On this day
Revisit the news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.
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Maginot Line and Westwall terrain described; map
Opposes arms embargo repeal
maps showing Polish minorities
Conf with Ital Min
battles continue at Warsaw and Kutno
1939Carl Dennis, American poet and educator[†]
Carl Dennis is an American poet and educator. His book Practical Gods won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for poetry.
1939Shelby Flint, American singer-songwriter and voice actress[†]
Shelby Flint is an American singer-songwriter who had two top-100 hits, "Angel on My Shoulder" in 1961 and "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" in 1966.
1939David Souter, American lawyer and jurist (died 2025)[†]
David Hackett Souter was an American lawyer and jurist who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1990 until his retirement in 2009. Appointed by President George H. W. Bush to fill the seat that had been vacated by William J. Brennan Jr., Souter was a member of both the Rehnquist and Roberts courts.
1939World War II: The Soviet invasion of Poland begins.[†]
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 nations mobilising all resources in pursuit of total war. Tanks and aircraft played major roles, enabling the strategic bombing of cities and delivery of the first and only nuclear weapons ever used in war. World War II is the deadliest conflict in history, causing the death of 70 to 85 million people, more than half of whom were civilians. Millions died in genocides, including the Holocaust, and by massacres, starvation, and disease. After the Allied victory, Germany, Austria, Japan, and Korea were occupied, and German and Japanese leaders were tried for war crimes.
1939World War II: German submarine U-29 sinks the British aircraft carrier HMS Courageous.[†]
German submarine U-29 was a Type VIIA U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.