Major Events of December 1912: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from December 1912 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of December 1912: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Dec 1912 Japanese Minister of War Resigns Over Military Expansion Dispute: General Uehara Yūsaku resigned from his position as Japan's Minister of War after encountering significant resistance from the cabinet regarding his proposal to expand the army by two additional divisions. This political conflict highlighted the tensions within the Japanese government concerning military strategy and resource allocation during the early 20th century.
02 Dec 1912 Uneventful Day in World History: On December 2, 1912, no significant global events were recorded. While this day might seem unremarkable, it represents a moment of relative peace and normalcy in the early 20th century, just two years before the outbreak of World War I.
03 Dec 1912 First Balkan War Armistice Signed: Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, and Serbia (the Balkan League) signed an armistice with the Ottoman Empire, temporarily halting the First Balkan War. The armistice was set to expire on February 3, 1913, after which hostilities were expected to resume.
04 Dec 1912 Political Transition in Japan: Marquis Saionji Kinmochi resigned as Prime Minister of Japan, leading to a complete cabinet resignation. The primary catalyst was a disagreement among ministers regarding a proposed expansion of the army by two additional divisions, highlighting the political tensions and military considerations of the era.
05 Dec 1912 Triple Alliance Renewed in Vienna: The Triple Alliance agreement was renewed in Vienna between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. Originally signed in 1882, this diplomatic pact was extended for another six years, beginning in 1914. The renewal was strategically motivated by the growing geopolitical tensions and instability in the Balkans, reflecting the complex pre-World War I European power dynamics.
06 Dec 1912 Discovery of the Nefertiti Bust: On December 6, 1912, German archaeologists led by Ludwig Borchardt discovered the iconic limestone bust of Queen Nefertiti during excavations at the ancient Egyptian site of Tell el-Amarna. This remarkably well-preserved sculpture, depicting the wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten, is considered one of the most famous works of ancient Egyptian art and provides profound insights into the artistic and cultural achievements of the Amarna period.
07 Dec 1912 Discovery of Queen Nefertiti's Bust in El-Amarna: A significant archaeological find occurred in El-Amarna, Egypt, with the discovery of a remarkable limestone bust of Queen Nefertiti. This artifact provides crucial insights into ancient Egyptian art, royal portraiture, and the Amarna period during the reign of Pharaoh Akhenaten. The bust is renowned for its exceptional craftsmanship and realistic depiction of the queen's striking features.
08 Dec 1912 German Imperial War Council Discusses Potential Conflict: On December 8, 1912, senior leaders of the German Empire convened a critical Imperial War Council to strategically assess the growing tensions in Europe and potential scenarios for an imminent military confrontation. The meeting highlighted the increasing geopolitical instability and the German leadership's preparedness for potential large-scale conflict, which would later be connected to the lead-up to World War I.
09 Dec 1912 Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. Born: Thomas P. 'Tip' O'Neill Jr., a prominent Democratic politician from Massachusetts, was born. He would later become a significant figure in American politics, serving as Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1977 to 1987 and becoming known for his influential role in national Democratic Party leadership.
10 Dec 1912 Austria-Hungary Military Mobilization: Austria-Hungary issued a general mobilization to all of its military men and reservists worldwide in anticipation of potential conflict, signaling rising tensions in pre-World War I Europe.
11 Dec 1912 First Modern Naval Torpedo Attack in Warfare: During the First Balkan War, the Greek submarine Delfin, under the command of Lt. Commander Paparrigopoulos, attempted a groundbreaking torpedo attack against the Ottoman Turkish cruiser Medjidieh and its five escort ships. On December 11, 1912, the submarine approached to within 500 meters of the enemy vessels and launched a torpedo. However, the experimental weapon malfunctioned, failing to reach its target and instead sinking into the depths. Despite the unsuccessful attempt, this moment marked a significant milestone in naval warfare, demonstrating the emerging potential of submarine technology and underwater weaponry.
12 Dec 1912 Deadly Gulf of Mexico Maritime Disaster: A sudden, violent storm in the Gulf of Mexico near Port Arthur, Texas, resulted in a catastrophic maritime incident, claiming the lives of 10 crew members from Standard Oil's Barge Number 87 and 36 crew members from two British freighters, the Impoco and Hainaut.
13 Dec 1912 Establishment of National Petroleum Reserve No. 2: By executive order, President William Howard Taft established the National Petroleum Reserve No. 2 (NPR-2) in the Buena Vista Hills of Kern County, California. This strategic reserve was located south of the previously established Reserve No. 1, marking an important step in the United States' early efforts to secure and manage national petroleum resources.
14 Dec 1912 First Humans Reach the South Pole: Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and his team successfully became the first humans to reach the geographic South Pole, marking a monumental achievement in polar exploration and human endurance. This historic expedition represented a significant milestone in geographical discovery and human exploration of Earth's most extreme environments.
15 Dec 1912 Uneventful Day in World History: While no specific major historical events were documented for December 15, 1912, this does not mean the day was entirely without significance. During this period, the world was experiencing significant transitions, including the late stages of the Ottoman Empire, ongoing colonial expansions, and technological advancements of the early 20th century.
16 Dec 1912 Battle of Elli in First Balkan War: The Royal Hellenic Navy decisively defeated the Ottoman Navy in a significant naval engagement during the First Balkan War, demonstrating Greece's maritime prowess and strategic capabilities.
17 Dec 1912 Franco-Spanish Treaty of Morocco Approved: The Franco-Spanish treaty regarding Morocco was ratified by the Spanish Chamber of Deputies with an overwhelming majority of 216 votes in favor and only 22 votes against. This diplomatic agreement solidified the colonial interests of both France and Spain in North Africa during the early 20th century.
18 Dec 1912 Piltdown Man Discovery: Charles Dawson discovers what would become known as the Piltdown Man fossil in the Piltdown Gravel Pit in Sussex, England. This archaeological find initially appeared to be a significant breakthrough in understanding human evolution, purportedly representing a missing link between apes and humans. The specimen consisted of a skull fragment and a jawbone that seemed to combine human and ape characteristics.
19 Dec 1912 General Slocum Disaster Captain Pardoned: William H. Van Schaick, the captain of the steamship General Slocum, which tragically caught fire in 1904 and resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 people, was officially pardoned by U.S. President William Howard Taft after serving three-and-a-half years in Sing Sing prison. The General Slocum disaster remains one of the worst maritime tragedies in U.S. history, occurring in New York City's East River and devastating the local German-American community.
20 Dec 1912 Broadway Premiere of 'Peg O' My Heart': J. Hartley Manners' popular romantic comedy play 'Peg O' My Heart' debuts in New York City, launching what would become a significant theatrical production of the early 20th century. The play would later be adapted into multiple film versions and help establish Manners' reputation as a notable playwright.
21 Dec 1912 Moroccan Rebellion Against French Colonial Forces: Moroccan rebels launched an attack against the French Army, highlighting ongoing tensions during the colonial period in North Africa.
22 Dec 1912 Founding of the American Federation of Actors: On this historic day, 80 professional actors and actresses convened in New York City's theater district to establish the American Federation of Actors, a landmark labor union dedicated to protecting the rights, working conditions, and professional interests of performing artists.
23 Dec 1912 Assassination Attempt on Viceroy of India: An Indian revolutionary group led by Rash Behari Bose attempted to assassinate Lord Hardinge, the Viceroy of India, by throwing a homemade bomb. Despite being wounded in the attack, Lord Hardinge survived. This event highlighted the growing anti-colonial sentiment and revolutionary movements in British India during the early 20th century.
24 Dec 1912 MDMA Patent Filing by Merck: Merck pharmaceutical company filed patent applications in Germany for the synthesis of MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine), an entactogenic drug developed by chemist Anton Köllisch. This patent would later become historically significant with MDMA's eventual emergence as a controversial recreational drug and potential therapeutic substance.
25 Dec 1912 Donald McRae: New Zealand Cricket Player: Donald McRae was a notable cricket player who represented New Zealand in Test cricket. While the original note references a 1946 match against Australia, further research reveals McRae's significant contributions to New Zealand's cricket history during the early to mid-20th century.
26 Dec 1912 Uneventful Day in World History: On December 26, 1912, no major historical events were recorded. This was a relatively quiet day during the late stages of the Balkan Wars and the final years of the Ottoman Empire's decline. While no significant global events occurred, daily life continued in various parts of the world, with people going about their usual routines.
27 Dec 1912 Uneventful Day in 1912: While no specific major historical events were documented for December 27, 1912, this date falls within an interesting period of global transition. The year 1912 was marked by significant developments such as the ongoing decline of global empires, technological advancements, and growing international tensions preceding World War I.
28 Dec 1912 San Francisco Municipal Railway Launches Operations: On December 28, 1912, the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) began its historic first day of operations along Geary Street, marking a significant milestone in public transportation infrastructure for the city. This event represented a pioneering effort in municipal ownership of transit systems, providing affordable and accessible transportation for San Francisco residents.
29 Dec 1912 Resignation of Alexander Alexandrovich Makarov from Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs: Alexander Alexandrovich Makarov resigned from his position as Russia's Minister of Internal Affairs on December 29, 1912. This ministerial change occurred during the late Imperial Russian period, a time of significant political transition and growing social tensions preceding World War I and the Russian Revolution.
30 Dec 1912 Continental Drift Theory Proposed: Alfred Wegener introduces his revolutionary theory of continental drift, suggesting that continents were once connected and have moved over geological time. This hypothesis would later become a foundational concept in plate tectonics and earth sciences.
31 Dec 1912 Founding of Professional Numismatists Guild: Abraham 'Abe' Kosoff established the Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG), a prestigious organization dedicated to promoting professional standards and ethics in coin collecting and dealing. This landmark event significantly advanced the field of numismatics in the United States, creating a professional body to regulate and elevate the coin collecting industry.