The Times
The Times
Category
Books
Date
4 Sep 1939
Materials
Newspaper
Measurements
365 x 280 x 12 mm
Order this imageCollection
Mr Straw's House, Nottinghamshire
NT 748899.3
Summary
The first in a sequence of whole newspapers, The Times 'MONDAY SEPTEMBER 4 1939'. The top sheet as the papers are wrapped has a series of advertisements, 'EMERGENCY ADDRESSES', 'PUBLIC APPOINTMENTS' and 'DOMESTIC SITUATIONS VACANT (continued) MARRIED COUPLES AND MNSERVANTS' alongside others. In the top right corner the headline 'BRITAIN AT WAR: LATEST NEWS'. The newspapers in the package are; Daily Mail 26 May 1949 (wrapping) Daily Mail 30 July 1941 (scraps) The Times 4 September 1939 The Times 5 September 1939 The Times 6 September 1939 The Times 7 September 1939 The Times 8 September 1939 The Times 9 September 1939 Worksop Guardian 17 May 1940. Friday 1 September 1939 at 0445 hours German forces invade Poland without a declaration of war. The operation is code named Fall Weiss (Plan White). The Germans allot 52 divisions for the invasion (some 1.5 million men), including the 6 armoured divisions and all their motorized units. Of the divisions left to defend against an Anglo-French front, only about 10 are regarded by the Germans as being fit for any kind of action. In London the British government demands a German withdrawal from Poland. Because of the fear of air attacks, the evacuation of young children from London and other supposedly vulnerable areas is begun. General mobilization is proclaimed. (The Royal Navy was mobilized on August 31st.) Air Raid Precautions (ARP) are introduced and a "blackout" enforced from sunset. British railways are taken under government control. Monday 4 September 1939 the RAF strikes German naval base. The first attacks by RAF Bomber Command go in against German warships in the Heligoland Bight with 29 Blenheim and Wellington bombers in a daylight raid. The Admiral Scheer is hit three times but the bombs do not explode. The cruiser Emden is damaged by wreckage of a shot-down Blenheim. Of the attacking aircraft, 7 are lost. There is no question at this stage of attacking targets in Germany. In Britain the Prime Minister Chamberlain broadcasts to Germany, in German, explaining the British stand and denouncing the Nazi regime.
Provenance
Straw collection bequeathed to the National Trust on the death in 1990 of William Straw.
Makers and roles
The Times, printer and publisher