Countdown to World War Two: Wednesday 30 August 1939

Reply to Hitler

Headline: Britain replies to Herr Hitler's note.

The Cabinet met this morning to discuss Herr Hitler's note, which was received by the Foreign Office last night. They met for an hour and a half and it was sufficient for them to compose their reply, which has now been sent to Berlin.

Although this exchange of notes continues, there seems to be little change in the European crisis. Neither side is giving anything away about what they've been saying to each other.

It seems clear that their basic attitudes have not changed. Britain is still standing firm in her undertaking to help Poland should she be threatened by any other country, while Germany continues to pursue her claims that Danzig and the corridor should be returned to the Reich.

In London there are still hopes of a peaceful settlement, though it's understood that if talks were to begin at this late stage, they would have to be free of any suggestion of menace.

During the day the official German News Agency announced that Germany is still hoping for a peaceful solution, but that the 'issue now depends on the decision in London which must be awaited'.

There is some mystery about this statement, as Britain has not yet been called upon to make a fresh decision and had remained clear about the decision made some months ago. Britain waits with interest to hear the German Government's response to their note, which the British Ambassador in Berlin will be delivering later this evening.

[*Reports taken from BBC news bulletins, and a range of daily newspapers]

Poland braced

Headline: Poland braces for German invasion

Poland is now fully prepared for a German invasion. A communiqué issued today stated that further military precautions have been taken as a result of Germany's continued policy of aggression.

All able-bodied men up to the age of 40 have been called up for military service and must report to their depots by tomorrow. Meanwhile, all horses, cars, motorcycles and bicycles have been requisitioned.

It's understood that the country will be ready to face an invasion by midnight tomorrow - the latest information suggests that German military preparations for an invasion are unlikely to be completed for a couple of days.

Slovakia

Headline: German occupation of Slovakia continues

The Polish Government has today sent a strongly worded protest to Slovakia about their broadcast, urging the Slovak people to co-operate with the German occupying force against their 'common Polish enemy'.

They added that this was proof that Slovakia was now completely under the influence of Germany and had no control over her own affairs. But regardless of Polish protest, the German occupation of Slovakia has continued throughout the day.

The country is now full of German soldiers, most of them stationed on the Polish border. Between 5,000 and 10,000 German troops remain in the capital, where they have been confined to barracks. Reports claim that more than 500 tanks have been seen on roads in Slovakia, some of them visible in the capital city of Bratislava.

More oil barges arrived today and there are now 30 tied up in the harbour, ready to fuel the occupying force. German army cars can be seen in the streets of the capital day and night, and the hotels are full of German officers, including one hotel, the Carlton, which has been taken over by the Gestapo as their headquarters.

Some of the Gestapo officers have now moved into the headquarters of the Slovak police, of which they are now in charge. Only a few uniformed SS men have been seen, but there are reports that large contingents of them in plain clothes are working in Bratislava and other cities.

German soldiers with fixed bayonets guard the water and electricity works, armament factories, railway stations and post offices. Most Slovaks have now accepted the occupation as being inevitable. Some small shopkeepers and businessmen hope that the German troops will spend a lot of money and bring extra trade, but the most noticeable impression is that the Germans are there to stay.

German defence

Headline: Germany sets up defence council under Field Marshall Goering.

Herr Hitler has set up a new permanent Council of Ministers for the Defence of the State. While Germany continues to step up her aggressive campaign against Poland, the sweeping powers afforded to the new Council by Herr Hitler have surprised many observers.

For the duration of what Herr Hitler calls 'the present political tension abroad' the Fuehrer today established a Council of Ministers, with Field Marshall Goering as its chairman, 'for the uniform management of the administration and of economic affairs'.

Four ministers, including the Fuehrer's deputy Herr Rudolph Hess, will convene with Field Marshall Goering and General Keitel, the Chief of the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces, to form a council with a considerable concentration of power for quick action.

The new Council has power to pass any law without consulting the Reich Cabinet or the Reichstag. It also has the power to issue important decrees without delay and without the Chancellor's signature.

Although it is rumoured that the Chancery is still waiting for an envoy from Poland to discuss the international situation, the German press today persists in it's criticism of Poland's decision to mobilise.

Dealing with Britain, the German press adopts a somewhat milder tone. Although, says one paper, no concessions are being made in the matter of the three German demands against Poland, England will in the end see reason and abandon all interest in the Continent in return for a free hand elsewhere.

The event which caused most annoyance in Berlin recently, is the action of the American authorities in detaining the liner Bremen for search. This was described as a masterpiece of impudence.

Paris diplomacy

Headline: Desperate diplomacy in Paris.

Paris has been the scene of much diplomatic activity today, as politicians there continue to assess both the signing of the Soviet-German Pact and the occupation of Slovakia.

At the same time, a number of defence preparations are now well advanced. This morning the French President, Monsieur Monnet, received his Ambassador to Moscow, Monsier Maggiar, who has returned to give his report on how matters in Moscow stand after the signing of the Pact.

Mr Lukasiewicz, the Polish Ambassador, called on the French Premier, Monsieur Daladier, to express the grave concern of Poland at the German occupation of Slovakia. Meanwhile, French defence preparations are in full force. From tomorrow, the railways will come under military control and private passengers and freight will only be carried if their transport does not conflict with the military.

Headline: France evacuates her children.

The major event of the day was the evacuation of over 16,000 school children from Paris. They travelled in 27 special trains. A communiqué issued tonight by the Ministry for National Education states that 45,000 children will have left the capital by noon tomorrow.

The distribution of gas masks to all children aged between two and ten has been speeded up, and a special distribution camp was opened today. The evacuation of the Paris hospitals is also in hand.

Nine Red Cross trains are standing by at Austerlitz Station, ready for instant departure with those too sick to travel alone, should the need arise. The gloomy atmosphere cannot be relieved by a visit to the beautiful Vincennes Zoo, since all the inmates have been sent off to private collections in the safety of the French countryside.

'Bremen' and other stories

Headline: The liner 'Bremen' has been allowed to sail from New York

The German liner Bremen finally sailed from New York harbour a few days ago. It had been detained there for two days while US customs officials searched it to find out whether it can be converted to carry weapons.

Many foreign liners have also been searched. However the Bremen has been subjected to a particularly detailed one, much to the annoyance of the German Government and the liner's crew - one of whom was heard to say that officials have even searched the swimming pool.

Other stories: Warning against panic buying

Don't buy any more groceries than you normally do - that's the message from the Lord Privy Seal's office today as everyone should have stocked up their store cupboards during the last few months. This request doesn't mean that there's a food shortage, it's just an attempt to prevent extra demand from being made on shops.

Other stories: Citizen's Advice Bureau initiative

The National Council for Social Services has drawn up plans to set up what they call a 'Citizens' Advice Bureau', in London and other large cities and towns if war does break out. The bureaux will act as clearing houses for family and personal problems that arise from war conditions. They will give advice on what to do if your home is damaged during an air raid or how to get in touch with your children if they are evacuated.

Other stories: Air raids on trains

Notices telling train passengers what to do in an air raid are being put up in all main line railway stations. They urge passengers not to leave the train if it stops outside a station during an air raid, as they would be safer where they are to pull the blinds down as a protection against flying glass, and if there is room to lie on the floor.

Other stories: India dispatches troops

In India the last session of the Central Legislative Assembly to be held in Simla, was opened today. Members of the Congress Party boycotted the meeting in protest against the dispatch of Indian troops abroad. One adjournment motion, which criticised the movement of troops from India for purposes other than defence of India, and at the cost of the Indian exchequer, was disallowed by the Governor General. Meanwhile, the Viceroy issued a decree requiring all British males to register within a fortnight.

And finally ...

In these days of international tension we can at least draw consolation from the prospect of knowing that there's going to be plenty of beer over the coming months.

Hop pickers from the East End of London have been arriving in the Kent hop fields during the last few days, and already they're hard at work. The past fortnight of almost continuous sunshine means that the quality of next year's beer is expected to be very high.

Even though they're picking hops, the pickers have been advised to bring their gas masks. And even if you don't drink beer, hop picking can still be a nice holiday in the sun.

Audio archive: The countdown to war

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Find out more

Books

The conduct of the Air War in the Second World War edited by Horst Boog (1992)

Bomber Command by Max Hastings (1979)

The Bomber Command War Diaries by Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt (1985)

Most Secret War by RV Jones (1978)

Links

Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum: Bomber Command

About the author

Mark Fielder is executive producer of the BBC Battlefields series. He has made many other series, including D-Day, Burma, War Walks, and Western Front.