September 3, 1939: Britain and France declare war on Germany

At 11:15 a.m., the Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, announced the British deadline for the withdrawal* of German troops from Poland had expired*.

He said the British ambassador* to Berlin had handed a final note to the German government saying unless it announced plans to withdraw from Poland by 11 a.m., a state of war would exist between the two countries.

King George said: “I ask them to stand calm, firm and united in this time. The task will be hard. There may be dark days ahead and war can no longer be confined to the battlefield. But we can only do the right as we see the right and reverently* commit our cause to God.”

Similarly the French issued an ultimatum*, which was presented in Berlin at 12:30 a.m., saying France would be at war unless a deadline of 5 p.m. for the troops’ withdrawal was adhered to.

The declaration of war was received with rousing cheers. It was also received with great enthusiasm in the Polish capital, Warsaw, where crowds took to the streets outside the British and French embassies cheering and singing.