1. Day 61Tuesday 31 October 1939Britain has published consular accounts of brutality in German concentration campsBritain publishes a White Paper on German concentration camps, Finland's delegation returns to Moscow, and the Supreme Soviet meets→
2. Day 60Monday 30 October 1939Soviet troops have reached the Latvian frontier to take up basesSoviet troops reach the Latvian frontier, Himmler sets out German settlement in Poland, and the Polish Government moves to Angers→
3. Day 59Sunday 29 October 1939United States sends Moscow a formal protest over the City of FlintWashington protests to Moscow over the City of Flint, Prague's anniversary brings clashes, and Molotov is to address the Supreme Soviet→
4. Day 58Saturday 28 October 1939Lithuanian army formally enters the city of VilnaThe Pope issues an encyclical, the Senate repeals the arms embargo 63 to 30, and the Lithuanian army formally enters Vilna→
5. Day 57Friday 27 October 1939Lithuanian troops begin occupying the Vilna districtHull demands the City of Flint back, London rejects the Soviet contraband Note, and Lithuanian troops enter the Vilna district→
6. Day 56Thursday 26 October 1939Finnish delegates will not return to Moscow until the Government decidesGoering's paper threatens bombs on Britain, Berlin consults Moscow over the City of Flint, and Chamberlain answers Ribbentrop in the Commons→
7. Day 55Wednesday 25 October 1939Finland expects its delegation to return to Moscow next weekRibbentrop speaks in Danzig and London replies, Washington is expected to demand the City of Flint's release, and Hans Frank is named Governor-General→
8. Day 54Tuesday 24 October 1939Paasikivi returns to Helsinki with new Soviet proposalsStalin and Molotov lead the talks with Finland, Paasikivi returns to Helsinki with new proposals, and the City of Flint is held at Murmansk→
9. Day 53Monday 23 October 1939Finland's delegation is due in Moscow today, with Tanner joining PaasikiviFinland's delegation, with Tanner, is due in Moscow, Papen is ordered back to Turkey, and the Senate resumes its neutrality debate→
10. Day 52Sunday 22 October 1939Finland's envoy Paasikivi has left for Moscow with counter-proposalsPaasikivi leaves for Moscow with counter-proposals, Soviet troops arrive in Estonia, and the Ankara military talks end→
11. Day 51Saturday 21 October 1939Saracoğlu says Turkey's old friendship with Russia will survive the treatySaracoğlu returns to Istanbul, Germany warns neutrals against sailing in convoy, and Royal Oak survivors reach London→
12. Day 50Friday 20 October 1939Treaty text says Britain and France will aid Turkey if attackedThe Anglo-French-Turkish treaty text is published with a Soviet protocol, the capitals react, and Stockholm issues a neutrality declaration→
13. Day 49Thursday 19 October 1939Chamberlain says Britain, France and Turkey have signed a long-term treatyBritain, France and Turkey sign a treaty, Royal Oak losses rise to 810, and Roosevelt closes American waters to belligerent submarines→
14. Day 48Wednesday 18 October 1939Turkey breaks off its talks with Moscow, the Turkish Prime Minister saysTurkey breaks off its Moscow talks, Chamberlain says eight German aircraft have been destroyed, and the Lords debate India→
15. Day 47Tuesday 17 October 1939Royal Oak was sunk at anchor in Scapa Flow, Churchill tells CommonsChurchill says the Royal Oak was sunk inside Scapa Flow, Scapa is bombed and the Iron Duke damaged, and Poland protests over Vilna→
16. Day 46Monday 16 October 1939German aircraft attack the Firth of Forth, Air Ministry saysGerman aircraft attack the Firth of Forth, Soviet troops land in Estonia, and Finland's delegation is back in Helsinki→
17. Day 45Sunday 15 October 1939Admiralty list names 463 survivors of the battleship Royal OakThe Admiralty lists 463 Royal Oak survivors, German naval circles claim HMS Hood is damaged, and Pittman answers Lindbergh in the Senate→
18. Day 44Saturday 14 October 1939The battleship Royal Oak has been sunk, the Admiralty announcesThe Admiralty announces the loss of the Royal Oak, Lindbergh urges keeping the arms embargo, and Sweden's King calls Nordic heads of state together→
19. Day 43Friday 13 October 1939Germany says Chamberlain has refused Hitler's offer of a final settlementBerlin says Chamberlain has refused Hitler's offer, DNB denies an appeal to Roosevelt, and Paasikivi is still in Moscow→
20. Day 42Thursday 12 October 1939Britain rejects Hitler's peace terms and demands acts, not words, Chamberlain saysChamberlain rejects Hitler's proposals and demands acts, not words, Paasikivi arrives in Moscow, and Lithuania gets Vilna under its Soviet pact→
21. Day 41Wednesday 11 October 1939Britain has sent 158,000 troops to France, the War Secretary says158,000 men have crossed to France without a casualty, Finland advises civilians to leave Helsinki, and the Senate rejects the Tobey motion→
22. Day 40Tuesday 10 October 1939Britain and three Dominions agree to train airmen together, mainly in CanadaBritain and three Dominions agree a joint air training scheme, Chamberlain's reply to Hitler moves to Thursday, and Paasikivi leaves for Moscow→
23. Day 39Monday 9 October 1939Moscow's Izvestia backs Hitler's peace offer as a basis for talksIzvestia backs Hitler's proposals as a basis for talks, Moscow will send Germany raw materials, and Paasikivi will represent Finland in Moscow→
24. Day 38Sunday 8 October 1939Berlin waits for London and Paris to answer Hitler's peace offerBerlin waits for the Allied answer to Hitler, Finland will send a representative to Moscow, and Zaleski promises equal treatment for Polish Jews→
25. Day 37Saturday 7 October 1939Britain calls Hitler's proposals vague and obscure as capitals weigh the offerBritain calls Hitler's proposals vague but will examine them, most of the BEF is in France, and Finland is invited to Moscow and calls up reserves→
26. Day 36Friday 6 October 1939Hitler offers Europe a peace conference and says refusal means warHitler proposes a European conference and says refusal means war, London and Paris papers reject it, and Berlin reports the surrender at Kock→
27. Day 35Thursday 5 October 1939Hitler will address the Reichstag in Berlin on Friday, Reuters reportsHitler will address the Reichstag on Friday, London claims half of Germany's ocean-going U-boats are lost, and Moscow wants bases in Lithuania→
28. Day 34Wednesday 4 October 1939Halifax says Britain will judge any German peace proposal by three testsHalifax sets three tests for any German peace proposal, Britain will recognise the Polish Government in France, and the Senate debate resumes→
29. Day 33Tuesday 3 October 1939Chamberlain says Britain will examine peace proposals but not yield to threatsChamberlain will examine peace proposals but not yield to threats, the American republics declare a safety zone, and Munters meets Stalin→
30. Day 32Monday 2 October 1939Berlin says German troops have entered WarsawBerlin says its troops are in Warsaw and Hel has surrendered, a raider sinks the Clement, and the Senate opens its neutrality debate→
31. Day 31Sunday 1 October 1939Churchill says Britain is preparing for at least three years of warChurchill reviews the first month of war, Hitler receives Ciano in Berlin, and Poland's ambassador protests against the Moscow agreement→
32. Day 30Saturday 30 September 1939Poland's new President takes the oath in ParisRaczkiewicz is sworn in as Poland's President in Paris with Sikorski as Prime Minister, and Berlin reports more surrenders at Modlin→
33. Day 29Friday 29 September 1939Berlin and Moscow publish a new frontier through PolandBerlin and Moscow publish a treaty fixing a frontier along the Bug, Modlin surrenders, and Estonia signs a pact with Moscow→
34. Day 28Thursday 28 September 1939Warsaw's command says it is negotiating the capitulation of the city and ModlinWarsaw's command negotiates a conditional capitulation, Berlin reports an offer from Modlin, and the Moscow talks go on in silence→
35. Day 27Wednesday 27 September 1939Berlin says Warsaw's commander has offered to give up the cityWarsaw opens surrender negotiations, Berlin claims a capitulation, and Ribbentrop arrives in Moscow→
36. Day 26Tuesday 26 September 1939Berlin says the operation against Warsaw has begunThe assault on Warsaw, Warsaw's radio silent, and Moscow announces Ribbentrop's return→
37. Day 25Monday 25 September 1939Warsaw under the heaviest air attack of the siegeWarsaw bombardment, the demarcation line, and neutrality redrawn in Washington and Panama→
38. Day 24Sunday 24 September 1939Panama opens a conference about staying out of it, Warsaw turns its own water off, and Berlin counts the men coming over the lineA Sunday, and the war goes on without anyone in an office→
39. Day 23Saturday 23 September 1939Three numbers move without an event behind them, Berlin declares the Polish army destroyed, and Moscow counts its own advanceThe counting catches up→
40. Day 22Friday 22 September 1939Warsaw comes back on the air, Romania proclaims a state of siege, and Berlin certifies its own conduct on four fronts at onceEverybody is describing themselves→
41. Day 21Thursday 21 September 1939Romania's prime minister is shot dead in a Bucharest street, Roosevelt asks Congress to lift the arms embargo, and Warsaw's radio stops in the middle of a broadcastEveryone is explaining how they intend to stay out→
42. Day 20Wednesday 20 September 1939Six governments publish figures for the fighting in PolandCompeting figures from six governments→
43. Day 19Tuesday 19 September 1939Hitler tells Danzig he has no war aim against Britain or FranceHitler speaks at Danzig→
44. Day 18Monday 18 September 1939The Admiralty announces the loss of an aircraft carrierThe loss of an aircraft carrier→
45. Day 17Sunday 17 September 1939Moscow says the Polish state has ceased to existThe Soviet Union enters Poland→
46. Day 16Saturday 16 September 1939Moscow publishes the terms ending the Mongolian frontier fightingMoscow ends the Mongolian fighting→
47. Day 15Friday 15 September 1939Berlin claims the ring around Warsaw is closedThe neutrals state their positions→
48. Day 14Thursday 14 September 1939Berlin says Gdynia's garrison is surrenderingThe Commons sets limits on bombing→
49. Day 13Wednesday 13 September 1939Chamberlain tells the Commons the troops are in FranceThe Commons on news and censorship→
50. Day 12Tuesday 12 September 1939Britain confirms it has an army in FranceThe British army in France→
51. Day 11Monday 11 September 1939Canada puts a cost and a manpower figure on its warCanada and Australia count the cost→
52. Day 10Sunday 10 September 1939Canada declares war on GermanyCanada goes to war→
53. Day 9Saturday 9 September 1939Britain orders its departments to plan for a three-year warBritain plans for a long war→
54. Day 8Friday 8 September 1939Berlin says its troops have entered WarsawConflicting accounts of Warsaw→
55. Day 7Thursday 7 September 1939Berlin announces Westerplatte's surrender as Polish radio says it still holdsThe fight for Westerplatte→
56. Day 6Wednesday 6 September 1939Berlin announces the fall of KrakówKraków falls→
57. Day 5Tuesday 5 September 1939Athenia survivors come ashore at Greenock after the sinkingThe Athenia survivors reach Scotland→
58. Day 4Monday 4 September 1939RAF attacks the German fleet in Britain's first raids of the warBritain opens the air war→
59. Day 3Sunday 3 September 1939Britain and France declare war on GermanyBritain and France enter the war→
60. Day 2Saturday 2 September 1939Poland fights alone as London and Paris struggle to fix a deadlineBritain and France weigh their guarantee to Poland→
61. Day 1Friday 1 September 1939Germany invades Poland at dawn and proclaims Danzig part of the ReichThe war begins→