Free The Day We Went to War by Terry Charman

about,’ was Stalin’s comment after the signing.
    At the British Embassy in Moscow, correspondents gather to hear a statement by Sir William Seeds on the future of Anglo-French-Soviet relations in the light of the new pact. While waiting for the ambassador, they ask press attaché John Russell what Sir William is going to say. Russell replies, ‘I don’t know what he’s going to tell you, but it is my opinion that the British government has just been administered a considerable kick up the arse!’
    23 August, D ANZIG
    The Senate decrees that thirty-seven-year-old Bavarian-born Nazi Party Gauleiter and former bank clerk Albert Forster is Danzig’s head of state.
    23 August, L ONDON
    The Imperial War Museum closes as usual for the day at 6pm. But later in the evening Ernest Blaikley, the Museum’s Assistant in Charge of Pictures, is telephoned at home by the Office of Works to be told that the Museum is to close tomorrow and the evacuation of its works of art will begin at midday. The possibility of having to evacuate the Museum’s most valuable contents in the event of another war was first considered way back in November 1933.
    23 August, W EST N ORWOOD
    ‘Things are working up to another serious crisis, almost identical with this time last year. We hope against hope, that even now war may be averted, but each day brings more dread news.’ (Miss Nellie Violet Carver, Supervisor, Central Telegraph Office)
    23 August, H UDDERSFIELD
    ‘The Russo-German Pact is signed and the crisis begins. With the dramatic signature . . . Germany claims a diplomatic triumph which she declares will end resistance to her plans against Poland. She expects to get Danzig and the Polish Corridor without fighting.She is confident Britain and France will not carry out their pledge to help Poland if she is attacked. Germany is wrong . . . The world begins to realize that war is dangerously near.’ (Mrs Marjorie Gothard, wife of master butcher)
    24 August, O BERSALZBERG
    At 1am, von Ribbentrop telephones from Moscow and reports complete success. Once again, Hitler is both delighted and confident. Of Britain and France, he believes the signing of the pact ‘will hit them like a bombshell’.
    24 August, W ILHELMSHAVEN
    Pocket battleship Deutschland sails to take up position across the British sea lanes of the North Atlantic.
    24 August, W ASHINGTON DC
    From the White House, President Roosevelt sends a personal appeal to Hitler. In it, the President calls for the settlement of the Danzig question by means of direct negotiation, arbitration or the appointment of an impartial mediator. Roosevelt concludes: ‘I appeal to you in the name of the people of the United States, and I believe in the name of peace-loving men and women everywhere, to agree to the solution of the controversies existing between your government and that of Poland through the adoption of one of the alternative methods I have proposed.’ A similar appeal is sent to President Ignace Moscicki of Poland. The Poles accept Roosevelt’s offer. Hitler ignores it completely.
    24 August, L ONDON
    Parliament reconvenes and immediately passes the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act, 1939. This will form the basis of the Defence Regulations to come into force in the now-likely event of war. The BBC broadcasts a Government announcement that all schoolteachersare to return to their schools as soon as possible. This is a precaution in case evacuation has to take place.
    At midday the first lorry arrives at the Imperial War Museum to evacuate the Museum’s paintings. It is soon loaded and sets off for Colworth House, Sharnbrook. Another lorry arrives, is loaded, and routed to Penn House, Amersham. Across the river from Lambeth, at the Tate Gallery, Director John Rothenstein gives orders to close at midday. As the last of the public are ushered out, the Tate’s staff start preparing for the evacuation of the Gallery’s works of art. A similar exercise is also taking place under Sir Kenneth