This audio clip is of the CBS European News report 28 AUG 1939 just a couple days before the start of World War II when Germany invades Poland.
Below are some of the transcripted notes from the audio file.
The London news desk reports on the rail transportation along the Polish corridor with German transports moving back and forth across the border.
The Chinese and Japanese ambassadors both called at the foreign office together. Something London hasn’t seen in a long while.
Germans have been instructed to leave Hong Kong.
The admiralty have forbidden the use of any wireless transmitter from any seagoing ship in British territorial waters.
Voluntary censorship over certain forms of communication expected in the next 24 hours.
The first Defense Order (Decree) is put in place. issues. Covered a lot of territory.
- Power is given to order compulsory evacuation over people and animals.
- Compulsory billeting is provided for, for houses in the country.
- Traffic may be regulated, the carrying of cameras in certain areas may be prohibited.
- Private residences may be taken over.
- No person shall have under his control, or liberate any racing or homing pigeons.
- Prices of food and other commodities may be controlled.
- There are more than 100 items in the list.
“There is still hope,” to avoid war, but it is slimming.
There is news of Poland and of the build up and waiting for tensions to break one way or the other.
Londoner’s believe that a decision will be made within the next 36 hours (which proved very accurate).
The report, by William L. Shire from Germany, Sir Neville Henderson the British Ambassador to Germany, is meeting with Hitler to finally decide if it will be war, or peace.
The Reich will not bend or compromise, and tension is terrific, knowing the world will follow in one direction or another.
Notes about the German rationing, the German woman in her supporting role, and pride in defending Germany.
Though the talking stage has yet to be abandoned, the preparations for war were evident everywhere.
Listen to the full report to hear more of life just before the beginning of World War II (01 Sept 1939).
Author Bio: World War II researcher and historian working to preserve history and educate future generations. A student of Military History working to author and collect as much data as possible on the WWII time period. 
