October 1939
Politics:
1st: The German government denounces American neutrality on the basis of American aircraft in service with the Polish Air Force. The United States Government denies all knowledge.
2nd: The Netherlands' government expresses its wish for a return to peace in Europe, stressing its hope that Germany will withdraw from Polish territory.
3rd: Rumanian and Hungarian governments announced their mutual desire to find a peaceful solution of their border disputes.
4th: The United Kingdom welcomed the peaceful attitude of the Balkan states, while at the same time condemning the various members of the Rome-Berlin Axis, which is now rumoured to go beyond the four known member states of Germany, Italy, Japan and Norway. Later the government went further in declaring a total blockade on Germany, and a blockade of war materials on Norway. Norway claimed that this would not affect the economically self-sufficient Axis.
5th: Turkey raised old border issues with Greece and suggested war could be the result if they did not comply.
5th: Danish Peace Conference collapses in intrigue.
6th: Greece, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Rumania sign mutual defence pact to protect the Balkans from external aggression.
6th: Norway strengthens the Soviet-Axis link by signing a treaty with the USSR.
6th: Germany breaks off diplomatic relations with the Netherlands.
8th: Partial relations restored between Germany and the Netherlands.
Maneouvers:
1st: Polish troops begin evacuating to Rumania.
3rd: Dutch armed forces mobilise.
4th: Norway begins full mobilisation.
4th: Yugoslav army begins partial mobilisation.
5th: Sweden announce their intention to retain their military presence in Denmark despite the cancellation of the wargames. On the same day, Swedish troops welcome a Finnish division onto their soil as a further sign of regional solidarity.
Naval Encounters:
The Battle of the Atlantic: The Royal Navy and Kriegsmarine have yet to make official announcements on the numbers of vessels lost, but independent sources claim that particularly aggressive tactics from both sides resulted in very heavy losses in this first month of U-boat warfare.
The German Pocket Battleship Graf Spee intercepted a British convoy and destroyed both it and its escort. Her sister-ship the Deutschland was spotted and engaged by a French squadron lead by the Foch but is rumoured to still be at large in the North Atlantic.
Land Battles:
1st October: Runstedt calls a halt to the battle of Warszawa to resupply his forces.
3rd October: Mlawa falls.
4th October: Bydgoszcz retaken by German forces.
8th October: Polish forces on the Gulf of Danzig wiped out.
11th October: Germans begin final assault on Warszawa. Massive air and artillery bombardment shatters the city.
12th October: Poznan pocket eliminated.
14th October: Przemysl pocket eliminated
15th October: German forces enter Warszawa suburbs.
19th October: Last Polish unit outside Warszawa, Wilenska Brigade, surrenders at Grodno.
25th October: Polish army stragglers begin to reorganise at Brest-Litovsk
26th October: Polish national radio ceases broadcasting.
27th October: Polish Army surrenders.