1939: Britain declares war on Germany
There was an error
This content is not available in your location.
At 11.15am, the news that the country is at war is communicated to the population of the United Kingdom. Chamberlain's famous words are followed by government announcements warning that air raids are expected to follow quickly. In the preceding months, Chamberlain and the government had planned to shut down Â鶹ԼÅÄ broadcasts in the event of hostilities, believing they were unnecessary during wartime. However, their value in providing information and boosting morale soon became obvious.
Note: there is a gap in this recording between Chamberlain's announcement and the follow up announcement read by Alvar Lidell.
Originally broadcast on the Â鶹ԼÅÄ Service on 3 September 1939.
Follow and explore more from Â鶹ԼÅÄ Archive.