The news that Britain was at war was broken by Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain at 11.15am on Sunday 3 September 1939. In a 5 minute broadcast on the 成人快手 Service, he announced that as Hitler had failed to respond to British demands to leave Poland, "This country is at war with Germany". Chamberlain went on to say that the failure to avert war was a bitter personal blow, and that he didn't think he could have done any more.
Following the Prime Minister's speech there were a series of announcements. All places of entertainment were to close with immediate effect, and people were discouraged from crowding together, unless it was to attend church. Details of the air raid warning were also given and it was emphasised that tube stations were not to be used as shelters.
In London the air raid sirens sounded only 8 minutes later, and - although most 成人快手 staff had been evacuated in preparation for hostilities - many of those remaining, including commentator John Snagge, donned tin helmets and rushed to the roof of Broadcasting House to watch the bombs falling. It was a false alarm.
World War 2 and the 成人快手
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The 成人快手 at War
The 成人快手 reinvented itself during World War 2 and public perception of the institution changed dramatically. Explore its expansion into a global media network, the changing nature of its programming, and the way that war re-defined its relationship with both government and audiences. -
Chamberlain returns from Munich - 30 September 1938
Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain returns with a paper signed by Adolf Hitler. -
成人快手 Monitoring founded - 26 August 1939
As part of the intelligence war effort, 成人快手 Monitoring gathered and interpreted international news from across the World. -
Close down of Television service for the duration of the War - 1 September 1939
Mickey Mouse is the last star seen on 成人快手 Television for six years as the TV service is shut down for the duration of WW2. -
Chamberlain announces Britain is at war with Germany - 3 September 1939
"I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received, and that consequently this country is at war with Germany." -
Winston Churchill's first wartime broadcast - 1 October 1939
Churchill delivers the first of many broadcasts which define the collective memory of WW2. -
De Gaulle's first broadcast to France - 18 June 1940
General Charles de Gaulle broadcast to German occupied France, and rallied the French Resistance to him in London. -
The Battle of Britain - Summer 1940
The 成人快手 reports on the battle taking place in the skies -
Bombing of Broadcasting House - 15 October 1940
A bomb lands on the 成人快手's headquarters, killing 4 men and 3 women. -
The Queen鈥檚 Hall destroyed by bombing - 10 May 1941
The Proms loses its home, but rises from the ashes at the Albert Hall. -
London Calling Europe began - 6 July 1941
London Calling Europe was one of many programmes broadcast by the 成人快手 to occupied Europe. -
D-Day broadcasts - 6 June 1944
John Snagge announces that "D-Day has come..." as the Allies land on the beaches in Normandy. -
VE Day broadcasts - 8 May 1945
Winston Churchill announced the end of the War in Europe with a speech broadcast from Downing St, but the war in the Far East continues.
September anniversaries
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Close down of Television service for the duration of the War
1 September 1939 -
The Morecambe and Wise Show
2 September 1968 -
Chamberlain announces Britain is at war with Germany
3 September 1939 -
Start of first series of Porridge
5 September 1974 -
Droitwich transmitter becomes operational
6 September 1934 -
The News Quiz
6 September 1977 -
Casualty
6 September 1986 -
Only Fools and Horses
8 September 1981 -
The Woodentops
9 September 1955 -
First live Children's 成人快手 from 'the Broom Cupboard'
9 September 1985 -
The Saga of Noggin the Nog first transmitted
11 September 1959 -
Crackerjack
14 September 1955 -
The Royle Family
14 September 1998 -
Opening of 成人快手 Bristol
18 September 1934 -
First episode of Fawlty Towers
19 September 1975 -
First episode of I, Claudius
20 September 1976 -
The Old Grey Whistle Test
21 September 1971 -
The Shock of the New
21 September 1980 -
CEEFAX: world's first teletext service
23 September 1974 -
Pride and Prejudice
24 September 1995 -
成人快手 Television for Schools begins
24 September 1957 -
Question Time
25 September 1979 -
The Epilogue
26 September 1926 -
Start of 成人快手 European Service, News in French, German and Italian
27 September 1938 -
成人快手 Singers
28 September 1924 -
The beginning of The Third Programme
29 September 1946 -
Have I Got News For You
28 September 1990 -
War and Peace
28 September 1972 -
First episode of Come Dancing
29 September 1950 -
Start of Radios 1, 2, 3 and 4
30 September 1967 -
Chamberlain returns from Munich
30 September 1938