Geoff Scargill –
September 1939 - Last weekend of peace - First weekend of War.
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Tue 13 th May 2025 |
Geoff made his first visit to CHAS to explain the events
that initiated the Declaration of War on 3rd Sept 1939. Geoff is
a retired head teacher was able to use his presentation skills
to maximum effect. The post WW1 years were difficult for all
nations. Germany had survived a desperate depression and
financial inflation but by the mid - late 1930s it was
recovering. Their chancellor, Herr Hitler was seen as a
beneficiary and admired by many, including parts of the British
Press. |
Geoff Scargill. |
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Even Winston Churchill wrote in 1937:
“Those who have met
Herr Hitler face to face, have found a highly competent, cool,
well-informed functionary with an agreeable manner, a disarming
smile, and few have been unaffected by a subtle personal
magnetism. We may yet live to see Hitler a gentler figure in a
happier age.”
However, in early Sep Germany invaded
Poland.
In September 1939, the British Prime Minister,
Neville Chamberlain, delivered an ultimatum to Germany. This
ultimatum demanded that Germany withdraw its troops from Poland
within a set timeframe, or a state of war would exist between
Britain and Germany. The ultimatum was delivered, but no
response was received from Germany, leading to Britain's formal
declaration of war on Germany on September 3, 1939.
Sunday
3rd Sep 1939 was a lovely sunny day and anyone with access to a
radio tuned in at 11am. To listen to the famous Neville
Chamberlain broadcast from the Cabinet Room at 10, Downing
Street.
“This morning the British Ambassador in Berlin handed
the German Government a final Note stating that unless we heard
from them by 11 0'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 that consequently this country is at war with
Germany.” |
Operation Pied Piper. |
Operation Pied Piper. |
Within days over 1 million children had been evacuated out of
the towns & cities.
Operation Pied Piper was the codename
for the evacuation of British civilians, primarily children,
from urban areas to rural locations. The first wave began on 1st
Sep 1939, with over 1.5 million people, including children,
mothers, and teachers, being moved within a few days
Because
of the use of gas in WW1 everyone was issued with a gas mask -
though it turned out gas wasn’t used over the UK.
Britain
became a Totalitarian State and all public gatherings were
banned, except churchgoers. The ‘Blackout’ was introduced and
all cinemas closed. However there was later some relaxation with
entertainment and sports events.
The British Empire covered
over ¼ of the surface of the Word and during the conflict over
52 million people died. Some estimates go as high as 80 million. |
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