- 3: British forces move to take over part of the frontier defenses manned by French troops
- 9: Germany issues orders (Case Yellow) to prepare for the invasion of Belgium, France, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.
- 9: The German cruiser Deutschland seizes the American freighter SS City of Flint and its crew, accusing them of contraband. Led by a prize crew the ship is ordered to go to Germany, causing a diplomatic incident with the United States and igniting American public opinion
- 11: An estimated 158,000 British troops are now in France.
- 13: In the midst of the night the U-47 under the command of Günther Prien infiltrates in the Scapa Flow harbour and sinks the British battleship HMS Royal Oak, killing 833 crewmen.
- 16: The Luftwaffe made its first air raid on Britain when it sent a dozen of Junkers Ju 88 after ships off Rosyth, in particular the battlecruiser HMS Hood. The raid was unsuccessful, failing to land any hits while the group commander Helmuth Pohle was shot down.
- 17: The Luftwaffe launches a new raid on Britain, this time targeting the British fleet anchored at Scapa Flow, again with limited success, with only the decommissioned HMS Iron Duke being hit.
- 21: Registration begins in the United Kingdom in order to conscript all able-bodied males between 18 and 23.
- 27: Belgium announces that it is neutral in the present conflict.
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