TIMELINE OF
- 1939 -
September
1: Germany invades Poland.
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1: The British Empire having prior knowledge of the invasion - through SIS intelligence, can declare war within hours of the invasion. The Commonwealth and France follow suit. South Africa is on the fence.
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1: Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Switzerland declare their neutrality.
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2: Chamberlain goes on BBC, announcing Britain at war:
"It is the evil things that we shall be fighting against - brute force, bad faith, injustice, oppression and persecution - and against them I am certain that the right will prevail." -
2: British Expeditionary Force starts mobilising towards France.
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2: Italy, And the Republic of Ireland declare their neutrality.
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2: First Royal Air Force attack. Rhineland, Germany is the target. Ends in disaster. 56, bombers shot down.
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4: Second RAF attack, on the Kiel docks. The attack is a minor success. Causing structural damage to several ports.
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5: The United States declares neutrality.
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6: The Royal Australian Air Force arrives in France and begins operation.
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12: The city of Warsaw falls as German forces move in.
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13: The Soviet Union declares war on Poland, an immediate invasion follows.
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15: BEF arrives in France and digs in at Dunkirk, Lille, Hirson, Fulda and Lorgwy.
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19: Hitler holds speech at newly annexed Danzig, announcing West of Poland and Danzig part of Germany, claiming Poland the agitator:
"I have, therefore, resolved to speak to Poland in the same language that Poland for months past has used toward us."-
21: Barry Hertzog, the Prime Minister of South Africa signs a peace-treaty with Ribbentrop, Foreign Minister of Germany. South Africa claims neutrality in the war.
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22: Full mobilisation enacted in Britain, met with scepticism by its public.
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23: Campaign to bring women onto the factory floors is initiated.
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24: Italy mobilises forces in Africa. 12 divisions digs in on the British-Italian border in North Africa.
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28: Britain declares full blockade against Germany, Royal Navy moves in to the Jutland seas to enact it.
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28: German-Soviet Boundary and Friendship Treaty is signed by Molotov and Ribbentrop.
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October
1: First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill goes on BBC with first speech of the war. Asking for a united, resolved Britain against Germany, and defending Russian cold self-interest.
"It was for Hitler to say when the war would begin, but it is not for him nor his successors to say when it will end. It began when he wanted it, and it will end only when we are convinced that he has had enough."-
3: First French engagement. French fleet off the east coast of France engages several German U-boats. No ships sunk.
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6: 4 Naval bomber wings are sent to flush out enemy fleet docked at Kiel. Setting off a chain of events that would later be known as "The Ambush At Kattegat."
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8: Germany annexes Poland.
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10: North Patrol, Home Fleet, and The Reserve fleet move in to the Baltic Sea to engage German fleet, docked at Kiel.
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12: A hidden German fleet led by Admiral Marschall in Kattegat attacks the Royal Navy's weakest spot: The Reserve fleet. HMS Argus, HMS Caradoc, HMS Frobisher, and HMS Hawkins sinks in the massacre. 3400 sailors lost at sea. HMS Carlisle, and HMS Curlew escapes, although heavily damaged.
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16: 5 British submarines are ambushed and sunk at Kattegat.
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17: Funeral parade for the 3400 sailors lost at sea is held in London.
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18: Debates in the House of Commons. The sitting government barely maintain confidence.
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18: Air General Tedder's wing, on a routine mission off the coast of Groningen, engages 4 German bomber wings headed for South England. Reinforcement arrives and stops the attack. Marking the official start of "The Battle of the English Channel."
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19: New borders are assigned in Poland between Germany and the USSR. Portions of Poland are formally inducted into Germany; the first Jewish ghetto is established at Lublin.
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19: 15 wings are scrambled to Heligoland Bight as Intelligence confirms a massive attack launched against South Britain. The operation is known as "The Heligoland Wall"
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19: The largest air battle in history commence as 5 German wings walk into the trap. The battle proves to be a minor success, stopping the Germans, but both sides suffer great losses.
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20: Pope Pius XII's first encyclical condemns racism and dictatorships.
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21: Portsmouth is bombed for the first time by German bombers. Anti-Air repel the attack.
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22: The Royal Iraqi Air Force and The Egyptian Army Air Force are stationed in France.
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24: The first Indian Forces arrive in Toulon, France, beginning the long march to Lille.
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27: Belgium announces that it is neutral in the present conflict.
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28: Canadian forces arrive in Dunkirk, France. 3 divisions.
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29: Portsmouth and Dover bombed again. Minimal damage.
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30: Sholto-Douglas' Big Wing tactics are issued and the 4 RAF wings are merged into 1. stationed at Dover, under Dowding's command for defence purposes.
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30: The British government releases a report on concentration camps being built in Europe for Jews and anti-Nazis.
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31: Paris is bombed by German forces. French morals suffer greatly, although minimal damages to ground forces.
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November
1: More engagements in the air over English soil. The winter is not slowing the Luftwaffe down. Minimal damages.
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4: The Soviet Union attacks Finland in what would become known as the Winter War.
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5: Large project from John Anderson, Kingsley Wood, and Admiral Chesterfield to bolster anti-air defence comes to fruition. Nearly every province in Britain are now under AA defence.
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6: Massive air battle off the straight of Dover, 19 wings involved. French, and British are successful in stopping German bombing run.
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7: Nore Command force comes under attack in Heligoland by a superior German fleet led by Admiral Marschall. Setting of a chain of events that would be known as the "Third Battle of Heligoland Bight".
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7: Home fleet led by Admiral Pound reaches the battle by dawn and turns the tide in British favour. German Battlecruiser Gneisenau, Heavy Cruiser Deutschland, and 7 Destroyers sink in the battle. 6000 german sailors lost at sea. Marschall breaks off and heads for Wilhelmshaven's docks.
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8: Over the next days a series of attacks are carried out against the German fleet docked at Wilhelmshaven. Involving 4 Naval Bombers wings and Channel Force. German Heavy Cruiser Admiral Scheer, and 3 Destroyers are sunk.
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8: Hitler escapes a bomb blast in a Munich beerhall, where he was speaking on the anniversary of the Beer Hall Putsch of 1923.
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12: Home fleet makes another attack on the docks at Wilhelmshaven. But Admiral Marschall's fleet has disappeared.
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14: Parade for the "Avenging of the reserve fleet". Home fleet is welcomed back as heroes. London streets are filled with people celebrating.
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16: Churchill's second speech on BBC, commemorating the home fleet, but also asking for perseverance. Believing Holland and Belgium's fate lies in the hands of Britain and France.
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23: Polish Jews are ordered to wear Star of David armbands.
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26: British and Indian forces marching towards Lille are caught in a German bombing run. 2000 casualties.
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28: Massive air battle over the straight of Dover. French, RAF involved. Minor victory.
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December
1: The Russian invaders begin heavy attacks on the Mannerheim line.
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7: Italy again declare its neutrality. Norway, Sweden, and Denmark also proclaim their neutrality in the Russo-Finnish quarrel.
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14: The USSR is expelled from the League of Nations in response to the Soviet invasion of Finland.
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21: Lone Militia on route to Dunkirk bombed in massive bombing raid. 700 soldiers die. RAF intercepts and a large air-battle occurs over French soil. 66 German, 69 British planes are shot down.
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22: Dover bombed, RAF and Dover AA shoots down 56 bombers taking almost no damage themselves.
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26: Largest air battle in the history of man commences over the straight of Dover. French intercept German air-forces. RAF scrambles, commanded by Dowding. 2200 planes involved. Aggressive battle ensues. Allied victory. 204 planes are shot down. 114 belonging to the Germans.
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28: Meat rationing begins in Britain.
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28: Another large air battle over the English Channel. RAF looses 41 fighters. Germany 54.
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Yes the day is coming when we will see what the Commonwealth soldiers are made of, not to mention the British.