With the invasion of Poland, an unreal period of time begins. One country after another is overrun and occupied. Radio broadcasts are full of victory news from the Wehrmacht-bulletins. Between them, German Schlager songs like “Lili Marleen” are played.
But very soon, windows and car lights have to be darkened at night. The first bombs fall on German cities. The persecution of Hamburg’s Jews reaches an even higher intensity: in an attempt to make empty flats available for bombed out “Volksgenossen” (national comrades), Reich Governor Karl Kaufmann demands the deportation of all Jews still living in Hamburg to the annexed regions of Eastern Europe.
One year later, his wish is fulfilled.
Timeline General
- 9 April: The Wehrmacht invades Denmark and Norway without a prior declaration of war. Sweden declares its neutrality.
- 30 April: The first closed-off ghetto for Jews is established in Lodz (Poland).
- 3 May: The aviation ministry orders a uniform and general blackout between dusk and dawn for the entire Reich.
- 10 May: The Wehrmacht invades The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg and France.
- 30 May: Italian dictator Mussolini announces Italy’s entry into the war.
- 17 June: French MP Pétain declares the military defeat of France. Copying the declaration of surrender ceremony of 1918, the Germans use the same train car in which the ceasefire negotiations following Germany’s defeat in WWI were held.
Timeline Hamburg
- January: The satellite camp Neuengamme is extended to a stand-alone KZ.
- 28 March: In response to an appeal of Reich sport leader Tschammer to all sports clubs to contribute to the collection of metal for the war economy, numerous Hamburg clubs empty their shelves. Until 1941, FC St. Pauli donates at least 63 trophies.
- 16 May: Deportation of some hundreds of Hamburg Sinti and Roma.
- 17 May: The first bombing of Hamburg kills 34 people, 72 are wounded.
Timeline Persons
- 10 June: Peter Jürs is arrested under the suspicion of having forged military service documents in order to prevent conscriptions to the Wehrmacht.
- 1940 Karl Miller is deployed to Saxony. The local commander takes care of Millers’ flak-canon to be stationed directly on a stand of the Dresdner SC stadium.
- 1940 After many players were conscripted to military service, Herbert Müller gains a place in the starting line-up of FC St. Pauli.
- 1940 After the detachment of his supervisor Otte to Oslo, Dr Otto Wolff promotes to the function as acting Gau economic advisor to the NSDAP.
- 1940 Paul Lang, who stayed in Hamburg, is ordered to “Jewish’ services”.