1935 (FRIDAY)
GERMANY: Heinrich Himmler, Reichsführer-SS and chief of the German Police, issues an order forbidding members of the S.S. to take any leading role in religious organizations, including the German Faith movement, and strictly forbids all manifestations of religious intolerance or scorn of religious symbols.
1938 (TUESDAY)
CZECHOSLOVAKIA: After several days of contemplation, the Czech government rejects thosal that Czech Prime Minister Milan Hodza accept the German terms for annexation of the Sudetenland. Instead, the Czech government requests arbitration on the basis of the Czechoslovak-German Locarno Treaty of 1925. The British and French governments immediately reject the arbitration request as inadequate.
September 20th, 1939 (WEDNESDAY)
UNITED KINGDOM: Westminster: The British government was denounced by the Labour opposition in parliament this afternoon for failing to help Poland enough against the German and Russian invaders. The strong criticism came after the prime minister, Neville Chamberlain, had given one of his periodic reviews of the war. Arthur Greenwood, the deputy opposition leader, told MPs: "It is a matter of very deep regret that once an understanding was reached with Poland she was not provided far more generously with sorely needed assistance." He warned that the nation's now active allies might become merely passive friends unless Poland gets more help.Tory, Labour and Liberal MPs all rejected what they deemed a spurious peace offer by Hitler in a recent speech in which the German leader said that he harbours no ill will towards Britain and France. Parliaments view was that Britain should not be deflected.
The US freighters SS Ethan Allen and SS Ipswich are detained by the British.
GERMANY: Aachen: RAF aircraft clash with the Luftwaffe; two RAF Fairey Battles and one Messerschmitt are downed.
Admiral Hipper class Heavy Cruiser Blücher is commissioned.
FREE CITY OF DANZIG: Hitler makes his triumphant entrance to the city. The German population cheers his presence.
POLAND: German troops in eastern Poland withdraw to the line agreed upon in the German-Soviet treaty of 26 August 1939. The Soviet Army moves in behind them to occupy the formerly German territory.
AUSTRALIA: The Prime Minister, R.G. Menzies, announces that the government is offering the British the men to equipment four RAAF bomber and two fighter squadrons plus supporting units for use in Europe and/or the Mediterranean.
ATLANTIC OCEAN: After sinking trawlers off the northern Hebrides, U-27 (Type VIIA) is located in position 58.35N, 09.02W and sunk by depth charges from destroyers HMS Fortune (H 70) and HMS Forester (H 74). All 38 U-boat crewmen survive.