Look Back To 1939: What Happened That Year

Evacuation, the blackout, the declaration of war and television going off air.

Here's 1939 in full - the music, the news, the screen, the sport and the ordinary details. Good for a birthday card, a party quiz round or a reminiscence session.

Popular music in 1939

• Vera Lynn recorded 'We'll Meet Again' in the autumn.
• 'Over the Rainbow' came from The Wizard of Oz.
• The BBC merged its services into the Home Service when war broke out.

In the news in 1939

• Britain declared war on Germany on 3 September, after the invasion of Poland on 1 September.
• Evacuation of children from the cities began on 1 September.
• The blackout came into force before war was declared.
• Conscription was introduced in the spring for men aged twenty and twenty-one.

On screen in 1939

• BBC television closed at noon on 1 September and did not return until 1946.
• The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind were released.
• Cinemas were closed briefly at the outbreak of war and then reopened.

In sport in 1939

• The football season was abandoned three matches in when war was declared.
• Portsmouth won the FA Cup in May and held it until 1946.
• County cricket stopped at the end of August.

Everyday life in 1939

• Gas masks, identity cards and ration books were issued or prepared.
• Anderson shelters were delivered to hundreds of thousands of gardens.
• Signposts came down and windows were taped against blast.

If you were born in 1939

• Anyone born in 1939 was born the year war broke out and grew up on rations.
• They were six when the war ended and nine when the NHS began.
• Anyone born in 1939 turns 30 in 1969, 40 in 1979, 50 in 1989, 60 in 1999 and 70 in 2009.
• For a milestone card, the strongest line is usually the number one from the week they were born rather than the year's biggest events - it's personal, and it takes two minutes to find.
• For a reminiscence session, read one section at a time and stop on whatever gets a reaction. The point is the conversation, not the facts.

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How to write it so it lands

• The number one from the week they were born beats the year's headlines on a card.
• Read one section at a time in a reminiscence session and stop where the conversation starts.
• Use it as a guess-the-year round by reading three facts and hiding the date.

Where to shop next

• Look back to 1938
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• Look back to 1936
• The 1930s: the whole decade
• Victorian and vintage parlour games
• Village fete and church hall games
• Traditional British party games
• Seaside and beach games
• The 2020s so far
• The 2010s: the whole decade
• The 2000s: the whole decade
• The 1990s: the whole decade
• The 1980s: the whole decade
• The 1970s: the whole decade
• The 1960s: the whole decade
• The 1950s: the whole decade
• The 1940s: the whole decade
• The 1920s: the whole decade
• Decade calendar: every year from 1920
• Decade trivia: fun facts by era
• Decade trivia game: play for points
• Decade guides: books, films and TV by era
• Decade recipes: dishes and food trends by era
• Decade travel: destinations and holidays by era
• Decade tech: gadgets and computers by era
• Decade films: best movies and directors by era
• Decade art: artists, styles and trends by era
• Decade books: best novels, authors and reading trends
• Music by decade: albums, artists and songs
• Decade fashion: clothes, hair and accessories by era
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• Nostalgia birthday party by decade
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• Milestone birthday cards
• Shop birthday cards
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• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Birthday cards for kids
• Pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

When did Britain declare war?

11.15am on 3 September 1939, when Neville Chamberlain announced it on the wireless.

Why did television stop in 1939?

The BBC closed the service on 1 September 1939 because the transmissions could have guided enemy aircraft. It returned on 7 June 1946.

How old is someone born in 1939?

Subtract 1939 from the current year. They turn 40 in 1979, 50 in 1989, 60 in 1999 and 70 in 2009.

Do you sell anything to do with this year?

We make greeting cards, art prints and pin badges in the UK, including milestone birthday cards. This page itself is free to read and free to copy.