3rd September 1939 - 11.15 am

[Hagar]

Surprised nobody posted this. One of the most significant events of the last century.

Historic speech to the nation by British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain.
"I am speaking to you from the Cabinet Room at 10 Downing Street. This morning the British Ambassador in Berlin handed the German Government an official note stating that unless we heard from them by eleven o'clock, that they were prepared at once to withdraw their troops from Poland, a state of war would exist between us. I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received, and consequently this country is at war with Germany."
http://www.doverpages.co.uk/declaration.htm#

[H]

Surprised nobody posted this.

Sorry, it took a while longer for anyone on this side of the Atlantic puddle to hear about it, longer to actually believe it and even longer to get officially involved.
Then there's the fact that the majority of us didn't exist at the time.

8)

[dcunning30]

I think Americans were watching the goings on quite intently.  Heck, by 1939, the US even (unbelivably) had a contingent who actually liked Hitler, such as Henry Ford.  And there were many, many more Americans who were isolationists such as Charles Lindberg.  Coming out of the depression, the US knew what was going on, but nobody wanted to get involved.

Pearl Harbor changed everything.  The US declared war on Japan, and as a result of the tripartite pact, Germany declared was on the US.

[Hagar]

I wasn't having a dig at Americans.

PS. September 3rd was also my late mother-in-law's birthday. It was much easier to remember than most.

[dcunning30]

I wasn't having a dig at Americans.

I know.  

I was responding to H.

[gryshnak]

The US declared war on Japan

It was the other way around, surely?  The attack on Pearl Harbor couldn't be considered anything but a declaration of war.

Gryshnak

[H]

I wasn't having a dig at Americans.

Doug knows my estranged (from much of the world) sense of humor and realized I knew that. I just didn't want him left dangling out there with no response.

I was responding to H.

As aware and watching as they may have been, most would probably not know the significance of that date; not my mom nor aunt -- nor my oldest living uncles, both of whom are WW2 veterans. They remember that it happened quite well (my uncles knew it was in 1939) but not the date. We all remember the significance of December 7, 1941, however, even aside from the fact that it was the birthdate of my eldest paternal uncle (another WW2 veteran, now deceased).

It was the other way around, surely?  The attack on Pearl Harbor couldn't be considered anything but a declaration of war.

It goes both ways: if you don't make a counter-declaration of war, you've basically surrendered. Japan did declare first, howbeit, not as promptly as intended.

8)

[dcunning30]

I suppose different nations do it differently.  But according to the US Constitution, only congress can declare war.  That's typically done by a vote.  Some confusion has occurred by the notion that some official document or statement has to take place that says "We, The United States of America Declare War On ____".  Technically, that's just a formality.  According to the Constitution, a vote on a resolution giving the president the permission to prosecute the war is sufficient.

[Woodlouse2002]

Gryshnak is right. The Japanise did declare war on the US. Firstly by this strike on Pearl Harbour, and secondly by a letter containing the declaration of war that arrived later than it should have done.

[dcunning30]

I'm aware of the fact that Japan declared war on the US first by it's attack on Pearl Harbor and as well as the message that was required to be given to the Americans 1 hour before the attack, which we know didn't happen as the Japanese had planned.  In context, I assumed that was a given and didn't need to be explicitely stated.  However, in the US, according to our constitution, we're required to declare war by congressional approval.

[Ijineda]

the declaration of war came only after 3 days. and the real hostilities would only begin half a year later. so I kinda understand it when the Polish felt a little abandoned by their allies...

btw, why didnt the allies declare war on the soviet union at that time? they took the other half of poland...

[expat]

But the long and the short is that England acually started the second world war regardless of what Germany did. The UK made the first declaration of war.

Matt

[dcunning30]

But the long and the short is that England acually started the second world war regardless of what Germany did. The UK made the first declaration of war.

Matt

Huh?

[Hagar]

[quote]Seems like so many are concerned by formal declarations.

[dcunning30]

Germany posed no immediate threat to Britain by attacking Poland. War was offically declared by Britain & France to honour a treaty agreement. This came far too late to help Poland.

That's true, but they were under no illusion that Germany wouldn't go after them next.  And history bears this out.  This is in contrast with Halle Selasse (sp) begging fellow League of Nation member nations to come to Etheopia's aid when Italy invaded.  The difference here was none of the other member nations felt threatened by Italy, so Halle Selasse's begging for aid went unanswered.