Video: 'BBC News 39 - Sunday 3 September 1939 - (Part 7 of 14)'

(Sunday, September 3, 1939, 11:15 a.m. British Summer Time; during the Invasion of Poland, part of World War II) — Two days after Nazi Germany invaded Poland, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announced this morning that Great Britain and France were at war with Nazi Germany.

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In a radio address from the Cabinet Room of his official residence at 10 Downing Street in London, Chamberlain disclosed that Great Britain and France had taken concurrent action, announcing that “we and France are today, in fulfillment of our obligations, going to the aid of Poland.”

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With the greatest solemnity Chamberlain began his declaration by reporting that the British Ambassador to Berlin had handed in Great Britain’s final ultimatum and that it had not been accepted.

Without hesitation he and announced Britain’s decision and, after touching briefly on the background of the crisis, he expressed the highest confidence that “injustice, oppression and persecution” would be vanquished and that his cause would triumph.

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At 12:00 noon Western European Summer Time, France gave Germany an ultimatum similar to Britain’s with a 5:00 p.m. WEST deadline. The deadline came and went with no reply, so France’s war on Germany became official (at 12 noon Eastern Daylight Time).

Australia and New Zealand also declared war on Germany on this day. Nepal, South Africa, Behrain, Canada and Oman would follow in the coming days.