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War declaration on Nazis recalled | War declaration on Nazis recalled |
(20 minutes later) | |
The moment Britain finally declared war on Nazi Germany exactly 70 years ago is being remembered. | The moment Britain finally declared war on Nazi Germany exactly 70 years ago is being remembered. |
Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain made his sombre radio broadcast at 11.15am on 3 September 1939, two days after German forces attacked Poland. | Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain made his sombre radio broadcast at 11.15am on 3 September 1939, two days after German forces attacked Poland. |
France followed suit hours after the historic address at 10 Downing Street. | France followed suit hours after the historic address at 10 Downing Street. |
There are no official events to mark the anniversary, but war-related re-unions and debates are being held in northern England and London. | There are no official events to mark the anniversary, but war-related re-unions and debates are being held in northern England and London. |
'Peace struggle' | 'Peace struggle' |
A group of land girls who worked together on farms in Lincolnshire during the war will be reunited in Grimsby - some for the first time in 70 years. | A group of land girls who worked together on farms in Lincolnshire during the war will be reunited in Grimsby - some for the first time in 70 years. |
The former Land Army girls, who ploughed fields, dug up potatoes, tended animals and harvested crops, will enjoy a £2 wartime lunch at a care home. | The former Land Army girls, who ploughed fields, dug up potatoes, tended animals and harvested crops, will enjoy a £2 wartime lunch at a care home. |
Historians will discuss the importance of Britain's wartime leader, Winston Churchill, in a debate at London's Central Hall in Westminster. | Historians will discuss the importance of Britain's wartime leader, Winston Churchill, in a debate at London's Central Hall in Westminster. |
And the Royal British Legion's 14th annual bike ride from Greenwich in London to Paris - to raise cash for past and present service personnel - is, by coincidence, also being held. | And the Royal British Legion's 14th annual bike ride from Greenwich in London to Paris - to raise cash for past and present service personnel - is, by coincidence, also being held. |
I cannot believe that there is anything more or anything different that I could have done, and that would have been more successful Neville Chamberlain class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6952">Tell us your wartime stories | |
More than 170 cyclists, who hope to raise £300,000, will leave Dover for Calais on Thursday and are expected to arrive in Paris on Sunday lunchtime. | More than 170 cyclists, who hope to raise £300,000, will leave Dover for Calais on Thursday and are expected to arrive in Paris on Sunday lunchtime. |
On Tuesday Foreign Secretary David Miliband joined world leaders - including German chancellor Angela Merkel - at Gdansk in Poland to mark the 70th anniversary of the start of the war. | On Tuesday Foreign Secretary David Miliband joined world leaders - including German chancellor Angela Merkel - at Gdansk in Poland to mark the 70th anniversary of the start of the war. |
In his historic broadcast from the Cabinet room, Mr Chamberlain admitted his "long struggle to win peace" had failed. | In his historic broadcast from the Cabinet room, Mr Chamberlain admitted his "long struggle to win peace" had failed. |
He said: "This morning the British Ambassador in Berlin handed the German government a final note stating that, unless we heard from them by 11 o'clock that they were prepared at once to withdraw their troops from Poland, a state of war would exist between us. | He said: "This morning the British Ambassador in Berlin handed the German government a final note stating that, unless we heard from them by 11 o'clock that they were prepared at once to withdraw their troops from Poland, a state of war would exist between us. |
"I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received, and that consequently this country is at war with Germany. | "I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received, and that consequently this country is at war with Germany. |
"You can imagine what a bitter blow it is to me that all my long struggle to win peace has failed. | "You can imagine what a bitter blow it is to me that all my long struggle to win peace has failed. |
"Yet I cannot believe that there is anything more or anything different that I could have done, and that would have been more successful." | "Yet I cannot believe that there is anything more or anything different that I could have done, and that would have been more successful." |
The Second World War lasted nearly six years and cost around 50 million lives with an estimated 400,000 military and civilian casualties from Britain. | The Second World War lasted nearly six years and cost around 50 million lives with an estimated 400,000 military and civilian casualties from Britain. |