When the demand for an immediate withdrawal is ignored by the Germans to leave Poland, both nations along with India, Australia and New Zealand declare war on the Third Reich.Belgium declares its neutrality. For the second time in 21 years was has broken out on the continent of Europe.
In Poland, Czestochowa falls to the German and the Tenth Army crosses the Warta River. The German Fourth Army makes contact with the Third Army advancing from East Prussia and cuts the 'Polish Corridor' to Danzig and the Polish outlet to the sea. The Polish Air Force is no long an effective fighting force.
The RAF air drops six million leaflets on German cities, the first of several 'propaganda' raids.
The British people complete a three-day evacuation of 1.5 million civilians from its largest cities.
German submarine U-130 sinks the S.S. Athenia 250 miles northwest of Ireland. Of the 1400 passengers, 118 are killed, including 28 Americans. The U.S. Ambassador to Britain, Joseph P. Kennedy (1888-1969) sends his son, John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) as his personal representative to the surviving Americans. U-130 attacked without warning against Hitler's orders. Upon returning to their base in Germany, the crew swore they were 200 miles away from the Athenia's actual position at the time of the attack.The truth will not come to light until the Nuremberg War Crimes trails after the war.
The British government asks all combatant nations to not use position gas. Germany and Japan agree to do so.
Winston Churchill, (1874-1965) ends a decade long absence from the Conservative government by becoming First Lord of the Admiralty. Each ship in the Royal Navy receives the news succinctly,:Winston is back." The Royal Navy begins a naval blockade of Germany.
General John Gort (1886-1946)is appointed Commander-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force whose very existence and preparedness are mostly due to him. Field Marshal Sir Edmund Ironside (1880-1959,) succeeds Gort as Chief of the Imperial General Staff.
In a fireside chat to the nation, FDR tells the American people: "This nation will remain a neutral nation, but I cannot ask that every American remain neutral in thought as well."
THE LONG GOODBYE....
Today in 1948, Eduard Benes (1884-1948), former president of Czechoslovakia dies of natural causes at his villa in Sezimovo Usti, Czechoslovakia at age 64. During his first term as president of his country he watched helplessly as the Munich Agreement between Hitler, Chamberlain and Daladier dismembered his country. In 1940 he headed the Czech government-in-exile. After the war he was elected to his second term as president. He resigned in June 1948 when a single slate of Communist were elected.
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