WESTERN EUROPE TIMELINE

This timeline covers all the political and military events that occurred within Western Europe between the years 1939 and 1945. The countries encompassed within the timeline are France, Low Countries, Spain, Portugal and Switzerland. Germany and Austria are also covered, but only in respect to the part they played in the Western European theatre of war.

"Dunkirk has fallen... with it has ended the greatest battle of world history. Soldiers! My confidence in you knew no bounds. You have not disappointed me." Adolf Hitler Order of the Day - 5th June 1940 General George Patton Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt American M24 Chaffee The M24 Chaffee light tank reached Europe in the winter of 1944 replacing the M5 Stuart. The gun was almost as powerful as a Sherman's, it was also had well-shaped armour and great mobility, making the M24 probably the best light tank of World War 2.

01/09/1939	Britain and France, instead of immediately declaring war against Germany look to Mussolini who had proposed an international conference to revise the Versailles treaty terms. In France, general mobilisation declared.
02/09/1939	Hitler indicates to the Britain and France that he would withdraw from Poland provided that he was allowed to retain Danzig and the Polish Corridor. This was dismissed and a joint ultimatum was given to Germany to withdraw her troops from Poland within twelve hours or find herself at war with Britain and France.
03/09/1939	After Germany rejects the Anglo-French ultimatum of 1st September, which called for the withdrawal of all German forces from Poland, France declares war on Germany.
05/09/1939	French forces begin a limited offensive towards Saarbrücken.
06/09/1939	General Smuts wins cabinet battle in South Africa and declares war on Germany.
07/09/1939	Nine divisions of the French Army penetrate in to the Saarland, but their advance is very slow and no effort is made to attack the 'Westwall' itself.
09/09/1939	Advance elements of the BEF begin to a arrive in France.
11/09/1939	Arrival of first British troops in France officially announced.
12/09/1939	First Anglo-French Supreme War Council convenes under Chamberlain and Daladier.
24/09/1939	Food rationing introduced in Germany on small scale.
25/09/1939	Heavy artillery duels flare on Western Front.
27/09/1939	Polish government-in-exile set up in Paris.
06/10/1939	Hitler in a speech to the Reichstag announces the victorious conclusion of the Polish campaign and calls upon Britain and France to cease hostilities and come to terms with Germany. This is rejected by both the British and French government's.
09/10/1939	Hitler issues orders for the invasion of France and the Low Countries. This first plan called for the German Army to wheel through Belgium as they had done during World War One, although this time they were to invade Holland as well. Only the start date wasn't specified, although Hitler was thinking of November. However, bad weather and demands by his generals for more preparation time caused postponement until the following year.
11/10/1939	British Expeditionary Force on continent reaches strength of 158,000 in five weeks.
16/10/1939	Heavy German attack on Western Front halted.
17/10/1939	French troops are pushed back in the Saar region.
07/11/1939	The Belgium and Dutch Monarch's emphasize their country's neutrality, but offer to act as peace negotiators. Hitler rejects the proposal, as do both Britain and France. Paul Thummel, a double agent, passes details of the German plans for the western offensive to the Czech government-in-exile.
08/11/1939	A bomb intended to kill Hitler explodes at the annual meeting of the veterans of the 1923 Nazi Putsch in Munich, but the Führer had already left the beer cellar. The German media accused Britain of orchestrating the assassination attempt on Hitler. Two British SIS agents, Major Richard Stevens and Captain S. Payne Best, are captured in Holland by the Germans.
17/11/1939	The Supreme Allied War Council agrees on the co-ordination of British and French war production. It is also decided that if the Germans should invade Belgium, then both British and French troops will move forward in to Belgium to defend the Albert Canal, River Meuse and the River Dyle, which were strong positions from which to meet any German attack. However, the Belgium government refuses to allow Allied reconnaissance parties in to country for fear of provoking the Germans.
15/12/1939	A fifth British division arrives in France.