| In London... The British ultimatum to Germany expires at 1100 hours and at 1115 hours, Chamberlain broadcasts to announce that the war has begun. Chamberlain forms a War Cabinet, which includes Churchill as First Lord of the
Admiralty (which is signaled to all Royal Navy ships and installations
with the message "Winston is back") and Eden as Secretary for the Dominions. Churchill and Eden have been the most prominent opponents of an appeasement policy.
A Ministry of Economic Warfare is established. The British government
also announces the implementation of a blockade of Germany. At 1135 hours, as if to confirm the state of war, there is an air-raid warning in London but it is a false alarm.
In Paris... In the afternoon, at 1700 hours, the French declare war before their ultimatum expires.
In Poland... The Polish Lodz Army is now in retreat after being beaten in the frontier battles with Army Group South.
German 10th Army ( General Reichenau) forces have crossed the Warta
River in some areas while 14th Army (General List) troops are converging on Krakow.
The city of Czestochowa falls to German forces. Some Polish units penetrate into East Prussia but their position becomes
untenable as German forces cut them off to the south. The Polish air
force ceases to exist as an effective fighting element. In Warsaw,
there are pro-British demonstrations.
In the North Atlantic... The British passenger liner, SS Athenia, is torpedoed off the northwest coast of Ireland
en route to Canada by
U-30 because it is mistakenly identified as an auxiliary cruiser. There are 112 dead including 28 American
citizens, of some 1400 passengers including some 316 Americans. The
German government is unaware of the action of the U-boat until later in
the month. Britain believes that this is the start of unrestricted submarine warfare. At this time, 39 of the German fleet of 58
U-boats are at sea. Doenitz, the submarine chief, had hoped for a fleet of 300 before contemplating war with Britain. In
Britain... The 3-day evacuation of 1.5 million civilians from the
larger cities to the country is completed.
Over Germany... During the night (September 3-4), British RAF
aircraft drop 6 million leaflets on cities in northern Germany and the
Ruhr in the first of a series of propaganda raids.
In Sydney... The Australian government declares war on Germany.
In Wellington... The government of New Zealand declares war on Germany.
In Brussels... The government of Belgium declares its
neutrality. King Leopold III assumes command of the Belgium Army.
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