Countdown to World War Two: Friday 1 September 1939

Invasion of Poland

Headline: Germany has begun its invasion of Poland. Warsaw and other major cities have been bombed.

At dawn Germany began its invasion of Poland. The attack was launched without warning, and without declaration of war being given. During the day, German troops have crossed each of Poland's borders with the Reich, and many of her cities have been bombed from the air, including the capital, Warsaw.

The invasion began at 5.30am when German planes attacked the city of Katowice with high explosive bombs. Krakow and several other cities were attacked at the same time with incendiary bombs. At 6.15am the air-raid sirens went off for the first time in Warsaw.

However, nothing happened until about 9.00am when the capital was attacked with both incendiary and high explosive bombs. Fighters from the Polish Air Force intercepted the German raiders and there were several dog-fights over the city.

This was the start of about six raids during the day, most of which were repelled by anti-aircraft fire and the Polish Air Force. However, during one raid this afternoon, German bombers attacked the centre of the city and then flew down the Vistula, bombing the bridges, several of which were badly damaged.

Apart from this, most of the damage seems to have happened in the suburbs, just outside the city. The citizens of Warsaw have reacted quite calmly to the outbreak of war, and when the sirens sounded many of them ran out into the streets to see what was happening, before SARP squads sent them back indoors.

The reports from Katowice have been more grim. Apparently German planes have been coming over in squadrons of 50, every half-hour, as a result there have been many casualties. Unfortunately, the phone lines to Katowice have been cut since midday, so the exact situation is unclear.

Poland has always been very aware of the size of her borders with German territory - they cover 3,000 miles in all - and this morning at about 6.00am each border was invaded by German troops to coincide with the attacks of the German Air Force.

The invasion came simultaneously from East Prussia, from the main body of the Reich and from Slovakia, but at the moment it's impossible to say how far each attack has penetrated.

The news of the invasion came as a complete surprise to the Polish Government, who have never officially received Hitler's 16-point Plan for a settlement. They heard about the plan, like the rest of the world, via the German News Agency, and also from a British warning which followed Sir Neville Henderson's meeting with Herr Von Ribbentrop a few days ago.

As for the German excuse for invasion, which is 'the invasion by Polish diversionist bands near Gleiwitz', this is described here in Warsaw as a tissue of lies.

[For audio clips concerning the invasion of Poland, see the last page of this article.]

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

Parliament

Headline: Britain and France have told Germany to withdraw her troops from all Polish territory, otherwise they will fulfil their obligations to Poland.

For the second time this week both Houses of Parliament sat for emergency meetings, with full attendance of peers and members. The faithful watchers in Downing Street greeted Mr and Mrs Chamberlain with ringing cheers as they left to drive to the commons, and the excitement continued in Whitehall and Parliament Square, with more cheers and cries of 'Good luck!' and 'God bless you!'

In the Lords, the Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax outlined the diplomatic events of the last few days and spoke of the tragedy involved in the totally unjustifiable action taken this morning by the German Chancellor on whom, he said, an overwhelming responsibility in history will surely lie.

Addressing the Commons, the Prime Minister said that the time had now come for action, not words. Mr Chamberlain said that he had prayed in the House of Commons 18 months ago that the responsibility of taking this country into war would not fall upon him. Stressing that no government could have done more to preserve peace, he now felt that he might not be able to avoid that responsibility.

Mr Chamberlain then read to the House the message which His Majesty's Ambassador in Berlin and the French Ambassador have been instructed to hand to the German Government.

I am accordingly to inform your Excellency that unless the German Government are prepared to give His Majesty's Government satisfactory assurances that the German Government have suspended all aggressive action against Poland and are prepared promptly to withdraw their forces from Polish territory, his Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom will without hesitation fulfil their obligations to Poland.

If a reply to this last warning is unfavourable, and I do not suggest that it is likely to be otherwise, his Majesty's Ambassador is instructed to ask for his passports. In that case we are ready.

Mr Chamberlain also recorded the satisfaction of the Government with the recent efforts made by Señor Mussolini to reach a peaceful solution to the present crisis. Replying for the opposition Mr Greenwood, still acting leader during Herr Hitler's address, reminded the House of past differences with the Government and of Labour's pledge to use all the nation's resources to defend ourselves and others against aggressions.

Now, he said, the die is cast. Mr Greenwood referred to an unwelcome loophole in Britain's communication to Germany, which gave them an opportunity of withdrawal from Poland. There can now be no withdrawal, he said, and in any event this nation is bound to honour its treaty with Poland.

The Prime Minister's words have been firm. He has uttered words from which he cannot, and I am sure he would not, wish to escape. But we are building our hopes upon sand if we think that the German Government are going to give any favourable response to the appeal which has been made. The act of aggression has already taken place. Herr Hitler has put himself grievously in the wrong. He has become the arch enemy of mankind.

In the approaching struggle, said Mr Greenwood, dictatorship will be destroyed. An organised labour would then play its part in building a new world.

Sir Archibald Sinclair, replying for the Liberals, stressed the need for a War Cabinet. Passing to other business, the resolution to grant to his Majesty up to £500,000,000 war credit for defence was agreed to and reported to the House.

Berlin and Paris

Headline: Communiqué from Berlin.

The first official German war communiqué was issued this evening. In it they say that the military actions of their troops in Silesia, Pomerania and East Prussia have brought the expected preliminary successes.

Military duty was given as the reason why many Deputies were absent when Herr Hitler addressed the Reichstag at 10.00am this morning.

Later the German Supreme Command made it clear which way Herr Hitler meant to ensure there was peace in Poland. The announcement said that German troops had crossed all Polish frontiers in the fulfilment of their task to offer resistance to Polish force.

The Supreme Command also stated that the armed forces had taken over active protection of the Reich. At 4.00am Danzig declared itself part of the Reich and Gauleiter Herr Forster visited Dr Burckhardt, the League of Nations High Commissioner, to inform him that his duties in Danzig were ended.

Headline: Paris approval for mobilisation.

In Paris the Council of Ministers today approved decrees ordering general mobilisation tomorrow by land, sea and air, the institution of martial laws and the convoking of parliament for tomorrow afternoon.

The Polish Ambassador called upon Monsieur Bonnet this morning to ask for the fulfilment of French engagements towards Poland. Prime Minister Daladier is expected to call upon parliament tomorrow for authorisation of the French support for Poland with all that this implies.

The cold-blooded manner in which Herr Hitler has attempted to destroy Polish independence has sent a wave of horrified indignation over the whole country. Soldiers and civilians (men and women of all classes) are solidly behind the Government in its determination to show Germany that such a use of force for the settlement of international problems can no longer be tolerated.

King's visit and Roosevelt's appeal

Headline: The King to Downing Street

The King went to Downing Street this afternoon to call on the Prime Minister. Normally the Prime Minister would go to see the King, but today the order was reversed as Mr Chamberlain wanted to bring the King up to date on the international situation, but was too busy to be away from Downing Street for very long.

So a historic visit was made, and His Majesty gave audience to the Prime Minister in his own home.

Headline: Roosevelt appeals for restraint

President Roosevelt of the United States has sent an appeal to the governments of Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Poland urging them all to announce publicly their determination not to launch air attacks on civilians.

So far replies have been received from the British and French governments saying that they intend to confine their bombing to military objectives, as along as their opponents do the same.

A reply has also been received from the Italian Government which says that the appeal doesn't apply to them as, 'Italy will not take any initiative in military operations'. No reply has yet been received form Poland or Germany.

Other stories

Evacuation

On the same day that most of the country's school children are being evacuated, the school-leaving age goes up from 14 to 15. This is as a result of The Evacuation Act of 1936, which comes into effect today.

By now nearly half a million children across the country are settling into their new billets far form their homes in dangerous industrial districts. The massive operation of evacuating them was achieved very smoothly.

London's hospitals

Most of London's hospitals were cleared today. Patients well enough to be discharged were taken home, while those too ill for that were transferred to country hospitals. The ambulance fleet was made up of everything from private vans to Green Line buses.

Mobilisation

The King held a meeting of the Privy Council today at Buckingham Palace at which he signed an Order in Council which completed the mobilisation of the Army and the RAF. Details of what members of the reserve forces should do next have been broadcast throughout the day.

Gracie Fields

Gracie Fields has cut short her holiday and returned to Britain. She had been intending to say in Capri for six months, but she decided to return home as a result of the worsening situation in Europe.

Blackout

The full machinery of Britain's civil defence has been set in motion today. Local authorities have been instructed to put the air-raid warning system into operation, and from now on the sounding of factory hooters and sirens is prohibited except in an air raid.

An air raid warning is given by a series of short blasts on a siren, while the all-clear is given by a long steady blast lasting two minutes. A complete blackout over the whole country will be put into effect as from tonight - the blackout begins at sunset and continues through to sunrise next morning

And finally ...

The BBC Television Service was suspended from midday today for the duration of the current emergency. After three years of regular broadcasting from Alexandra Palace in London, the last programme viewers were able to see was a Mickey Mouse cartoon

Audio archive: The countdown to war

[If you haven't listened to audio clips before, you may need the free Real Player plug-in. BBC's WebWise help has a step-by-step guide to help you download it.]

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.