy publicly reaffirmed neutrality in the war. ww2dbase [TH]
8 Dec 1939
Atlantic Ocean
- German submarine U-48 sank the ship Brandon of Allied convoy OB-48 in the Celtic Sea at 1155 hours. Master Richard Black Chisholm and other survivors were picked up by the Belgian trawlers Marie Jose Rosette and Tritten and landed at Milford Haven, Wales, United Kingdom. U-48 misidentified her victim as the Navasota, but this ship had been sunk by submarine U-47 three days earlier. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | U-48 | Celtic Sea | CPC]
- U-23 sank Danish merchant ship Scotia, sailing in ballast, in the North Sea with 0004 hours with one torpedo. Nineteen were killed. The two survivors were picked up by the nearby Danish merchant ship Hafnia immediately. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | U-23 | North Sea | CPC]
Germany
- Admiral Erich Raeder requested a meeting with Adolf Hitler as political and military situations were developing quickly in these early days of the war. Great Britain told Germany that they would confiscate all German exports (until then only imports had been treated as contraband). This was because of Germany's act of laying magnetic mines since 18 Nov 1939. Japan, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and Sweden all protested to London about this and Raeder thought it would help him to convince Hitler to sanction his plan for "Siege of England". At the end of the meeting Raeder had got no further with his plans of blockade and realised that the situation would not change until after the invasion of the Low Countries. ww2dbase [Adolf Hitler | Erich Raeder | HM]
United Kingdom
9 Dec 1939
- German merchant freighter Kurmark, acquired by the German Navy in the fall of 1939, was commissioned into service as auxiliary cruiser Orion. ww2dbase [Orion | CPC]
- 27-year-old Corporal Thomas Priday, while leading a patrol near Metz, France, became the first British soldier to be killed in the European War. He was killed by friendly fire. ww2dbase [AC]
- German cruiser Admiral Graf Spee sailed toward the River Plate estuary on the border of Uruguay and Argentina to attack a reported convoy departing from Montevideo, Uruguay. Meanwhile, Royal Navy Force G (light cruisers HMS Ajax and HMS Achilles, soon to be joined by heavy cruiser HMS Exeter) was already en route toward the area in search of Admiral Graf Spee. ww2dbase [Battle of the River Plate | Admiral Graf Spee | CPC]
10 Dec 1939
- Chinese troops launched an attack on Henglingguan Pass south of Jiangxian in northern China; the Japanese troops at the strong point would be driven off by the month's end. ww2dbase [Winter Offensive | CPC]
- Soviet 7th Army, while attacking Finnish defense fortifications, received flanking fire from coastal batteries on the island of Saarenpää; in response, Soviet battleship Oktjabrskaja Revolutsija bombarded the island, but failed to hit the batteries due to heavy fog. In the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia, Soviet submarines sank three ships going in and out of Finnish ports; two of them actually flew German flags. ww2dbase [The Winter War | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 10 Dec 1939
See all photos dated 10 Dec 1939
11 Dec 1939
- Soviet 163rd Division was held by Finnish defenses north of Lake Piispajarvi in Finland, while Soviet 81st and 759th Regiments were likewise bogged down by Finnish border police forces to the south at Suomussalmi, a road junction village. Lightly-armed troops of the Finnish 27th Regiment, on skis, launched an attack on the Soviet supply line along the Raate Road in an attempt to isolate Soviet troops at Suomussalmi. ww2dbase [The Winter War | CPC]
- German submarine U-38 sank Greek freighter Garoufalia off Norway; 4 were killed, 25 survived. ww2dbase [CPC]
- Vidkun Quisling met with Erich Raeder in Germany. ww2dbase [Vidkun Quisling | CPC]
China
- Kong Xiangxi stepped down as the Premier of China, and was made the Vice Premier of China as the deputy head of the Executive Yuan. ww2dbase [Kong Xiangxi | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 11 Dec 1939
12 Dec 1939
- Cruiser Köln and other warships screened minelayers during a mining mission. ww2dbase [Köln | CPC]
- Adolf Hitler postponed the decision to invade France to 27 Dec 1939; if he was to launch the attack, the date of action was to be 1 Jan 1940. Since the decision was to be made after Christmas, he permitted the granting of Christmas leave. ww2dbase [Invasion of France and the Low Countries | CPC]
- Erich Raeder reported to Adolf Hitler after Raeder had met with Norwegian leaders Vidkun Quisling and Albert Viljam Hagelin. Raeder noted of the Norwegian popular hostility toward Germany, Britain's great influence on the Norwegian government through its high court, and the possibility that Britain might soon occupy Norway. Hitler stated that Britain must never be allowed to occupy Norway. Raeder also recommended Hitler to be neutral in the Winter War, although it was advisable to continue supplying fuel for Soviet submarines. ww2dbase [Adolf Hitler | Erich Raeder | HM]
- HMS Cumberland under self-refit and boiler cleaning at Port Stanley. ww2dbase [Cumberland | DS]
Atlantic Ocean
- The 8,485-ton British registered motor tanker British Liberty was on route from Haifa, Palestine for Dunkerque, France with a cargo of crude oil. As she was nearing Dunkerque she struck a British laid mine 4 miles north-east of the Dyck Light Vessel. Twenty-four of her crew were killed in the explosion. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | North Sea | HM]
Finland
- Soviets suffered heavy casualties near Tolvajärvi, Finland as Finnish troops wiped out two Soviet divisions. ww2dbase [The Winter War | Tolvajärvi | TH]
United Kingdom
- Off the British coast, at 0815 hours, the 496-ton ship Marwick Head taking coal to London from Boness, near Grangemouth, Scotland, struck a mine laid by U-59 and sank 0.5 miles South of the North Caister Buoy, off Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England. Five crew members were lost, the captain and four other crew were rescued and taken to Great Yarmouth. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | England | HM]
13 Dec 1939
- In China, troops of the Chinese 47th Corps captured the Taihang Mountain and cut the Taosin Railway by taking the stations at Poshan and Changkou. Chinese troops launched an offensive in eastern Shanxi Province in China, nearly encircling the Japanese 36th Division. ww2dbase [Winter Offensive | CPC]
- Cruiser Köln returned from screening mission for minelayers. ww2dbase [Köln | CPC]
Atlantic Ocean
- At the Battle of the River Plate, British naval forces damaged German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee, forcing her enter the neutral port of Montevideo for repairs. HMS Cumberland was ordered to join Exeter, Ajax and Achilles off the Plate estuary off Uruguay. ww2dbase [Battle of the River Plate | Admiral Graf Spee | Cumberland | Exeter | CPC]
Finland
- Ivan Khabarov was relieved as the commanding officer of Soviet 8th Army due to its poor performance in Finland. ww2dbase [The Winter War | Ivan Khabarov | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 13 Dec 1939
See all photos dated 13 Dec 1939
14 Dec 1939
- Finnish fortress at Uto was attacked by two Soviet destroyers; one of the Soviet destroyers was lost. Meanwhile, League of Nations ejected Soviet Union because of aggression against Finland. ww2dbase [The Winter War | TH]
- 12 British Wellington bombers of No. 99 Squadron attacked a German convoy north of Wilhelmshaven, Germany during daylight. Within 30 minutes of the attack, six of them were lost to flak and German fighters, including two that collided in mid-air during the fight. ww2dbase [CPC]
- HMS Cumberland joined other ships in Plate estuary off Uruguay awaiting departure of Admiral Graf Spee. ww2dbase [Battle of the River Plate | Admiral Graf Spee | Cumberland | DS]
Atlantic Ocean
Germany
Mexico
- German freighter Arauca and passenger liner Columbus departed from Veracruz, Mexico, and were immediately followed by American destroyers. ww2dbase [Veracruz | CPC]
15 Dec 1939
- Red Army assaulted Taipale, Finland. Meanwhile, the Finnish government decided to bring fallen Finnish soldiers of the Winter War to their home towns for burial. ww2dbase [The Winter War | TH]
- 5,000 Japanese troops launched a counter-attack against recent Chinese offensives in northern China. ww2dbase [Winter Offensive | CPC]
- Erich Raeder suggested that the pocket battleship Lützow and the blueprints for the Bismarck-class battleships could be made available for sale to the Soviet Union if the Soviet Union was willing to pay a good price. ww2dbase [Erich Raeder | CPC]
- U-23 completed her fifth war patrol. ww2dbase [U-23 | CPC]
Atlantic Ocean
- Seeadler completd her patrol of the Skagerrak strait between Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. ww2dbase [Seeadler | Skagerrak | CPC]
16 Dec 1939
China
- In China, troops of the Chinese 81st Division captured the city of Kaifeng in Henan Province, while troops of the Chinese 5th Division began to advance toward Kunlun Pass, Guangxi Province in southern China. ww2dbase [Winter Offensive | CPC]
Germany
17 Dec 1939
Canada
- The Governments of Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada signed the Air Training Agreement (Riverdale Agreement) in Ottowa, Ontario, Canada, thereby establishing the creation of the Commonwealth Air Training Plan (joined further by facilities in South Africa, Southern Rhodesia and the United States) for the joint training of military air crews. ww2dbase [Ottowa, Ontario | AC]
Germany
- Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" was operational at Jever, Germany. ww2dbase [Jever | CPC]
Uruguay
Photo(s) dated 17 Dec 1939
18 Dec 1939
China
- Chinese troops captured Longhua, near Yicheng, Hubei Province, China. To the south, Chinese 5th Division captured Kunlunguan Pass in Guangxi Province. ww2dbase [Winter Offensive | CPC]
Finland
- Soviet 273rd Infantry regiment retreated in the face of attacks from Finnish 40th Infantry Regiment. ww2dbase [The Winter War | TH]
Germany
- 24 British Wellington bombers were launched to attack German shipping during daylight, with the target area centered around the naval port city of Wilhelmshaven, Germany; only 22 flew to the target area because 2 developed technical problems shortly after takeoff. Flak quickly broke up the bomber formation, then the German Bf 109 and Bf 110 fighters that came to the ships' defense shot down 12 of the 22 bombers. German pilots claimed 34 kills for the loss of 2 fighters during combat and another crashed at landing; the German Air Ministry confirmed only 26. British pilots also overestimated their kills, claiming 13 definite and 12 probable. ww2dbase [Kriegsmarinewerft | Wilhelmshaven, Weser-Ems | CPC]
- Vidkun Quisling met with Adolf Hitler in Berlin, Germany. ww2dbase [Adolf Hitler | Vidkun Quisling | Berlin | CPC]
- F5 was recommissioned into service. ww2dbase [F5 | CPC]
Poland
- Lavrentiy Beria ordered first mass deportation of Poles to Soviet Union. ww2dbase [Lavrentiy Beria | TH]
United Kingdom
- The first Canadian troops arrived in England, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [England | TH]
Photo(s) dated 18 Dec 1939
19 Dec 1939
- In their attack on Summa, Finland, the Soviet Army lost 20 of 100 tanks. ww2dbase [The Winter War | TH]
- Hans Langsdorff passed away. ww2dbase [Hans Langsdorff | CPC]
- British light cruiser HMS Orion intercepted German freighter Arauca off Miami, Florida, United States; the German crew sailed into Port Everglades, Florida to avoid capture as the United States was still a neutral nation. ww2dbase [CPC]
Atlantic Ocean
- HMS Hyperion intercepted German passenger liner Columbus 450 miles east of Cape May, New Jersey, United States; Columbus' crew scuttled the ship to prevent capture. ww2dbase [CPC]
China
20 Dec 1939
- Soviet Army called off the attack on Summa, Finland. ww2dbase [The Winter War | TH]
United Kingdom
- HMS Acasta began a period of refitting at HM Dockyard, Devonport in Plymouth, England, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [Acasta | Plymouth, England | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 20 Dec 1939
21 Dec 1939
- Between 0725 and 1016 hours, German submarine U-21 sank two neutral Swedish ships Mars and SS Carl Henckel with one torpedo each. The German submarine did not pick up any survivors; only 8 out of the 36 floating in the water survived until when help arrived on the next day. ww2dbase [CPC]
- Russia celebrated Joseph Stalin's 60th official birthday. His actual birthday is 18 Dec 1878, but was changed to 21 Dec 1879 after he came to power in 1922. ww2dbase [Joseph Stalin | CPC]
- Soviet 122nd Division was halted at the villages of Pelkosenniemi and Kemijärvi in Lapland, Finland. ww2dbase [The Winter War | CPC]
- Finnish General Hugo Österman presented a plan for counterattack to Field Marshal Mannerheim; the plan was prepared by Österman's subordinate General Harald Öhqvist of the II Corps. ww2dbase [CPC]
- The British RAF Bomber Command issued Operational Instruction 21, which in part noted the following that reflected the reluctance to end daylight bombing missions despite of the heavy losses sustained thus far: "With the intention of combining useful training and operations, sweeps will continue to be carried out.... If enemy aircraft are encountered, gunners will be able to practise shooting at real targets instead of drogues." ww2dbase [CPC]
- HMS Cumberland on passage to Port Stanley, Falkland Islands. ww2dbase [Cumberland | DS]
Photo(s) dated 21 Dec 1939
22 Dec 1939
- Werner Mölders and Hans von Hahn became the first German fighter pilots to shoot down British Hurricane fighters. ww2dbase [Werner Mölders | CPC]
- Friedrich-Wilhelm Müller was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class medal. ww2dbase [Friedrich-Wilhelm Müller | CPC]
China
- Zhou Zhikai, flying an I-15bis fighter, shared a victory with his squadron commander Captain Jiang Weihua for the downing of a G4M bomber of Japanese 15th Kokutai over Liuzhou, Guangxi, China. ww2dbase [Zhou Zhikai | Liuzhou, Guangxi | CPC]
Finland
- Finnish Army Group Talvela overran Soviet 75th division in hand to hand combat at Ägläjärvi (Russian: Yaglyayarvi) on the Karelian Isthmus. ww2dbase [The Winter War | Ägläjärvi | CPC]
- Field Marshal Mannerheim of Finland authorized to launch the offensive planned by Generals Österman and Öhqvist presented to him on the previous day. ww2dbase [Carl G. E. Mannerheim | CPC]
- Mikhail Dukhanov was relieved as the commanding officer of the Soviet 9th Army in Finland. ww2dbase [Mikhail Dukhanov | CPC]
Hawaii
Italy
United States
Photo(s) dated 22 Dec 1939
23 Dec 1939
Finland
- At 0630 hours, 4 Finnish divisions counterattacked on a 28-mile front on the west side of the Karelian Isthmus, trying to trap resting Soviet forces in a massive encirclement; without support of anti-tank weapons or artillery pieces, it was repulsed by tanks; Finnish General Öhqvist called off the attack at 1440 hours after suffering 1,300 casualties. Meanwhile, Captain Mäkinen's 2 machine gun companies in the Finnish 9th Division attacked forward elements of the Soviet 44th Division, tying down the entire column of 15,000 troops and equipment. ww2dbase [The Winter War | CPC]
Ireland
- An IRA gang stole the Irish Army's entire reserve of small arms ammunition - more than one million rounds - from an ammunition fort in Phoenix Park, Dublin. Most of it was recovered over the following days. ww2dbase [Dublin | AC]
Poland
United Kingdom
- The British Military Intelligence Section 9 (MI9) was established under the command of Major Norman Crockatt. It was charged with aiding resistance fighters in enemy occupied territory and recovering Allied troops, including downed airmen and prisoners of war. ww2dbase [AC]
24 Dec 1939
- HMS Cumberland refuelled and prepared for further interception duty in South Atlantic. ww2dbase [Cumberland | DS]
Finland
- Finnish Army Group Talvela pushed Soviet 75th and 139th Divisions back across the Russian border. Meanwhile, Soviet 163rd Division tried unsuccessfully to break out of Suomussalmi, Finland; the Soviet 44th Division failed to move in to provide support for the 163rd Division. ww2dbase [The Winter War | CPC]
Vatican City
- Pope Pius XII made a Christmas Eve appeal for peace. ww2dbase [Pius XII | TH]
Photo(s) dated 24 Dec 1939
25 Dec 1939
- The Red Army resumed attacking the Taipale sector in Finland between 0500 and 0700 hours; spearheaded by the Soviet 4th Rifle Division across the frozen Suvanto River, the offensive initially gained three bridgeheads, but heavy Finnish artillery would push Soviet forces back across the river at two spots. Elsewhere, the trapped Soviet 163rd division attempted another break-out at Suomussalmi but it was repulsed; Soviet 44th Division continued to move toward Suomussalmi, but it was largely pinned down on the Raate Road. ww2dbase [The Winter War | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 25 Dec 1939
26 Dec 1939
- The first Royal Australian Air Force personnel arrived by boat at Pembroke, Wales, United Kingdom for anti-submarine duty in Sunderland flying boats with No. 10 Squadron. ww2dbase [S.25 Sunderland | TH]
Finland
- Finnish 9th Division received artillery support and began bombarding the Soviet 163rd Division trapped in Suomussalmi, Finland. Elsewhere in the Taipale sector, Finnish and Soviet troops fought near the village of Kelja at the Suvanto River; Finnish artillery and batteries at Kekinniemi fort stopped Russian advances, but two Finnish attempts at advancing were similarly stopped. ww2dbase [The Winter War | CPC]
27 Dec 1939
- In Finland, Soviet 4th Division rushed several groups of men across the frozen Suvanto River in the darkness to reinforce the bridgehead on the far bank, but the attempts were detected by Finnish forces, which attacked them with artillery and machine guns, killing many; after dawn, Finnish forces successfully eliminated all Soviet bridgeheads on the Finnish side of the Suvanto River, ending the Battle of Kelja by 1800 hours. Elsewhere, in Suomussalmi, Finnish 9th division, supported by the newly-arrived four 1902 76-millimeter cannon and two Bofors 37-millimeter anti-tank guns, began to assault the encircled Soviet 163rd Division. ww2dbase [The Winter War | CPC]
- The keel for future submarine Gar was laid down. ww2dbase [Gar | CPC]
- Adolf Hitler postponed the decision to invade France to a later date. ww2dbase [Invasion of France and the Low Countries | CPC]
- U-56 began her fifth patrol in the southern North Sea. ww2dbase [U-56 | CPC]
China
- Arthur Chin, flying a Gladiator fighter, escorted three SB-2 bombers (flown by Soviet volunteer crews) in a mission against Japanese positions near Kunlun Pass near Nanning, Guangxi Province, China. He shot down a Japanese A5M fighter which was attacking Lieutenant Chen Yexin's I-15bis fighter, but he was in turn hit by another A5M fighter. He successfully bailed out of his burning fighter, but not before he suffered serious burns to his face. ww2dbase [Arthur Chin | Nanning, Guangxi | CPC]
United States
Photo(s) dated 27 Dec 1939
28 Dec 1939
- Joseph Stalin ordered the Soviet troops in Finland to hold position as his generals worked on a new offensive plan against the surprisingly resilient Finnish defenses. The Soviet troops enveloped within Finnish lines was thus abandoned and left to be eliminated by the Finnish forces. ww2dbase [The Winter War | Joseph Stalin | CPC]
United Kingdom
- German submarine U-30 sank British submarine trawler HMS Barbara Robertson in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, United Kingdom at 0400 hours, killing 1; the German submarine radioed Swedish merchant ship Hispania to pick up the survivors. Later on the same day, at 1545 hours, she spotted and damaged British battleship HMS Barham with one torpedo, killing 4; she was chased off by destroyers HMS Isis and HMS Nubian. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | U-30 | Scotland | CPC]
- The British Ministry of Food announced that sugar would be rationed from 8 Jan 1940 and meat from a date still to be fixed. The Minister of Food William Morrison said this would release foreign exchange and provide shipping space for the importation of armaments and raw materials. ww2dbase [London, England | AC]
Photo(s) dated 28 Dec 1939
29 Dec 1939
- HMS Cumberland sailed for patrol in River Plate area. ww2dbase [Cumberland | DS]
Finland
- Soviet 163rd Division, trapped in the Finnish village of Suomussalmi for the past 22 days, began evacuating on an ice road over Lake Kiantajärvi; troops of the Finnish 9th Division attacked the rearguard. Meanwhile, in Moscow, Russia, Stalin endorsed Chief of Staff Shaposhnikov's plan for a major attack on Finnish forces on the Karelian Isthmus; Semyon Timoshenko volunteered to lead the offensive as the disgraced Kirill Meretskov was demoted to the commander of the Soviet 7th Army. ww2dbase [The Winter War | Semyon Timoshenko | Kirill Meretskov | CPC]
United States
30 Dec 1939
- Remnants of the Soviet 163rd Division was destroyed by the Finnish 9th Division at Suomussalmi as it attempted to retreat over the frozen Lake Kiantajärvi. ww2dbase [The Winter War | TH]
China
31 Dec 1939
- German submarine U-32 sank Norwegian ship Luna at 0947 hours with one torpedo. ww2dbase [CPC]
China
- Chinese declared victory at Kunlun Pass 59 kilometers northeast of Nanning, Guangxi Province, China, although the remnants of Japanese troops trapped in the region would not capitulate until mid-Jan 1940. ww2dbase [Winter Offensive | Nanning, Guangxi | CPC]
Finland
- Finnish 9th Division secured the village of Suomussalmi after four days of heavy fighting, capturing 625 rifles, 33 light machine guns, 19 medium and heavy machine guns, 2 anti-aircraft machine guns, 12 anti-tank guns, 27 field and anti-aircraft guns, 26 tanks, 2 armored cars, 350 horses, 181 trucks, 11 tractors, 26 field kitchens, 800,000 rounds of 7.62mm rifle ammunition, 9,000 artillery shells, a field hospital, and a bakery. Elsewhere, Finnish scouts found troops of the Soviet 44th Division stationary along a 30-kilometer stretch of the Raate Road, including a large concentration of dug-in tanks and artillery. Finnish Army Colonel Siilasvuo received the intelligence and decided to prepare a strike at this concentration. ww2dbase [The Winter War | TH]
Russia
- Boris Shaposhnikov was awarded his first Order of Lenin. ww2dbase [Boris Shaposhnikov | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 31 Dec 1939
See all photos dated 31 Dec 1939
Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis
Did you enjoy this article or find this article helpful? If so, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 per month will go a long way! Thank you.
Share this article with your friends:
 Facebook
 Reddit
Stay updated with WW2DB:
 RSS Feeds
| |
