Lest we forget the other war that started 85 years ago

She held the phone out the window so the disbelieving British embassy staff in Warsaw could hear for themselves the sounds of war.

A few days earlier, she'd seen hundreds of German tanks massing on the Polish border, their camouflage netting blown away by the late summer winds. Her report made the front page of The Daily Telegraph in the UK, setting off alarm bells across Europe.

Then, on September 1, 1939, Clare Hollingworth was the first to report the invasion that triggered World War II. The young journalist, only a week into the job, not only got the scoop of the century but put a big crack in the glass ceiling which had confined female reporters to writing gossip, cooking and fashion.

Hollingworth sprang to mind on Sunday, the 85^th anniversary of that momentous September day.

I imagined the embassy staff receiving her phone call and being reflexively dismissive: "I say, Pottinger, there's some woman on the line talking hysterical nonsense about an invasion."

I wondered if she was told to calm down before she held the phone out the window of her hotel room in Katowice so they could hear the cacophony of blitzkrieg for themselves.

After a long and illustrious career, Hollingworth died in 2017 at 105. She'd been an eyewitness to the events that shaped the 20^th century and which still cast a shadow over the 21^st. She broke the story of Kim Philby's defection to Russia, got the first and last interviews with the Shah of Iran, covered the Cultural Revolution in China, the Vietnam War, the Middle East's wars and the conflicts between India and Pakistan.

On Sunday, I also wondered what Hollingworth would make of our fading memory of World War II. The 85^th anniversary of the outbreak seemed to pass without note on Sunday. Four months earlier, at the 80^th anniversary commemorations of the D-Day landings, they'd faded so much for then British PM Rishi Sunak that he skipped out early, infuriating the few surviving veterans who attended and helping to destroy his own political future.

Today marks the 85^th anniversary of Australia's entry into the costliest war in human history. Prime Minister Robert Menzies made a fateful broadcast to the nation at 9.15pm that night: "Fellow Australians, it is my melancholy duty to inform you officially that, in consequence of a persistence by Germany in her invasion of Poland, Great Britain has declared war upon her, and that, as a result, Australia is also at war."

But it's unlikely it will be given more than a passing thought, even though the world abounds with sinister echoes from the 1930s. The toxic rhetoric of Donald Trump, warning that immigrants will "poison the blood" of America. The military adventurism of Vladimir Putin. The sabre rattling of China. And, of course, the trade wars initiated by the US and Europe.

"I'm asked why we're still talking about the Nazis," says a mate who works in another media organisation. "Because they haven't gone away, I tell the youngsters."

You only need to venture a couple of scrolls down social media platform X's feed to see that - especially if the algorithm figures out you're a white male of a certain age. Or you can take the word of ASIO boss Mike Burgess, who in April warned of an increase in the activity of extremist hate groups wanting to trigger a race war. Or simply note the Australian jurisdictions which have felt compelled to ban the Nazi salute and the public display of associated memorabilia.

Yes, you may tire of the documentaries on SBS that won't let World War II go. You might shake your head at the history shelves in bookstores that groan under the weight of new accounts of the conflict. But none of us can afford to forget World War II and what led to it.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you pause in early September to remember the outbreak of World War II? Did you lose any family members in that war? Should we be vigilant about the rise of far-right extremism? Email us: echidna@theechidna.com.au

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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

- A surge in new apartments has fuelled a rebound in sluggish housing approvals, as the Coalition floats the possibility of withholding GST payments from states if they don't meet construction targets. There was a 10.4 per cent increase in the number of dwellings given the green light in July, driven by a 32 per cent jump in new apartments, Australian Bureau of Statistics building approval figures show.

- A proposed offshore wind zone intended to serve large energy users on the west coast has been slashed by almost half to win local support and save migratory whales. Declared by the federal government on Monday, the final area near the Bunbury region south of Perth covers 4000 square kilometres and has been pushed further out from the shoreline.

- A modern definition of stalking, that includes using technology to track a partner, will form part of another crackdown on domestic violence. In proposed new laws, the NSW government will increase penalties for repeated and serious AVO breaches, including new offences for knowingly breaching an order with intent to cause harm or fear.

THEY SAID IT: "Political extremism involves two prime ingredients: an excessively simple diagnosis of the world's ills, and a conviction that there are identifiable villains back of it all." - John W. Gardner

YOU SAID IT: The Greens' firebrand, Max Chandler-Mather, didn't win the party many new friends by fronting a CFMEU rally in the wake of the union being placed into administration.

"Well said re the Greens, who are a total waste of space," writes Allan. "I was stunned when their man made a strident, cynical, publicity-seeking speech at the CFMEU rally. Given the Coalition can't possibly win next year and Albo and co are doing so badly Labor most likely won't secure a majority, my fear is an unholy alliance of Labor and Greens plus the odd Teal. A very scary prospect - look at what a disaster it's been in the ACT."

Bernard writes: "I don't think Max was foolish to attend the Brisbane CFMEU rally. Sure, some members of the CFMEU face charges for alleged crimes. But we don't condemn all Queensland Police for what the Fitzgerald Inquiry found. We don't condemn all Queensland Police because the Police Commissioner went to jail. The Catholic Church, the banks, the aged care industry weren't placed in administration for the long-term crimes of their members. Max is being brave in arguing for consistency, surely?"

"Max Chandler-Mather may have been in error to attend the CFMEU rally in Brisbane last week however I thought he made a thoughtful point; will the legislation which forces that union into administration be too easily be rolled out against any other unions?" writes Marilyn. "Why isn't it possible for union members who have been accused of criminal behaviours to be taken through court processes? I doubt whether Chandler-Mather was in a position to control the signage and banners at that rally, offensive as it was. Finally, having watched the 7.30 interview that evening, I thought he acquitted himself well in the face of Sarah Ferguson's combative and aggressive questioning. Others would have made a complete mess of themselves."

Ian writes: "I was first attracted to the Greens about 40 years ago. Their policies for protection of the environment were appealing, but when I looked at the broader policies I found them to be so radical as to be unrealistic. Nothing has changed. The warm and fuzzy tree hugger name of the party hides a deep red ideology. And now it seems that it is the female senators that make a real contribution to political debate, but the party will not progress as long as the men continue with the student politics stunts and join with the Coalition to block reform because it doesn't go far enough."

"I raised concern with our local Greens group, of the effect of group photos with young people wearing the Keffiyeh," writes A. "I questioned their understanding of the complexities of the Palestinian situation, and I mentioned good community people with Jewish heritage, within the Greens, who have been hurt by inflammatory statements emanating within Greens gatherings. The reaction I received was incredibly hostile. And now standing with the CFMEU, is not going to do their credibility much good. It seems there are certain members who are all about grandstanding populism. Shallow BS in the parlance of my generation."

John from Port Macquarie writes: "The Greens ideologues do not know how to use power. They would rather have 100 per cent of nothing than 50 per cent of something. They were at their worst during the negotiations on energy policy eight or 10 years ago. They could then have achieved something useful for Australia. They let their uncompromising fight for perfection get in the way of what was actually possible."

"I think people often vote for the idea of the Greens party rather than looking at what they actually achieve," writes Patricia. "Maybe they should focus more on environmental issues and prevention of climate change. These are vitally important and often brushed off by the major parties. If Labor see they are losing votes they will be forced to change their policies."

Juliet writes: "The Greens are displaying the problem of no party rules. Some of their advocacy is vital but Max is basically an attention-seeking idiot."

"Trouble is Max-The-Hyphen thinks he is the smartest turd in the long-drop. He gets the publicity on housing, not Bandt. Methinks, he has leadership ambitions. He reminds me of Hinch, but with a bit of undergraduate sheen, all bright-eyed and bushy tailed. A populist like Trump, but the lies, in terms of the unstated proposition that he has the only cure for our long-standing housing issues, are not as blatant. Here's the thought: if the Greens had their way, 16-year-olds would have a vote. Max appeals to youth. Imagine more bloody Maxes! Maybe more Barnabys would be preferable. As to the CFMEU, they are calling in old favours. The Greens have taken CFMEU money in the past, and some from the ETU. You get the pollie you pay for!"

Christopher writes: "Hung parliaments as we used to know them are a thing of the past - because the two major right wing parties will vote together against any policy that might damage the wealthy and be good for our future. They are doing it now and they'll continue now that they realise they've got the system - and the electorate - stuffed. And it looks like you've fallen for the Lib/Lab party line hook line and sinker, old trout."

"Max Chandler-Mather looked very silly at the CFMEU rally," writes David. "And he did contort himself on 7.30 later when interviewed by Sarah Ferguson in what was a pretty aggressive interview. My thought then and now was that this was political grandstanding and very foolish. There are many ways to project your willingness to protect the rule of law and the presumption of innocence, but siding with the crims is not a good look."