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

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

01 Sep 1922 Reichsbank Closure in Germany: The Reichsbank in Germany was forcibly closed by police following a bank run, triggered by employers attempting to secure funds to meet overdue payroll obligations. This event highlighted the severe economic instability in post-World War I Germany.
02 Sep 1922 Birth of Arthur Ashkin, Nobel Prize-Winning Physicist: Arthur Ashkin, a pioneering American physicist renowned for his groundbreaking work in optical tweezers and laser technology, was born on September 2, 1922, in New York City. He would later win the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2018 for his innovative contributions to laser physics, becoming the oldest Nobel laureate at age 96 at the time of the award.
03 Sep 1922 Autodromo Nazionale di Monza Inaugurated: The Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, a landmark motorsport facility, was officially opened in the Lombardy region of Italy. As the world's third purpose-built racing circuit, this track would go on to become one of the most iconic and historic venues in international motorsport. Located near Milan, the circuit was designed to showcase the growing automotive engineering prowess of Italy and provide a world-class venue for racing competitions.
04 Sep 1922 Founding of Swallow Sidecar Company: William Walmsley and William Lyons establish the Swallow Sidecar Company in Blackpool, England. This company would later evolve into the legendary Jaguar Cars, becoming one of the most prestigious automotive manufacturers in the world. Initially focusing on motorcycle sidecars, the company would transform the automotive industry in the coming decades.
05 Sep 1922 Jimmy Doolittle's Historic Cross-Country Flight: Aviation pioneer Jimmy Doolittle embarked on the first single-day transcontinental flight across the United States, departing from Pablo Beach, Florida at 10:03 p.m. and heading towards Rockwell Field in San Diego, California in a modified DH-4B aircraft. This groundbreaking journey marked a significant milestone in early 20th-century aviation technology and long-distance flight capabilities.
06 Sep 1922 Poland Enacts Venereal Disease Control Law: Poland implemented a significant public health measure by amending its Basic Sanitation Act to create more comprehensive regulations for combating the spread of venereal diseases. This legislative action represented an important step in national healthcare policy and disease prevention during the early 20th century.
07 Sep 1922 Brazil Celebrates Centennial of Independence: On September 7, 1922, Brazil commemorated the 100th anniversary of its independence from Portugal. The celebrations in Rio de Janeiro included a dramatic twenty-one gun salute at midnight and festive street parades, symbolizing national pride and historical achievement.
08 Sep 1922 Greek Army Evacuation of Smyrna during Greco-Turkish War: On September 8, 1922, the Greek Army began to evacuate the strategic coastal city of Smyrna (now Izmir, Turkey) and formally requested an armistice from Turkey, marking a critical turning point in the Greco-Turkish War. This event signaled the collapse of the Greek military campaign in Anatolia and represented a significant defeat for Greek territorial ambitions.
09 Sep 1922 Mandate of Palestine Approved: The Council of the League of Nations approves the Mandate of Palestine, a crucial administrative decision with long-lasting geopolitical implications for the Middle East.
10 Sep 1922 Historic Baseball Home Run Sequence at Polo Grounds: On September 10, 1922, the Polo Grounds witnessed an extraordinary baseball moment when Meusel, Ruth, and Gehrig hit consecutive home runs, creating a memorable milestone in baseball history.
11 Sep 1922 First Successful Insulin Treatment for Diabetes: Canadian scientists Frederick Banting and Charles Best report the first successful insulin treatment for diabetes, a groundbreaking medical discovery that would revolutionize diabetes management and save millions of lives.
12 Sep 1922 Paavo Nurmi Breaks World Record in 5000 Meters: Finnish athlete Paavo Nurmi, known as the 'Flying Finn', set a new world record in the men's 5000 meters running event with an impressive time of 14 minutes 35.4 seconds. This achievement further solidified Nurmi's reputation as one of the most dominant long-distance runners of the early 20th century.
13 Sep 1922 Great Fire of Smyrna Begins: The Great Fire of Smyrna marks the dramatic and tragic conclusion of the Greco-Turkish War. This devastating event would become a pivotal moment in the conflict between Greece and Turkey, resulting in massive destruction and significant loss of life.
14 Sep 1922 US Naval Rescue Operation in Smyrna: On September 14, 1922, the USS Litchfield and other US naval vessels conducted a critical humanitarian rescue mission, successfully evacuating approximately 20,000 refugees from the burning city of Smyrna by 10 o'clock in the morning. This rescue effort was a crucial intervention during the chaotic aftermath of the Greco-Turkish War.
15 Sep 1922 The Unusual Straw Hat Riot of 1922: The Straw Hat Riot erupted in New York City, stemming from strict, unwritten social fashion rules of the era. At the time, there was a rigid social norm dictating that men should stop wearing straw hats after Labor Day. Those who continued to wear straw hats past this date were subject to public ridicule and even physical harassment, leading to a bizarre urban conflict that highlighted the social tensions and fashion etiquette of the early 1920s.
16 Sep 1922 Turkish Troops Expel Greeks from Asia Minor: During the Greco-Turkish War, Turkish forces successfully drove Greek troops out of Asia Minor, marking a significant turning point in the conflict and signaling the decline of Greek territorial ambitions in the region.
17 Sep 1922 Radio Moscow Launches Powerful Broadcast Station: Radio Moscow begins transmitting with a 12-kilowatt transmitter, which at the time was the most powerful radio broadcasting station in the world. This milestone marked a significant advancement in Soviet communication technology and propaganda capabilities during the early years of the Soviet Union.
18 Sep 1922 Hungary Joins the League of Nations: On September 18, 1922, the Kingdom of Hungary was officially admitted as a member of the League of Nations, marking a significant diplomatic milestone for the country in the post-World War I era. This admission represented Hungary's reintegration into the international community following the Treaty of Trianon, which had dramatically reshaped the country's territorial and political landscape.
19 Sep 1922 Cunda Island Massacre: During the Greco-Turkish War, several hundred Greek residents of Cunda Island (Alibey Island) were massacred as the Turkish Army invaded and reclaimed the area. This tragic event was part of the broader population exchanges and ethnic conflicts between Greeks and Turks during the final stages of the Turkish War of Independence.
20 Sep 1922 Senate Fails to Override Harding's Presidential Veto: In a pivotal legislative moment, the United States Senate fell just 4 votes short of the constitutionally required two-thirds majority needed to override President Warren G. Harding's veto. This event highlighted the delicate balance of power between the executive and legislative branches during the early 1920s.
21 Sep 1922 Balfour Declaration Implementation: Jewish Homeland Resolution: President Warren G. Harding signed a joint congressional resolution signaling U.S. support for establishing a Jewish homeland in Palestine, a pivotal moment in Zionist diplomatic efforts following the Balfour Declaration of 1917. This resolution represented an important step in international recognition of Jewish national aspirations and laid groundwork for future geopolitical developments in the Middle East.
22 Sep 1922 Cable Act of 1922: The Cable Act, passed by the United States Congress, was a significant piece of legislation that addressed citizenship rights, particularly for women. This act modified previous nationality laws and had important implications for the legal status of women who married foreign nationals.
23 Sep 1922 Bertolt Brecht's 'Drums in the Night' Premieres: Bertolt Brecht's groundbreaking play 'Drums in the Night' (German: 'Trommeln in der Nacht') premiered in Germany, marking an early milestone in Brecht's revolutionary theatrical career. The play, which explores themes of social disillusionment and political upheaval, would become a significant work in modern dramatic literature.
24 Sep 1922 Greek Revolution of 1922: A significant political revolution occurred in Greece on September 24, 1922 (corresponding to September 11 in the Old Style calendar), marking a pivotal moment in the country's political transformation and potentially signaling major changes in national governance.
25 Sep 1922 British Ultimatum in Dardanelles: British general Sir Charles Harington issued a critical 48-hour withdrawal ultimatum to Turkish forces occupying the neutral zone of the Dardanelles. This action was part of the complex geopolitical tensions following World War I and the subsequent Turkish War of Independence, signaling ongoing diplomatic and military pressures in the region.
26 Sep 1922 U.S. Bureau of Prohibition Policy Shift: The U.S. Bureau of Prohibition implemented a significant policy change, restricting the enforcement of prohibition laws to within the United States' national borders. This decision marked a notable shift in the approach to alcohol regulation during the Prohibition era, potentially signaling a more localized strategy for managing illegal alcohol distribution and consumption.
27 Sep 1922 Greek Royal Succession: King Constantine I Abdicates: On September 27, 1922, King Constantine I of Greece voluntarily abdicated the throne, transferring power to his eldest son, King George II. This significant moment in Greek royal history occurred during a tumultuous period following Greece's defeat in the Greco-Turkish War, which had severely weakened the monarchy's political standing. Constantine's abdication was a strategic move to potentially preserve the royal lineage and mitigate public discontent with the royal family's leadership during the military conflict.
28 Sep 1922 Discovery of Penicillin: Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming makes a groundbreaking discovery when he notices a bacteria-killing mold in his laboratory, which would later be recognized as the first observation leading to the development of penicillin - a revolutionary antibiotic that would save millions of lives and transform modern medicine.
29 Sep 1922 Mussolini Seeks Vatican Support for Fascist Program: Benito Mussolini approaches the Vatican, seeking support and endorsement for the fascist party's political program, marking an early attempt to gain religious legitimacy for his emerging political movement.
30 Sep 1922 Mussolini Seeks Vatican Support: Benito Mussolini approaches the Vatican, seeking support for his emerging fascist political party program, an early indication of his strategic political maneuvering.