4 Sep 1939
China
China
- USS Stewart departed China to patrol Philippine waters. ww2dbase [Stewart | CPC]
- Adolf Hitler forbade any further attacks on passenger ships. ww2dbase [Start of the Battle of the Atlantic | AC]
- 30 RAF bombers attacked the German Navy at Wilhelmshaven, Cuxhaven, and Shillig Roads in Germany. Seven of thirty aircraft were shot down and the handful of bombs that hit their targets failed to explode. No.107 Squadron from Wattisham lost four out of five Blenheim bombers, which was the RAF's first fatalities. ww2dbase [Bombing of Hamburg, Dresden, and Other Cities | TH]
- In Germany, a War Economy Decree was published which laid down guidelines for the rapid mobilization of civilian resources and the conversion of the economy to war. ww2dbase [AC]
- Emden was damaged during a British air raid at Wilhelmshaven, Germany when a damaged Blenheim aircraft crashed into the foreship, killing 9 and wounding 20. The aircraft's pilot was Flying Officer H. L. Emden, whose name matched that of the ship he had crashed into by pure chance. The RAF officer was later buried at the Sage War Cemetery in Großenkneten, northwestern Germany. ww2dbase [Emden | Wilhelmshaven, Weser-Ems | CPC]
- Fritz Todt declared that Organization Todt would function as a fortress construction organization with Xaver Dorsch as his deputy and operational commander. ww2dbase [Fritz Todt | CPC]
- U-23 completed her first war patrol. ww2dbase [U-23 | CPC]
- Germans executed 1000 Poles near Bydgoszcz, including a number of Boy Scouts. ww2dbase [Bydgoszcz | TH]
- In the South African Assembly Prime Minister Barry Hertzog declaration of neutrality was defeated by 80 votes to 67 and South Africa committed itself to entering the war. ww2dbase [AC]
- Alan Turing reported to Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire, England, United Kingdom. ww2dbase [Bletchley Park | Alan Turing | Milton Keynes, England | CPC]
- Steam passenger ship Rajputana of the P. & O. Steam Navigation Co Ltd of London, England, United Kingdom was requisitioned by the British Admiralty for war use. She would be converted into an armed merchant cruiser with the hull number F 35. ww2dbase [CPC]
- United States increased patrols on its east coast. ww2dbase [CPC]
4 Sep 1939 Interactive Map
Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis
Did you enjoy this article or find this article helpful? If so, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 per month will go a long way! Thank you. Share this article with your friends: Stay updated with WW2DB: |
Search WW2DB
News
- » Wreck of USS Edsall Found (14 Nov 2024)
- » Autumn 2024 Fundraiser (7 Nov 2024)
- » Nobel Peace Prize for the Atomic Bomb Survivors Organization (11 Oct 2024)
- » Wreck of USS Stewart/DD-224 Found (2 Oct 2024)
- » See all news
Current Site Statistics
- » 1,150 biographies
- » 337 events
- » 43,917 timeline entries
- » 1,241 ships
- » 350 aircraft models
- » 207 vehicle models
- » 375 weapon models
- » 123 historical documents
- » 260 facilities
- » 470 book reviews
- » 28,558 photos
- » 432 maps
Famous WW2 Quote
"All right, they're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us... they can't get away this time."Lt. Gen. Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller, at Guadalcanal
Support Us
Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 a month will go a long way. Thank you!
Or, please support us by purchasing some WW2DB merchandise at TeeSpring, Thank you!