previous year1919
1920192119221923192419251926192719281929
1930next year

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

history

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

  • 01 Feb 1924 Britain Formally Recognizes Soviet Union: In a significant diplomatic milestone, the United Kingdom officially recognized the Soviet Union, marking a key moment in post-World War I international relations and signaling a potential thaw in tensions between the two nations.
  • 02 Feb 1924 Alexei Rykov Becomes Soviet Premier: Following Vladimir Lenin's death, Alexei Rykov was appointed Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars, becoming a key leader in the early Soviet government and continuing the political transition after Lenin's era.
  • 03 Feb 1924 Alexei Rykov Succeeds Lenin in Soviet Leadership: Alexei Rykov was elected as President of the People's Commission, officially succeeding Vladimir Lenin in a critical transition of power within the early Soviet government. This marked an important moment in the post-Lenin leadership of the Soviet Union.
  • 04 Feb 1924 Gandhi's Release from Incarceration: Indian freedom fighter Mohandas Gandhi is released from prison in Ahmedabad after serving less than two years of a six-year sentence for sedition. This release represents a significant moment in India's struggle for independence, highlighting Gandhi's continued resistance against British colonial rule through non-violent civil disobedience.
  • 05 Feb 1924 Royal Greenwich Observatory Launches BBC Time Signal: The Royal Greenwich Observatory begins broadcasting the hourly time signals known as the Greenwich Time Signal or the 'BBC pips', a groundbreaking development in standardized timekeeping that would revolutionize global communication and synchronization.
  • 06 Feb 1924 President Woodrow Wilson's Burial at Washington National Cathedral: President Woodrow Wilson was laid to rest in a vault beneath the center aisle of the Washington National Cathedral, marking a unique moment in presidential history as he became the only president to be buried within the District of Columbia.
  • 07 Feb 1924 Italy-USSR Diplomatic Relations Established: Benito Mussolini's government formally establishes diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union, marking a significant geopolitical moment in early 20th-century international relations. This diplomatic exchange represents a pragmatic approach by Mussolini, bridging ideological differences between Fascist Italy and the Communist Soviet state.
  • 08 Feb 1924 First Coast-to-Coast Radio Hookup: General John Joseph Carty delivers a groundbreaking speech in Chicago, Illinois, marking the first successful coast-to-coast radio broadcast connection in the United States, a pivotal moment in communication technology.
  • 09 Feb 1924 Establishment of Nakhichevan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic: On February 9, 1924, the Nakhichevan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (Nakhichevan ASSR) was formally constituted within the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. This administrative reorganization was part of the Soviet Union's strategy of creating autonomous regions for ethnic minorities, reflecting the complex geopolitical landscape of the Caucasus region during the early Soviet period.
  • 10 Feb 1924 Yugoslav Troops Massacre Albanian Civilians in Kosovo: In a tragic incident of ethnic violence, Yugoslav military forces conducted a brutal massacre in the Kosovan town of Dubnica, killing 25 Albanian-minority civilians, including eight children and ten women. The troops not only killed the civilians but also burned down the town, representing a severe human rights violation.
  • 11 Feb 1924 Senate Demands Removal of Edwin Denby in Teapot Dome Scandal: On February 11, 1924, the United States Senate voted 47 to 34, calling on President Calvin Coolidge to remove Secretary of the Navy Edwin Denby due to his involvement in the notorious Teapot Dome scandal. This political controversy involved the improper leasing of federal oil reserves to private companies, representing a significant moment of governmental corruption and accountability in the early 20th century.
  • 12 Feb 1924 Tutankhamun Sarcophagus Discovery: Howard Carter and his archaeological team raised the lid of Pharaoh Tutankhamun's stone sarcophagus, revealing his solid gold mummy case. The full case would not be opened until October 28, 1925, marking a pivotal moment in Egyptology.
  • 13 Feb 1924 IBM's Corporate Rebranding: On February 13, 1924, the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company officially rebranded itself as the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), a name that would become synonymous with technological innovation. This strategic renaming signaled the company's ambitious vision in the emerging field of computing and data processing.
  • 14 Feb 1924 IBM Corporation Renamed and Established: On February 14, 1924, the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company officially changed its name to International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), marking a pivotal moment in technology and business history. Under the leadership of Thomas Watson, the company would go on to become a global leader in computing and technological innovation.
  • 15 Feb 1924 Senator Frank L. Greene Shot During Prohibition-Era Shootout: On February 15, 1924, U.S. Senator Frank L. Greene of Vermont was seriously wounded by a stray bullet during a violent confrontation between bootleggers and Prohibition enforcement agents. The incident occurred on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., where Greene was walking with his wife when he was unexpectedly struck in the head. This dramatic event highlighted the dangerous and volatile nature of law enforcement during the Prohibition era, when tensions between illegal alcohol traders and government agents frequently erupted into violent encounters.
  • 16 Feb 1924 George Grosz Fined for Provocative Art in Weimar Germany: On February 16, 1924, German artist George Grosz was fined 500 gold marks by a German court for a collection of drawings that were deemed obscene. The artwork critically depicted the decadence and moral decay of Berlin society during the tumultuous Weimar Republic period, challenging societal norms and artistic censorship.
  • 17 Feb 1924 Death of Architect Henry Bacon: Henry Bacon, the renowned American architect famous for designing the iconic Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., passed away at the age of 57. His architectural legacy includes creating one of the most significant and recognizable monuments in the United States, commemorating President Abraham Lincoln and symbolizing national unity.
  • 18 Feb 1924 Edwin Denby Resigns in Teapot Dome Scandal: US Secretary of the Navy Edwin Denby ended his term due to his involvement in the infamous Teapot Dome scandal, a major political corruption case that rocked the Warren G. Harding administration in the 1920s.
  • 19 Feb 1924 Eleftherios Venizelos Resigns as Greek Prime Minister: On February 19, 1924, Eleftherios Venizelos, a prominent Greek statesman and liberal politician, unexpectedly resigned from his position as Prime Minister after serving less than four weeks in office. This brief tenure highlighted the political instability in Greece during the early 20th century, a period marked by significant constitutional and governmental transitions following World War I.
  • 20 Feb 1924 Establishment of Volga German Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic: On February 20, 1924, the Soviet Union established the Volga German Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, a unique administrative region designed to provide cultural autonomy for the ethnic German minority living along the Volga River. The republic, home to approximately 1.5 million people, represented an early Soviet experiment in national-territorial delimitation and minority rights.
  • 21 Feb 1924 Birth of Robert Mugabe: Robert Mugabe was born in Kutama, Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). He would later become a prominent political figure, serving as the second President of Zimbabwe from 1987 to 2017. Mugabe was a key leader in Zimbabwe's independence movement and a controversial political figure known for his long and complex political career.
  • 22 Feb 1924 First Presidential Radio Broadcast from the White House: On February 22, 1924, President Calvin Coolidge made history by becoming the first President of the United States to deliver a radio broadcast directly from the White House. This groundbreaking moment marked a significant technological and communication milestone, allowing the president to directly reach millions of Americans in their homes through the emerging medium of radio broadcasting.
  • 23 Feb 1924 Allan McLeod Cormack - Nobel Prize Physicist: Allan McLeod Cormack, a South African-born physicist, was recognized for his groundbreaking contributions to medical science, ultimately receiving the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. His work significantly advanced medical imaging technologies and diagnostic techniques.
  • 24 Feb 1924 Mahatma Gandhi Released from Prison: Mahatma Gandhi was released from prison after serving less than two years of a six-year sentence for sedition. Due to ill-health, he was granted early release and chose to focus on writing and advocating for improvements in India, temporarily stepping back from direct political action.
  • 25 Feb 1924 Soviet National Delimitation in Central Asia: The Soviet Communist Party's Politburo initiated a significant geopolitical reorganization by beginning the process of national delimitation in Central Asia. This strategic effort involved defining and establishing boundaries for separate nations within the Soviet Union, fundamentally reshaping the region's political and ethnic landscape.
  • 26 Feb 1924 Beer Hall Putsch Trials Begin: Trials related to the Beer Hall Putsch that occurred on November 9, 1923, begin in Munich on February 26. Adolf Hitler and Erich Ludendorff are among those put on trial for their roles in the attempted coup against the Weimar Republic.
  • 27 Feb 1924 US Intervention in Honduras: The United States initiated a military intervention in Honduras on February 28, 1924, reflecting the complex geopolitical dynamics and American foreign policy in Central America during the early 20th century.
  • 28 Feb 1924 U.S. Military Intervention in Honduras: On February 28, 1924, the United States initiated a military intervention in Honduras, reflecting the era's complex geopolitical dynamics and U.S. foreign policy in Central America. This intervention was part of a broader pattern of U.S. military involvement in Latin American countries during the early 20th century, often motivated by strategic, economic, and political interests.
  • 29 Feb 1924 Al Rosen: Notable Baseball Player Born: Al Rosen was born on February 29, 1924, a leap day. He would later become a prominent Major League Baseball player, known for his exceptional performance as a third baseman for the Cleveland Indians during the 1950s. Rosen was a five-time All-Star and won the American League Most Valuable Player Award in 1953.