Hi there I am writing a short drama film and I'm triing to find out what day of the week britain went to war - world war 2. what day, time and date? I would also be keen to get a copy of churchhills first radio annocment - informing the public that Britain had gone to war. Do you know how and where i could get a copy of this? Many thnaks for your time. Bridget
To be honest I have never given much thought to the time, week or day it all kicked off, the problem I suppose is how you decide what event did actually start it! The churchill speeches are on our radio station but you can purchase all is speeches on amazon, just search there. Probably around £10 is what I paid.
Time of day for declaration of war, for GB and France (and - pedantically - before it actually came a World War), was about midday-ish, I think on a Tuesday (but you can check on your vcr if you have an older one by setting that as the date - make sure its 1939 rather than 2039), following expiration of 11am ultimatum. There was a false air raid warning in many places in England immediately following its transmission. Neville Chamberlain made the declaration, since Churchill did not take office until 10/5/40, and doubtless there are many easily accessible web pages transcribing it -perhaps it is even on tape, with lots of other seminal broadcasts. (Times Past and the IWM seem to do a lot of this sort of thing.) Have you been commissioned to write said drama, which I presume is for t.v., or have you yet to send it to the relevant companies? Cheers Richard
I am writing a short drama film and I'm triing to find out what day of the week britain went to war - world war 2. what day, time and date. World War two started at 4.45 a.m. Friday, 1st September 1939, when, without any formal declaration, the German army launched Operation "Fall Weiss" (White Plan). At precisely 11 a.m., Sunday 3rd September, Britain was at war with Germany. As with some situations when one recalls exactly where one was, I remember (as Britain had given Germany a two-hour notice) all of us who had being playing golf quit and crowded into the club lounge to hear Neville Chamberlain's (not Churchill) 11 o'clock speech. Later in the day, at 5 p.m. France also declared war. At 4.45 p.m. Monday 10th June 1940, Italy formally declared war on Britain.
Yes it is indeed a common misconception that it was Churchill who declared war, because he is the British figure most associated with the war. Anyway if you want to read and hear Chamberlains speech check the link belowChamberlain's Speech
Yes it is indeed a common misconception that it was Churchill who declared war, because he is the British figure most associated with the war. Anyway if you want to read and hear Chamberlains speech click here
