The 1930s

1931 95 years ago

Five unarmed civilians are killed in the Ådalen shootings, as the Swedish military is called in to deal with protesting

The Ådalen shootings was a series of events in and around the sawmill district of Ådalen, Kramfors Municipality, Ångermanland, Sweden, in May 1931. During a protest on 14 May, five…

Five unarmed civilians are killed in the Ådalen shootings, as the Swedish military is called in to deal with protesting

1931 95 years ago

Michele Schirru, a citizen of the United States, is executed by a Royal Italian Army firing squad for intent to kill Ben

Italian Fascist leader Benito Mussolini survived several assassination attempts while head of government of Italy in the 1920s and 1930s.

Michele Schirru, a citizen of the United States, is executed by a Royal Italian Army firing squad for intent to kill Ben

1931 95 years ago

A deadly tornado strikes Birmingham, England, damaging 2,221 homes and businesses

On the evening of June 14, 1931, a deadly F3 tornado moved through the southern and eastern suburbs of Birmingham, England, killing 1 person and injuring at least 10 others. The to…

A deadly tornado strikes Birmingham, England, damaging 2,221 homes and businesses

1931 95 years ago

The Empire State Building is dedicated in New York City

The Empire State Building is a 102-story, supertall skyscraper in the Midtown South neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, United States. The building was designed in the Art De…

The Empire State Building is dedicated in New York City

1931 95 years ago

The stand-off between criminal Francis Crowley and 300 members of the New York Police Department takes place in his fift

Francis Crowley was an American murderer. His crime spree lasted nearly three months, ending in a two-hour shootout with the New York City Police Department on May 7, 1931, that wa…

The stand-off between criminal Francis Crowley and 300 members of the New York Police Department takes place in his fift

1931 95 years ago

Wiley Post and Harold Gatty take off from Roosevelt Field, Long Island in an attempt to circumnavigate the world in a si

Wiley Hardeman Post was an American aviator during the interwar period and the first pilot to fly solo around the world. Known for his work in high-altitude flying, he helped devel…

Wiley Post and Harold Gatty take off from Roosevelt Field, Long Island in an attempt to circumnavigate the world in a si

1931 95 years ago

United Airlines begins service (as Boeing Air Transport).

United Airlines, Inc. is a major airline in the United States headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. It operates an extensive domestic and international route network across the Unite…

United Airlines begins service (as Boeing Air Transport).

1931 95 years ago

Wiley Post and Harold Gatty become the first people to circumnavigate the globe in a single-engined monoplane aircraft.

Wiley Hardeman Post was an American aviator during the interwar period and the first pilot to fly solo around the world. Known for his work in high-altitude flying, he helped devel…

Wiley Post and Harold Gatty become the first people to circumnavigate the globe in a single-engined monoplane aircraft.

1931 95 years ago

Resignation of the United Kingdom's Second Labour Government. Formation of the UK National Government.

The second MacDonald ministry was formed by Ramsay MacDonald on his reappointment as prime minister of the United Kingdom by King George V on 5 June 1929. It was the second time th…

Resignation of the United Kingdom's Second Labour Government. Formation of the UK National Government.

1931 95 years ago

John Barrett, English tennis player and sportscaster

John Edward Barrett, is a British retired tennis player, television commentator and author.

John Barrett, English tennis player and sportscaster

1931 95 years ago

Malcolm Browne, American journalist and photographer (died 2012)

Malcolm Wilde Browne was an American journalist and photographer, best known for his award-winning photograph of the self-immolation of Buddhist monk Thích Quảng Đức in 1963.

Malcolm Browne, American journalist and photographer (died 2012)

1931 95 years ago

Bill Miles, American director and producer (died 2013)

William Miles was an American filmmaker. Born in Harlem, New York, he used his deep knowledge and experience of that iconic neighborhood to produce films that tell unique and ofte…

Bill Miles, American director and producer (died 2013)

1931 95 years ago

Walter Stewart, Canadian journalist and author (died 2004)

Walter Douglas Stewart was an outspoken Canadian writer, editor and journalism educator, a veteran of newspapers and magazines and author of more than twenty books, several of them…

Walter Stewart, Canadian journalist and author (died 2004)

1931 95 years ago

Emperor Haile Selassie signs the first constitution of Ethiopia.

The emperor of Ethiopia, also known as the Atse, was the hereditary ruler of the Ethiopian Empire, from at least the 13th century until the abolition of the monarchy in 1975. The e…

Emperor Haile Selassie signs the first constitution of Ethiopia.

1931 95 years ago

Judge and Nazi Party member Werner Best drews the Boxheim Documents, which described a violent takeover of the…

The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party, was a far-right political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945 that created and supported the ideo…

Judge and Nazi Party member Werner Best drews the Boxheim Documents, which described a violent takeover of the…

1931 95 years ago

Imperial Japan instigates the Mukden incident as a pretext to invade and occupy Manchuria.

The Mukden incident was a false flag event staged by Japanese military personnel as a pretext for the 1931 Japanese invasion of Manchuria. On September 18, 1931, Lieutenant Suemori…

Imperial Japan instigates the Mukden incident as a pretext to invade and occupy Manchuria.

1931 95 years ago

Julian Carroll, American politician, 54th Governor of Kentucky (died 2023)

Julian Morton Carroll was an American lawyer and politician from the state of Kentucky. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 54th governor of Kentucky from 1974 to 19…

Julian Carroll, American politician, 54th Governor of Kentucky (died 2023)

1931 95 years ago

Bill Ramsey, American jazz and pop singer, journalist and actor (died 2021)

William McCreery Ramsey was an American-German jazz and pop singer, journalist and actor famous for his German-language hits. He returned to Germany a year after he had served comp…

Bill Ramsey, American jazz and pop singer, journalist and actor (died 2021)

1931 95 years ago

Michael Allenby, 3rd Viscount Allenby, English lieutenant and politician (died 2014)

Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Jaffray Hynman Allenby, 3rd Viscount Allenby was a British politician, hereditary peer, and horse welfare advocate.

Michael Allenby, 3rd Viscount Allenby, English lieutenant and politician (died 2014)

1931 95 years ago

John Eccles, 2nd Viscount Eccles, English businessman and politician

John Dawson Eccles, 2nd Viscount Eccles,, is a British Conservative peer and businessman. He is one of the ninety-two hereditary peers elected to remain in the House of Lords after…

John Eccles, 2nd Viscount Eccles, English businessman and politician

1931 95 years ago

Morgan Wootten, American high school basketball coach (died 2020)

Morgan Bayard Wootten was an American high school basketball coach for 46 seasons at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland. He led the Stags to five national champi…

Morgan Wootten, American high school basketball coach (died 2020)

1931 95 years ago

John Buchanan, Canadian lawyer and politician, 20th Premier of Nova Scotia (died 2019)

John MacLennan Buchanan was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the 20th premier of Nova Scotia from 1978 to 1990 and as a member of the Senate of Canada from 1990 to 20…

John Buchanan, Canadian lawyer and politician, 20th Premier of Nova Scotia (died 2019)

1931 95 years ago

Ronald Hynd, English dancer and choreographer

Ronald Hynd is an English choreographer and former ballet dancer.

Ronald Hynd, English dancer and choreographer

1931 95 years ago

Abdelhamid Kermali, Algerian footballer and manager (died 2013)

Abdelhamid Kermali was an Algerian footballer and football manager of the Algerian national team.

Abdelhamid Kermali, Algerian footballer and manager (died 2013)