International Situation
Takes part in the Commons debate on the worsening international crisis and the need to make Britain's guarantees credible.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1939 in Great Britain — Page 3
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
3 of 7Page
29Named events on this page
17Named people on this page
7Places on this page
July
August
Invasion of Poland
Warns the House of Commons of an imminent German attack on Poland
Crisis
Calls an emergency Cabinet meeting on the Danzig crisis & threat to peace
Diplomatic Correspondence at London
Hands over a letter to Hitler from Chamberlain saying that Britain will defend Poland
Peace
Hands over a letter to Hitler from Chamberlain saying that Britain will defend Poland
Emergency Economic Powers
Emergency legislation grants broad powers to direct industry, labour and economic resources.
Reform of Emergency Powers
Gives full authority of the law to the "defense regulations" issued by the Government
Alliance Great Britain and Poland
After Germany's pact with Russia Britain completes the Anglo-Polish Defence Alliance
Commander of 3rd Division
Appointed Commander of the 3rd Division
Commander of 3rd Division
Appointed Commander of the 3rd Division
Commander in Chief
Appointed Commander in Chief of the Middle East
Commander in Chief
Appointed Commander in Chief of the Middle East
Commander in Chief
Establishes his HQ in Cairo
Maginot Line
Invited by Paul Reynaud to examine the defences of the Maginot Line
Nazi-Soviet Pact
The Nazi-Soviet pact deepens Healey’s doubts about Communist policy and Soviet intentions.
September
Adjutant
Appointed Adjutant General of the British Expeditionary Force
Adjutant
Appointed Adjutant General of the British Expeditionary Force
British Expeditionary Force (BEF)
Appointed Adjutant General of the British Expeditionary Force
British Expeditionary Force (BEF)
Appointed Adjutant General of the British Expeditionary Force
British Expeditionary Force (BEF)
Appointed Chief of Staff of the British Expeditionary Force
British Expeditionary Force (BEF)
Appointed Chief of Staff of the British Expeditionary Force
Chief of General Staff
Appointed Chief of Staff of the British Expeditionary Force
Chief of General Staff
Appointed Chief of Staff of the British Expeditionary Force
Chief of Imperial General Staff (CIGS)
Appointed Chief of Imperial General Staff
Chief of Imperial General Staff (CIGS)
Appointed Chief of Imperial General Staff
Invasion of Poland
Demands Hitler halt his Invasion of Poland
Mobilization
Full mobilization of the 3rd Division is ordered
Prime Minister of Great Britain
Asks Churchill to join the Cabinet as First Lord of the Admiralty
Armament
Parliament passes the National Services (Armed Forces) Act
Broadcast
Makes a broadcast to the nation after the declaration of war
Chain Home
Chain Home forms part of Britain's wartime air defence system.
Declaration of War
Declares war on Germany, at 11 AM
Declaration of War
Present at Antibes when Britain declares war
Declaration of War on Germany
Announces that Britain is at war with Germany after Germany invades Poland and fails to meet the British ultimatum.
Dominions Secretary
Returns to government as Dominions Secretary at the outbreak of the Second World War
Emergency Hospital Service
Uses wartime powers to organise emergency hospital provision.
First Lord of Admiralty
Appointed First Sea Lord of the Admiralty & Member of Cabinet
Legislation
Parliament passes the National Services (Armed Forces) Act
Civil Defence
Launches a program to build "Anderson" shelters. Given responsibility for interning enemy aliens, evacuations & building shelters
Enigma Machine
The day after the UK declared war on Germany, Turing reports to Bletchley Park, the wartime station of GC&CS
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.