September 1, 1939

 

There are dates that are etched into one’s mind.  Not the same dates for all of us, of course.  But one date I always note is today, September 1^st.  Sept. 1,l 1939 was the day that German Nazis forces invaded Poland.  It is regarded as the beginning of World War II. 

 History.com explains, “The German invasion of Poland was a primer on how Hitler intended to wage war–what would become the “blitzkrieg” strategy…. characterized by extensive bombing early on to destroy the enemy’s air capacity, railroads, communication lines and munitions dumps, followed by a massive land invasion with overwhelming numbers of troops, tanks and artillery….”  

 Although Poland had a million soldiers, “they were simply no match for the overwhelming and modern-mechanized German forces.”

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germany-invades-poland

 The Brooklyn Eagle newspaper reprints the front page from that day:

The large headline reads:

 “Quit War on Poland or Face Gt. Britain, London Warns Reich

Nazi Bombers Raid Many Cities; F.D. Vows to Keep America Out.”

 “Nazi German troops invaded Poland today by land, sea and air, and brought on the immediate threat of war by Great Britain and France….Prime Minister Chamberlain told a cheering Parliament in London this afternoon that …Britain would stand by her promise to Poland unless Nazi military aggression ceased and German force were withdrawn at once….France, meanwhile, ordered a full mobilization…”

 Other front-page headlines:

“Throngs Flee English Cities”

“11,000 Americans Wait for Passage Home”

“Italy’s Cabinet bars military aid to Hitler.”  

 https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2020/09/01/september-1-on-this-day-in-1939-quit-war-on-poland-or-face-gt-britain-london-warns-reich/

 September 1, 1939 is the title of a famous poem by one of my favorite poets, W.H. Auden.  Auden was born in England in 1907 and after teaching school for awhile, made his living through writing.  His editor writes, “No English poet since Byron achieved fame so quickly.”  He also collaborated on travel books and plays.  But Auden felt fame to be a burden and to escape it, he moved to the U.S. in early 1939.  He taught for awhile in America, and served with the U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey in Germany in 1945.  Although he became an American citizen in 1946, he then divided his time between the U.S and Europe.  He died in Vienna at the age of 66 (his lined face makes him look much older!).

 Anyhow, Auden was in New York City on Sept. 1, 1939, where he wrote the poem that became one of his most well known.  You can read the poem here: 

https://poets.org/poem/september-1-1939  

 and there is a short analysis here:

https://www.gradesaver.com/w-h-auden-poems/study-guide/summary-september-1-1939

 Here are excerpts from the poem:

…
Uncertain and afraid
As the clever hopes expire
Of a low dishonest decade:
Waves of anger and fear
Circulate over the bright
And darkened lands of the earth,
Obsessing our private lives;
The unmentionable odour of death
Offends the September night.

….

Defenceless under the night
Our world in stupor lies;
Yet, dotted everywhere,
Ironic points of light
Flash out wherever the Just
Exchange their messages:
May I, composed like them
Of Eros and of dust,
Beleaguered by the same
Negation and despair,
Show an affirming flame.