Newspapers and the radio have been spreading the same news for weeks. Whether it is alleged border violations or acts of violence against German minorities: the wording is always the same: “Poland provocates”. “Poland must be punished.”
Until, one morning, it is announced that “since 5h45, it is fired back.” The German “response” to a self-staged attack on a German radio station marks the beginning of World War II.
The acts of war are accompanied by ever harder anti-Semitic compulsory measures. Gains from expropriations and “reparations” from Jewish citizens are profitable resources of income, also used to fund military campaigns. In 1939, nine percent of the state’s income is gains from the “aryanisation” of Jewish businesses.
General events
- 14 January: Adolf Hitler informs the press that he, from now on, shall no longer be named “Führer and Reich Chancellor”, but “Führer”.
- 15 March: German troops occupy the Czech part of Czechoslovakia.
- 17 March: British PM Neville Chamberlain announces the end of “appeasement” towards Hitler.
- 23 August: The German foreign secretary von Ribbentrop and his Soviet counterpart Molotov sign a non-aggression pact.
- 1 September: With the invasion of Poland, World War II begins.
- 3 September: Great Britain and France declare war on Germany.
Events in Hamburg
- 30 March: The building authority orders to tear down the Synagogue at Bornplatz, which was burnt down on 9 November 1938.
- 1 April: Hamburg born Konstantin Gutschow is awarded the title “Architekt des Elbufers” (architect for the area at the banks of the river Elbe). He shall radically redesign parts of St. Pauli and surrounding districts.
- 7 May: Hamburg celebrates the 750th harbour birthday with, among others, numerous international delegations.
- 31 May: After the victory of the Spanish fascists in the Civil War, the troops of the “Legion Condor”, which supported Franco, return to Germany. In the port of Hamburg, they are welcomed home frenetically.
- July: Two months before the outbreak of war, Adolf Hitler visits Hamburg for the last time. As usual, he resides in the hotel “Atlantic” at the Alster lake.
Personal events
- February: The NSDAP Gau news feature an article criticising the discipline within FC St. Pauli, blaming Wilhelm Koch as the main responsible. After it is revealed that this article was launched by youth leader and SA advisor Koehler, Koch gets permission to dismiss him.
- 13 Februar: In the presence of Hitler, battleship “Bismarck” is launched at Blohm & Voss. Herbert Müller is one of the workers who built this vessel.
- 1939: Otto Wolff purchases a building in Harvestehude that was Jewish property before.
- 1939: Shortly after the start of the war, Karl Miller is conscripted to the air force as flak-gunner. At first, he is deployed in Hamburg.
- October: The last St. Pauli rugby game until 1945 is played. Almost all players of the rugby team are conscripted to military service thereafter.