Official poster issued by the French government calling for a general mobilization at the outbreak of World War II ...

Official poster issued by the French government calling for a general mobilization at the outbreak of World War II – September 1939

Emergency poster published by the French government in cities, calling for a general mobilization at the outbreak of the war – 2 September 1939, just one day before the official declaration of war by France and Britain against Nazi Germany, in response to its invasion of Poland the day before, on 1 September. In French. Extremely rare.

This is the first poster published at the outbreak of World War II in France – the poster was displayed throughout the country with the purpose of calling upon men subject to conscription by law to report immediately for military service. A charged historical moment marking the transition from civilian life to a state of total war.

At the top of the poster appear colored French flags. Its title: "ORDRE DE MOBILISATION GÉNÉRALE" – Order of General Mobilization. It states: "By order of the President of the Republic, a general mobilization is hereby declared for all land, sea, and air forces, as well as the requisitioning of animals, vehicles, means of transportation, supplies, motorized vehicles, ships, boats, vessels, and all means necessary to complete the formation of military units and battalions of all branches of the armed forces. The first day of the general mobilization is Saturday, 2 September 1939, at midnight. Every French citizen subject to military service is required, under severe penalties provided by law, to comply with the instructions in the mobilization booklet. This order applies to all men not already in active service under the flag, and affiliated with the land, sea, and air forces, including naval registrants, men assigned to the colonial forces, and men in auxiliary service. The civilian and military authorities are responsible for the enforcement of this order. 

The Minister of War, the Minister of the Navy, the Minister of the Air."

At the bottom it is noted that this is "War Document No. 1".

On Saturday, September 2 1939, at midnight, the French Republic declared a general mobilization of its land, sea, and air forces. This dramatic step was taken less than 24 hours after Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland (1 September), and in parallel with intense diplomatic developments with Germany. This poster marked the shattering of the “Munich Peace” illusion and the final shift of France—from a pacifist nation, exhausted by World War I - to a country preparing for total war against Germany. At that critical hour, a complex military landscape was unfolding across Europe. Nazi Germany, having significantly strengthened its military power and signed the Ribbentrop–Molotov Pact with the Soviet Union just a week earlier, launched a massive blitzkrieg assault on Poland - using rapid, mechanized warfare. Poland, taken by surprise by the scale of the invasion, fought valiantly but stood little chance against Germany’s technological superiority and without immediate assistance from its allies. France, bound to a mutual defense treaty with Poland since 1921, faced a grave decision. French society—still psychologically and politically scarred by the Great War (1914–1918)—leaned toward pacifism, and the government led by Édouard Daladier considered every possible way to delay the confrontation. However, mounting pressure from both the French public and the British government forced the leadership to adopt a firm stance. On 2 September, the general mobilization order was issued - a clear signal to Germany and to the West that France was entering the war. The next day, on 3 September, Britain followed suit and declared war on Germany. The general mobilization in France was sweeping - not only military, but also logistical and national: the enlistment of soldiers from all military branches, the requisitioning of private vehicles, industrial equipment, horses, ships, and all forms of transport. Every man registered as a reservist was required to obey the instructions outlined in his personal mobilization booklet - failure to report was considered a serious criminal offense. This moment, when Paris activated its national mobilization apparatus, marked the end of the diplomatic era and the entry of all Europe into a new era of total war.

52×40 cm. Fold marks. Light stains. Tear with loss at lower left – restored. Reinforced with paper backing on the verso. Good condition.