Enigma Machine
Takes part in the January Paris discussions linking French, Polish and British Enigma work.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1939 in France
Explore 32 historical events and records for France in 1939.
Historical records for France in 1939
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 32 of 32 unique records.
32Unique records
1 of 1Page
21Named events on this page
13Named people on this page
7Places on this page
January
April
Alliance Agreement
The Soviet Union offers a Soviet-British-French alliance which would guarantee the integrity of Poland, the consulations are unproductive
Alliance Soviet-British-French alliance
The Soviet Union offers a Soviet-British-French alliance which would guarantee the integrity of Poland, the consulations are unproductive
July
Enigma Machine
Helps coordinate the Pyry exchange in which Poland shares its Enigma breakthrough with France and Britain.
September
Invasion of Germany
France enters the Saar but does not advance further than a few miles
Invasion of Saar
France enters the Saar but does not advance further than a few miles
Mobilization
Advises the Anglo-French War Council it should distract Germany's invasion of Poland
Supreme War Council
Hosts the first Anglo-French Supreme War Council after Poland is invaded.
Supreme War Council
Advises against large-scale offensive action after the Saar advance stalls.
Foreign Secretary of France
Appointed Foreign Minister
Foreign Secretary of France
Appointed Foreign Minister
War Cabinet
The French follow Britains example & set up a War Cabinet
War Cabinet
The French follow Britains example & set up a War Cabinet
Supreme War Council
Represents French naval concerns during Anglo-French discussions.
Supreme War Council
Represents French munitions planning at the council meeting.
Supreme War Council
Works on Franco-British economic coordination linked to the council.
Communist Party
Bans the Communist Party in both France & its colonies
Chief of Staff
Appointed Commander in Chief of the Allied Forces
Chief of Staff
Appointed Commander in Chief of the Allied Forces
October
In a French TV broadcast Daladier dismisses Hitler's offer of peace
In a French TV broadcast Daladier dismisses Hitler's offer of peace
Pact between Turkey, France and Great Britain
A pact of mutual assistance is signed between Turkey, France & Britain
November
Supreme War Council
Rejects plans that might provoke German air retaliation.
December
Narvik Planning
Supports Allied discussion of action in Scandinavia against the German ore route.
Supreme War Council
Defends a cautious Allied strategy during the Phoney War.
Other events (month unknown)
Commander in Chief
Appointed Commander in Chief
Commander in Chief
Appointed Commander in Chief
Discovery of Francium
Discovers francium as a decay product of actinium, filling atomic number 87 near the bottom of the alkali-metal group.
Le Jour se leve
Directs Le Jour se leve.
Minister of State
Appointed Minister of State, 2nd term
Nuclear Fission Research
Studies neutron multiplication after the discovery of nuclear fission.
The Rules of the Game
Directs The Rules of the Game, a major work of French cinema.
Wartime Storage of Bayeux Tapestry
The embroidery was placed in an underground shelter at the Hotel du Doyen.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.