Bedside Note of President Franklin D. Roosevelt Regarding the Invasion of Poland by Germany

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Description

In the early morning of September 1, 1939, German tanks crossed the German-Polish border—sparking World War II

This item is a penciled notation written by President Franklin D. Roosevelt while in bed on September 1, 1939 at 3:05 a.m., and records how he received news that Germany had invaded Poland and was bombing Polish cities, thus beginning World War II. The note, written five hours after the invasion of Poland, documents that Roosevelt received word of the invasion from Ambassador Anthony Biddle, through Ambassador William Bullitt. The note also documents the President’s order that all Navy ships and Army commands be notified by radio of the German invasion.

Citation

This primary source comes from the Collection FDR-FDRPSF: President's Secretary's File (Franklin D. Roosevelt Administration).

National Archives Identifier: 198127

Full Citation: Bedside Note of President Franklin D. Roosevelt Regarding the Invasion of Poland by Germany; 9/1/1939; PSF: Diplomatic Correspondence – Poland; Diplomatic Correspondence, 1933–1945; Collection FDR-FDRPSF: President’s Secretary’s File (Franklin D. Roosevelt Administration),; Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/document/fdr-bedside-note-invasion-of-poland-by-germany/, April 1, 2026]

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