Major Events of February 1922: 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 1922 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of February 1922: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Feb 1922 Major World Powers Adopt Significant International Treaties: Representatives from nine nations, including the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, France, Italy, Germany, Soviet Union, and China, voted to adopt eight critical international treaties. The Washington Naval Treaty, a key agreement among these, was set to be signed on February 6, marking a significant moment in early 20th-century international diplomacy and naval arms control.
02 Feb 1922 Publication of James Joyce's 'Ulysses': James Joyce's groundbreaking novel 'Ulysses' is published in Paris, with an initial print run of 1,000 copies. This modernist literary work is considered one of the most important novels of the 20th century, revolutionizing narrative techniques and stream of consciousness writing.
03 Feb 1922 Boundaries Defined for Mandatory Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon: A French and British committee recommended territorial boundaries for League of Nations mandates, specifically outlining administrative areas for Mandatory Palestine (under British control) and the French Mandate for Syria and Lebanon. This decision was crucial in reshaping the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East following World War I.
04 Feb 1922 Chauri Chaura Incident during Indian Non-Cooperation Movement: A violent confrontation occurred between participants of Mahatma Gandhi's Non-Cooperation movement and local police in the Gorakhpur district of United Provinces. The clash resulted in the deaths of 22 policemen and 3 civilians, which significantly impacted the trajectory of India's independence struggle by leading Gandhi to withdraw the Non-Cooperation movement.
05 Feb 1922 Five Power Naval Disarmament Treaty: Major world powers (United States, Britain, Japan, France, and Italy) sign a significant naval disarmament treaty, aiming to reduce naval armaments and prevent potential maritime conflicts in the post-World War I era.
06 Feb 1922 Washington Naval Treaty Signed: A landmark international treaty limiting naval armaments was signed by five major world powers: the United States, Great Britain, France, Italy, and Japan. The treaty established strict naval tonnage limits for each nation: USA and Great Britain at 525,000 tons, Japan at 315,000 tons, and France and Italy each at 175,000 tons. This agreement was a significant diplomatic effort to prevent a naval arms race in the aftermath of World War I.
07 Feb 1922 Marie Curie Elected to Académie Nationale de Médecine: Marie Curie, the renowned physicist and chemist, made history by becoming the first woman elected to France's Académie Nationale de Médecine. This groundbreaking achievement represented a significant milestone for women in scientific and medical institutions, challenging gender barriers of the time.
08 Feb 1922 Irish Republican Army Hostage Incident: The Irish Republican Army conducted a strategic hostage operation, kidnapping 42 prominent loyalists and Ulster Special Constabulary constables. Under the directive of Free State Chairman Michael Collins, 26 of the hostages were released by February 15, demonstrating a complex political negotiation strategy during the Irish Civil War period.
09 Feb 1922 U.S. Foreign Debts Commission Act Signed: President Warren G. Harding signed the World War Foreign Debts Commission Act, establishing a five-member Refunding Commission to negotiate and determine the terms of repayment for American loans provided to European allies during World War I.
10 Feb 1922 First National Radio Conference: U.S. Commerce Secretary Herbert Hoover convened the inaugural National Radio Conference, a pivotal moment in the early regulation and development of radio communication technology in the United States. This conference marked a significant step in establishing standards and guidelines for the emerging radio broadcasting industry.
11 Feb 1922 U.S.-Japan Diplomatic Agreement: Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes and Baron Kijūrō Shidehara, Japan's Ambassador to the United States, signed a diplomatic agreement at the U.S. Department of State, representing an important moment in early 20th-century international relations.
12 Feb 1922 Mahatma Gandhi's Moral Protest and Non-Cooperation Movement Suspension: In response to the violent Chauri Chaura incident, where protesters killed British police officers, Mahatma Gandhi initiated a five-day fast as a form of moral and spiritual penance. This act was a powerful demonstration of his commitment to non-violent resistance and his belief in personal accountability. By suspending the Non-Cooperation Movement, Gandhi sought to redirect the independence struggle away from violence and towards peaceful civil disobedience, emphasizing moral and ethical principles in the fight against British colonial rule.
13 Feb 1922 Maritime Tragedy: Caldwell H. Colt Shipwreck: On February 13, 1922, a devastating maritime disaster occurred when the fishing schooner Caldwell H. Colt was wrecked on a reef near the Tortugas, Florida Keys. Out of the nine crew members aboard, only two survived the catastrophic incident. The shipwreck highlights the perilous conditions faced by maritime workers in the early 20th century, where navigation challenges and unpredictable sea conditions could lead to fatal outcomes.
14 Feb 1922 First Commercial Radio Station in Britain Launches: On February 14, 1922, Britain witnessed a significant milestone in media history with the inaugural broadcast of 2MT, the country's first commercial radio station. The station initially offered a modest 30-minute programming slot on Tuesday evenings, beginning at 8 PM. This groundbreaking moment marked the beginning of a new era in mass communication, paving the way for future radio broadcasting developments in the United Kingdom.
15 Feb 1922 Permanent Court of International Justice Inaugurated: The Permanent Court of International Justice (PCIJ), a crucial international judicial body, held its inaugural session in The Hague, Netherlands, establishing a formal mechanism for resolving international disputes.
16 Feb 1922 Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer: Legendary Luftwaffe Night Fighter: Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer was born on this day, a remarkable German Luftwaffe fighter pilot during World War II. He was one of the most successful night fighter pilots in aviation history, achieving an extraordinary 121 aerial victories, most of which were accomplished during nighttime combat against British forces. His exceptional skills and strategic prowess made him a legendary figure in military aviation.
17 Feb 1922 Ivanoe Bonomi Loses Confidence Vote in Italy: On February 17, 1922, Italian Prime Minister Ivanoe Bonomi suffered a significant political setback when he lost a vote of confidence in the Italian Chamber of Deputies. The vote was decisive, with only 107 members supporting the Prime Minister, signaling a major political crisis in Italy during the tumultuous early years of the 1920s.
18 Feb 1922 First Woman Serves in U.S. Senate: Rebecca Latimer Felton made history by becoming the first woman to serve in the United States Senate. Her brief appointment was a significant milestone in the women's rights movement and political representation.
19 Feb 1922 Ed Wynn Pioneers Radio Entertainment: Ed Wynn, a popular comedian and actor, became the first major entertainment talent to sign a dedicated radio performance contract, marking a significant milestone in the emerging broadcast entertainment industry. This groundbreaking moment signaled the beginning of radio as a viable medium for professional performers and set the stage for future entertainment broadcasting.
20 Feb 1922 Vilnius Political Separation: Vilnius, a historically contested city, officially agrees to separate from Poland, marking a significant moment in the complex geopolitical landscape of Eastern Europe following World War I and the restructuring of national boundaries.
21 Feb 1922 Egyptian Independence: Great Britain formally granted independence to Egypt, marking a significant milestone in the decolonization process and representing a pivotal moment in Egypt's modern political history. This event signaled a major shift in British imperial policy and Egyptian national sovereignty.
22 Feb 1922 Egypt's Nominal Independence from Great Britain: Following intense nationalist agitation after World War I, Great Britain formally proclaimed Egypt independent, while simultaneously maintaining military occupation and political control over the country. This marked a complex transition in Egypt's colonial status, representing a partial concession to nationalist demands without genuine sovereignty.
23 Feb 1922 Lenin's Church Valuables Decree: Vladimir Lenin signed the 'Removal of Church Valuables for the Relief of the Starving' Decree, a controversial policy aimed at confiscating church assets to fund famine relief efforts during the early years of Soviet rule. This action significantly weakened the Russian Orthodox Church's economic power and demonstrated the Bolshevik government's aggressive stance towards religious institutions.
24 Feb 1922 Political Meeting in Italian Royal Court: Luigi Facta, a prominent Italian politician who previously served as Minister of Justice and Finance, held an important meeting with King Victor Emmanuel III. This meeting likely involved discussions of political strategy during a complex period in Italian governance.
25 Feb 1922 Execution of Serial Killer Henri Désiré Landru: Henri Désiré Landru, a notorious French serial killer known as the 'Bluebeard of Paris', was executed by guillotine at the Versailles Prison. Landru was convicted of murdering 11 women and one boy between 1915 and 1919, dismembering their bodies and burning them in his kitchen stove. His crimes shocked French society and became a sensational case that highlighted the dark undercurrents of human nature in the early 20th century.
26 Feb 1922 UK-France Military Alliance Treaty Signed: A significant 20-year military alliance was formally agreed upon between the United Kingdom and France. British Prime Minister David Lloyd George and his French counterpart negotiated this strategic partnership in the aftermath of World War I, aiming to provide mutual defense and geopolitical stability in Europe. The treaty represented a crucial diplomatic effort to maintain peace and collective security in the wake of the devastating Great War.
27 Feb 1922 US Supreme Court Upholds Women's Right to Vote: In a landmark decision, the United States Supreme Court unanimously affirmed the constitutionality of the 19th Amendment, solidifying women's right to vote nationwide. This pivotal moment in American civil rights history marked a significant milestone in the ongoing struggle for gender equality.
28 Feb 1922 Egypt Gains Limited Independence from Britain: Egypt officially regains a form of independence from British colonial rule, though British troops continue to maintain a significant presence in the country. This marks a pivotal moment in Egypt's struggle for sovereignty, albeit with substantial British influence remaining.