Today in World War II History—September 3, 1939 and 1944
King George VI of the United Kingdom delivering his radio address announcing Britain’s entry into the war with Germany, Buckingham Palace, London, 3 Sept 1939 (United Kingdom National Archives)
85 Years Ago—Sept. 3, 1939: Britain, France, Australia, and India declare war on Germany.
Winston Churchill becomes First Lord of the Admiralty, his WWI post.
In North Atlantic, German submarine U-30 sinks British liner Athenia (112 killed, including 69 women, 16 children, and 28 Americans).
SS Athenia in Montreal harbor, 1933 (Library and Archives Canada: PA-056818)
80 Years Ago—Sept. 3, 1944: Nazis deport Anne Frank and her family on the last transport from Westerbork transit camp in the Netherlands to Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Free French troops take Lyon, France.
British troops take Brussels, Belgium.
Civilians celebrate as British vehicles enter Brussels, 4 September 1944 (Imperial War Museum: BU 482)
