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Major Events of February 1920: 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 February 1920 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of February 1920: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Feb 1920 Royal Canadian Mounted Police Formation: The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) was officially formed through the merger of the Royal Northwest Mounted Police and the Dominion Police, creating a unified national law enforcement agency.
  • 02 Feb 1920 Estonian Independence Declaration: Estonia formally declares its independence from Russia through the Dorpat Peace Treaty, solidifying its status as a sovereign nation after years of struggle.
  • 03 Feb 1920 Allies Seek German War Criminal Extradition: In the aftermath of World War I, the Allied powers submitted a comprehensive list to the German government, demanding the extradition of nearly 1,000 German individuals accused of war crimes for potential prosecution.
  • 04 Feb 1920 French Prime Minister Seeks Vote of Confidence: Prime Minister Alexandre Millerand requested and received a strong parliamentary vote of confidence, with 518 members supporting the government's foreign policy of strict adherence to the Treaty of Versailles, compared to only 68 opposing votes.
  • 05 Feb 1920 New Zealand Army Intervenes in Fiji Civil Unrest: A contingent of 56 New Zealand Army officers and soldiers, led by Major Edward Puttick, were deployed to Fiji to address ongoing civil unrest. This intervention demonstrates the regional military cooperation and geopolitical tensions of the early 20th century.
  • 06 Feb 1920 Virginia Rejects Women's Suffrage Amendment: The Virginia state Senate voted against ratifying the 19th Amendment, which would grant women the right to vote, with a vote of 10 in favor and 24 against. This decision positioned Virginia as the third state to reject women's suffrage, reflecting the ongoing resistance to women's voting rights during this period.
  • 07 Feb 1920 Execution of Admiral Kolchak and Prime Minister Pepelyayev: Admiral Alexander Kolchak, the former 'Supreme Leader of Russia' during the Russian Civil War, and his former prime minister Viktor Pepelyayev were executed by a Bolshevik firing squad near Irkutsk. This event marked a significant moment in the consolidation of Bolshevik power following the Russian Civil War, symbolizing the defeat of the White Russian forces.
  • 08 Feb 1920 Swiss Men Reject Women's Suffrage: In a significant moment for gender equality, Swiss men voted against granting women the right to vote in a national referendum, maintaining the exclusion of women from political participation.
  • 09 Feb 1920 Allies Seek Prosecution of German War Criminals: In the aftermath of World War I, the Allied powers submitted a comprehensive list to the German government containing nearly 1,000 names of individuals accused of war crimes. This action represented a significant step towards international judicial accountability for wartime atrocities.
  • 10 Feb 1920 Nazi Party Platform Unveiled: Adolf Hitler, as Deputy Chairman of the German Workers' Party, publicly unveils the platform of what would become the Nazi Party, marking an early and significant moment in the rise of Nazi ideology in Germany.
  • 11 Feb 1920 Idaho Ratifies 19th Amendment: Idaho officially ratified the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which guaranteed women's right to vote. This was a significant milestone in the women's suffrage movement, bringing the state closer to nationwide female electoral participation.
  • 12 Feb 1920 Ottoman Empire's Final Parliamentary Report - Misak-ı Millî: The Parliament of the Ottoman Empire published its final report, the Misak-ı Millî, marking a critical moment in the transition of the Ottoman Empire to the modern Turkish state. This six-point policy was so significant that it prompted the Allied powers to occupy Istanbul on March 16 and sponsor the creation of a new republic with its capital in Ankara.
  • 13 Feb 1920 Allies Seek German War Criminals Post-World War I: The Allied powers submitted a comprehensive list of nearly 1,000 German war criminals to the German government, demanding their extradition for trial. Germany's Defense Minister Gustav Noske publicly declared the surrender of these individuals to be 'virtually impossible', highlighting the tensions of the post-war period.
  • 14 Feb 1920 League of Women Voters Established: The League of Women Voters was founded in Chicago, Illinois by Carrie Chapman Catt, emerging as a successor organization to the National American Women's Suffrage Association. This pivotal moment occurred shortly after the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote in the United States. The organization was established to encourage informed and active participation of women in civic and political life.
  • 15 Feb 1920 Richard O'Brien Appointed CEO of Manpower Services Commission: Richard O'Brien was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Manpower Services Commission, a significant administrative role in workforce and employment services during the early 20th century.
  • 16 Feb 1920 Allies Consider German War Criminal Trials Post-World War I: In a significant diplomatic development following World War I, the Allied powers tentatively agreed to allow Germany to conduct war crimes trials domestically. The proposed trials were to be held in Leipzig, Germany, representing an early attempt at international judicial accountability for wartime atrocities. This decision was notable for its time, as it suggested a potential for national self-prosecution rather than an external tribunal.
  • 17 Feb 1920 Anna Anderson Claims to be Anastasia Romanov: On February 17, 1920, Anna Anderson attempted suicide in Berlin and was subsequently admitted to a mental hospital. During her hospitalization, she dramatically claimed to be Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov, the youngest daughter of the last Russian Tsar Nicholas II. This event marked the beginning of one of the most famous identity controversies of the 20th century, as Anderson would spend decades trying to prove her alleged royal lineage.
  • 18 Feb 1920 Paul Deschanel Becomes President of France: Paul Deschanel was sworn into office as the President of France, marking a significant moment in French political history during the early 20th century. Deschanel, a prominent politician, assumed leadership during a period of post-World War I reconstruction and political transformation.
  • 19 Feb 1920 US Senate Rejects Treaty of Versailles: On February 19, 1920, the United States Senate refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles, which formally ended World War I. This decision effectively prevented the United States from joining the League of Nations and signaled a period of isolationist foreign policy for the country, despite President Woodrow Wilson's strong advocacy for international cooperation.
  • 20 Feb 1920 Communist Rule in Azerbaijan: The Azerbaijan Communist Party consolidated its political control, establishing a regime that would persist for over seven decades until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. This marked a significant period of communist governance in the Caucasus region.
  • 21 Feb 1920 Nicholas Horthy Becomes Regent of Hungary: In a pivotal parliamentary vote, Admiral Nicholas Horthy is named Regent for the vacant throne of the Kingdom of Hungary, a significant political development in the aftermath of World War I and the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
  • 22 Feb 1920 First Dog Race Track with Mechanical Rabbit in California: In Emeryville, California, the first dog race track to employ an innovative mechanical 'rabbit' racing system was inaugurated, revolutionizing greyhound racing by introducing a mechanized lure to stimulate dogs during races.
  • 23 Feb 1920 Soviet Army Consolidates Northern Russia: The Soviet Army successfully completed its strategic consolidation of northern Russia by taking full control of Murmansk. This military operation was a crucial step in establishing Soviet territorial control during the Russian Civil War period.
  • 24 Feb 1920 Nazi Party Founded: The Nazi Party (NSDAP) was officially founded by Adolf Hitler in the Hofbräuhaus beer hall in Munich, Germany, marking the beginning of a political movement that would dramatically reshape European history in the coming decades.
  • 25 Feb 1920 Women Admitted to American College of Surgeons: On February 25, 1920, Dr. Anna Weld and Professor Leila Andrews made history by becoming the first and second women to be admitted into the American College of Surgeons. This milestone represented a significant breakthrough for women in medical professional organizations during an era of limited gender opportunities.
  • 26 Feb 1920 The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari Premieres: Robert Wiene's groundbreaking film 'The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari' premiered in Berlin, marking a pivotal moment in cinema history. This German Expressionist masterpiece is widely considered one of the most influential early horror movies, characterized by its distinctive angular set designs, dramatic lighting, and psychological narrative that challenged traditional filmmaking conventions of the time.
  • 27 Feb 1920 U.S. Supreme Court Validates 19th Amendment: On February 27, 1920, the U.S. Supreme Court definitively upheld the validity of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the constitutional right to vote. This landmark decision was a critical milestone in the women's suffrage movement, ensuring that women across the United States would have equal voting rights regardless of state-level resistance.
  • 28 Feb 1920 Silica Gel Mass Production Patent Filed: Chemistry professor Walter A. Patrick filed a groundbreaking patent application for the mass production of silica gel, a versatile synthetic substance with numerous industrial and scientific applications, including desiccation, chromatography, and later uses in electronics, pharmaceuticals, and packaging.
  • 29 Feb 1920 Czechoslovakia Adopts First Constitution: The Czechoslovak National Assembly formally adopts the country's first constitution, establishing the legal and governmental framework for the newly independent state following the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after World War I.