Major Events of April 1924: 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 April 1924 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of April 1924: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Apr 1924 Hitler's Beer Hall Putsch Sentencing: Adolf Hitler was sentenced to five years in prison for his role in the failed Beer Hall Putsch, a Nazi coup attempt in Munich. He ultimately served only nine months, during which he wrote his infamous manifesto 'Mein Kampf'.
02 Apr 1924 Fascist Victory in Italian General Election: In a pivotal moment for Italian political history, Benito Mussolini's Fascist Party secured a decisive victory in the 1924 general election, winning approximately two-thirds of the parliamentary seats. This election marked a critical turning point in Italy's transition towards authoritarian fascist rule, fundamentally altering the country's democratic landscape.
03 Apr 1924 Mussolini Issues Aggressive Financial Ultimatum to Romania: The Fascist Italian government under Mussolini issued a forceful financial ultimatum to Romania, demanding 80 million gold lire in outstanding debts. To underscore the seriousness of the demand, Italy strategically stationed warships near the Romanian port of Constanța, using military intimidation to pressure financial compliance.
04 Apr 1924 First Round-the-World Flight Attempt Postponed: The ambitious first round-the-world flight expedition was temporarily halted when dense fog enveloped Lake Washington in Seattle, preventing the aircraft's scheduled departure. This meteorological challenge highlighted the complex logistics and environmental dependencies of early long-distance aviation efforts.
05 Apr 1924 Ku Klux Klan Mass Shooting in Lilly, Pennsylvania: On April 5, 1924, a horrific act of racial violence occurred in Lilly, Pennsylvania, when members of the Ku Klux Klan indiscriminately fired into a crowd, resulting in 22 people being shot, with two victims losing their lives. This tragic incident exemplifies the extreme racial tensions and systemic violence perpetrated by the Ku Klux Klan during the early 20th century, targeting minority communities and spreading terror through random acts of brutality.
06 Apr 1924 First Aerial Circumnavigation of the World: Four United States Army Air Service planes departed from Seattle, Washington, on a groundbreaking first attempt to fly around the world. This historic mission marked a significant milestone in aviation history, demonstrating the emerging capabilities of long-distance aerial travel.
07 Apr 1924 Labour Government's First Parliamentary Defeat on Housing Bill: On April 7, 1924, Ramsay MacDonald's pioneering Labour government experienced its first significant legislative setback in the British House of Commons. The defeat came when the government failed to pass a critical housing bill introduced by John Wheatley, which aimed to provide legal protections for unemployed individuals facing potential eviction due to financial hardship. This moment highlighted the challenges faced by the first Labour government in implementing progressive social welfare policies during a period of economic uncertainty.
08 Apr 1924 Abolition of Sharia Courts in Turkey: As part of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's comprehensive modernization reforms, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey voted to abolish Sharia courts, marking a significant step towards secularization of the legal system. Islamic law judges (Qadis) were dismissed, signaling a fundamental transformation of Turkey's judicial framework.
09 Apr 1924 Abolition of Sharia Courts in Turkey: On April 9, 1924, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey voted to abolish Sharia courts, effectively ending the legal jurisdiction of Islamic religious law within the newly formed Turkish Republic. As part of this significant secular reform, Islamic law judges (Qadis) were simultaneously dismissed from their positions, marking a pivotal moment in Turkey's modernization and separation of religious and state institutions under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
10 Apr 1924 Chanel No. 5 Distribution Rights Secured by Galeries Lafayette: Galeries Lafayette department store in Paris negotiated with fashion designer Coco Chanel and acquired the exclusive worldwide distribution rights for Chanel No. 5, a perfume that would become one of the most iconic fragrances in fashion history.
11 Apr 1924 Danish Socialist Electoral Victory: The Danish Socialist Party secured a significant victory in the parliamentary elections, marking an important moment in Denmark's political landscape during the early 20th century.
12 Apr 1924 U.S. Navy Scandal of 1924: A significant internal investigation was initiated within the U.S. Navy after a radio operator uncovered misconduct among crew members of the battleship USS Arizona. The details of the scandal suggested potential breaches of naval protocol and discipline, which prompted a thorough review of the ship's operations and personnel conduct.
13 Apr 1924 Greek Republic Referendum of 1924: A national plebiscite was held in Greece on April 13, 1924, where citizens voted in favor of establishing a republican form of government, leading to the dissolution of the monarchy and the formation of the Second Hellenic Republic.
14 Apr 1924 Death of Louis Sullivan, Pioneer of Modern Architecture: Louis Sullivan, renowned as the 'father of skyscrapers', passed away at the age of 67. A pivotal figure in American architectural history, Sullivan was instrumental in developing the modern skyscraper and pioneering the principle that 'form follows function'. His innovative designs significantly influenced the urban landscape of early 20th-century America, particularly in Chicago, where he helped establish the Chicago School of architecture. Sullivan mentored Frank Lloyd Wright and was a key contributor to the development of steel-frame construction that would revolutionize urban building design.
15 Apr 1924 Flemish-Walloon Riots in Louvain: Violent tensions between Flemish and Walloon communities erupted in Louvain, Belgium, resulting in one fatality and highlighting the ongoing linguistic and cultural tensions in Belgium during the early 20th century.
16 Apr 1924 Germany Accepts Dawes Plan: The German government formally accepted the Dawes Plan, a crucial economic strategy designed to restructure Germany's war reparations payments following World War I. This agreement provided more flexible terms for Germany's economic recovery and helped stabilize international financial relations.
17 Apr 1924 Formation of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Studios: On April 17, 1924, Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures, and the Louis B. Mayer Company merged to create Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Studios, a landmark event in the history of American cinema. This strategic merger brought together three prominent film production companies under one powerful brand, setting the stage for MGM to become one of the most influential and prestigious film studios in Hollywood's golden age.
18 Apr 1924 First Crossword Puzzle Book Published in the United States: Simon and Schuster published the first dedicated crossword puzzle book in the United States, marking a significant milestone in the popularization of this word game. This publication helped transform crossword puzzles from a niche entertainment into a mainstream cultural phenomenon, sparking widespread public interest in word-based recreational activities.
19 Apr 1924 Clarence DeMar Wins Boston Marathon: Clarence DeMar of Massachusetts won the 28th Boston Marathon with an impressive time of 2:29:40.2, further establishing his reputation as a legendary long-distance runner. DeMar would go on to win the marathon a total of seven times, making him one of the most successful marathon runners of his era.
20 Apr 1924 Turkish Constitution Ratification: On April 20, 1924, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey officially ratified a comprehensive new constitution consisting of 105 separate articles. This significant political event marked a crucial moment in Turkey's transition from the Ottoman Empire to a modern, secular republic under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, establishing fundamental principles of governance and national identity.
21 Apr 1924 Clarence DeMar Wins Third Consecutive Boston Marathon: On April 21, 1924, Clarence DeMar secured his third consecutive victory in the 28th Boston Marathon, completing the race in an impressive time of 2 hours, 29 minutes, and 40.2 seconds. DeMar's remarkable achievement highlighted his exceptional endurance and skill as a long-distance runner during the early 20th century.
22 Apr 1924 Formation of The Hague Chambers of Commerce: On April 22, 1924, the Hague Chambers of Commerce was established in the Netherlands, creating an important regional business and economic organization to support local commercial interests and facilitate trade networking.
23 Apr 1924 British Empire Exhibition at Wembley: The British Empire Exhibition opened at Wembley Stadium, showcasing the vast reach and cultural diversity of the British Empire. This grand exposition was designed to highlight the imperial power and interconnectedness of Britain's global territories, featuring pavilions and displays from 58 countries across the empire.
24 Apr 1924 Thorvald Stauning Becomes Danish Prime Minister: Thorvald Stauning of the Social Democratic Party became the Prime Minister of Denmark, succeeding Niels Neergaard after his party secured a majority in the Danish parliament. This marked a significant moment in Danish political history, representing a shift towards social democratic governance.
26 Apr 1924 Harry Grindell Matthews Demonstrates Controversial 'Death Ray': On April 26, 1924, British inventor Harry Grindell Matthews publicly demonstrated a purported 'death ray' device in London, attempting to convince military officials of its potential as a weapon. Despite Matthews' claims of creating an electromagnetic weapon capable of stopping engines and potentially killing at a distance, the British War Office remained skeptical and did not accept his demonstration as conclusive proof of the device's effectiveness.
27 Apr 1924 Benwood Coal Mine Disaster: A tragic coal mine disaster in Benwood, West Virginia, resulted in the deaths of 119 miners, underscoring the dangerous working conditions in early 20th-century mining industries.
28 Apr 1924 Benwood Coal Mine Disaster: On April 28, 1924, a devastating coal mine disaster occurred in Benwood, West Virginia, resulting in the tragic loss of 119 lives. The majority of the victims were recent European immigrants working in the dangerous coal mining industry, highlighting the precarious working conditions and significant risks faced by miners during the early 20th century.
29 Apr 1924 1924 Southern United States Tornado Outbreak: A devastating tornado outbreak struck the Southern United States from April 29-30, 1924, causing unprecedented destruction and loss of life. The event was characterized by at least 28 tornadoes, with 26 classified as significant (F2 or stronger). The outbreak primarily impacted the Carolinas, with South Carolina bearing the brunt of the devastation, recording 76 deaths. Additional fatalities were reported in Georgia (16 deaths) and Alabama (13 deaths), with the total death toll reaching 114 and over 1,166 people injured. The most catastrophic tornado of the outbreak was a long-lived tornado family that generated F4 damage in rural South Carolina. This particular tornado was exceptionally destructive, claiming 53 lives and injuring at least 534 people. The tornado's path stretched across multiple counties, leaving a trail of widespread destruction and community trauma. This event remains one of the most significant and deadly tornado outbreaks in early 20th-century American history, highlighting the region's vulnerability to severe weather events.
30 Apr 1924 Devastating Southern United States Tornado Outbreak of 1924: On April 30, 1924, a catastrophic tornado outbreak swept through the Southern United States, marking one of the most destructive severe weather events in early 20th-century American history. The outbreak was extraordinary in its scale and intensity, with 28 confirmed tornadoes, of which 26 were classified as significant (F2 or stronger on the Fujita scale). The tornadoes caused widespread devastation, resulting in 114 confirmed fatalities and leaving at least 1,166 people injured. This event highlighted the vulnerability of rural and agricultural communities to extreme weather phenomena and significantly influenced future disaster preparedness and meteorological research in the United States.