This day in history

World War II commences when 58 German divisions cross the border into Poland on 1 September, 1939. The Polish army fought bravely to defend the country against the invasion, but were hopelessly outmatched by Germany’s modern technology and overwhelming numbers.

Nazi leader Adolf Hitler expected appeasement from Britain and France after those nations had given Czechoslovakia away to German conquest in 1938. However, neither Britain nor France was willing to allow Hitler’s new violation of Europe’s borders, and Germany was presented with an ultimatum: withdraw by 3 September or face war. Hitler refused, and Britain, France, India, Australia and New Zealand declared war against Germany on 3 September.

The European chapter of the Second World War had begun.

An armed gang of Chechen separatist rebels enter a school in southern Russia and take more than 1,000 people hostage.

A joint U.S. French expedition locates the wreck of the RMS Titanic at the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean.

In Libya, military leader Muammar Gaddafi overthrows the regime of King Idris I.

In Britain, the Conservative government announces that it will allow betting shops to open in the country as of May 1961.