Major Events of February 1926: 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 1926 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of February 1926: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Feb 1926 Record Land Price in Manhattan: A prime plot of land at the intersection of Broadway and Wall Street in New York City was sold at an unprecedented price of $7 per square inch, reflecting the booming real estate market and economic dynamism of 1920s Manhattan.
02 Feb 1926 Black Reichswehr Death Sentences in Germany: In a secretive legal proceeding, four members of the illegal Black Reichswehr paramilitary organization were sentenced to death for politically motivated murders. The German state authorities conducted the trial under strict confidentiality, ostensibly to 'ensure the safety of the state' during a period of significant political instability in the Weimar Republic.
03 Feb 1926 Czech Language Officially Recognized in Czechoslovakia: Czechoslovakia officially adopted Czech as its primary national language, while simultaneously guaranteeing constitutional protections and language rights for ethnic and linguistic minorities. This policy reflected the complex linguistic and cultural landscape of the newly formed Central European state.
04 Feb 1926 US Naval Air Force Expansion Plan: The United States House Committee on Naval Affairs received a comprehensive $250 million, five-year strategic plan to significantly enhance the Naval Air Force. The ambitious proposal aimed to nearly double the number of Navy aircraft from 638 to 1,248 by the end of 1931, signaling growing military preparedness in the interwar period.
05 Feb 1926 Death of Gustav Eberlein, German Artist: Gustav Eberlein, a prominent German sculptor, painter, and writer, passed away on February 5, 1926. Born in 1864, Eberlein was a multifaceted artist who contributed significantly to the German cultural landscape during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His work spanned multiple artistic disciplines, showcasing his versatility and creative range.
06 Feb 1926 Mussolini's Defiant Speech on South Tyrol Italianization: Benito Mussolini delivered a provocative speech to his Cabinet regarding the Italianization of South Tyrol, responding to German protests about the oppression of Tyrolean Germans. He adamantly declared that the policy would 'not change by a centimeter' and threatened escalating boycotts and reprisals if Germany challenged Italy's territorial claims.
07 Feb 1926 Establishment of Negro History Week: African-American historian Carter G. Woodson founded 'Negro History Week' to celebrate and recognize the significant contributions of Black Americans to the nation's history. This groundbreaking initiative was designed to challenge prevailing narratives that marginalized African-American achievements and promote a more comprehensive understanding of American history. The week-long observance, which later evolved into Black History Month, was strategically placed in February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, two pivotal figures in the struggle for racial equality.
08 Feb 1926 Walt Disney Studios Established: Walt Disney Studios was formally established, marking the beginning of what would become one of the most influential entertainment companies in the world, revolutionizing animation and media production.
09 Feb 1926 Evolution Teaching Banned in Atlanta: The Atlanta Board of Education officially prohibited the teaching of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution in public schools, reflecting the ongoing cultural and religious tensions surrounding scientific education in the early 20th century United States.
10 Feb 1926 Germany's Application to League of Nations: Germany formally submitted its application to join the League of Nations, signaling a diplomatic effort to reintegrate into the international community following World War I and seeking to improve its global standing.
11 Feb 1926 Paul Bocuse Birth: Paul Bocuse, a legendary French chef who revolutionized culinary arts and is considered a pioneer of nouvelle cuisine, was born in Collonges-au-Mont-d'Or, France.
12 Feb 1926 Leslie Nielsen Birth: Leslie Nielsen, the iconic Canadian actor known for his comedic roles in films like 'Airplane!' and 'The Naked Gun' series, was born in Regina, Saskatchewan.
13 Feb 1926 Nazi Party Bamberg Conference: The Nazi Party held the Bamberg Conference, a significant internal meeting that helped consolidate Adolf Hitler's leadership and strategic direction for the party.
14 Feb 1926 Nazi Party Bamberg Conference: The Nazi Party held the Bamberg Conference, a significant internal meeting that helped consolidate Adolf Hitler's leadership and strategic direction for the party during its early developmental phase.
15 Feb 1926 United States Launches Contract Air Mail Service: The United States government initiated its first contract air mail service, marking a significant milestone in the development of commercial aviation and postal transportation infrastructure.
16 Feb 1926 Historic Tennis Match in Cannes: On February 16, 1926, tennis legends Suzanne Lenglen of France and Helen Wills of the United States faced off in a highly anticipated match in Cannes, France. Lenglen emerged victorious in this significant sporting encounter between two of the most prominent female tennis players of the 1920s. This match was part of the era's intense tennis rivalry and showcased the exceptional skill of women athletes during the early 20th century.
17 Feb 1926 Turkey Adopts Secular Civil Code: The Grand National Assembly of Turkey approved a groundbreaking secular civil code, fundamentally transforming the legal framework for personal and family matters. This landmark legislation regulated marriage, inheritance, divorce, and adoption, marking a crucial step in Turkey's modernization and secularization process under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's leadership.
18 Feb 1926 John Held Jr. Illustrates Life Magazine Cover: Life magazine published a distinctive cover illustration by renowned artist John Held Jr., depicting a well-dressed elderly gentleman dancing with a young flapper, symbolizing the cultural contrast and social dynamics of the Roaring Twenties. Held's illustration captured the era's changing social norms and generational differences.
19 Feb 1926 Birth of György Kurtág: György Kurtág, a renowned Hungarian composer and music academic, was born in Hungary. Known for his minimalist and deeply expressive musical compositions, Kurtág would become one of the most significant contemporary classical composers of the 20th and early 21st centuries.
20 Feb 1926 First Berlin International Green Week Launched: The inaugural Berlin International Green Week, a significant agricultural and food industry trade fair, commenced in Berlin, Germany. This event would go on to become one of the world's leading agricultural trade shows, showcasing agricultural products, technologies, and innovations from around the world.
21 Feb 1926 Death of Nobel Laureate Heike Kamerlingh Onnes: Heike Kamerlingh Onnes, a renowned Dutch physicist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1913 for his groundbreaking work on the properties of matter at extremely low temperatures, passed away at the age of 72. Kamerlingh Onnes is best known for his pioneering research in cryogenics and for achieving the first successful liquefaction of helium, which was a significant milestone in scientific understanding of matter's behavior at ultra-low temperatures.
22 Feb 1926 First Race at Fulford-Miami Speedway: On February 22, 1926, a momentous event in motorsports history unfolded as 20,000 enthusiastic fans gathered at the Fulford-Miami Speedway to witness the inaugural race. The event was marked by high excitement and anticipation, with racing legend Pete DePaolo emerging victorious. This race not only showcased the cutting-edge racing technology of the era but also highlighted the growing popularity of automobile racing in the 1920s.
23 Feb 1926 Religious Conflict in Mexico City: A violent confrontation occurred in Mexico City between government agents and Catholic protesters during the anti-clerical period of the Mexican Revolution. Seven Catholics were killed during clashes surrounding the forcible takeover of the Church of the Holy Family, reflecting the intense religious and political tensions of the era.
24 Feb 1926 Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson: On February 24, 1868, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 126–47 to impeach President Andrew Johnson, marking a pivotal moment in post-Civil War Reconstruction. Johnson's lenient policies toward the Southern states and his resistance to Radical Republican efforts to ensure civil rights for freed slaves led to this historic political confrontation. This was the first presidential impeachment in United States history and highlighted the intense political tensions following the Civil War.
25 Feb 1926 Francisco Franco Becomes General of Spain: Francisco Franco, a rising military officer, was promoted to Brigadier General in the Spanish Army. This promotion would be a pivotal moment in his career, setting the stage for his future role in Spanish politics and his eventual leadership of the country during the Spanish Civil War.
26 Feb 1926 Louis Armstrong Records 'Heebie Jeebies': Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five recorded 'Heebie Jeebies', a groundbreaking jazz recording that not only launched Armstrong's star status but also introduced scat singing to a wider audience, revolutionizing jazz vocal techniques.
27 Feb 1926 Birth of David H. Hubel, Pioneering Neuroscientist: David H. Hubel was born on February 27, 1926, in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. He would later become a renowned neuroscientist who made groundbreaking discoveries about how the visual cortex processes visual information. In 1981, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, jointly with Torsten Wiesel, for their work on information processing in the visual system.
28 Feb 1926 Birth of Svetlana Alliluyeva, Stalin's Daughter: Svetlana Alliluyeva was born in Moscow, becoming the only daughter of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Her life would later become a significant historical narrative, marked by her eventual defection to the West in 1967 and her critical writings about her father's regime, providing unique personal insights into one of the most controversial political figures of the 20th century.