The daily briefing · 08:00 GMT · Free
State of the War
Every morning at 08:00 GMT, yesterday's war in one email. The five to eight facts that mattered, in the order they mattered, with nothing you would not have known at the time. Free, forever. No card.
Past issues
- Day 6131 October 1939Britain has published consular reports of brutality in German camps. Finland is sending its final answer to Moscow.
- Day 6030 October 1939Soviet troops are moving into their Latvian bases. Finland has settled its answer to Moscow.
- Day 5929 October 1939Washington has protested to Moscow over the City of Flint. Germany admits three U-boats are lost.
- Day 5828 October 1939The US Senate has voted 63 to 30 to lift the arms embargo. Finland says Moscow’s demands go too deep for a simple vote.
- Day 5727 October 1939A quick question from Ray at LIVE WW2
- Day 5626 October 1939Chamberlain says Germany alone is to blame for the war. Finland is laying mines and blacking out Helsinki.
- Day 5525 October 1939Ribbentrop says Britain forced the war. Finland expects its delegation back in Moscow next week.
- Day 5424 October 1939Moscow has detained the City of Flint. Finland’s envoy is heading home with new Soviet proposals.
- Day 5323 October 1939Finland’s delegation is due in Moscow. India’s Congress tells its ministers to resign.
- Day 5222 October 1939Finland has sent its envoy back to Moscow but says it will go no further.
- Day 5121 October 1939Turkey says its friendship with Moscow will survive the treaty. Germany warns neutral ships off British convoys.
- Day 5020 October 1939 Britain and France have pledged to defend Turkey. Berlin says Turkey has left strict neutrality.
- Day 4919 October 1939Britain and France have signed a 15-year treaty with Turkey. Finland calls Moscow’s demands severe.
- Day 4818 October 1939Turkey has walked out of its talks with Moscow.
- Day 4717 October 1939Churchill says Royal Oak was sunk at anchor inside Scapa Flow. More than 800 men have died.
- Day 4616 October 1939German bombers have attacked the Firth of Forth in Scotland. Royal Oak’s survivors are now put at 414.
- Day 4515 October 1939Royal Oak: 463 survivors named so far, from a crew of about 1,200.
- Day 4414 October 1939HMS Royal Oak has been sunk, it is believed by a German submarine.
- Day 4313 October 1939Berlin has answered Chamberlin. Roosevelt has written to Moscow.
- Day 4212 October 1939Britain has turned down Hitler’s peace offer.
- Day 4111 October 1939Chamberlain gives Britain’s answer to Hitler later today. France has said it will fight on.
- Day 4010 October 1939Britain’s answer to Hitler has been put back to tomorrow. Finland’s envoy is on his way to Moscow.
- Day 399 October 1939Moscow has called Hitler’s offer a basis for talks. London has yet to answer.
- Day 388 October 1939Finland has agreed to talks in Moscow. Berlin is waiting for Britain's answer.
- Day 377 October 1939Britain calls Hitler's offer vague and obscure. Moscow now summons Finland.
- Day 366 October 1939Hitler holds out his hand. Britain's papers say No.
- Day 355 October 1939Hitler speaks to the Reichstag at 11:00 GMT today. A peace offer is expected.
- Day 344 October 1939Britain recognises Poland's government in France. Hitler is expected to speak this week.
- Day 333 October 1939 Chamberlain says Britain will examine peace offers but will not give in to threats.
- Day 322 October 1939German troops are in Warsaw. Britain calls up men aged 20 and 21.
- Day 311 October 1939Churchill: Britain is ready for three years of war. Berlin targeting merchant ships. (opens in new tab)
- Day 3030 September 1939Poland has a new government in Paris. (opens in new tab)
- Day 2929 September 1939Berlin and Moscow draw a new frontier through Poland. London says it fights on. (opens in new tab)
- Day 2828 September 1939German troops could enter Warsaw today. Ribbentrop is still with Stalin. (opens in new tab)
- Day 2727 September 1939Berlin says Warsaw has surrendered (unconfirmed). Britain is planning for a three-year war. (opens in new tab)
- Day 2626 September 1939Ribbentrop is returning to Moscow. Berlin moves on Warsaw. (opens in new tab)
- Day 2525 September 193960,000 Polish refugees reach Romania. Warsaw is still holding. (opens in new tab)
- Day 2424 September 1939Warsaw shuts off its water. Britain will ration food from Friday. (opens in new tab)
- Day 2323 September 1939Berlin says the Polish field army is destroyed. Warsaw says it is holding. (opens in new tab)
- Day 2222 September 1939Warsaw radio is back on the air. Romania has declared a state of emergency. (opens in new tab)
- Day 2121 September 1939Warsaw radio goes off the air. Romania's prime minister has been shot dead in Bucharest. (opens in new tab)
- Day 2020 September 1939Churchill: 1,202 were aboard the Courageous. Warsaw's mayor asks when help will come. (opens in new tab)
- Day 1919 September 1939681 men are ashore from the Courageous. Hitler says he has no quarrel with Britain or France. (opens in new tab)
- Day 1818 September 1939Britain has lost an aircraft carrier. Poland's government is in Romania. (opens in new tab)
- Day 1717 September 1939Russia invades Poland. Moscow says the Polish state has ceased to exist. (opens in new tab)
- Day 1616 September 1939A ceasefire in Mongolia, Lindbergh on the air, two versions of Warsaw (opens in new tab)
- Day 1515 September 1939India asks Britain what the war is for. Estonia interns a Polish submarine. (opens in new tab)
- Day 1414 September 1939German troops are in Gdynia, Berlin says. Scotland counts 175,000 evacuees. (opens in new tab)
- Day 1313 September 1939Newspapers seized in London. A French cruiser lost at Casablanca. (opens in new tab)
- Day 1212 September 1939British troops in France, Chamberlain meets Daladier, Ottawa taxes tobacco and tea (opens in new tab)
- Day 1111 September 1939Three British ships attacked in one day. Ottawa asks for $100 million. (opens in new tab)
- Day 1010 September 1939Canada declares war. Berlin says its troops left central Warsaw. (opens in new tab)
- Day 99 September 1939Warsaw is not occupied, the Swedish Legation says. Moscow calls up reserves. (opens in new tab)
- Day 88 September 1939Berlin says its troops are in Warsaw. Poland says they are not. (opens in new tab)
- Day 77 September 1939Berlin reporting Westerplatte has fallen. No confirmation from Warsaw. (opens in new tab)
- Day 66 September 1939Sirens over London. The Athenia's missing now put at 125. (opens in new tab)
- Day 55 September 1939Athenia survivors ashore. Warsaw bombed again. Hertzog resigns (opens in new tab)
- Day 44 September 1939A liner has been sunk with 1,400 aboard. Berlin denies everything (opens in new tab)
- Day 33 September 1939LIVE WW2 - Britain and France are at war with Germany. (opens in new tab)
- Day 22 September 1939LIVE WW2 - Poland fights on. Westminster runs out of patience. (opens in new tab)
- Day 11 September 1939Germany has invaded Poland and yet to reply to Britain and France.
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