Eleanor Finch
On 3 September 1939, Britain declared war on Germany, two days after German forces invaded Poland. The British government had previously issued guarantees to Poland, stating that they would declare war if Polish independence was threatened. The declaration of war was announced to the British public in a radio broadcast by Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, who expressed his disappointment at the failure of his long struggle to maintain peace. This decision was not without controversy, with critics arguing that the government's guarantee to Poland was used as an excuse to mobilise public opinion and advance imperial interests. The initial response to Germany's invasion of Poland was limited to dropping anti-Nazi propaganda leaflets over Germany, and Britain's declaration of war was soon followed by a naval blockade.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of declaration of war | 3 September 1939 |
| Reason | Germany's invasion of Poland |
| Treaty violated | Treaty of London, 1839 |
| Countries declaring war | Britain, France, and the dominions of the British Empire |
| Early phase | Phoney War due to limited engagement |
| British Prime Minister | Neville Chamberlain |
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What You'll Learn
Britain's guarantee to Poland
On March 31, 1939, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announced Britain's guarantee to Poland, committing to defending Polish independence. This guarantee was given in a statement to the House of Commons, where Chamberlain declared that in the event of any threat to Polish independence, the British government would lend all possible support to the Polish government. France also endorsed this pledge.
This guarantee was provided in response to the growing threat of German expansionism, with Poland being seen as the likely next target for Hitler's invasion plans. Britain and France hoped that their guarantee would deter Hitler from invading Poland. However, despite these assurances, neither country was in a position to offer immediate military support to Poland if an attack occurred.
The British guarantee to Poland was a significant development, as it marked a shift away from the previous policy of appeasement and indicated a recognition of the need to take a stronger stance against German aggression. Public opinion had swung away from appeasement during the winter of 1938-1939, and there was a growing belief that a public guarantee of support for Poland would end the indecision that had plagued the British government's efforts to secure peace in Europe.
However, the guarantee to Poland was not without its critics. Some, like British diplomat Alexander Cadogan, viewed it as "cruel" and "cynical," as it raised hopes but could not provide immediate military assistance. The Polish publicist Stanisław Mackiewicz also lamented the guarantee, calling it a "tragic" decision that showed "mental aberration and madness."
Despite the concerns, Britain and Poland formalized their military alliance with the Anglo-Polish Agreement in 1939, pledging mutual assistance in the face of a potential military invasion from Nazi Germany. This agreement was a significant step in solidifying the two countries' commitment to defending each other's independence. Ultimately, when Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, Britain and France honoured their guarantees, declaring war on Germany two days later, marking the start of World War II.
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Hitler's invasion of Poland
The German invasion of Poland in 1939 triggered World War II. On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, deploying 60 divisions and nearly 1.5 million men in the invasion. The invasion was justified by Nazi propagandists, who accused Poland of persecuting ethnic Germans living in the country. They also falsely claimed that Poland was planning, with its allies Great Britain and France, to encircle and dismember Germany.
Hitler had already laid the groundwork for the invasion by withdrawing from the non-aggression pact with Poland in April 1939. He also negotiated a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, which was signed in August 1939. This pact secretly provided for Poland to be partitioned between Germany and the Soviet Union, ensuring that Germany could attack Poland without fear of Soviet intervention.
The invasion of Poland was referred to by Germany as the 1939 Defensive War (Verteidigungskrieg) as Hitler proclaimed that Poland had attacked Germany and that Germans in Poland were being persecuted. The German assault was originally scheduled for August 26 but was postponed due to the signing of the Polish-British Common Defence Pact, which committed Britain to the defence of Poland.
The invasion of Poland was a joint attack by Nazi Germany, the Slovak Republic, and the Soviet Union. The campaign ended on October 6, 1939, with Germany and the Soviet Union dividing and annexing Poland. Britain and France honoured their guarantees to Poland by declaring war on Germany on September 3, 1939, but little practical assistance was given to Poland, which was quickly defeated.
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Britain's ultimatum to Germany
This ultimatum was a culmination of rising tensions and aggressive expansion by Nazi Germany. In early November 1938, Germany was allowed to seize the Sudetenland, a German-speaking area of Czechoslovakia, through the First Vienna Award. Soon after, Germany invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia and also gained Memelland, a former part of the German Empire, through an ultimatum to Lithuania. These actions, along with Hitler's announcement of German rearmament and the re-introduction of conscription in 1935, violated the Treaty of Versailles and heightened international tensions.
In response to Germany's actions, Britain and France took a stand to protect Polish independence. On March 31, 1939, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain gave guarantees to Poland, stating that Britain would declare war if Polish independence was threatened. This assurance was formalized by Britain on April 6, 1939, and ratified by France on September 4, 1939. Despite these guarantees, little practical assistance was provided to Poland, and the early stages of the war were described as a "Phoney War."
Britain's declaration of war on Germany in 1939 was a critical moment in the buildup to World War II, reflecting the complexities of international relations and the failure to maintain a stable peace following the First World War.
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Britain's delayed declaration of war
Britain's declaration of war on Germany in 1939 was not immediate. On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, and Britain declared war on Germany two days later, on September 3. France also declared war on Germany on the same day.
The British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, announced the state of war to the British public in a radio broadcast at 11:00 am on September 3, 1939. In his speech, Chamberlain stated:
> "This morning the British Ambassador in Berlin handed the German Government a final Note stating that unless we heard from them by 11 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 that consequently this country is at war with Germany."
The British declaration of war was a result of the German invasion of Poland and Britain's guarantee to Poland that they would declare war if Polish independence was threatened. This guarantee was presented by Chamberlain in a statement to the House of Commons on March 31, 1939, and formalized by the British on April 6, 1939.
However, Britain's initial response to the German invasion of Poland was limited to dropping anti-Nazi propaganda leaflets over Germany. The war declared by Britain and France was described as a "Phoney War" due to the limited practical assistance provided to Poland, which was soon defeated.
It is worth noting that neither Britain nor France declared war on the Soviet Union, which invaded Poland on September 17, 1939, 16 days after Nazi Germany's invasion.
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The constitutional duty of the Prime Minister
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom has a wide range of constitutional duties, including the power to declare war. On September 3, 1939, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announced that Britain was at war with Germany, honouring the guarantee of Poland's borders. This declaration of war was made in response to Germany's invasion of Poland, and Britain, along with France, mobilised its military forces.
The Prime Minister's constitutional duty to declare war is a significant power that can shape the course of history. In this case, Britain's entry into World War II had far-reaching consequences, and the early stages of the war were marked by limited engagement, leading to the term "Phoney War".
The constitutional framework of the UK grants the Prime Minister the authority to make such declarations, and in the case of the 1939 declaration of war on Germany, it was a direct response to Germany's actions in Europe. The UK had previously guaranteed Poland's independence and borders, and when German troops invaded Poland, the Prime Minister upheld the commitment to defend Poland's sovereignty.
The Prime Minister's duty to uphold international agreements and protect the interests of the UK drove the decision to declare war. This declaration was a significant moment in history, marking Britain's entry into World War II and shaping the course of the conflict. The constitutional power to declare war rests with the Prime Minister, who has the responsibility to make such decisions in the national interest and uphold the country's commitments and alliances.
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Frequently asked questions
Germany's invasion of Poland.
No, France also declared war on Germany at the same time.
To defend the balance of power in Europe and safeguard Britain's position in the world.
Initially, there was only limited engagement between the two countries, with Britain dropping anti-Nazi propaganda leaflets over Germany and establishing a naval blockade. This period was known as the "Phoney War".
Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain.
