1939

1939 in variouscalendars
Gregorian calendar	1939; MCMXXXIX
Ab urbe condita	2692
Armenian calendar	1388; ԹՎ ՌՅՁԸ
Assyrian calendar	6689
Baháʼí calendar	95–96
Balinese saka calendar	1860–1861
Bengali calendar	1346
Berber calendar	2889
British Regnal year	3Geo. 6– 4Geo. 6
Buddhist calendar	2483
Burmese calendar	1301
Byzantine calendar	7447–7448
Chinese calendar	Mậu dầnNiên (EarthTiger); 4636 or 4429; — to —; Kỷ mão niên (EarthRabbit); 4637 or 4430
Coptic calendar	1655–1656
Discordian calendar	3105
Ethiopian calendar	1931–1932
Hebrew calendar	5699–5700
Hindu calendars
-Vikram Samvat	1995–1996
-Shaka Samvat	1860–1861
-Kali Yuga	5039–5040
Holocene calendar	11939
Igbo calendar	939–940
Iranian calendar	1317–1318
Islamic calendar	1357–1358
Japanese calendar	Shōwa14; ( chiêu hòa １４ niên )
Javanese calendar	1869–1870
Juche calendar	28
Julian calendar	Gregorian minus 13 days
Korean calendar	4272
Minguo calendar	ROC28; Dân quốc 28 niên
Nanakshahi calendar	471
Thai solar calendar	2481–2482
Tibetan calendar	Dương thổ hổ niên; (male Earth-Tiger); 2065 or 1684 or 912; — to —; Âm thổ thỏ niên; (female Earth-Rabbit); 2066 or 1685 or 913

Millennium:	2nd millennium
Centuries:	19th century; 20th century; 21st century;
Decades:	1910s; 1920s; 1930s; 1940s; 1950s;
Years:	1936; 1937; 1938; 1939; 1940; 1941; 1942;

1939(MCMXXXIX) was acommon year starting on Sundayof theGregorian calendar,the 1939th year of theCommon Era(CE) andAnno Domini(AD) designations, the 939th year of the2nd millennium,the 39th year of the20th century,and the 10th and last year of the1930sdecade.

This year also marks the start of theSecond World War,the largest and deadliest conflict in human history.

Events

Events related toWorld War IIhave a "WWII" prefix.

January

January 1
- Coming into effect inNazi Germanyof:
  - TheProtection of Young Persons Act,passed on April 30, 1938, the Working Hours Regulations.^[1]
  - Thesmall businessesobligation to maintain adequateaccounting.^[1]
  - TheJewsname change decree.^[1]
- With his traditional call to theNew Yearin Nazi Germany,FührerandReich Chancellor Adolf Hitleraddresses the members of theNational Socialist German Workers' Party(NSDAP).^[1]
- TheHewlett-Packard technologyandscientific instrumentsmanufacturingcompanyis founded byBill HewlettandDavid Packard,in a garage inPalo Alto, California,considered the birthplace ofSilicon Valley.^[1]
- Philipp Ettertakes over asPresident of the Swiss Confederation.^[1]
- The Third Soviet Five Year Plan is launched.^[2]
January 5– Pioneering U.S. aviatorAmelia Earhartis officially declared dead, eighteen months after her disappearance.^[3]
January 6–Otto Hahn's discoveries in the field ofnuclear fissionare published inNaturwissenschaften.^[4]
January 7– French physicistMarguerite Pereyidentifiesfrancium,thelast chemical elementfirst discovered in nature.^[5]
January 14– Norway claimsQueen Maud LandinAntarctica.^[6]
January 23– "Dutch War Scare": AdmiralWilhelm Canarisof theAbwehrleaks misinformation to the effect that Germany plans to invade the Netherlands in February, with the aim of using Dutch air-fields to launch a strategic bombing offensive against Britain. The "Dutch War Scare" leads to a major change in British policies towards Europe.^[7]
January 24–1939 Chillán earthquake:An earthquake inChilekills an estimated 30,000 people and razes about 50,000 sq mi (130,000 km²) of land.^[8]
January 25–Refik Saydamforms the new (11th) government ofTurkey.
January 26
- Spanish Civil War:Spanish Nationalist troops, aided by Italy, takeBarcelona.
- In Paris, French Foreign MinisterGeorges Bonnet,in response to rumours (which are true) that he is seeking to end the French alliance system in Eastern Europe, gives a speech highlighting his government's commitment to thecordon sanitaire.
January 27–Adolf HitlerordersPlan Z,a 5-year naval expansion programme intended to provide for a huge German fleet capable of crushing the BritishRoyal Navyby 1944. TheKriegsmarineis given the first priority on the allotment of German economic resources.^[9]
January 30–Hitler gives a speech before the Reichstagcalling for an "export battle" to increase German foreign exchange holdings. The same speech also sees "Hitler's prophecy",where he warns that if" Jewish financiers "start a war against Germany," the result will be the annihilation of the Jewish race in Europe ".^[10]

February

February 6
- British Prime MinisterNeville Chamberlainstates in the House of Commons that any German attack on France will be automatically considered an attack on Britain.
- In a response toGeorges Bonnet's speech of January 26, German Foreign MinisterJoachim von Ribbentrop,referring to Bonnet's alleged statement of December 6, 1938, accepting Eastern Europe as being in Germany's exclusivesphere of influence,protests that all French security commitments in that region are "now off limits".
February 15–John Ford'sWestern filmStagecoachstarring John Wayne premieres in New York City and Los Angeles.
February 18– TheGolden Gate International Expositionopens in San Francisco.^[11]
February 27– The United Kingdom and France recognizeFranco's government in Spain.^[12]

March

March– The1936–39 Arab revolt in Palestineends.
March 1– AnImperial Japanese Armyammunition dump explosion on the outskirts ofOsakakills 94.
March 2–Pope Pius XII(Cardinal Pacelli) succeedsPope Pius XIto become the 260th pope, holding office until 1958.
March 3– InDurban,South Africa theTimeless Testbegins between England and South Africa, the longest game of cricket ever played. It is abandoned 12 days later, when the English team has to catch their ship home.
March 13–Adolf HitleradvisesJozef Tisoto declare Slovakia's independence, in order to prevent its partition by Hungary and Poland.
March 14– TheSlovakprovincial assembly proclaims independence; priestJozef Tisobecomes president of the independent Slovak government.
March 15– German troops occupy the remaining part ofBohemiaandMoravia;Czechoslovakiaceases to exist. The Ruthenian region of Czechoslovakia declares independence asCarpatho-Ukraine.
March 16
- Hungary invades Carpatho-Ukraine; final resistance ends onMarch 18.
- British Prime MinisterNeville Chamberlaingives a speech inBirmingham,stating that Britain will oppose any effort at world domination on the part of Germany.
- PrincessFawzia Fuad of Egyptmarries ShahMohammad Reza Pahlaviof Iran.
March 17– The nationalist governments of Spain and Portugal sign theIberian Pactin Lisbon, pledging mutual defence of theIberian Peninsulaandneutralityin the event of a general European war.
March 20
- 1939 German ultimatum to Lithuania,requiring return of theKlaipėda Region(Memel Territory) to Germany.
- At an emergency meeting in London to deal with the Romanian crisis, French Foreign MinisterGeorges Bonnetsuggests toLord Halifaxthat the ideal state for saving Romania from a German attack is Poland.
March 22– Following theMarch 20 ultimatum,Nazi Germanyis granted theKlaipėda Region(Memel Territory,Memelland) byLithuania;on the following day German forces occupy the territory.
March 23– TheSlovak–Hungarian Warbegins.
March 24–1939 Liechtenstein putsch:members of the pro-NaziGerman National Movement in Liechtenstein(VDBL) attempt to provoke the country's annexation into Germany.
March 26–Final offensive of the Spanish Civil Warlaunched by the Nationalists.
March 27– TheUniversity of OregondefeatsOhio State University46–33 inEvanston, Illinois,to win the championship of the firstNCAA men's basketball tournament.
March 28
- General Francisco Francoassumes power inMadrid,remaining in power until his death in1975.
- American adventurerRichard Halliburtondelivers a last message from a Chinese junk, before he disappears on a voyage across the Pacific Ocean. In 1945, some wreckage identified as a rudder, and believed to belong to the junk, washes ashore inSan Diego,California.
March 31–Neville Chamberlaingives a speech in the House of Commons, offering the British "guarantee" of the independence of Poland.

April

April 1– TheSpanish Civil Warcomes to an end when the last of the Republican forces surrender.
April 3
- Adolf Hitlerorders the German military to start planning forFall Weiß,the codename for the invasion of Poland.
- Refik Saydamforms the new government inTurkey(12th government; Refik Saydam has served twice as a prime minister).
April 4
- TheSlovak–Hungarian Warends, with Slovakia ceding eastern territories to Hungary.
- Polish Foreign Minister ColonelJózef Beck,in London, signs a treaty designed to bilateralizeNeville Chamberlain's "Polish Guarantee" of March 31.
- Faisal IIbecomes King ofIraqaged three, following the death of his father,Ghazi,in an automobile incident.^[13]
April 7
- Italian invasion of Albaniabegins;King Zogflees into exile, initially in Greece, with his wife andCrown Prince Skander(born April 5).
- Joseph Lyons,10thPrime Minister of Australia,dies in office from a heart attack at the age of 59. He is briefly replaced by his deputyEarle Page,who serves as the 11th Prime Minister, until aUAP leadership electionis held to replace Lyons.
April 9– African-American singerMarian Andersonperforms before 75,000 people at theLincoln Memorialin Washington, D.C., after having been denied the use both ofConstitution Hallby theDaughters of the American Revolution,and of a public high school by the federally controlledDistrict of Columbia.First Lady of the United States Eleanor Rooseveltresigns from the DAR because of their decision.
April 11– Hungary leaves theLeague of Nations.
April 14– At a meeting in Paris, French Foreign MinisterGeorges Bonnetmeets with Soviet Ambassador Jakob Suritz, and suggests that a "peace front" comprising France, the Soviet Union, Great Britain, Poland and Romania would deter Germany from war.
April 18
- The Soviet Union proposes a "peace front" to resist aggression.
- Robert Menziesiselectedleader of theUnited Australia Party,and consequently becomes the 12thPrime Minister of Australia,defeating former Prime MinisterBilly Hughes.However, he will not be sworn in untilApril 26,due toEarle Pageand hisCountry Partyrefusing to serve under him.
April 25– TheFederal Security Agency(FSA) is founded in the United States, along with theCivilian Conservation CorpsandPublic Health Service.
April 28– In a speech before the Reichstag,Adolf Hitlerrenounces theAnglo-German Naval Agreementand theGerman–Polish declaration of non-aggression.
April 30– The1939 New York World's Fairopens.

May

May 3
- Vyacheslav MolotovsucceedsMaxim Litvinov,as Soviet Foreign Commissar.
- TheAll India Forward Blocis formed by NetajiSubhas Chandra Bose.^{[citation needed]}
May 6– German anti-NaziCarl Friedrich Goerdelertells the British government that the German and Soviet governments are secretly beginning a rapprochement, with the aim of dividing Eastern Europe between them. Goerdeler also informs the British of German economic problems which he states threaten the survival of the Nazi regime, and advises that if a firm stand is made for Poland, then Hitler will be deterred from war.
May 9– Spain leaves theLeague of Nations.
May 14–Lina Medina,a 5-year-oldPeruviangirl, gives birth to a baby boy, becoming the youngest confirmed mother in medical history.^[14]
May 17
- King George VIandQueen Elizabethof the United Kingdom arrive inQuebec City,to begin the first-ever tour of Canada byCanada's monarch.
- The British government issues theWhite Paper of 1939,sharply restricting Jewish immigration toMandatory Palestine.
- Sweden,Norway,andFinlandrefuse Germany's offer of non-aggression pacts.^[15]
May 18– TheHòa Hảoreligious sect is established in Vietnam, byHuỳnh Phú Sổ.
May 20–Pan American Airwaysbegins transatlantic mail service with the inaugural flight of itsBoeing 314 flying boatYankee ClipperfromPort Washington, New York,toMarseille.^[16]
May 22– Germany and Italy sign thePact of Steel.^[17]
May 24– The first issue ofFashizmiis published inTirana,Albania.
May 29–Albanian fascistleaderTefik Mborjais appointed as member of the Italian Chamber of Fasces and Corporations.

June

June 3– The Soviet government offers its definition of what constitutes "aggression", upon which the projected Anglo-Soviet-French alliance will come into effect. French Foreign MinisterGeorges Bonnetaccepts the Soviet definition of aggression at once. The British reject the Soviet definition, especially the concept of "indirect aggression", which they feel is too loose a definition, and phrased in such a manner as to imply the Soviet right of inference in the internal affairs of Eastern European nations.
June 4– TheSt. Louis,a ship carrying a cargo of 907 Jewish refugees, is denied permission to land inFlorida,only a few passengers had been allowed to enterCuba.Forced to return to Europe, many of its passengers later die inNazi death campsduringThe Holocaust.^[18]
June 14–Tientsin Incident:The Japanese blockade the British concession inTianjin,China, beginning a crisis which almost causes an Anglo-Japanese war in the summer of 1939.
June 17– In the last publicexecutionin France, murdererEugen Weidmannis guillotined.^[19]
June 23– Talks are completed inAnkarabetween French AmbassadorRené Massigliand Turkish Foreign MinisterŞükrü Saracoğlu,resolving the Hatay dispute in Turkey's favor.TurkeyannexesHatay.
June 24– The government of Siam changes the country's name toThailand,which means 'Free Land'.^[20]
June 29– TheFord 9N tractor,with theFergusonhydraulicthree-point hitch,is first demonstrated atDearborn, Michigan.^[21]

July

July 4– TheNeuengamme concentration campbecomes autonomous.
July 6– The last remaining Jewish enterprises in Germany are closed by theNazis.
July 8– ThePan American Airways Boeing 314 flying boatYankee Clipperinaugurates the world's firstheavier-than-airNorth Atlantic air passenger service, between the United States (Port Washington, New York) and Britain.
July 23–Mahatma Gandhiwrites a personal letter toAdolf Hitlerfrom India, addressing him as "My friend", requesting him to prevent any possible war.
July 27– The first recorded snow falls inAuckland,New Zealand, since records began in1853.

August

August 2– TheEinstein–Szilard letteris signed byAlbert Einstein,advisingPresident of the United States Franklin D. Rooseveltof the potential use ofuraniumto construct anatomic bomb.It is delivered on October 11 and leads to the first meeting on October 21 of the Advisory Committee on Uranium.^[22]
August 4– Prime MinisterNeville Chamberlaindismisses the Parliament of the United Kingdom until October 3.
August 15– The musical filmThe Wizard of OzstarringJudy Garlandpremieres atGrauman's Chinese Theatrein Los Angeles.
August 19–Adolf Hitler,after evaluating the pace ofnon-aggression negotiations with the Soviet Union,orders theKriegsmarineto begin the opening operations forFall Weiß,the invasion of Poland. TheGerman pocket battleshipAdmiral Graf Spee,along with theGerman pocket battleshipDeutschland,as well as dozens of U-boats, cast off for their advance positions. Hitler spends the next few days worrying that the Russians will not come to terms in time for the rest of the invasion plans to unfold as scheduled.^[23]
August 20– Armored forces under the command of Soviet GeneralGeorgy Zhukovdeliver a decisive defeat toImperial Japanese Armyforces in the Japanese-Soviet border war inInner Mongolia.
August 23– TheMolotov–Ribbentrop Pactis signed between Germany and the Soviet Union, a neutrality treaty that also agrees to division of spheres of influence (Finland,Estonia,Latvia,eastern Poland and Bessarabia (modern-dayMoldova), north-east province ofRomaniato theSoviet Union;Lithuaniaand western Poland to Germany). Its annex reassigns Lithuania to the Soviet Union.
August 24– As details of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact become public, British Prime MinisterNeville Chamberlainrecalls theParliament of the United Kingdomseveral weeks early. In a burst of legislation, theEmergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939gives full authority to defence regulations, the BritishRoyal Navyis to be put on a war footing, all military leave is to be cancelled,military reserve forcesare to be called up, especially coast defence, radar and anti-aircraft units, andCivil Defenceworkers are placed on alert. In addition, the last British and French private citizens in Germany are advised to return home by their respective Governments.
August 25
- The German Foreign Ministry cuts off all telegraph and telephone communication with the outside world, in accordance with the plan forFall Weiß.At approximately 1830 Central European time, Adolf Hitler postponesFall Weißfor 5 days, after receiving a message fromBenito Mussolinithat he will not honor the Pact of Steel if Germany attacks Poland, and because Chamberlain's government has not fallen as a result of the German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact. Some units already in their forward positions (the attack is scheduled for 0430 the next day) do not get the word in time and attack various targets along the border. This same day,Neville ChamberlaingivesEdward Rydz-Śmigłyhis "ironclad guarantee" of assistance if Poland is attacked by Germany.
- 1939 Coventry bombing:AnIrish Republican Armybomb explodes in the centre ofCoventry,England, killing 5 people.
August 26
- The first televisedMajor League Baseballgames are shown on experimental stationW2XBSin the United States: a double-header between theCincinnati Redsand theBrooklyn DodgersatEbbets Field.
- TheKriegsmarineorders all German-flagged merchant ships to head to German ports immediately, in anticipation of the invasion of Poland.
August 27– AHeinkel He 178,the first turbojet-powered aircraft, flies for the first time, with Captain Erich Warsitz in command.
August 28– French ocean linerSSNormandieheads intoNew York Harbor,where she will be interned on September 3, and cut up for scrap, beginning in 1946.
August 30– Poland begins amobilizationagainstNazi Germany.
August 31–Operation Himmler:Nazi German troops posing as Poles stage a series offalse flagoperations on the border (including theGleiwitz incident), giving a pretext for the invasion of Poland.

September

September 1– Beginning of WWII:
- Opening shots ofWorld War IIandinvasion of Poland:At 4:45 Central European Time, under cover of darkness, the German WWI-era battleshipSchleswig-Holsteinquietly slips her moorings at her wharf in Danzig Harbor, drifts into the center of the channel, and commences firing on a Polish military installation onWesterplatteat the northeastern mouth of the port of the internationalizedFree City of Danzig,beginning theBattle of WesterplatteandBattle of Danzig Bay.Polish soldiers defended there for 7 days. Five minutes previously, thebombing of Wieluńin the western part of Poland had commenced, beginning theBattle of the Border.Shock-troops of the GermanWehrmachtbegin crossing the border into Poland.
- TheReichstagpasses a statement, stating thatAdolf Hitler's second-in-commandReichsmarschall Hermann Göringshould be appointed as Hitler's successor asFührer,should Hitler die during the war.Rudolf Hessis to be appointed in Göring's place, should anything befall Göring.
- Britain and France deliver ultimatums to Germany. Norway, Finland, Sweden and Switzerland declare their neutrality. U.S. PresidentFranklin D. Rooseveltstates that "every effort" would be made by his administration to stay out of the war.^[24]Italy is advised that Germany does not expect to need its military support at present.^[23]
September 2– WWII:
- Following the invasion of Poland, theFree City of Danzig(modern-dayGdańsk,Poland) is annexed toNazi Germany.
- SpainandIrelanddeclare their neutrality.
September 3– WWII:
- The United Kingdom, France, New Zealand, Australia and India (by itsViceroy) declare war on Nazi Germany.Prime Minister of Canada Mackenzie King,in English, andJustice Minister Ernest Lapointe,in French, give an international radio address stating the Dominion's intention to declare war also.^[25]^[26]
- United States PresidentFranklin D. Rooseveltadvocates neutrality, in a nationwide radio address.
- Ocean liner SSAtheniabecomes the first British civilian casualty of the war, when she istorpedoedand sunk byGerman submarineU-30in the eastern Atlantic. Of the 1,418 aboard, 98 passengers and 19 crew are killed.
- Chamberlain offers the war cabinet post ofFirst Lord of the AdmiraltytoWinston Churchill,who returns to government for the first time since June 4, 1929.^[27]
September 4– WWII:
- The firstbombing of Wilhelmshaven in World War IIis carried out, by the BritishRoyal Air Force(RAF).
- TheDefense of Katowiceby irregular Polish militia fails and the city is secured by German Wehrmacht forces who carry out theKatowice massacre.
- Nepaldeclares war onGermany.
September 5– WWII: The United States declares its neutrality in the war.^[28]
September 6– WWII: South Africa declares war onGermany.^[29]
September 8
- WWII: Forward elements of General Hoeppner's XVI Panzerkorps take up positions outsideWarsaw.The world is stunned by the rapidity of the German advance, and the Polish High Command is effectively isolated, but lack of infantry support and effective civilian resistance cause Hoeppner to halt outside the city itself.
- WWII:Battle of Westerplatteends when Polish troops on theWesterplatteare forced by lack of food and ammunition to surrender. The garrison of about two hundred had held out against thousands of German forces (many of them naval officer cadets from theSchleswig-Holstein) for seven days.^[30]
- TheLittle Sisters of Jesusis founded inAlgeria,byLittle Sister Magdeleine.

September 9– WWII: Troops of the PolishPoznań Armyunder the command ofGeneral Kutrzebaopen theBattle of the Bzura,the largest and best organized counter-attack mounted by the Polish forces in thecampaign of 1939.For the first few days all goes well, and the Germans are forced to retreat; but quick reaction by mechanized units and theLuftwaffesoon take their toll, and the operation bogs down.
September 10– WWII: Canada declares war onGermany,the only declaration of war by Canada.
September 13–14– WWII:Zambrów massacre– GermanWehrmachtsoldiers shoot more than 200 Polish prisoners of war.
September 15– WWII: Diverse elements of the German Wehrmacht surroundWarsaw,and demand its surrender. The Poles refuse, and thesiegebegins in earnest.
September 16– A ceasefire ends theBattles of Khalkhin Gol,the undeclared border war between theSoviet Union(andMongolianallies) and Japan.
September 17– WWII:
- TheSoviet Union invades Poland,and thenoccupies eastern Polish territories.
- Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMSCourageousis torpedoed and sunk byGerman submarineU-29in theWestern Approacheswith the loss of 519 crew (the first British warship loss of the war).
September 18– WWII:Orzełincident:Polish submarine ORPOrzełescapes internment fromTallinnHarbour,Estonia,leading both theSoviet UnionandGermanyto question Estonia's neutrality.
September 19– WWII: The Poznan pocket collapses, and the Germans capture, according to many sources, over 150,000 men. Many elements of GeneralTadeusz Kutrzeba's forces work their way into Warsaw, under extreme difficulty.
September 21
- Reinhard Heydrich,chief of the Security Police, sends a directive, the Schnellbrief, explaining that Jews living in towns and villages in the Polish occupation zones are to be transferred to ghettos, and Jewish councils,Judenräte,will be established to carry out the German authorities' orders.^[31]
- Assassination of Armand Călinescu:Prime Minister of Romania Armand Călinescuis shot inBucharestby members of the fascistIron Guard.
September 22– WWII: A jointvictory paradeis staged by theWehrmachtandRed ArmyinBrest-Litovsk,at the end of theInvasion of Poland.
September 24– WWII: TheSoviet Unionissues an ultimatum toEstoniato allow Soviet military bases on its territory, which Estonia accepts on September 28. Similar ultimatums are issued toLatviaon October 5 and toLithuaniaon October 10, who are forced to accept them as well.
September 28– WWII:
- Nazi Germanyand theSoviet Unionagree on a division of Poland, after their invasion.
- Warsawsurrenders toGermany;Modlinsurrenders a day later; the last Polish large operational unit surrenders nearKock8 days later.
September 30– GeneralWładysław SikorskibecomesPrime Ministerof thePolish government-in-exile.

October

October 6– WWII: The Battle of Kock ends the Polish Campaign.Polish resistancemoves underground.^[32]
October 7– WWII: British Royal Navy cruiserHMSEmeralddepartsPlymouthin convoy forHalifax, Nova Scotia,carrying £2M ingold barto be used for purchase of militarymaterielin North America, a predecessor ofOperation Fish.^[33]
October 8
- WWII:GermanyannexesWestern Poland.
- The Holocaust:Piotrków Trybunalski Ghetto,the first Jewishghetto in Nazi-occupied Europe,is proclaimed inGerman-occupied Poland.
October 14–German submarineU-47sinks the British battleshipHMSRoyal Oakat anchor inScapa Flow(Scotland), with the loss of 833 crew.

November

November –Lebensborn:Policy ofkidnapping of children by Nazi Germanyinitiated in occupied Poland.
November 1–2– WWII: PhysicistHans Ferdinand Mayerwrites theOslo Reporton German weapons systems, and passes it to the BritishSecret Intelligence Service.
November 4– WWII: U.S. PresidentFranklin D. Rooseveltorders theUnited States Customs Serviceto implement theNeutrality Act of 1939,allowing cash-and-carry purchases of weapons to non-belligerent nations.
November 4–Stewart Menziesis appointed head of the BritishSecret Intelligence Service.
November 6
- Hedda Hopper's Hollywooddebuts on radio in the United States with gossip columnistHedda Hopperas host (the show runs until 1951, making Hopper a powerful figure among theHollywoodelite).
- WWII:Sonderaktion Krakau– Germans take action against scientists from theUniversity of Kraków,and otherKrakówuniversities.
November 8
- WWII: InMunich,an attempt to killAdolf Hitleris made byGeorg Elserwhile Hitler is celebrating the 16th anniversary of theBeer Hall Putsch.
- CBStelevision stationW2XABresumes test transmission, with an all-electronic system broadcast from the top of theChrysler BuildinginNew York City.^[34]
November 9– WWII:Venlo Incident:Two British agents ofSISare captured by the Germans.
November 14– In Washington, D.C., U.S. PresidentFranklin D. Rooseveltlays the cornerstone of theJefferson Memorial.
November 16–Al Caponeis released fromTerminal Island,due to deteriorating health caused bysyphilis.
November 17– WWII: To punish protests against the Nazi occupation of the Czech homeland, the Nazis storm the University of Prague and murder 9 Czech graduate students, send over 1,200 to concentration camps, and close all Czech universities, an event which will be commemorated asInternational Students' Day.
November 23– WWII: Britisharmed merchantman HMSRawalpindiis sunk in theGIUK gap,in an action against the Germanbattleships ScharnhorstandGneisenau.
November 26–Shelling of Mainila:TheSoviet Union'sRed Armyshells the Russian village of Mainila, then claims that the fire originated fromFinland,giving acasus bellifor theWinter War.
November 30– WWII:Winter War– Soviet forces attack Finland and reach theMannerheim Line,starting the war. Sweden declares itself anon-belligerentin the Winter War.

December

December 1– TheSoviet Unionestablishes theFinnish Democratic Republicpuppet state inTerijoki.^[35]
December 4– WWII:
- British battleshipHMSNelsonstrikes amine(laid byU-31) off the coast of Scotland, and is laid up for repairs until August 1940.
- German submarineU-36is torpedoed and sunk by British submarineHMSSalmonoffStavanger,the first enemy submarine lost to a British one during the war.
December 9– WWII: The first soldier of theBritish Expeditionary Forceis killed: Corporal Thomas Priday triggers a French land mine.
December 12– WWII:HMSDuchesssinks after a collision withHMSBarhamoff the coast of Scotland, with the loss of 124 men.
December 13– WWII –Battle of the River Plate:TheGerman heavy cruiserAdmiral Graf Speeis trapped by cruisersHMSAjax,HMNZSAchilles,andHMSExeterafter a running battle off the coast ofUruguay.Graf Speeisscuttledby its crew offMontevideoHarbor, onDecember 17.
December 14– WWII:Winter War– TheLeague of Nationsexpels the USSR for attacking Finland.
December 15– The epic historical romance filmGone with the Wind,starringVivien Leigh,Clark Gable,Olivia de HavillandandLeslie Howard,premieres atLoew's Grand TheatreinAtlanta.Based onMargaret Mitchell'sbest-selling novelof 1936, it is the longest American film made up to this date (at nearly four hours) and rapidly becomes thehighest-grossing film up to this time.
December 18– WWII:Battle of the Heligoland Bight–RAF Bomber Command,on a daylight mission to attackKriegsmarineships in theHeligoland Bight,is repulsed byLuftwaffefighter aircraft.
December 26– MinersstrikeinBorinage,Belgium.
December 27– The 7.8 M_w Erzincan earthquakeshakes easternTurkeywith a maximumMercalli intensityof XII (Extreme), causing $20 million in damage, and leaving 32,700–32,968 dead.

Date unknown

Kirlian photographyis invented bySemyon Kirlian.^[36]
Enzo Ferrarifounds Auto Avio Construzioni, the company that becomesFerrariin1947.

Births

Births
January·February·March·April·May·June·July·August·September·October·November·December

January–February

January 1–Ali Mahdi Muhammad,Somali entrepreneur, politician and 4thPresident of Somalia(d.2021)
January 3
- Arik Einstein,Israeli singer (d.2013)^[37]
- Bobby Hull,Canadian ice hockey player^[38](d.2023)
- Vincent Siew,Taiwanese politician, 9thVice President of the Republic of China^[39]
January 6
- Valeriy Lobanovskyi,Ukrainian footballer, manager (d.2002)^[40]
- Murray Rose,Australian swimmer (d.2012)^[41]
January 7–Prince Michael of Greece and Denmark,Italian-born Greek prince and historical biographer (d.2024)^[42]
January 9–Susannah York,British actress (d.2011)^[43]
January 10
- Sal Mineo,American actor (d.1976)^[44]
- Bill Toomey,American athlete^[45]
January 11–Anne Heggtveit,Canadian skier^[46]
January 12–Joachim Yhombi-Opango,Congolese politician (d.2020)^[47]
January 17–Maury Povich,American talk show host^[48]
January 19–Phil Everly,American rock 'n' roll musician, member ofRockabilly Hall of Fame(d.2014)^[49]
January 20–Chandra Wickramasinghe,British astronomer and poet^[50]
January 22
- Sonny Chiba,Japanese actor and martial artist (d.2021)^[51]
- Alfredo Palacio,42ndPresident of Ecuador^[52]
January 24–Ray Stevens,American musician ( "Everything is Beautiful")
January 29–Germaine Greer,Australian feminist writer^[53]
January 31–Jerry Brudos,American serial killer and rapist (d. 2006)^[54]
February 1–Ekaterina Maximova,Russian ballerina (d.2009)^[55]
February 3
- Michael Cimino,American film director (d.2016)^[56]
- Robert Charles Sproul,AmericanReformedtheologian, author and pastor, founder ofLigonier Ministries(d.2017)^[57]
February 7–Francisco Mendes,Guinea-Bissau politician, 1stPrime Minister of Guinea-Bissau(d.1978)^{[citation needed]}
February 8–Egon Zimmermann,Austrian Olympic alpine skier (d.2019)^[58]
February 10
- Adrienne Clarkson,26thGovernor General of Canada^[59]
- Tsuyoshi Yamanaka,Japanese freestyle swimmer (d.2017)^[60]
February 12–Ray Manzarek,American keyboardist (The Doors) (d.2013)^[61]
February 13–Andrew Peacock,Australian politician (d.2021)^[62]
February 18–Abdelraouf Al-Rawabdeh,Jordanian political figure, 65thPrime Minister of Jordan
February 19–Erin Pizzey,British author, founder of the first domestic violence shelter in the modern world^[63]
February 28–Daniel C. Tsui,Chinese-born physicist,Nobel Prizelaureate^[64]

March–April

March 1–Tzvetan Todorov,Bulgarian-French historian, philosopher, structuralist literary critic, sociologist and essayist (d.2017)
March 2–Takako, Princess Suga^[65]
March 5
- Samantha Eggar,English actress^[66]
- Chögyam Trungpa,Buddhist meditation master (d.1987)
March 8–Lidiya Skoblikova,Russian speed-skater^[67]
March 10–Lee Soo-sung,27thPrime Minister of South Korea^[68]
March 13–Neil Sedaka,American singer-songwriter^[69]
March 14–Glauber Rocha,Brazilian film director, actor and screenwriter (d.1981)^[70]
March 17–Giovanni Trapattoni,Italian footballer and manager^[71]
March 20–Brian Mulroney,18thPrime Minister of Canada(d.2024)^[72]
March 25–D. C. Fontana,American television writer (d.2019)^[73]
March 29–Terence Hill,Italian actor^[74]
March 31
- Zviad Gamsakhurdia,President of Georgia(d.1993)^[75]
- Volker Schlöndorff,German film director^[76]
- Karl-Heinz Schnellinger,German footballer (d.2024)^[77]
April 1–Ali MacGraw,American actress
April 2–Marvin Gaye,American singer (d.1984)
April 4
- Alex George,Australian botanist
- Hugh Masekela,South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, composer and singer (d.2018)
- Ernie Terrell,African-American professional boxer (d.2014)
April 7
- SirDavid Frost,English television personality (d.2013)
- Francis Ford Coppola,American film director
April 9–Michael Learned,American actress
April 10–Claudio Magris,Italian author
April 12–Alan Ayckbourn,English dramatist
April 13–Seamus Heaney,Irish writer,Nobel Prizelaureate (d.2013)^[78]
April 15–Jaime Paz Zamora,60thPresident of Bolivia
April 16–Dusty Springfield,English pop singer (d.1999)
April 19–Ali Khamenei,Supreme Leader of Iran
April 20–Gro Harlem Brundtland,Norwegian politician, 1st femalePrime Minister^[79]
April 23–Lee Majors,American actor
April 27–João Bernardo Vieira,President of Guinea-Bissau(d.2009)

May–June

May 1–Judy Collins,American singer-songwriter
May 2
- Sumio Iijima,Japanese physicist and inventor^[80]
- Taomati Iuta,Vice President of Kiribati(1991–94) (d.2016)
May 4–Amos Oz,Israeli author and journalist (d.2018)^[81]
May 7
- José Antonio Abreu,Venezuelan orchestral conductor, music educator (d.2018)
- Sidney Altman,Canadian-born chemist,Nobel Prizelaureate (d.2022)
- Ruud Lubbers,Dutch politician,Prime Minister of the Netherlands(1982–94) (d.2018)^[82]
May 9–Ralph Boston,American athlete^[83](d. 2023)
May 13–Harvey Keitel,American actor
May 13-Brian J Ford,British professor of biology, writer, broadcaster and international lecturer.
May 15–Barbara Hammer,American filmmaker (d.2019)
May 18–Peter Grünberg,German physicist,Nobel Prizelaureate (d.2018)^[84]
May 19
- Livio Berruti,Italian sprinter^[85]
- James Fox,English actor
- Nancy Kwan,American actress
- Dick Scobee,American astronaut (d.1986)
May 20–Roman Kartsev,Russian actor (d.2018)
May 21–Heinz Holliger,Swiss oboist, composer
May 22–Paul Winfield,African-American actor (d.2004)
May 25
- Dixie Carter,American actress (d.2010)^[86]
- SirIan McKellen,English actor^[87]
May 27–Don Williams,American musician (d.2017)^[88]
May 29–Maeve Binchy,Irish author (d.2012)^[89]
May 30–Michael J. Pollard,American actor (d.2019)^[90]
June 1–Cleavon Little,African-American actor (d.1992)
June 4–Ottavio Cogliati,Italian cyclist (d.2008)
June 5
- Joe Clark,16thPrime Minister of Canada^[91]
- Margaret Drabble,English novelist^[92]
June 6–Louis Andriessen,Dutch composer (d.2021)^[93]
June 9–Ileana Cotrubaș,Romanian soprano
June 11–Jackie Stewart,Scottish motor racing driver
June 16–Billy "Crash" Craddock,American country and rockabilly singer
June 21–Charles Jencks,American cultural theorist (d.2019)
June 22–Ada Yonath,Israeli crystallographer
June 24–Judy Olson Duhamel,American politician and educator^[94]
June 26–Osvaldo Hurtado,34thPresident of Ecuador
June 29–Sante Gaiardoni,Italian cyclist
June 30–Renzo Rovatti,Italian footballer