11:15 am, September 3, 1939. Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain confirms the nation's fears by announcing that Britain is at war with Germany. The Day We Went to War is the definitive history of the build-up to, outbreak of, and first few months of the Second World War. Drawing on the Imperial War Museum's extensive archives, this book features the personal stories of real men and women who lived through the startling events of that year, as well as those who were actively involved in the political negotiations and their aftermath. Featuring numerous photographs and the voices of key players, as well as contributions from well-known figures who were directly affected by the build up to war, The Day We Went to War is a gripping record of an extraordinary year in British history.

Originally published: as Outbreak 1939, London : Virgin Books, 2009. Published in association with the Imperial War Museum.