The B.Z.: “COMPLETE CHAOS IN POLAND – GERMAN FAMILIES FLEE – POLISH SOLDIERS PUSH TO EDGE OF GERMAN BORDER!” The 12-Uhr Blatt: THIS PLAYING WITH FIRE GOING TOO FAR – THREE GERMAN PASSENGER PLANES SHOT AT BY POLES – IN CORRIDOR MANY GERMAN FARMHOUSES IN FLAMES!”
On my way to Broadcast House at midnight I picked up the Sunday edition (August 27) of the Voelkischer Beobachter. Across the whole top of the front page were inch-high headlines:
WHOLE OF POLAND IN WAR FEVER! 1,500,000 MEN MOBILIZED! UNINTERRUPTED TROOP TRANSPORT TOWARD THE FRONTIER! CHAOS IN UPPER SILESIA!
There was no mention, of course, of any German mobilization, though, as we have seen, Germany had been mobilized for a fortnight.
William L. Shirer, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich
The Developments in Europe – 2
Berlin Talks Held – 2-4
Inner Circles of Nazis Cool to Roosevelt; Press Says He Is Too Late With His Appeal – 4
Turkish Council Meets - 4
Poles Are in State of Full Readiness – 5
Prayers for Peace Urged by [Episcopal Bishop] Manning - 5
Danzigers Cheer Visiting German Warship [Schleswig-Holstein], Which Fires the First Salute for Forster – 6
Swiss Border Force Called into Service – 6
Germans in Britain Get Orders to Return at Once – 6
French See Hitler Skirting Disaster – 7
Soviet Peace Aim Seen – 7
Jews Aid Polish Cause* – 7
Louvre Treasures Ordered Removed – 7
*The Jews in Poland have placed all their human and material resources at the disposal of the Polish Government in the crisis.
Very sad. Too bad they couldn’t have used the resources to get the hell out.
This song was #1 for twelve weeks in 1939. Deep Purple
Shirer’s diary update at Reply #2.
I find it hard to believe that anyone could still think it was a bluff, especially in France. I think those French were just frightened and grabbing at staws.
What was the lansing contract?