England Declares War: The Original, Official War Office Mobilization Order Notifying British Commanders and Troops Worldwide that They Must Commence War Preparations Immediately

This shows that Britain had no hope that Germany would withdraw from Poland, as it anticipates by two days the speech of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain on September 3 announcing: “This country is at war with Germany”.

A document of monumental importance in global history

In 1935 Hitler violated the Treaty of Versailles by introducing military conscription and building an air force. The following year German troops occupied the Rhineland, also a treaty violation. in 1938, Germany invaded Austria and incorporated it into the Reich. The German military was then mobilized, and was emboldened by the lack of opposition in France and Britain, which were lost in a dream of peace, pacifism, and disarmament. Their policy was to appease the Germans. On September 30, the appeasement policy reached its height, when at the notorious Munich Conference, British Prime Minister Chamberlain and his French counterpart gave in to all of Hitler’s demands to dismember Czechoslovakia. The Germans then occupied the Sudetenland and the Czech government collapsed. In March 1939 the Germans gobbled up the rest of Czechoslovakia, in blatant violation of the Munich accord.

At this point Britain and France began to awake and gave a guarantee that they would defend Poland in the event of a German attack. That attack came on September 1, 1939. On September 3, Britain delivered an ultimatum to the Germans, written by the Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax, and delivered to them at 9 am: Unless German forces began to withdraw from Poland by 11 am, Britain promised to fulfill its obligations to Poland along with the French. The ultimatum rejected, Britain, Australia and New Zealand declared war on Germany on September 3. Similarly the French issued an ultimatum, which was presented in Berlin at 12:30, saying France would be at war unless a 5 pm deadline for the troops’ withdrawal was adhered to. Thus they declared war the same day.

Chamberlain’s memorable broadcast to the nation on the 3rd intoned the dreaded words: “I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received and consequently this country is at war with Germany.” He also said: “The task will be hard. There may be dark days ahead and war can no longer be confined to the battlefield. But we can only do the right as we see the right and reverently commit our cause to God.” He also spoke of his sadness that “the long struggle to win peace” had failed. He continued: “I cannot believe that there is anything more or anything different that I could have done and that would have been more successful.”
King George VI then spoke, calling upon the action and participation of “my people at home and my peoples across the seas”. A War Cabinet of nine members was set up with two new ministers, including Winston Churchill as First Lord of the Admiralty, the post he held at the outbreak of World War I. Anthony Eden took over as Dominions Secretary with special access to the War Cabinet. The National Service (Armed Forces) Act was passed making all men between 18 and 41 liable for conscription. This was to be full mobilization.

But this official mobilization document, from the War Office itself, shows that the British government had no hope that Germany would withdraw from Poland, and began mobilizing on the 1st.

This is the original, official, mobilization order, written at the War Office, and to be sent worldwide to the British Commonwealth possessions across the globe. It is a document of great historical importance in the history of that Britain, conflict, and world history.

Typed document, initialed from the War Office itself, bearing the “secret cipher telegraph” red stamp that marks it as the original, and marked “secret,” dated September 1, 1939 at 6:05 pm, being the official notification to Britain’s global forces to mobilize effective September 2, just hours after receipt. It is simple and direct in its message. “General Mobilization has been ordered. First day of Mobilization 2nd September.” The telegram is addressed to Commonwealth locations ranging from the strategy position at Gibraltar to the Middle East to the Far East to Africa. Among the recipients were governors and commanders-in-chief of the Middle East, China, Malaya, East Africa, Egypt, Sudan, Palestine and Transjordan, Jamaica, Ceylon, and Malta. Copies were to be sent to official parties both domestic and foreign, such as the Army Council and the Director of Mobilization.

This is the one and only original that was created at the War Office, to be dispersed by order of the Prime Minister and the King.