1940 world war ii germany occupies brussels belgium
View in full resolution: 798 x 544
1939 87 years ago Historical Events September 1 4 sources

World War II: Germany and Slovakia invade Poland, beginning the European phase of World War II.

On September 1, in the year 1939, World War II: Germany and Slovakia invade Poland, beginning the European phase of World War II. This event is recorded as a Historical Events event in the history of September 1, one of 403 recorded events on this date across all of history.

World War II, or the Second World War, was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Axis powers. Nearly all of the world's countries participated, with many engaging in total war on an unprecedented scale. World War II was the deadliest conflict in history, causing the deaths of 60 to 75 million people, a majority of whom were civilians. Millions died as a result of massacres, starvation, disease, and genocides including the Holocaust. After the Allied victory, Germany, Austria, Japan, and Korea were occupied, and German and Japanese leaders were tried for war crimes.

Key Facts

  • This event took place on September 1, 1939 (AD era).
  • It is categorised as a Historical Events event in recorded history.
  • Referenced in 4 Wikipedia articles.
  • Wikipedia source last updated on 23 August 2026.

On This Date in History 403

Type Year Date Event
Notable Deaths 2025 Sep 1 Joe Bugner, Hungarian-British boxer and actor (born 1950)
Notable Deaths 2024 Sep 1 Linda Deutsch, American journalist (born 1943)
Notable Deaths 2023 Sep 1 Jimmy Buffett, American singer-songwriter, musician, author and businessman (born 1946)
Notable Deaths 2022 Sep 1 Barbara Ehrenreich, American writer and journalist (born 1941)
Notable Deaths 2022 Sep 1 Yang Yongsong, Chinese major general (born 1919)
Notable Deaths 2020 Sep 1 Erick Morillo, American disc jockey and music producer (born 1971)
Notable Deaths 2018 Sep 1 Randy Weston, American jazz pianist and composer (born 1926)
Notable Deaths 2015 Sep 1 Gurgen Dalibaltayan, Armenian general (born 1926)
Notable Deaths 2015 Sep 1 Dean Jones, American actor and singer (born 1931)
Notable Deaths 2015 Sep 1 Richard G. Hewlett, American historian and author (born 1923)
Notable Deaths 2015 Sep 1 Ben Kuroki, American sergeant and pilot (born 1917)
Notable Deaths 2014 Sep 1 Ahmed Abdi Godane, Somali militant leader (born 1977)
Notable Deaths 2014 Sep 1 Roger McKee, American baseball player (born 1926)
Notable Deaths 2014 Sep 1 Joseph Shivers, American chemist and academic, developed spandex (born 1920)
Notable Deaths 2013 Sep 1 Ignacio Eizaguirre, Spanish footballer and manager (born 1920)
Notable Deaths 2013 Sep 1 Tommy Morrison, American boxer and actor (born 1969)
Notable Deaths 2013 Sep 1 Gordon Steege, Australian soldier (born 1917)
Notable Deaths 2013 Sep 1 Margaret Mary Vojtko, American linguist and academic (born 1930)
Notable Deaths 2013 Sep 1 Ken Wallis, English commander and pilot (born 1916)
Notable Deaths 2012 Sep 1 Sean Bergin, South African saxophonist, flute player, and composer (born 1948)
Notable Deaths 2012 Sep 1 Hal David, American songwriter and composer (born 1921)
Notable Deaths 2012 Sep 1 Smarck Michel, Haitian businessman and politician, 6th Prime Minister of Haiti (born 1937)
Notable Deaths 2012 Sep 1 William Petzäll, Swedish politician (born 1988)
Notable Deaths 2012 Sep 1 Arnaldo Putzu, Italian illustrator (born 1927)
Notable Deaths 2010 Sep 1 Wakanohana Kanji I, Japanese sumo wrestler, the 45th Yokozuna (born 1928)
Historical Events 2008 Sep 1 Iraq War: The United States Armed Forces transfers control of Anbar Province to the Iraqi Armed Forces.
Notable Deaths 2008 Sep 1 Thomas J. Bata, Czech-Canadian businessman (born 1914)
Notable Deaths 2008 Sep 1 Jerry Reed, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor (born 1937)
Notable Deaths 2007 Sep 1 Roy McKenzie, New Zealand horse racer and philanthropist (born 1922)
Notable Deaths 2006 Sep 1 György Faludy, Hungarian author and poet (born 1910)
Notable Deaths 2006 Sep 1 Warren Mitofsky, American journalist (born 1934)
Notable Deaths 2006 Sep 1 Bob O'Connor, American businessman and politician, 57th Mayor of Pittsburgh (born 1944)
Notable Deaths 2006 Sep 1 Kyffin Williams, Welsh painter and educator (born 1918)
Notable Deaths 2005 Sep 1 R. L. Burnside, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1926)
Historical Events 2004 Sep 1 The Beslan school siege begins when armed terrorists take schoolchildren and school staff hostage in North Ossetia,…
Notable Deaths 2004 Sep 1 Ahmed Kuftaro, Syrian religious leader, Grand Mufti of Syria (born 1915)
Notable Deaths 2004 Sep 1 Alastair Morton, South African businessman (born 1938)
Notable Births 2003 Sep 1 An Yu-jin, South Korean singer and actress
Notable Deaths 2003 Sep 1 Rand Brooks, American actor and producer (born 1918)
Notable Deaths 2003 Sep 1 Terry Frost, English painter and academic (born 1915)
Notable Births 2002 Sep 1 Diane Parry, French tennis player
Notable Births 2000 Sep 1 Mikhail Iakovlev, Israeli Olympic cyclist
Notable Births 2000 Sep 1 Pratika Rawal, Indian cricketer
Selected Events 2000 Sep 1 Speakers' Corner, a free speech area in Hong Lim Park in Singapore, was launched.
Notable Births 1999 Sep 1 Cam Reddish, American basketball player
Notable Deaths 1999 Sep 1 W. Richard Stevens, Zambian computer scientist and author (born 1951)
Notable Births 1998 Sep 1 Josh Battle, Australian rules footballer
Notable Births 1998 Sep 1 Josh Okogie, Nigerian-American basketball player
Notable Births 1998 Sep 1 Salah Mohsen, Egyptian footballer
Notable Deaths 1998 Sep 1 Józef Krupiński, Polish poet and author (born 1930)

This article draws on content from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

More on September 1

Browse Further

📅 All events on September 1 403 events 📖 All events in 1939 🏷 More Historical Events events
0

Comments 0

Sign in to join the discussion.