Chronology of World War II

September 1939

Sunday, September 10th


Battle of the Atlantic

  • Off the Norwegian coast, the British submarine Triton torpedoes sister submarine Oxley by mistake. There are only 2 survivors.
  • The British steamer Goodwood (2796t) hits a mine and sinks off the British east coast 1 mile southeast of Flamborough Head. The mine was laid by U-15 on Sept 6th. 1 crew member is lost.
  • The British steamer Magdapur (8641t) sinks on a mine laid on the 4th by U-13 off Orfordness on the Briish east coast. 6 crew members are lost.
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Diplomatic Relations

Canada declares war on Germany.
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Poland

There are more successes for the Poznan and Lodz Armies, but the Polish military command realize that the Germans are advancing at such a rate as to prevent the Poles from retreating or regrouping.
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Western Front

  • The first major units of the BEF begin to land in France.
  • In reply to insistent demands by the Polish commander Rydz-Smigly, Gen Maurice Gustave Gamelin, the French Chief of the General Staff, announces that more than half of his active divisions are in contact with the enemy on the northeast front, and that he can do no more.

Small advance parties have been arriving since Sept 4. In the first month 160,000 men, 24,000 vehicles and 140,000 tons of supplies are sent to France.

Leading Elements of the BEF Arrive in France


BEF
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[ Sept 9th - Sept 11th]