National Government (1937–1939)

National Government
Monarch George VI
Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain
Prime Minister’s history 1937–1940
Total no. of members 119 appointments

Who was in power in 1939 UK?

Neville Chamberlain

On 3 September 1939, Neville Chamberlain, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, reconstructed his existing government so as to be suited for the Second World War. The most dramatic change to the ministerial line-up saw the return of Winston Churchill as First Lord of the Admiralty.

Who was UK Prime Minister in 1939?





Arthur Neville Chamberlain FRS

Arthur Neville Chamberlain FRS (/ˈtʃeɪmbərlɪn/; 18 March 1869 – 9 November 1940) was a British politician of the Conservative Party who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from May 1937 to May 1940.

Who was in government during ww2?

Senior government ministries and offices, 10 May 1940 – 23 May 1945

Portfolio Minister Party
Deputy Prime Minister Clement Attlee Labour
Minister of Defence Winston Churchill Conservative
Lord Chancellor Viscount Simon Liberal National
Lord President of the Council Neville Chamberlain Conservative

Who was Prime Minister in the 1930s?



The National Government of 1931–1935 was formed by Ramsay MacDonald following his reappointment as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom by King George V after the general election in October 1931.

What was the UK called in 1939?

In 1939 the British Empire and the Commonwealth together comprised a global power, with direct or de facto political and economic control of 25% of the world’s population, and of 30% of its land mass.



Who controlled UK during ww2?

Less obviously, Churchill made planning and decision-making – both political and military – simpler and more efficient. His force of personality was instrumental in cementing the ‘Big Three’ Alliance with Britain’s powerful allies, Russia and the United States.

Who was Prime Minister in 1939 at the outbreak of ww2?

Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain

The news that Britain was at war was broken by Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain at 11.15am on Sunday 3 September 1939. In a 5 minute broadcast on the Home Service, he announced that as Hitler had failed to respond to British demands to leave Poland, “This country is at war with Germany”.

What political party was in power in 1939?



National Government (1937–1939)

National Government
Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain
Prime Minister’s history 1937–1940
Total no. of members 119 appointments
Member parties Conservative Party Liberal National Party National Labour

Why did the UK go to war in 1939?

Germany represented a direct threat to British security and the security of its empire. Accepting German domination of Europe had grave implications for British status and survival. Britain went to war in 1939 to defend the balance of power in Europe and safeguard Britain’s position in the world.

Who were the 4 dictators of ww2?

The chief leaders were Adolf Hitler of Nazi Germany, Benito Mussolini of Fascist Italy, and Hirohito of Imperial Japan. Unlike what happened with the Allies, there was never a joint meeting of the main Axis heads of government, although Mussolini and Hitler did meet on a regular basis.

Who played the biggest role in ww2?

the United States



Although the United States played the dominant role, all three major Allied countries were necessary to victory in Europe. The most important contribution made by Britain was to survive Hitler’s onslaught in 1940. Had the British failed to hold off the Nazis, the Second World War would have taken a far different turn.

Which side was Russia on in ww2?

In World War II, the three great Allied powers—Great Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union—formed a Grand Alliance that was the key to victory. But the alliance partners did not share common political aims, and did not always agree on how the war should be fought.

What was happening in the UK in 1939?

The United Kingdom declared war on Germany on 3 September 1939, two days after Germany invaded Poland. France also declared war on Germany later the same day. The state of war was announced to the British public in an 11 AM radio broadcast by the prime minister Neville Chamberlain.

Who were the Axis powers in 1939?

Major Alliances during World War II (1939-1945)



The three principal partners in what was eventually referred to as the Axis alliance were Germany, Italy, and Japan. These countries were led by German dictator Adolf Hitler, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, and Japanese Emperor Hirohito.

Did Britain have any alliances in 1939?

The military alliance between the United Kingdom and Poland was formalised by the Anglo-Polish Agreement in 1939, with subsequent addenda of 1940 and 1944, for mutual assistance in case of a military invasion from Nazi Germany, as specified in a secret protocol.

What was Britain like 1939?



During the six years Britain was at war, 1939–45, life was frequently hard for Londoners. Food and clothing were rationed and in short supply. Bombing caused fear, injury, death and destruction. Families were often separated due to evacuation and fathers going away to fight.

What political events happened in 1939?

On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland. Over the next year, Nazi Germany and its allies conquered much of Europe. German officials confiscated Jewish property, in many places required Jews to wear identifying armbands, and established ghettos and forced-labor camps.

Why was 1939 a turning point?

Germany Invades Poland



September 1, 1939 is the date most scholars give as the beginning of World War II in Europe. Led by its führer(supreme leader), Adolf Hitler, Germany had, for several years, been amassing a military powerful enough to conquer Europe and possibly even the world.