Germany declares war on Poland and attacks at 04.44

The Slovak Republic declares war on Poland and attacks at 04.44

The United Kingdom enacts conscription for men between the ages of 18 to 41

British liner Athenia torpedoed 250 nm NW of Ireland hours after the declaration of war, by German submarine U-30, 112 dead

United Kingdon, France, Australia and New Zealand declare war on Germany

Adolf Hitler issues Fuhrer Directive No 2: The Conduct of the War. This directive outlined that operations against Poland would continue until victory. It also stated that in response to the declaration of war from the United Kingdom and France offensive action will be carried out against the navies of these nations with the only exception being attacked on the British homeland and France. The German navy was to mine the entrances to the Baltic Sea.

The British Government ban closes all cinemas/theatres/football grounds and all other places of mass entertainment.

First British offensive of the war when RAF aircraft attack German warships anchored off Wilhelmshaven

Britain announces naval blockade on Germany

The United States of America starts Neutrality Patrols of American coasts

Newfoundland and Nepal declares war on Germany

The United States of America officially declared neutrality in the European war.

First day of the New York Stock Exchange since the start of the war. Stocks surge 10% on speculation of European war demand.

South Africa declares war on Germany

British Government passes the National Registration Act 1939, taking a census of the population so that identity cards can be issued and complete control of the workforce

French launch the Saar Offensive, a limited advance into German territory near Saarbrucken.

Battle of Westerplatte: German forces capture the Polish fort at the Westerplatte guarding Danzig

British re-introducing convoy system for merchant ships

German forces occupied Lodz

Adolf Hitler issues Fuhrer Directive No 3: The Conduct of the War. Operations against Polish forces will continue. As Polish resistance weakens, German forces will be switched from the east to the west. It also stated that no operations against the United Kingdom or France will be carried out without explicit orders. The only exception will be attacked on the high seas on merchant-ships in accordance with the International Prize Rules.

Canada, Bahrain & Oman declares war on Germany

Saudi Arabia broke off diplomatic relations with Germany

The Duke and Duchess of Windsor return to the United Kingdom from self-imposed exile in France.

The Anglo-French Supreme War Council met for the first time in Abbeville, France.

German Government prohibits private automobile use after 20 September. Special permits would be required to buy petrol (gasoline) and every rubber tire in the country is declared state property.

The British Government lifts its ban on Cinemas/theatres/football grounds and all other places of mass entertainment as long as the local police authority agrees. 

German forces capture Polish cities of Gdynia and Przemysi.

Orzel Incident: Polish submarine Orsel, at sea at the time of German attack and unable to return to a Polish base enters the Estonian port of Tallinn. Estonian authorities at the insistence of Germany intern the submarine and prevent it from putting to sea again.

Polish Army ordered to hold out at the Polish-Romanian border and wait for the arrival of Allies

American aviator, military officer, author, inventor, explorer, and environmental activist Charles Lindbergh makes a nationwide radio broadcast in favour of American isolationism in the current war. "It is madness to send our soldiers to be killed as we did in the last war if we turn the course of peace over to the greed, the fear and the intrigue of European nations. We must either keep out of European wars entirely or stay in European affairs permanently", Lindbergh went on to say, "We must not permit our sentiment, our pity, or our personal feelings of sympathy, to obscure the issue, to affect our children's lives ... America has little to gain by taking part in another European war".

Warsaw encircled by German forces

French retreat from German territory occupied during the Saar Offensive.

Soviet forces under the command of General Georgy Zhukov defeat Japanese forces at the Battle of Khalkhin Gol in Mongolia

Torpedoed by German submarine U-29 W of the Fastnet Rock, in the North Atlantic, 518 dead 17/09/1939

The Soviet Union invades Poland. Polish leadership leave Poland for Romania.

Orzel Incident: Polish submarine Orzel escapes internment in Tallinn Estonia. The British Embassy in Tallinn provided the Polish submarine with navigational charts replacing the ones confiscated by the Estonian authorities.

Germans capture Lublin.

Remains of Polish Army leave Poland for Romania.

First English language broadcast from German radio Nordwestdeutscher Rundfunk, Hamburg to the United Kingdom of William Joyce, nicknamed Lord Haw-Haw.

Adolf Hitler enters former Free City of Danzig in triumph and then gave a speech denouncing the Polish Government and England.

Soviet forces capture Wilno.

Soviet forces join the Battle of Lwow between Polish and German forces.

Romanian PM Armand Calinescu is assassinated by ultra-nationalistic Iron Guard

American President Roosevelt makes a speech to Congress in which he says that the USA should amend its Neutrality Acts to allow countries fighting Germany to purchase American arms.

Director of Gestapo Reinhard Heydrich meets with German police and security officials in Berlin. He orders them to transport all German Jews and Romani to German-occupied Poland using fright cars.

All radios owned by Jews in Germany are to be confiscated.

The German airforce bomb Warsaw for the first time. The British government consider this a breach of a pledge by Germany made at the start of the was not to bomb indiscriminately.

British Navy begins to lay anti-submarine mines in the Strait of Dover.

Adolf Hitler issues Fuhrer Directive No 4: Finishing the war in Poland. This directive also set a demarcation line for German forces not to cross along the San, Vistula and Narew rivers. Attacks on the high seas on merchant-ships in accordance with the International Prize Rules were modified to allow U-boats to attack merchantmen without warning if they are armed. Attacks on troopships are also permitted with a warning. Any attacks on ocean liners are forbidden.

British Blackburn Skua aircraft of the Naval Air Squadron, shoots down the first German aircraft, a Dornier Do 18 flying boat, north of the Fisher Bank.

The French Government bans the French Communist Party in response to the Soviet Union's invasion of Poland.

The Polish underground movement is created on the order of Polish general Juliusz Rómmel, known as the Służba Zwycięstwu Polski (SZP) the Service for Poland's Victory.

The Reich Main Security Office is set up replacing the Chief of German Police and Chief of the SS (Schutzstaffel). Reinhard Heydrich is made it's chief.

Reinhard Heydrich is made Deputy Protector of Bohemia and Moravia with the absolute power of life or death over the Czech population in the region.

Polish Government-in-exile is established in Paris.

Adolf Hitler issues Fuhrer Directive No 5: Partition of Poland. This directive confirmed the San, Vistula and Narew rivers as we new border between the Soviet forces and German forces. This directive also outlined the form the occupation of Poland will take. Attacks on merchant-ships would be done in accordance with the International Prize Rules as previous directives except if the merchant-ship was not showing lights or attempted to radio for help. In these circumstances, merchant-ships could be attacked without warning. Any attacks on civilian ocean liners are still forbidden.

Vacant British Flyweight Boxing Title Jackie Paterson (GB) beat Paddy Ryan (GB) Ko 13, Cartyne Greyhound Track, Glasgow.