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Major Events of October 1939: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from October 1939 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of October 1939: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Oct 1939 Fall of Warsaw: After a grueling one-month siege that demonstrated the fierce resistance of Polish forces, hostile forces successfully entered Warsaw, marking a critical moment in the early stages of World War II and signaling the imminent defeat of Poland.
  • 02 Oct 1939 Pan-American Neutrality Zone Established: During a significant pan-American conference, a strategic 300-mile wide neutrality zone was established off the coasts of the Americas. This diplomatic measure excluded Canada and European colonial territories, aiming to create a protective buffer during the early stages of World War II.
  • 03 Oct 1939 German Submarine U-35 Sinks Greek Cargo Ship: The German submarine U-35 torpedoed and sank the Greek cargo ship Diamantis west of the Isles of Scilly. Demonstrating an unusual act of maritime compassion, the U-35 rescued all 28 crew members and safely transported them to Dingle Bay, Ireland the following day.
  • 04 Oct 1939 Fall of Poland in World War II: The last Polish military units officially surrender, marking the complete conquest of Poland by Nazi Germany and Soviet forces during the September Campaign. This event signaled the end of Poland's initial resistance and the beginning of brutal occupation.
  • 05 Oct 1939 US Navy Establishes Hawaiian Detachment: On October 5, 1939, the United States Navy officially opened its Hawaiian Detachment at Pearl Harbor in the Territory of Hawaii. This strategic military installation would later become critically important following the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941, marking the United States' entry into World War II.
  • 06 Oct 1939 Hitler's Anti-Semitic Rhetoric: Hitler publicly announces plans to 'regulate' the Jewish population, an ominous prelude to the systematic persecution and genocide that would follow during the Holocaust.
  • 07 Oct 1939 Himmler Establishes Commission for German Nationhood: Heinrich Himmler established the Commission for the Strengthening of German Nationhood, a sinister initiative aimed at systematically eliminating populations deemed 'inferior' and forcibly deporting German Jews to Poland, marking an escalation of Nazi racial policies.
  • 08 Oct 1939 Germany Annexes Western Poland During World War II: As part of the ongoing German invasion of Poland, Nazi Germany formally annexed the western territories of Poland into the Third Reich, marking a significant escalation of territorial aggression in the early stages of World War II.
  • 09 Oct 1939 Hitler's Directive No. 6 for Western Offensive: Adolf Hitler issued Directive No. 6 outlining a strategic military offensive through Luxembourg, Belgium, and Holland. The directive detailed plans for a comprehensive military campaign aimed at defeating the French Army, securing strategic territories in Western Europe, and establishing a protective buffer zone for the critical Ruhr industrial region. Hitler's primary motivation was to preempt potential Allied invasion and create a strategic advantage against British forces.
  • 10 Oct 1939 Final Polish Military Surrender to Germany: The last remaining units of the Polish military officially surrender to German forces, marking the complete military defeat of Poland during the September Campaign of 1939. This event signifies the end of Poland's resistance and the successful German invasion, which began on September 1st, 1939.
  • 11 Oct 1939 Einstein Warns Roosevelt About Atomic Potential: Albert Einstein writes a critical letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, alerting him to the potential development of an atomic weapon by Nazi Germany and the urgent need for the United States to begin nuclear research.
  • 12 Oct 1939 France Rejects Hitler's Peace Proposal: French Premier Édouard Daladier firmly declines Adolf Hitler's peace overtures, demonstrating France's commitment to resisting German expansionism and maintaining its diplomatic stance against Nazi Germany's aggressive policies.
  • 13 Oct 1939 German Submarine U-40 Sinks in English Channel: During the early stages of World War II, the German submarine U-40 struck a mine and sank in the English Channel. This incident highlighted the dangerous maritime conditions and the significant risks faced by submarine crews during naval warfare in 1939.
  • 14 Oct 1939 Sinking of HMS Royal Oak: In a daring and devastating naval operation during the early stages of World War II, German U-boat U-47, commanded by Günther Prien, successfully infiltrated the British Royal Navy's primary anchorage at Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands, Scotland. The submarine torpedoed the British battleship HMS Royal Oak, causing her to sink rapidly. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of 833 British sailors, marking a significant early psychological blow to British naval supremacy.
  • 15 Oct 1939 Antarctic Treaty Conference Begins: The final conference on the Antarctic Treaty convenes in Washington, D.C., initiating a six-week negotiation process that would result in 12 countries signing an agreement to preserve Antarctica for peaceful scientific research, establishing a groundbreaking international cooperation model.
  • 16 Oct 1939 German Troops Cross Western Frontier into France: German military forces advanced across the western frontier into French territory, engaging in a battle that resulted in the loss of twenty tanks during the initial stages of World War II.
  • 17 Oct 1939 German U-boats Attack British Atlantic Convoy: On October 17, 1939, German U-boats launched their first coordinated submarine attack against British Atlantic convoy HG-3. In this strategic maritime engagement, three German submarines successfully sank three Allied merchant ships, marking an early and significant naval operation of World War II that demonstrated the German Navy's emerging submarine warfare tactics.
  • 18 Oct 1939 Hitler's Directive for Western Front Invasion: Adolf Hitler issued Directive No. 7, which outlined strategic preparations for a potential attack in the Western European theater. This directive was a critical military planning document that would later contribute to the German invasion strategies during World War II.
  • 19 Oct 1939 Anglo-French-Turkish Mutual Assistance Treaty: On October 19, 1939, Turkey signed a strategic Treaty of Mutual Assistance with Great Britain and France in Ankara (formerly Angora). The treaty established a critical diplomatic agreement wherein France and Great Britain committed to providing military support if Turkey were to enter World War II or be attacked by Axis powers. This diplomatic arrangement was particularly significant given the geopolitical tensions of the early stages of World War II, aiming to secure Turkey's strategic position and potential alliance.
  • 20 Oct 1939 Pope Pius XII Issues First Encyclical: Pope Pius XII publishes his first papal encyclical, Summi pontificatus, addressing critical global issues of the time, including racism, totalitarian dictators, and international treaty violations.
  • 21 Oct 1939 First United States Advisory Committee on Uranium Meeting: On October 21, 1939, the first meeting of the United States Advisory Committee on Uranium was held under the chairmanship of Lyman Briggs. This pivotal meeting would later contribute to the development of the Manhattan Project and the eventual creation of the atomic bomb during World War II.
  • 22 Oct 1939 First Television Broadcast of an NFL Game: On October 22, 1939, a groundbreaking moment in sports broadcasting occurred when the Philadelphia Eagles played against the Brooklyn Dodgers in the first televised National Football League game. This historic event marked a significant milestone in the intersection of sports and media technology, introducing professional football to a broader audience through the emerging medium of television.
  • 23 Oct 1939 Birth of Zane Grey, Influential Western Novelist: Zane Grey, a pioneering American author renowned for his Western fiction, was born on this date in 1872. Grey would become one of the most popular writers of the early 20th century, helping to shape the Western genre and romanticize the American frontier through his numerous novels and stories. His works, such as 'Riders of the Purple Sage', significantly influenced popular perceptions of the Old West and inspired many subsequent Western literature and film narratives.
  • 24 Oct 1939 First Nylon Stockings Introduced to Market: DuPont introduces nylon stockings for the first time in Wilmington, Delaware, marking a significant moment in textile and fashion history. This innovation would revolutionize women's hosiery and demonstrate the potential of synthetic materials.
  • 25 Oct 1939 Antisemitic Discrimination in Włocławek: In Nazi-occupied Poland, the administration of Włocławek mandates that Jewish residents wear yellow badges, a discriminatory measure designed to publicly identify and marginalize the Jewish population, foreshadowing the Holocaust.
  • 26 Oct 1939 Nazi Forced Labor of Polish Jews: On October 26, 1939, Nazi authorities implemented a systematic forced labor policy targeting Polish Jews, effectively initiating a brutal system of slave labor that would become a hallmark of the Holocaust. This discriminatory practice was part of the broader Nazi strategy of economic exploitation and dehumanization of Jewish populations.
  • 27 Oct 1939 Pope Pius XII Publishes Encyclical Summi Pontificatus: Pope Pius XII issued the landmark encyclical Summi Pontificatus, a powerful theological and moral statement that explicitly denounced totalitarian ideologies and racial discrimination. The document emphasized universal human dignity and compassion, offering a critical moral stance against the rising nationalist and racist movements in Europe during the early stages of World War II.
  • 28 Oct 1939 First German Aircraft Shot Down Over Britain: A British Spitfire fighter aircraft successfully shot down a German Heinkel He 111 bomber over Scotland, marking an important early aerial combat victory for the Royal Air Force during World War II.
  • 29 Oct 1939 Anti-German Demonstrations in Czechoslovakia: Widespread anti-German demonstrations and strikes erupted in Czechoslovakia, reflecting growing tensions and resistance against Nazi Germany's expanding influence in the region during the early stages of World War II.
  • 30 Oct 1939 Nazi-Soviet Partition of Poland: Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union finalize their secret agreement to divide Poland between them, following their joint invasion earlier that month. As part of this agreement, Adolf Hitler initiates the systematic deportation of Jewish populations from occupied territories.
  • 31 Oct 1939 Mussolini Reshuffles Military and Political Leadership: On October 31, 1939, Italian Fascist leader Benito Mussolini conducted a significant leadership purge, dismissing three key military chiefs (Alberto Pariani, Giuseppe Valle, and Luigi Russo) and two cabinet ministers. This administrative shake-up reflected the internal tensions and strategic recalibrations within the Italian government on the eve of World War II.