|
1
Sept |
Germany invades
Poland. First use of Blitzkrieg. Britain and
France give Germany an ultimatum to get out.
Blackout and evacuation plans are put in place
in Britain. |
|
2
Sept |
Chamberlain sends
Hitler an ultimatum: withdraw German troops from
Poland or war will be declared. The Luftwaffe
gains air superiority over the Polish air force. |
|
3
Sept |
Germany ignores the
ultimatum and Britain and France declare war on
Germany.
Listen now to
Neville Chamberlain (right):
British troops (the BEF) are sent to
France. The passenger liner "Athenia" is sunk by
U-30 off Ireland. 112 of the passengers are
killed.
|
|
|
4
Sept |
The RAF raid German
warships based in the Heligoland Bight. |
|
6
Sept |
South Africa
declares war on Germany; Egypt brakes off
relations with Germany, |
|
9
Sept |
The IV Panzer
Division reaches Warsaw. |
 |
|
17
Sept |
Russia's Red Army
attacks Poland from the east. |
|
24 Sept
|
1,150 German
aircraft bomb Warsaw. |
|
26
Sept |
The Luftwaffe attack
the Royal Navy at Scapa Flow. |
|
27
Sept |
Poland surrenders to
Germany. |
|
6
Oct |
Last Polish troops
cease fighting. Hitler launches his "Peace
Offensive" but this is rejected by Neville
Chamberlain. |
|
14 Oct |
HMS Royal Oak is
torpedoed at Scapa Flow by U-Boat 47. |
|
30
Nov
|
Russia's Red Army
invade Finland - the Winter War. |
|
13 Dec |
The Battle of the
River Plate is fought. |
|
14
Dec |
Russia expelled from
the League of Nations. |