WWII: Hitler Invades Poland

WARSAW, Sept. 1, 1939 (UP) - President Moscicki proclaimed a state of war in Poland today after German airplanes had bombed Polish cities, including Warsaw, and German troops had smashed across the frontier from Slovakia to the Baltic. The state of war proclamation was in no way a declaration of war.

LONDON, Sept. 3, 1939 (INS) - Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain proclaimed to the British empire and the world at large today that Great Britain and Germany are at war, a conflict that may lead to a general outbreak.

Less than 18 hours after Great Britain and France declared war on Germany, plunging nearly 300,000,000 persons of nations around the globe into war, Hitler's forces apparently had struck the first blow by torpedoing the British liner Athenia 200 miles off the northwest coast of Scotland with 1,400 persons-246 Americans-aboard.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5, 1939 (UP) -- The United States served formal notice on the world today that it is determined to maintain a strict neutrality in the European conflict.

BERLIN, Sept. 6, 1939 (UP) - The high command announced today that German troops, smashing forward on four fronts, were closing in on Warsaw and had captured the important city of Cracow in southern Poland.

WARSAW, Sept. 6, 1939 (UP) -- The Polish army general staff announced today, as the German troops blasted their way to within 31 miles of the capital, that 30 Polish airplanes had bombed Berlin and returned to their bases without the loss of a single plane.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6, 1939 (UP) - The United States is officially neutral today and the sale of arms, ammunition and implements of war to belligerents is forbidden.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6, 1939 (UP) - The neutrality proclamation issued yesterday by President Roosevelt set forth 17 drastic regulations restricting the actions of American citizens and aliens residing or traveling in this country. The regulations are:

BERLIN, Sept. 8, 1939 (UP) -- The German high command issued a bulletin tonight saying that Nazi mechanized forces had broken through Polish defenses and entered Warsaw after brief fighting.

LONDON, Sept. 8, 1939 (UP) -- The Polish radio reported from Warsaw tonight that the capital had suffered the biggest air raid of the war, with many incendiary bombs falling. It said numerous fires had been started. Two German bombing planes were shot down and their pilots captured after they had landed by parachute in the park in the center of the city, the broadcast said.

BERLIN, Sept. 27, 1939 (UP) -- The city of Warsaw capitulated unconditionally today, the Nazi high command said, on the 20th day of bombardment, fire and starvation.