Chronologie de la deuxième Guerre Mondial/ World War two Chronology

[Raoul de Champignac]

1939/ 1/ September
United States of America
President Roosevelt calls for an indiscriminate ban on the bombing of civilians and undefended towns.

German Reich
An official message announced that the Polish regular army had started to open fire on the Germans along the border and that the response began at 4.45 am Chancellor Hitler addressed the Reichstag during the day, announcing: "I I am determined to eliminate from the German borders the element of insecurity and the atmosphere which constantly resembles civil war ".

French Republic
The government calls for the withdrawal of German forces from Poland.
The general mobilization and the "state of siege" (martial law) are proclaimed.

United Kingdom of Great Britain
The government calls for the withdrawal of German forces from Poland.
Due to fear of airstrikes, the evacuation of young children from London and other vulnerable areas has started. General mobilization is proclaimed (The Royal Navy has been mobilized since August 31). Air Raid Precautions is introduced and a sunset "curfew" is applied. British railways are taken under the control of the British government.
Kingdom of Italy
The government announces that it will not take any military initiative.

Kingdom of Norway and Swiss Confederation
Governments declare their neutrality.

 

[Raoul de Champignac]

Republic of Poland
At 4:45 a.m. German forces invaded the country without declaring war. The code name for this operation is: Fall Weiss (Plan White). The Germans assigned 52 divisions for the invasion (approximately 1,500,000 men), including the 6th Armored Division and all their motorized units. Divisions left the country to defend the Franco-British front, only 10 divisions are considered sufficient and suitable for any kind of action. General Von Brauchitsch, the commander-in-chief of the German army, is in command of the campaign. General Von Bock is the head of Army Group North, consisting of the 4th Army (General Von Küchler) and the 3rd Army (General Von Kluge). General Von Rundstedt is the head of Army Group South, consisting of the 8th Army (General Von Balskowitz), the 10th Army (General Von Reichenau) and the 14th Army (General Von List). Air support comes from two air flotillas, commanded by General Von Kesselring and General Von Lohr, which have 1,600 aircraft. Army Group South, coming from Silesia, was to provide the main German attacks. The 8th Army on the left must move in the direction of Poznan. The main thrust was to be carried out by the 10th Army which was to move into the center of the Vistula between Warsaw and Sandomierz, while the 14th Army on the right moved towards Krakow and the Carpathian flank. The 4th East Prussian Army is to move south towards Warsaw and the Bug River Line to the east. The 3rd Army must cross the Polish Corridor and join the 4th Army by moving south. The Poles have 23 regular infantry divisions, 1 weak armored division and an insufficient reserve of artillery. They also have considerable cavalry forces. Reserve units are only called up on August 30 and are not ready for battle. In the air, almost all Polish planes are obsolete and prove incapable of mitigating the impact of the German attack. During the day, the Luftwaffe launched air attacks against Warsaw, Lodz and Krakow. The Polish Commander-in-Chief, Marshal Rydz-Smigly, has deployed strong parts of his army in the north-western half of the country, including large forces in the Poznan region and the Polish Corridor. He hoped to hold on to the Germans so that they only got small progressions. All along the front, the superiority of the formation, equipment and forces of the Germans quickly brought them the advantage in the first battle. Many Polish units were overwhelmed before reinforcements from the mobilization reserve arrived. At sea, as in the air, Polish technical inferiority leads to overwhelming and hasty defeats. Three of the four Polish destroyers managed to make their way to Great Britain before hostilities broke out and later a submarine also escaped. On the first day, the old battleship, Schleswig-Holstein, pounded the Polish naval base at Westerplatte.

The Polish government calls for British and French intervention under the Mutual Assistance Treaties.

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
The armed forces are mobilized and the age of military service increases from 21 to 19 years.

 

[Raoul de Champignac]

2 September

German Reich
The government announces that Norwegian neutrality will be respected provided that Great Britain and France do the same. Chancelor Hitler rejects an offer to negotiate the conflict between Germany and Poland made by Duce Mussolini on August 31 and the proposal for a peace conference.

French Republic
Discussions on how to oppose the German invasion of Poland take place throughout the day. The government decides to send an ultimatum to Germany. The government declares that it will keep its obligations to Poland.
British RAF forces arrive in the country. About 10 bomber squadrons are involved in the deployment.

United Kingdom of Great Britain
Throughout the day there are frantic discussions about how to oppose Germany. The British Parliament is openly opposed to a passive line that Chamberlain's government has taken and in the evening the Cabinet decides to present an ultimatum to Germany. The law on national military service is passed, allowing the incorporation of all men between the ages of 19 and 41.

Irish Free State
The government declares its neutrality.

Kingdom of Italy
Duce Mussolini once again declares the country's neutrality and calls on the 5 powers for a peace conference.

Republic of Poland
German troops from Army Group South (General Von Rundstedt) are already over the Warta River in many places after rapids, but dear victories in the border battle. Krakow is now very close to the front line. In the north, the 4th Army (General Von Kluge) established contact with the 3rd Army (General Von Küchler) in eastern Prussia. Two Polish divisions are destroyed while attempting to withdraw through the Corridor. The Luftwaffe spread chaos to the Polish rear. Polish regular troops have been posted so too far forward that German advance is soon in their rear areas, impeding the movement of reserves and completely disrupting their means of communication by repeated German air attacks. There will be 6 air raids on Warsaw that day.

Swiss Confedation
The government orders general mobilization.