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4 The Phoney War: September 1939 to May 1940

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 October 2009

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Friday 1 September 1939 Hitler began his war against Poland last night or early this morning – so presumably it is only a matter of days or hours before we are at war. It is a ghastly prospect – more especially I think to people who passed through the last war, because they can appreciate more vividly what is in store for all of us than can the present generation – and to many of them, who like myself are too old to hope for any war employment, the outlook is gloomy in the extreme – nothing for them to do but sit and wait and hope that those whom they love may be spared. Last time God knows it was all horrible enough when war came – but then at any rate one knew what one had to do – and there it was – this time one is out of everything. Well – it is no use repining: one has only got to grit one's teeth and pray that a successful end may come sooner in this war. That we shall finish Hitler in a few months seems to me ridiculous to believe. He has a magnificent fighting machine and he is absolutely ready for war. He will, I fear, eat up the Poles very quickly and then – if he can't get us to make peace – will go all out to pulverize us into surrender. His people will stick to him for a time – so long as he is successful – this in my opinion is certain.

Type
Research Article
Information
Royal Historical Society Camden Fifth Series , Volume 14 , July 1999 , pp. 166 - 196
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Historical Society 1999

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References

1 K. C. Hodgson, Woman Organiser, Northern Counties Area, 1936–1946.

2 Joseph Spearman Potts (b.1881), Organizing Sec., Northern Tariff Reform Assoc. 1905–14; Con. Agent Macclesfield from 1914; C.O. Agent, Northern Counties Area to 1928, North West Area 1928–46.

3 V. Ewert Berry, Managing Dir. Newcastle Journal, 1936–48.

4 The French fortifications on the Franco-German frontier.

5 Arthur Marsden (1883–1960), naval career 1898–1921; Con. M.P. Battersea N. 1931–35, Chertsey 1937–50.

6 The derogatory term applied to the ‘anti-appeasers’ by the Whips and the M.P.s who supported Chamberlain's policy in the late 1930s.

7 (Thomas) Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924), Gov. of New Jersey 1910–12; Pres. of U.S.A. 1913–21; awarded Nobel Peace Prize 1919.

8 The Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928 affirmed the rejection of war as a method of settling disputes, but placed no obligations upon the nations who signed it.

9 Churchill had been appointed First Lord of the Admiralty on 3 Sep. 1939.

10 Ledingham's wartime replacement as Area Agent, A.J. Tydeman (for biographical details, see 30 October 1939).

11 A mistake, as Headlam clearly means the latter, i.e. Hitler.

12 A battleship sunk by a German U-boat which entered the main fleet base.

13 Albert James Tydeman (1884–1966), Con. Agent, Woolwich 1911–19, Greenwich 1919–21, St. George's, 1921–27; Assistant C.O. Agent, Metropolitan Area 1927–29; C.O. Agent, Western Area, South East Area 1929–39; transferred as Acting C.O. Agent, Northern Counties Area 1939–46, returned to South East Area (Home Counties South), 1946–51.

14 During this period it was thought that the Germans were preparing to attack Holland and Belguim.

15 John Montagu Craster (1901–1975), Chairman, Berwick C.A. 1946–49, 1953–56, Pres. 1965–67; Chairman, Northumberland Sea Fisheries Ctte. 1929–70, Assoc. of Sea Fisheries Cttes. 1939–70; Pres., Fisheries Organisation Soc. 1959–75; High Sheriff of Northumberland 1944; member of Northumberland County Council 1947–57, Alderman 1957–67; kt. 1955.

16 Brendan Rendall Bracken (1901–1958), Con. M.P. Paddington N. 1929–45, Bournemouth 1945–50, Bournemouth E. 1950–51; P.P.S. to W. Churchill 1940–41; Min. of Information 1941–45; 1st Lord of Admiralty 1945; Chairman of Financial News 1926–1945Google Scholar, of Financial Times 1945–1958Google Scholar; cr. Viscount Bracken 1952.

17 The strategic debate during the First World War: the ‘Westerners’ considered that the Western Front was the decisive theatre and wished to concentrate all resources there; the ‘Easterners’, seeking an alternative to the stalemate and casualties in the West, hoped to undermine Germany by defeating her allies in eastern and southern Europe.

18 Geoffrey William Lloyd (1902–1984), Con. M.P. Birmingham Ladywood 1931–45, King's Norton 1950–55, Sutton Coldfield 1955–74; private Sec. to S. Baldwin 1929–31 & P.P.S. 1931–35; U.S. Home Office 1935–39; Sec. for Mines 1939–40, for Petroleum 1940–42; P.S. Fuel & Power 1942–5; Min. of Information 1945; Min. of Fuel & Power 1951–55; Min. of Educ. 1957–59; Pres., Birmingham C.A. 1946–76; cr. Baron Geoffrey-Lloyd 1974.

19 Robert Henry Clive (1877–1948), diplomatic service; Min. to Persia 1926–31. to the Vatican 1933–34; Amb. in Tokyo 1934–37, in Brussels 1937–39; kt. 1927.

20 Walter von Reichenau (1884–1942), German army career; Chief of Staff, Min. of War 1933–35; G.O.C. 7th Army Corps 1935–38, Army Group IV 1938–39, 10th Army 1939–41, 6th Army 1941, Army Group South 1941–42.

21 The crisis resulting from the lower benefit rates introduced by the Unemplyment Assistance Board; see volume 1, pp. 319–21.

22 translation: the masses; a common designation from the radical democracy of classical Athens.

23 The Independent Labour Party had been a key element in the founding of the Labour Party and provided much of its left wing in the 1920s; after 1930 it moved further to the left, and was disaffiliated at the 1932 Labour Party conference.

24 Members of the British Union of Fascists, led by Sir Oswald Mosley.

25 John Standish Surtees Prendergast Vereker (1886–1946), army career, awarded Victoria Cross 1918; Commandant, Staff College 1936–37; C.I.G.S. 1937–39; C. in C. British Expeditionary Force 1939–0; Inspector-Gen, for Training 1940–41; Gov. & C. in C. Gibraltar 1941–2, Malta 1942–44; High Comm. & C. in C. Palestine & Transjordan 1944–45; suc. 6th Viscount Gort (Irish peerage) 1902, cr. Viscount Gort (U.K. peerage) 1945.

26 George Clement Tryon (1871–1940), Con. M.P. Brighton 1910–40; U.S. Air 1919–20: P.S. Pensions 1920–22, 1940; Min. of Pensions 1922–24, 1924–29, 1931–35; Postmaster-Gen. 1935–40; Chanc. Duchy of Lancaster 1940; 1st Comm. Works 1940; cr. Baron Tryon 1940.

27 Horace John Wilson (1882–1972), Ass. Sec., Min. of Labour 1919–21, Perm. Sec. 1921–30; Chief Industrial Adviser 1930–39; Perm. Sec., Treasury & Head of Civil Service 1939–42; kt. 1924.

28 John Charles Walsham Reith (1889–1971), Gen. Manager B.B.C. 1922–27, Director-Gen. 1927–38; Nat. M.P. Southampton Feb.–Oct. 1940; Min. of Information Jan.–May 1940; Min. of Transport May–Oct. 1940; Min. of Works 1940–42; Dir. Combined Operations, Material Dept., Admiralty 1943–45; Chairman, Commonwealth Telecommunications Bd. 1946–50; Chairman, Colonial Development Corporation 1950–59; kt. 1927, cr. Baron Reith 1940, K.T. 1969.

29 John Buchan (1875–1940), Con. M.P. Scottish Univ. 1927–35; Gov. Gen. of Canada 1935–40; author of popular fiction; cr. Baron Tweedsmuir 1935; ‘I met him about my first day at Oxford and have known him, more or less, ever since’: Headlam diary, 10 Feb. 1940.

30 William Edmund Ironside (1880–1959), army career; C. in C. British Forces in Russia 1918–19, in North Persia 1920–21; Commandant, Staff College 1922–26; G.O.C. 2nd. Div. 1926–28, Meerut District, India 1928–31; Q.M.G. India 1933–36; G.O.C. Eastern Command 1936–38; Gov. & C. in C. Gibraltar 1938–39; C.I.G.S. 1939–10; C. in C. Home Forces 1940; kt. 1919, cr. Baron Ironside 1940.

31 Headlam was in bed, recovering from German measles.

32 Georges Clemenceau (1841–1929), Dep. 1876–93, Sen. for Var 1902–20; Min. Home Affairs 1906; P.M. 1906–09, 1917–20.

33 A formal means of vacating a seat in the House of Commons.

34 Arthur Munro Sutherland (1867–1953), shipowner and coal exporter; Pres., Chamber of Shipping 1930; Pres., Shipping Federation Ltd. 1938–50; Sheriff of Newcastle 1917, Lord Mayor 1919; High Sheriff of Northumberland 1943; kt. 1920, cr. Bart. 1921.

35 John Gilmour (1876–1940), Con. M.P. Renfrewshire E. 1910–18, Glasgow Pollok 1918–40; Ass. Whip 1913–15, 1919–21, Scottish Whip 1921–22, 1923–24; Scottish Sec. 1924–29; Min. of Agric. 1931–32; Home Sec. 1932–35; Min. of Shipping 1939–40; suc. 2nd Bart. 1920.

36 William McKeag (1897–1972), Lib. cand. Durham 1924, 1929, Lib. Nat. M.P. Durham 1931–35, Lib. cand. Newcastle N. 1945, Newcastle E. 1950; Dep. Ass. Adjutant-Gen. 1939–35; Lord Mayor of Newcastle 1951–52, 1953–54.

37 Paul Vychan Emrys-Evans (1894–1967), Con. M.P. Derbyshire S. 1931–45; U.S. Dominions 1942–45.

38 Richard Kidston Law (1901–1980), Con. M.P. Hull S.W. 1931–45, Kensington S. 1945–50, Haltemprice 1950–54; F.S. War Office 1940–41; U.S. For. Office 1941–43, M.S. 1943–45; Min. Educ. 1945; Chairman, Nat. Youth Employment Council 1955–62; cr. Baron Coleraine 1954; son of Andrew Bonar Law, P.M. 1922–23.

39 Almeric Hugh Paget (1861–1949), Con. M.P. Cambridge 1910–17; Whip 1911–17; Pres., Eastern Area 1909–46; Pres., National Union 1928–29, 1940–41; cr. Baron Queenborough 1918.

40 Thomas Oliver (1853–1942), physician; Prof, of Physiology, Univ. of Durham College of Medicine, Newcastle 1889–1911, Prof, of Medicine 1911–27, Pres. 1926–34; Vice-Chancellor, Durham Univ. 1928–30; Pres., Royal Institute of Public Health & Hygiene 1937–42; kt. 1908.

41 Howard Grattan-Doyle (1908–1947), Con. cand. Newcastle N. 1940, later Lt.- Col., Judge Advocate's Branch; died after a horse-riding accident, 1 Jan. 1947.

42 Douglas Clifton Brown (1879–1958), Con. M.P. Hexham 1918–23, 1924–51; P.P.S. to J. Macpherson 1920–22; Dep. Chairman of Ways & Means 1943; Speaker 1943–51; cr. Viscount Ruffside 1951.

43 Ronald Hibbert Cross (1896–1968), Con. M.P. Rossendale 1931–45, Ormskirk 1950–51; P.P.S. to R.S. Hudson 1932–35, to W. Elliot 1935; Ass. Whip 1935–37, Whip 1937–38; P.S. Trade 1938–39; Min. of Economic Warfare 1939–40; Min. of Shipping 1940–41; Gov. of Tasmania 1951–58; cr. Bart. 1941.

44 Aylmer Gould Hunter-Weston (1864–1940), military career; G.O.C. 8th Army Corps 1915–18; Con. M.P. Ayrshire N. 1916–18, Bute & N. Ayrshire 1918–35; kt. 1915.

45 Alexander Nairne Stewart-Sandeman (1876–1940), Con. M.P. Middleton & Prestwich 1923–40; cr. Bart. 1929.

46 Dudley Fitz-Mowbray Appleby (1904–1966), member of Newcastle City Council, Jesmond Ward 1929–39, four times Under-Sheriff; Con. cand. Wallsend 1950, Sedgefield 1955; Chairman, Political Ctte., Northern Counties Club 1945–50.

47 The evacuation of British forces from the Trondheim area was announced by Chamberlain in the House of Commons on the previous day.

48 Ralph George Campbell Glyn (1884–1960), Con. M.P. Stirling E. 1918–22, Abingdon 1924–53; Sec. Unionist Reorganisation Ctte. 1911; P.P.S. to Ramsay MacDonald 1931–37; cr. Baron Glyn 1953.

49 ‘Chamberlain Must Go’, an echo of the famous initials ‘B.M.G.’ used by Leo Maxse in the campaign against Balfour's leadership of the Party in 1911.

50 At the end of the ‘Norway debate’ of 7–8 May 1940 the Labour vote of censure was defeated by 281 to 200, but the fall in the Government's normal majority (due to 33 of its supporters voting against it and about 65 more abstaining) made Chamberlain's position unrenable.