BRITISH LINER ATHENIA TORPEDOED, SUNK (9/4/39)

Microfiche-New York Times archives, McHenry Library, U.C. Santa Cruz | 9/4/39 | Turner Catledge, Herbert L. Matthews, Otto D. Tolischus, Adolf Hitler, Gaston H. Archambault, Hanson

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents World War II Plus 70 Years: Seminar and Discussion Forum
First session: September 1, 2009. Last date to add: September 2, 2015.
Reading assignment: New York Times articles delivered daily to students on the 70th anniversary of original publication date. (Previously posted articles can be found by searching on keyword “realtime”.)
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by freepmail. Those on the Realtime +/- 70 Years ping list are automatically enrolled. Course description, prerequisites and tuition information is available at the bottom of Homer’s profile.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

A key to map symbols is on my profile.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Winston S. Churchill, The Gathering Storm

[Homer_J_Simpson]

04/09/1939: The German 3rd Army and 4th Army join in the Corridor and re-establish the land connection between East Prussia and the Reich that was severed in 1919 as a result of the Versailles Treaty. German troops cross the River Pilica in southern Poland. The German successes in Poland are beginning to wear down the Polish armies, which are now becoming isolated from one another, making the mounting of coordinated counter-attacks increasingly difficult. At Bydgoszcz, a thousand Poles are murdered, including several dozen Boy Scouts who are shot against a wall by German troops.

http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-in-europe/eastern-europe/eastern-europe-index-1939.htm

[abb]

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1939/sep39/f04sep39.htm

RAF strikes German naval base
Monday, September 4, 1939

Over Germany... The first attacks by RAF Bomber Command go in against German warships in the Heligoland Bight with 29 Blenheim and Wellington bombers in a daylight raid. The Admiral Scheer is hit three times but the bombs do not explode. The cruiser Emden is damaged by wreckage of a shot-down Blenheim. Of the attacking aircraft, 7 are lost. There is no question at this stage of attacking targets in Germany.

In Poland... In the north, the Polish Modlin Army begins to retreat after putting up a stubborn defense around Mlawa. In the south, the German 10th Army (General Reichenau) forces have already advanced more than 50 miles. Over Lodz, German Me109 fighters reportedly destroy 11 Polish fighters and 3 bombers.

On the Western Front... There are reports of skirmishing in “No Man’s Land” between the French Maginot Line and the German Siegfried Line.

In France... Advance elements of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) land from destroyers at Cherbourg.

In Britain... Prime Minister Chamberlain broadcasts to Germany, in German, explaining the British stand and denouncing the Nazi regime.

In Germany... In an article published in the official newspaper of the NSDAP, the Volkischer Beobachter, Goebbels claims that the sinking of the SS Athenia was arranged by Churchill to create an incident between Germany and the United States.

In Tokyo... The government of Japan declares its neutrality and notes that she will “concentrate her efforts on a settlement of the China affair.”

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Hit off Hebrides – 2-4
List of the American Passengers Aboard the Torpedoed Athenia – 5-6
Poles Charge Aerial Gas Attacks on Cities As Germany Agrees to ‘Humanize’ theWar – 7
Says U-Boat Spoke to U. S. Cruise Ship – 7
The Developments in Europe – 8-9
Bulletins on European Conflict – 10-11
British Navy Acts – 12-14
Viscount Gort Is Named British Chief in Field – 14
Poles Report Gain – 15-17
British Lower Swastika At Jerusalem Consulate – 17
Roosevelt In Plea – 18-19
Italy Fails to Act As Her Ally Fights – 20-21
Hitler with Army on Eastern Front – 22-23
Hitler Appeal to Nation – 23-24
Reich ‘Blitzkrieg’ is Now Ruled Out – 25
U.S. Envoy’s Home Bombed in Warsaw – 25
Proclamation to German Troops – 26
Duke of Windsor Set to Aid British Cause – 26
General Pershing Silent as he Studies War News – 26
First War Forces Relatively Small – 27-29
Chamberlain Talk Announcing War – 30
Churchill a Foe of Hitler Since ’33 – 31-32
Address by the King – 33

[beebuster2000]

btt

[abb]

http://irblog.blogs.com/london_irvine_report/2009/09/day-4-britain-france-at-war.html
Day 4. Britain & France at War.

[mainepatsfan]

Churchill a Foe of Hitler Since ’33 – 31-32

Darn warmonger. /s

[wagglebee]

It’s ironic to read the somewhat optimistic reports from Poland and the report that British and French military readiness makes Blitzkreig “impossible”.

[mainepatsfan]

It’s ironic to read the somewhat optimistic reports from Poland and the report that British and French military readiness makes Blitzkreig “impossible”.

No the only thing that made it impossible was the weather.

[wagglebee]

It’s mind-boggling how unprepared France and Britain really were. They spent years watching Hitler build an army and they found themselves totally incapable of defending the European mainland.

[PzLdr]

What made “blitzkrieg” in the west impossible was the practice of economy of force by the Germans. To be sure of victory in Poland, all but some 40 divisions, including ALL the Panzer, Light, and motorized/mechanized infantry divisions were in the east. So was the bulk of the Luftwaffe.

the weather that September was very favorable to militasry operations by the Germans. The autumn rains didn’t really show up. A tanker’s dream.

[mainepatsfan]

They were preparing for a replay of World War I....the Germans showed up to fight WWII.

[PzLdr]

Interestingly enough, if I remember correctly, the Germans tried hush the ATHENIA attack up initially, seizing the U-boat’s log book, ordering the crew to keep quiet, and floating the claim the Brits sunk it.

[mainepatsfan]

Oh I understand that for that time frame. I was speaking more of the phony war period.

[mainepatsfan]

Yes and as I recall Hitler was steaming mad about it (not about the loss of life but because he didn’t want to take the PR hit).

[PzLdr]

To be somewhat fair to the Brits and French, they had military forces larger than those of Germany [when combined with the Dutch and Belgians]. The French had better tanks. What the Germans had were three critical items that the Allies didn’t: a far superior doctrine/tactical scheme [and better soldiers], a superior air force, schooled in close support for the Army, and as far as weaponry, more anti- tank guns.

[wagglebee]

The Maginot line created a dangerously false sense of security which included the absurd assumption that the Netherlands and Belgium could stop an invasion.

[wagglebee]

Good points.