People and Events on August 31, 1939

Jerry Allison

86 Years Old

A legendary drummer and songwriter behind Buddy Holly's biggest hits, including "That'll Be the Day" and "Peggy Sue", helping shape the sound of early rock 'n' roll.

The Eve of War: Events That Shaped the World on August 31st, 1939

August 31st, 1939, marks a significant day in world history, a day that unwittingly paved the way for one of the most devastating conflicts humanity has ever witnessed. It's a day that will forever be etched in the annals of time, a day that witnessed the seeds of World War II being sown.

The False Flag Attack on Gleiwitz Radio Station

In the late hours of August 31st, 1939, Nazi Germany orchestrated a deceitful attack on the Gleiwitz Radio Station, a German radio station located near the Polish border. The staged assault, designed to appear as a Polish aggression, was meant to provide a pretext for Germany's invasion of Poland, which ultimately led to the declaration of war by France and the United Kingdom.

A Legendary Drummer's Birthday

On this fateful day, Jerry Allison, the renowned drummer and songwriter behind Buddy Holly's biggest hits, including "That'll Be the Day" and "Peggy Sue", was born. Allison's contribution to early rock 'n' roll would later earn him a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

A Day of Unrest and Uncertainty

As Europe teetered on the brink of war, August 31st, 1939, was a day marked by tension and foreboding. The invasion of Poland was imminent, and the world held its breath as diplomatic efforts failed to prevent the outbreak of war. The consequences of this day would be far-reaching, resulting in the loss of millions of lives and a global shift in the balance of power.

A Last-Ditch Effort for Peace

In a final attempt to avert war, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini proposed a last-minute conference to resolve the crisis. However, Germany's aggressive intentions had already been set in motion, and the conference was ultimately rejected.

A World on the Cusp of War

August 31st, 1939, was a day that would forever change the course of history. As the world stood at the precipice of war, the events of this day would serve as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of aggression and the importance of diplomacy in preventing global conflict.

Noteworthy Events on this Day:
In the dead of night, a group of Nazi operatives, dressed in Polish uniforms, stormed the Gleiwitz radio station, broadcasting a provocative message in Polish, deliberately designed to enrage the German public. This was no ordinary radio broadcast, but a carefully crafted deception, orchestrated by the Nazis to create a pretext for war. The following day, Germany launched a devastating attack on Poland, marking the beginning of World War II in Europe. The Gleiwitz incident, as it came to be known, was a brazen example of a false flag operation, where a government stages a terrorist attack on its own people, blaming it on a convenient scapegoat, in this case, Poland. The incident exposed the ruthless tactics employed by the Nazi regime, which stopped at nothing to achieve their expansionist ambitions.