Földvári Books

The First Printed Official Communication of the Outbreak of WWII

Moscicki, Ignacy

[Appeal of the Polish President on September 1, 1939] Odezwa! Obywatele Rzeczypospolitej!

Krakowie [Kraków]: Drukarnia Polska, [1939]. Original vintage, printed poster. Size: 63 × 95 cm. Folded. Paper somewhat yellowed. Torn at foldings, a small damage at the lower left edge, none has effect on the text. Some tears at the edges are restored. Dated in pencil on the verso “1. IX. 39” by a contemporary hand. Overall in very good condition.

The first printed official communication about the German Invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939.

The German invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, marked the beginning of World War II, the largest military conflict in human history, which stretched for six years and cost 60 million lives. The decisive assault of the German army was commenced at 4:45 a.m. when the Schleswig-Holstein battleship opened fire at Westerplatte in the Free City of Danzig (Gdańsk). At 6:30 the Polish Radio broadcasted the recorded message “A więc wojna” (So war it is), while Ignacy Mościcki, President of Poland formulated his appeal, and issued in placard from, to post it on the walls of the Polish cities immediately, as the first official printed communication about the outbreak of the war.

In his appeal or proclamation, Mościcki informs the people about the German military offensive against Poland, urges them to defend the freedom and independence of the country, to stand united with the Army, and promises a decent military response.

An extremely scarce and important memento of the twentieth century.

The present poster was printed in Kraków, extremely scarce, we could trace only one copy of it in institutional possession, held at the Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory (part of the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków) and displayed at the exhibition “Kraków under Nazi Occupation 1939–1945”.

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Price: €18,000.00