15 March Germany invades Bohemia and dismembers Czechoslovakia, violating the Munich agreement, signed the previous November

31 March Britain and France guarantee Poland’s territorial integrity

27 April Britain introduces limited conscription for 20-to 22-year-olds

23 August Germany and Russia sign a non-aggression pact, with secret protocols to divide Poland between them

25 August Hitler cancels the order to invade Poland after Mussolini insists Italy will remain neutral. Britain signs an alliance with the Poles

28 August Chamberlain rejects Hitler’s offer of an alliance in return for Danzig and the “Polish corridor”, insisting that Britain would never desert Poland

29 August Hitler demands that a Polish emissary arrives in Berlin within 24 hours to discuss the “Polish question”

30 August The Poles refuse to accede to Hitler’s demands

31 August Britain mobilises the Royal Navy, Hitler orders the invasion of Poland to begin the following morning

1 September German troops invade Poland

3 September Britain sends Germany an ultimatum at 8am (GMT), demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities in Poland. When the ultimatum expires three hours later, Britain declares war on Germany

15 March Germany invades Bohemia and dismembers Czechoslovakia, violating the Munich agreement, signed the previous November

31 March Britain and France guarantee Poland’s territorial integrity

27 April Britain introduces limited conscription for 20-to 22-year-olds

23 August Germany and Russia sign a non-aggression pact, with secret protocols to divide Poland between them

25 August Hitler cancels the order to invade Poland after Mussolini insists Italy will remain neutral. Britain signs an alliance with the Poles

28 August Chamberlain rejects Hitler’s offer of an alliance in return for Danzig and the “Polish corridor”, insisting that Britain would never desert Poland

29 August Hitler demands that a Polish emissary arrives in Berlin within 24 hours to discuss the “Polish question”

30 August The Poles refuse to accede to Hitler’s demands

31 August Britain mobilises the Royal Navy, Hitler orders the invasion of Poland to begin the following morning

1 September German troops invade Poland

3 September Britain sends Germany an ultimatum at 8am (GMT), demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities in Poland. When the ultimatum expires three hours later, Britain declares war on Germany

15 March Germany invades Bohemia and dismembers Czechoslovakia, violating the Munich agreement, signed the previous November

31 March Britain and France guarantee Poland’s territorial integrity

27 April Britain introduces limited conscription for 20-to 22-year-olds

23 August Germany and Russia sign a non-aggression pact, with secret protocols to divide Poland between them

25 August Hitler cancels the order to invade Poland after Mussolini insists Italy will remain neutral. Britain signs an alliance with the Poles

28 August Neville Chamberlain rejects Hitler’s offer of an alliance in return for Danzig and the “Polish corridor”, insisting that Britain would never desert Poland

29 August Hitler demands that a Polish emissary arrives in Berlin within 24 hours to discuss the “Polish question”

30 August The Poles refuse to accede to Hitler’s demands

31 August Britain mobilises the Royal Navy, Hitler orders the invasion of Poland to begin the following morning

1 September German troops invade Poland

3 September Britain sends Germany an ultimatum at 8am (GMT), demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities in Poland. When the ultimatum expires three hours later, Britain declares war on Germany

15 March Germany invades Bohemia and dismembers Czechoslovakia, violating the Munich agreement, signed the previous November

31 March Britain and France guarantee Poland’s territorial integrity

27 April Britain introduces limited conscription for 20-to 22-year-olds

28 August Chamberlain rejects Hitler’s offer of an alliance in return for Danzig and the “Polish corridor”, insisting that Britain would never desert Poland

29 August Hitler demands that a Polish emissary arrives in Berlin within 24 hours to discuss the “Polish question”

30 August The Poles refuse to accede to Hitler’s demands

31 August Britain mobilises the Royal Navy, Hitler orders the invasion of Poland to begin the following morning

1 September German troops invade Poland

3 September Britain sends Germany an ultimatum at 8am (GMT), demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities in Poland. When the ultimatum expires three hours later, Britain declares war on Germany

23 August Germany and Russia sign a non-aggression pact, with secret protocols to divide Poland between them

25 August Hitler cancels the order to invade Poland after Mussolini insists Italy will remain neutral. Britain signs an alliance with the Poles

15 March Germany invades Bohemia and dismembers Czechoslovakia, violating the Munich agreement, signed the previous November

31 March Britain and France guarantee Poland’s territorial integrity

25 August Hitler cancels the order to invade Poland after Mussolini insists Italy will remain neutral. Britain signs an alliance with the Poles

28 August Chamberlain rejects Hitler’s offer of an alliance in return for Danzig and the “Polish corridor”, insisting that Britain would never desert Poland

29 August Hitler demands that a Polish emissary arrives in Berlin within 24 hours to discuss the “Polish question”

30 August The Poles refuse to accede to Hitler’s demands

31 August Britain mobilises the Royal Navy, Hitler orders the invasion of Poland to begin the following morning

1 September German troops invade Poland

3 September Britain sends Germany an ultimatum at 8am (GMT), demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities in Poland. When the ultimatum expires three hours later, Britain declares war on Germany

27 April Britain introduces limited conscription for 20-to 22-year-olds

23 August Germany and Russia sign a non-aggression pact, with secret protocols to divide Poland between them