Visit to Paris
Visits Leon Blum
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1939 in Great Britain
Explore 264 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1939.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1939
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 264 unique records.
264Unique records
1 of 7Page
31Named events on this page
11Named people on this page
4Places on this page
January
Enigma Machine
Represents GC&CS at the January Paris meeting with Polish and French cryptologists.
Enigma Machine
Attends the January Paris meeting and assesses the allied position against military Enigma.
Visit to Rome to prise Italy from the Axis
Visits Rome to prise Italy from the Axis, invited by Mussolini to pressurise France
February
Danzig Question
Raises the status of Danzig as concern grows that German territorial demands may extend beyond the Munich settlement.
Defence Loans Debate
Presses the government on financing defence as Labour argues that earlier appeasement has increased the need for rapid preparation.
Ministry of Supply
In the Commons Churchill calls for a Ministry of Supply
Recognition of the Franco Government in Spain
Recognizes the Franco Government in Spain
March
Speech
Defends his opposition to appeasement to his constituents
Foreign Policy Statement at London
Announces in the Commons Britain cannot honour Czech obligations
Invasion of Czech
Says Britain has no obligation to Czech because it has ceased to exist as a state. Germany invades Prague despite the Munich Agreement
Munich Agreement
Germany invades Prague despite the Munich Agreement
Czechoslovakia after German Occupation
Challenges the government after German forces occupy Prague and the Munich settlement collapses.
Czechoslovakia Debate after Prague
Responds to the German occupation of Prague, which demonstrates the failure of Hitler's Munich commitments.
Birmingham Foreign Policy Speech
Chamberlain warns that Britain will resist any attempt at German world domination.
Birmingham Foreign Policy Speech
After Germany occupies Prague, warns that Britain may resist further attempts at domination by force, marking a major shift from the Munich approach.
Foreign Policy Statement at Birmingham
British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain gives a speech in Birmingham, stating that Britain will oppose any effort at world domination on the part of Germany.
Treaty of Munich
Chamberlain declared that Germany's destruction of Czechoslovakia had undermined the assumptions behind the Munich policy.
European Situation
Urges a firmer collective response to German expansion in the first major foreign-policy debates after Prague.
Alliance Great Britain and Poland
Ends appeasement of Germany by commiting Britain to defend Poland. Embarks on policy which leads to British declaration of war against Germany
Declaration of War
Embarks on policy which leads to British declaration of war against Germany
Mobilization
Cabinet decides to double the territorial force
Alliance Neville Chamberlain and Poland
Britain & France pledge to support Poland
Expulsion from Labour
Is expelled temporarily from the Parliamentary Labour Party.
Mobilization
Cabinet decides in the event of war with Germany an army will be sent to Europe
Tours the USA
Tours the USA. Tours Canada
April
European Situation
Supports stronger commitments against further aggression following the abandonment of the previous appeasement approach.
European Situation
Supports a firmer policy of resistance to further aggression after the collapse of the Munich settlement.
European Situation after Prague
Speaks after the destruction of Czechoslovakia and supports a firmer system of commitments against further German aggression.
European Situation
Supports a firmer European policy after Germany's occupation of Prague destroys the assumptions behind Munich.
Alliance Britain, France, Romania and Greece
Britain & France pledge to support Romania. Britain & France pledge to support Greece
European Situation
Presses for effective deterrence and wider international cooperation against further German advances.
European Situation
Speaks for stronger European security commitments as Britain moves away from territorial appeasement.
Birth of Dusty Springfield
Birth of Dusty Springfield
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
Birth of Simon Napier-Bell
Birth of Simon Napier-Bell
Alliance Neville Chamberlain and Poland in the event of an attack
Warns Hitler Britain will support Poland in the event of an attack
European Situation
Continues challenging the government to build a credible anti-aggression front in Europe.
Military Training Announcement
Announces compulsory military training as Britain accelerates preparation for a possible European war after the collapse of the Munich settlement.
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.