On Wed, 04 Sep 2024 10:51:27 +0200, Steve Hayes
Post by Steve HayesPost by The Horny GoatOn Tue, 03 Sep 2024 04:33:36 +0200, Steve Hayes
Post by Steve HayesAccording to treaties, this obligated the British
to make war on Germany.
And so it began.
That's only when it began in the European theatre.
Two dates are commonly given for its end -- VE Day and VJ Day, and
perhaps the same needs to be done for its beginning.
In Africa, WWII began earlier, on 3 October 1936, when Italy invaded
Ethiopia.
In Asia, it began earlier still, on 18 September 1931, when Japan
invaded Manchuria.
And even in Europe one could perhaps say it began earlier, with the
German Anschluss with Austria, perhaps, or the invasion of
Czechoslovakia.
Good luck getting anything earlier than 3 Sept 1939 accepted as "the"
start date outside Britain (+ possibly France)
I'd expect it to be easier to get a date before 3 Sep 1939 accepted
outside the UK than within it.
South Africa declared war on Germany on 4 Sep 1939.
Good point. And Canada didn't declare until 10 Sept 1939 - the point
being that 1939 was before the era where politicians routinely flew -
the usual method of getting to Ottawa at that time was by passenger
train. The Canadian House was adjourned on 1 Sept 1939 and the prime
minister immediately recalled Parliament and gave them a week to get
to Ottawa (which was thought to be the fastest an emergency recall
could be executed). The Canadian declaration of war took place roughly
1/2 hour after the Speaker first banged the gavel. Australia's and
South Africa's parliaments WERE in session when Hitler invaded Poland
so they declared war more or less at the same time as the UK. New
Zealand's wasn't in session but then New Zealand is a much smaller
country and didn't take nearly as long to re-convene. Similarly the US
Congress WAS in session on 7 Dec 1941 so quickly convened. (Similarly
the Canadian parliament was in session on 7/12/1941 and actually
declared war about 1/2 hour before Washington did - not that anyone
thought they'd declare neutrality after Pearl Harbor!)
In South Africa it caused the government to fall. And yes, there were
2 capitals, and they had to travel the 1000 miles between them on
Parliamentary Trains.
The United Party, which had been formed by the 2 biggest parties to
take land from black people in 1936 split, and the Purified National
party broke away over the issue of joining the war.
The rump of the United Party continued to rule during the war, but
lost to the Purified National Party in 1948, which ruled for the next
46 years.
--
Steve Hayes
http://www.khanya.org.za/stevesig.htm
http://khanya.wordpress.com