September 1, 1939 (Friday) At Sea aboard the S.S. Veendam
Helen’s Diary
No Entry
Ruth’s Diary
We have just heard a news broadcast on the radio announcing Germany’s attack in Poland. Polish troops were in retreat to take up a defensive position. Several towns had been bombed & Warsaw was taking air raid precautions. Hitler had made a speech before the Reichstag announcing that he knew no such thing as capitulation, that in case anything happened to himself his successor would be Goering and in case anything happened to Goering power would fall to Hess. Kaladies had called general mobilization, & London had evacuated 3 million school children. Today many more million would be evacuated into England’s countryside. The bulletin board & the Ocean Post kept us posted as to developments, but there was nothing very new. In the afternoon as it was so cold & raw, Harold & I read together in the tourist reading room. At 4:00 we had tea & cookies – at 5:00 I went to dress for dinner. After dinner there was a masquerade party. Payne Williams made an excellent Cleopatra. It was a pretty good impromptu entertainment – the barbershop skit was especially good. After the entertainment Harold & I danced until 12:00 – & then to bed.
News from Europe
Germany Invades Poland; World War II Begins
At dawn, German forces attacked across the Polish frontier by land, sea, and air. With 60 divisions, more than 2,000 tanks, and close air support, the Polish defense was quickly overwhelmed. The war Neville Chamberlain and Europe sought to avert for years had begun. German radio broadcast the fabricated story of Polish aggression at Gleiwitz as the casus belli for invasion. Poland announced full mobilization. Britain and France issued ultimatums, but the day closed with no declaration of war.
Immediate Global Impact
Public reaction in Britain and France was stoic but anxious. Financial markets plunged; major sporting and public events were canceled. Neutral countries like the US declared “proclaimed neutrality.” British Parliament sat into the weekend, demanding resolute government action and full disclosure of all crisis diplomacy.