Preface -- Prologue -- THE FIRST WEEK : August 2-8, 1939 : Take your gas mask with you -- The earth's a good place -- The keys to peace and war -- Holiday time, ladies and gentlemen! -- THE SECOND WEEK : August 9-17, 1939 : Different worlds -- Can the Red Army march across Poland? -- This is no time for half-measures -- In order to escape -- THE THIRD WEEK : August 18-25, 1939 : The present unusual situation -- I have them! -- The day is charged...and full of threats -- Action will begin -- THE FINAL WEEK : August 26-September 3, 1939 : To measure the unknowable -- What's the use of worrying? And still we wait from day to day -- I hear the wings of the angel of peace -- Time limit? -- All that beautiful Sunday -- Epilogue -- Chronology : August 2--September 3, 1939.