January 1939

January 3rd, 1939

Spanish Civil War: Battle of the Segre concludes with a victory for the Nationalist forces.

Preperations Fall Grün: Germany intensifies diplomatic pressure on Czechoslovakia, accusing the government of mistreating ethnic Germans.

United States emphasises it’s Neutrality: The United States maintains its policy of neutrality but monitors escalating tensions in Europe. President Roosevelt warns against the dangers of totalitarian expansion in his New Year’s message.

January 4th, 1939

Holocaust: Hermann Göring appoints Reinhard Heydrich to lead the Central Office for Jewish Emigration, marking a significant step in the Nazi regime’s systematic persecution of Jewish people.

Italy prepares for War: Italy reinforces its garrisons in Libya, preparing for possible operations against British-controlled Egypt. Mussolini reiterates his support for Hitler’s territorial ambitions in Europe.

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s State of the Union Address: President Roosevelt addresses Congress, highlighting the precarious state of global affairs. He emphasizes the need for national defense and the importance of democracy, stating, “A war which threatened to envelop the world in flames has been averted; but it has become increasingly clear that world peace is not assured.”

Japan prepares for War: The Japanese Navy conducts training exercises in the East China Sea, preparing for potential confrontations with Western powers.

January 5th, 1939

Spanish Civil War: Battle of Valsequillo also known as the Battle of Peñarroya begins in the province of Córdoba, Andalusia, as Republican forces attempt to break through Nationalist lines.

Hitler Pressures Poland Over Danzig: Polish Foreign Minister Józef Beck meets with Adolf Hitler at the Berghof residence. During this meeting, Hitler unexpectedly demands the return of the Free City of Danzig (now Gdańsk) to Germany, offering a guarantee on Poland’s borders if a “final settlement” on Danzig can be reached. Beck avoids committing to a response but notes that Polish public opinion will oppose any change in Danzig’s status.

France prepares for War: France increases its defensive preparations along the German border, reinforcing the Maginot Line. French military leaders discuss strategies for countering potential German offensives.

Hiranuma Kiichirō Becomes Prime Minister of Japan: On this day, Hiranuma Kiichirō assumed office as the Prime Minister of Japan, leading the country during a critical period leading up to World War II.

Second Sino-Japanese War: Japan tightens its control over occupied regions in China, imposing new regulations to suppress resistance movements

January 6th, 1939

Germany prepares for War: Germany signs new economic agreements with Romania, securing oil and agricultural imports. The German military continues refining its mechanised warfare tactics.

Polish-German Diplomatic Meeting: Polish Foreign Minister Józef Beck meets with German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop in Munich. This meeting follows Beck’s discussion with Adolf Hitler the previous day, during which Hitler proposes the return of the Free City of Danzig to Germany, a proposal that Poland find unacceptable.

Nuclear Race: German chemists Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann published their findings on the fission of uranium, marking a pivotal moment in nuclear physics.

Soviet Union prepares for War: The Soviet Union increases troop deployments in the Far East, countering Japanese advances in Manchuria.

January 7th, 1939

Great Britain prepares for War: The British government debates the feasibility of forming alliances with Eastern European countries to counter German influence.

Naval Commissioning: The German battleship Scharnhorst is commissioned into the Kriegsmarine.

League of Nations remains Indecisive: The League of Nations discusses Japan’s aggression in China but fails to take decisive action. Japan continues to strengthen its hold on captured territories.

January 8th, 1939

Germany prepares for War: Germany holds military parades in major cities, showcasing its growing armoured forces. Hitler delivers a speech reinforcing his vision of German expansionism.

Polish Diplomacy: In Poland, President Ignacy Mościcki returns to Warsaw and meets with foreign diplomats and ambassadors. Additionally, Jurgis Šaulys, the Lithuanian envoy, commences his mission in Warsaw on this day.

Second Sino-Japanese War: The Chinese Nationalist Army reorganises its forces, preparing for new Japanese offensives expected in the spring.

January 9th, 1939

Italy prepares for War: Italy increases propaganda campaigns, portraying its military build-up as essential for maintaining national pride and security.

Inauguration of the New Reich Chancellery in Berlin: Designed by architect Albert Speer, this building serves as Adolf Hitler’s official residence and governmental headquarters. ​

Second Sino-Japanese War: Japan launches a new offensive in central China, targeting industrial hubs to cripple Chinese war production.

January 10th, 1939

Preperations Fall Grün: Germany continues to push for greater autonomy for ethnic Germans within Czechoslovakia, threatening diplomatic consequences if demands are not met.

Diplomatic Meeting in Paris: British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and Foreign Minister Lord Halifax meet with French leaders Édouard Daladier and Georges Bonnet in Paris. During this meeting, Great Britain agrees to support France in rejecting any territorial demands from Italy concerning French colonial possessions.

France prepares for War: France strengthens diplomatic relations with Poland, discussing potential military cooperation in case of German aggression.

January 11th, 1939

Germany prepares for War: Germany expands its propaganda efforts, portraying the Wehrmacht as the protector of ethnic Germans abroad.

Diplomatic Efforts in Europe: British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax meet with Italian dictator Benito Mussolini in Rome. Chamberlain aims to persuade Mussolini to counsel Adolf Hitler against aggressive actions that could lead to war. While Mussolini expresses a desire for peace, he makes no concrete commitments. Chamberlain is encouraged by the warm reception from Italian crowds during his visit. ​

Second Sino-Japanese War: The United States warns Japan against further expansion in China, advocating for respect of Chinese sovereignty.

January 12th, 1939

Diplomatic Efforts in Europe: British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain concludes discussions with Italian leader Benito Mussolini in Rome. The talks ends without any concrete agreements.

Great Britain prepares for War: Great Britain accelerates aircraft production, focusing on fighter and bomber development. The Royal Air Force’s Auxiliary Air Forceis formed. The Royal Navy expands patrols in the North Sea to counter potential German naval activity.

United States Military Policy: President Franklin D. Roosevelt addresses Congress, proposing a significant defence spending plan of $552 million. This proposal underscores the United States’ intent to bolster its military capabilities amid escalating global tensions.

Second Sino-Japanese War: Japan fortifies positions along the Yangtze River, preparing for anticipated counterattacks by Chinese forces.

January 13th, 1939

Spanish Civil War: Nationalist forces successfully captures the city of Tortosa from Republican forces.

Germany prepares for War: Germany conducts large-scale military exercises near the Polish border, testing new coordination between mechanised units and infantry.

Hungary Joins the Anti-Comintern Pact: Hungary officially agrees to join the Anti-Comintern Pact, aligning itself with Axis powers.

Soviet Union prepares for War: The Soviet Union increases intelligence operations, gathering data on German troop movements and military capabilities.

January 14th, 1939

German Propaganda: he Reich Propaganda Ministry in Germany directs the press to refer to Adolf Hitler solely as “Führer,” discontinuing the previous title “Führer and Reich Chancellor.”

Italy supports Germany: Italy issues statements supporting German territorial claims in Eastern Europe, aligning its foreign policy more closely with that of Nazi Germany.

Second Sino-Japanese War: Japan enforces stricter control over occupied Chinese territories, deploying additional garrisons to maintain order.

January 15th, 1939

Spanish Civil War: Nationalist forces led by Francisco Franco captured the port city of Tarragona in Catalonia, Spain.

Preperations Fall Grün: Germany intensifies anti-Czech propaganda, framing the Czechoslovak government as hostile to ethnic German communities.

France prepares for War: France expands its aerial reconnaissance along the German border, gathering intelligence on military developments.

January 16th, 1939

Soviet Union prepares for War: The Soviet Union continues fortifying its western borders, wary of potential German advances into Eastern Europe.

IRA Bombing Campaign in England: The Irish Republican Army initiates a bombing campaign in England, with early morning explosions in the London suburbs. One of these attacks critically damages a power station in the northern part of the city, affecting approximately 25,000 residents.

Second Sino-Japanese War: Japan launches new air raids on Chongqing, aiming to weaken Chinese morale and military infrastructure.

January 17th, 1939

Preperations Fall Grün: Germany strengthens its economic ties with Hungary, promising support in regional disputes involving Czechoslovakia.

Great Britain and France seek Alliances: Great Britain and France discuss forming a collective security agreement with Eastern European nations to counter German influence.

Holocaust: The German government issued a decree prohibiting Jews from practicing as nurses, veterinarians, holistic practitioners, and dentists, intensifying the systemic persecution of Jewish professionals.

January 18th, 1939

Germany prepares for War: Germany expands military conscription, preparing for a potential large-scale conflict.

British Police Arrest IRA Suspects: In response to the S-Plan bombings, British law enforcement arrests 14 suspected Irish Republican Army members and seized substantial quantities of ammunition, highlighting the ongoing tensions in the region.

Japan prepares for War: The Japanese government initiates new economic policies to sustain military expansion, focusing on resource extraction in occupied territories.

January 19th, 1939

Italy prepares for War: Italy intensifies fortification efforts on the French border, anticipating potential conflicts in the Mediterranean.

Soviet Union prepares for War: The Soviet Union issues warnings to both Germany and Japan, condemning aggressive policies in Europe and Asia.

Launch of H.M.S. Ark Royal: The Royal Navy’s aircraft carrier, H.M.S. Ark Royal, is launched.

January 20th, 1939

Spanish Civil War: Nationalist forces capture the town of Calaf, continuing their advance in Catalonia.

Germany prepares for War: Germany orders further military drills, focusing on rapid deployment and mechanised infantry coordination.

Dismissal of Hjalmar Schacht: Adolf Hitler dismisses Hjalmar Schacht as President of the Reichsbank and appoints Walther Funk as his successor.

Second Sino-Japanese War: Japan consolidates its naval presence around Formosa, securing supply routes for ongoing campaigns in China.

January 21st, 1939

Germany prepares for War: Germany intensifies diplomatic manoeuvres to secure alliances in Eastern Europe, strengthening ties with Hungary and Romania. Hitler emphasises the need for political consolidation in the region to secure the eastern flank.

Czechoslovak-German Relations: Czechoslovak Foreign Minister František Chvalkovský meets with Adolf Hitler in Berlin. During this meeting, Hitler issues several demands: 1. Czechoslovakia should withdraw from the League of Nations.​ 2. The country must significantly reduce its military forces. 3. Czechoslovakia should align its foreign policy with German directives. 4. Implementation of antisemitic legislation is required.

Second Sino-Japanese War: Japan prepares for a new phase in its China campaign, aiming to cut off Nationalist strongholds from international aid. The Japanese Army continues to face resistance from guerrilla fighters and Nationalist troops, especially in rural areas.

January 22nd, 1939

Great Britain prepares for War: British military planners increase funding for radar development, recognising the importance of early warning systems against potential German air attacks.

Soviet Union prepares for War: The Soviet Union continues to expand industrial production focused on heavy machinery and armaments. Stalin orders additional troop deployments in the Far East, wary of Japanese expansion.

Nuclear Race: Scientists at Columbia University in New York achieve the first splitting of a uranium atom. This groundbreaking experiment lays the foundation for the development of nuclear fission, which later becomes pivotal in nuclear energy research and the creation of atomic weapons.

January 23rd, 1939

Spanish Civil War: After nearly three years of conflict, the Second Spanish Republic declares martial law as Nationalist forces advance.

Dutch War Scare: Admiral Wilhelm Canaris, head of the German military intelligence service (Abwehr), leaks misinformation suggesting that Germany plans to invade the Netherlands in February 1939. This disinformation aims to create strategic uncertainty and potentially use Dutch airfields for a bombing offensive against Great Britain, leading to significant shifts in British foreign policy.

Great Britain prepares for War: British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain initiates a recruitment drive aiming to mobilize 30 million Britons for a voluntary civil defense army.

Italy prepares for War in Africa: Italy increases its troop presence in Abyssinia (Ethiopia), aiming to solidify its control over the region amid concerns of British interference.

The United States monitors the growing tensions in Europe and Asia, but public opinion remains firmly isolationist. President Roosevelt addresses Congress, reiterating the importance of American neutrality.

January 24th, 1939

The Anschluß: Germany increases propaganda efforts in Austria, promoting the benefits of Anschluß and preparing for further territorial ambitions. German officials encourage public rallies supporting Hitler’s expansionist policies.

Holocaust: Hermann Göring, acting on behalf of Adolf Hitler, authorized Reinhard Heydrich, chief of the Security Police and SD, to coordinate efforts for the forced emigration of Jews from the Greater German Reich. This led to the establishment of the Reich Central Office for Jewish Emigration in Berlin, marking an escalation in the Nazi regime’s persecution of Jewish populations. ​

Second Sino-Japanese War: The Japanese government discusses the potential for increased economic exploitation of occupied Chinese territories to fund the war effort.

January 25th, 1939

Spanish Civil War: The government of Prime Minister Juan Negrín flees Barcelona as Nationalist forces advanced. The following day, a new capital is established in Figueres.

Turkish Prime Minister: Refik Saydam became Prime Minister, forming the 11th government of Turkey.

France prepares for War: French intelligence reports heightened German military activity along the Rhine. The French government begins discussions on reinforcing the Maginot Line.

Nuclear Race: In the United States, the first nuclear fission experiment is conducted in the basement of Pupin Hall at Columbia University by a team including Enrico Fermi.

Soviet Union prepares for War: The Soviet Union warns Japan against further encroachments into Soviet-influenced areas of Mongolia, but no direct military actions are taken.

January 26th, 1939

Spanish Civil War: Nationalist forces, led by General Francisco Franco and supported by Italian troops, capture Barcelona, marking a significant victory in the Catalonia Offensive.

Diplomatic Meetings: German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop visits Warsaw to meet with Polish officials, including Józef Beck, to discuss political relations between Germany and Poland. ​

Great Britain prepares for War: Great Britain finalises plans for expanding anti-aircraft defences in London, preparing for possible aerial attacks should war break out.

Second Sino-Japanese War: The Chinese Nationalist government calls for increased international support, criticising Japan’s aggressive expansion in Asia.

January 27th, 1939

Plan Z Orders by Adolf Hitler: Adolf Hitler approves Plan Z, an ambitious five-year naval expansion program aimed at significantly enhancing the capabilities of the German Navy (Kriegsmarine). The plan prioritizes naval resources with the strategic goal of challenging and potentially defeating the British Royal Navy by 1944.

Germany prepares for War: Germany tests new armoured vehicle designs in Prussia, focusing on mobility and firepower. Military engineers receive orders to increase tank production before summer.

Diplomatic Meetings: After meetings with Polish officials, including President Ignacy Mościcki and Foreign Minister Józef Beck, German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop leaves Warsaw and returns to Berlin. ​

First Flight of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning: The Lockheed P-38 Lightning, a revolutionary twin-engine fighter aircraft, completes its maiden flight.

Second Sino-Japanese War: Japan fortifies its positions in Shanghai, preparing for potential counterattacks by Chinese forces.

January 28th, 1939

Spanish Civil War: Nationalist forces capture of Arenys de Mar, advancing their position in Catalonia.

Spanish Civil War: The Nationalist faction conducts air raids over La Garriga, marking the first of two consecutive days of bombing in the area.

Great Britain prepares for War: The British War Cabinet debates how to balance military rearmament with domestic economic stability. Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain advocates a cautious approach.

The League of Nations issues a statement condemning Japanese actions in China, though no concrete measures are taken.

January 29th, 1939

German Censorship: The Berliner Tageblatt, a prominent liberal newspaper, is shut down by the Nazi regime, reflecting the increasing suppression of free press in Germany.

Germany and Romania sign agreements: Germany formalises agreements with Romania for increased oil exports to fuel the growing Wehrmacht. Hitler stresses the importance of securing reliable energy supplies.

Indian Presidential Elections: Subhas Chandra Bose is re-elected as President of the Indian National Congress, defeating Bhogaraju Pattabhi Sitaramayya, the candidate supported by Mahatma Gandhi.

Second Sino-Japanese War: Japan implements strict curfews in occupied Chinese cities, attempting to suppress underground resistance networks.

January 30th, 1939

Holocaust: Adolf Hitler addresses the Reichstag on the sixth anniversary of the Nazi Party’s rise to power. In this speech, he issues a dire warning: “If the international Jewish financiers within and without Europe succeed in plunging the nations once more into a world war, then the result will not be the Bolshevization of the earth and thus the victory of Jewry, but the annihilation of the Jewish race in Europe.” ​ This statement, later referrs to as “Hitler’s prophecy,” is widely disseminated through Nazi propaganda channels and becomes a recurring theme in justifying the regime’s escalating persecution of Jews.

International Reactions: Internationally, reactions to Hitler’s speech vary. While some foreign commentators focuse on the geopolitical implications, the explicit threat against Jews does not receive widespread attention. For instance, certain newspapers highlight Hitler’s foreign policy statements without emphasizing his ominous warning about the Jewish population.

France prepares for War: France increases border patrols, monitoring German military exercises near Alsace-Lorraine.

January 31st, 1939

President Roosevelt’s Meeting on European Security: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt convenes a meeting with influential senators in the Oval Office. He expresses that the security of the Rhine frontier in Europe is of significant concern to the United States. When questioned if he considers the Rhine frontier as America’s own, he clarifies that, practically speaking, if that frontier is threatened, it will have global implications. Details of this meeting are leaked, leading to widespread media coverage and public debate, especially among isolationist circles in the U.S.

German Censorship: The Austrian newspaper Neue Freie Presse publishes its last issue on this day. ​