Major Events of May 1928: 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 May 1928 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of May 1928: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 May 1928 Flying Scotsman Inaugural Non-Stop Journey: The Flying Scotsman, a legendary steam express train of the London and North Eastern Railways, commenced its groundbreaking non-stop service between London and Edinburgh. The 393-mile journey represented a significant achievement in railway transportation technology.
02 May 1928 Foreign Citizens Awarded Swedish Cross: On May 2, 1928, King Gustaf V of Sweden approved an amendment to the terms of a national award, enabling foreign citizens to receive the prestigious Cross for the first time. This modification represented a notable expansion of Sweden's recognition protocols and international diplomatic engagement.
03 May 1928 Armed Conflict in Jinan: An armed conflict broke out between the Kuomintang southern army and the Imperial Japanese Army in Jinan, China, marking a critical moment in the deteriorating Sino-Japanese relations of the late 1920s.
04 May 1928 Birth of Hosni Mubarak: Hosni Mubarak, who would later become the President of Egypt and serve for nearly three decades, was born on this day. An air marshal by training, Mubarak rose through military ranks before becoming vice president under Anwar Sadat and eventually president following Sadat's assassination in 1981. His long and controversial presidency ended during the 2011 Egyptian Revolution.
05 May 1928 Charles Francis Jenkins Demonstrates First Television Transmission: On May 5, 1928, pioneering inventor Charles Francis Jenkins made a groundbreaking public demonstration of his radio moving picture receiver in Washington, D.C. In a darkened laboratory and connected homes, government engineers, scientists, and Federal Radio Commissioners witnessed a remarkable technological milestone. By pressing a button on the cabinet, Jenkins activated silhouetted images of children playing on small screens, effectively showcasing an early prototype of television transmission technology.
06 May 1928 Red Star Olympique Wins French Cup Final: On May 6, 1928, Red Star Olympique secured a decisive 3-1 victory over CA Paris in the Coupe de France Final, showcasing their football prowess and claiming the prestigious national cup trophy. The match demonstrated Red Star Olympique's offensive capabilities and tactical superiority on the field.
07 May 1928 UK Women's Suffrage Age Lowered: The United Kingdom passed legislation reducing the voting age for women from 30 to 21 years old, a significant milestone in women's electoral rights. This change effectively expanded political participation for younger women and brought their voting privileges in line with male voters.
08 May 1928 Fukuda Escalates Military Conflict: Hikosuke Fukuda, a military commander, ordered the resumption of hostilities after his previously issued ultimatum expired. This action likely indicates an ongoing military engagement or territorial dispute, signaling an escalation of tensions and potential armed conflict.
09 May 1928 Birth of Colin Chapman, Automotive Pioneer: Colin Chapman was born on May 9, 1928, in Richmond, Surrey, England. He was a groundbreaking automotive engineer and founder of Lotus Cars, renowned for his innovative engineering approaches in automobile design. Chapman revolutionized motorsport and sports car manufacturing through his lightweight, high-performance vehicle concepts, significantly influencing automotive engineering in the 20th century.
10 May 1928 Disney's First Mickey Mouse Animated Short: Walt Disney Studios releases 'Plane Crazy', marking the debut of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, a landmark moment in animation history that would transform global entertainment.
11 May 1928 Jinan Incident: Japanese Military Aggression in China: The Japanese Army forcibly pushed Chinese forces out of the Jinan region, resulting in thousands of Chinese casualties, escalating tensions in the ongoing conflict between Japan and China.
12 May 1928 Fascist Electoral Reform in Italy: On May 12, 1928, Benito Mussolini's fascist government passed a significant electoral reform bill that fundamentally transformed Italy's democratic process. The new legislation eliminated genuine electoral choice by introducing a single-list voting system where citizens could only vote 'yes' or 'no' to a pre-approved candidate list from the Grand Council of Fascism. Critically, this bill also disenfranchised women, stripping them of their voting rights and marking a severe regression in democratic and gender equality.
13 May 1928 John Ford's Silent Film *Hangman's House* Released: On May 13, 1928, legendary filmmaker John Ford released the silent film *Hangman's House*, an early work in his prolific career. The film, typical of the silent era, would have featured dramatic storytelling and expressive acting to convey its narrative in the absence of spoken dialogue.
14 May 1928 Birth of Che Guevara: Ernesto Rafael Guevara de la Serna, commonly known as 'Che' Guevara, was born in Argentina. A prominent revolutionary figure who would later play a significant role in the Cuban Revolution, Guevara became an iconic symbol of rebellion and social change in Latin America.
15 May 1928 Walt Disney's First Mickey Mouse Silent Film Premiere: Walt Disney premiered his groundbreaking animated short film 'Plane Crazy' as a sneak preview at a theatre on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. This silent film marked the first public appearance of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, introducing characters that would become global cultural icons.
16 May 1928 Wall Street Stock Market Panic of 1928: A significant financial event occurred on Wall Street, with stock prices experiencing a dramatic plunge of up to forty points. The trading volume was exceptionally high, with a record 4,820,840 shares exchanging hands, indicating substantial market volatility and investor uncertainty.
17 May 1928 IX Olympic Games in Amsterdam: The IX Olympic Games (1928 Summer Olympics) were held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, from May 17 to August 12, marking a significant milestone in international sports competition. This was the first Olympic Games to feature women's athletics events, representing a progressive step for gender equality in sports. The Games saw athletes from 46 nations competing in various disciplines, showcasing global athletic talent and international cooperation.
18 May 1928 Japanese Diplomatic Warning to China over Manchuria: On May 18, 1928, Japan issued a stern diplomatic warning to China, indicating that it might establish a protectorate in Manchuria if regional stability could not be guaranteed. This warning was part of Japan's growing imperial ambitions in Northeast Asia and signaled increasing tensions between the two nations.
19 May 1928 Birth of Colin Chapman: Colin Chapman, the influential British automotive engineer and founder of Lotus Cars, was born. Chapman would go on to revolutionize automotive design and become a pivotal figure in motorsport engineering, particularly in Formula One racing.
20 May 1928 Mather Mine Disaster: A catastrophic coal mine explosion occurred in Mather, Pennsylvania, resulting in the tragic loss of 195 miners' lives. This devastating incident highlighted the extreme dangers faced by coal miners in the early 20th century and became a pivotal moment in discussions about mine safety regulations.
21 May 1928 Deadly Phosgene Chemical Leak in Hamburg Industrial Accident: On May 21, 1928, a catastrophic chemical leak occurred at an industrial facility in Hamburg, Germany, resulting in the tragic deaths of 11 workers. Phosgene, a highly toxic gas used in chemical manufacturing and as a chemical warfare agent during World War I, escaped from its containment, causing immediate and fatal respiratory damage to those in the vicinity. The incident highlighted the significant industrial safety risks associated with handling dangerous chemical substances during the early 20th century.
22 May 1928 Capper-Ketcham Act Supports Agricultural Education: The Capper-Ketcham Act was passed, providing crucial support for agricultural education in the United States. The law financed the establishment of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) and offered matching funds to states with 4-H clubs, promoting youth agricultural training and rural development.
23 May 1928 Airship Italia Polar Expedition Disaster: The airship Italia, led by renowned Italian explorer Umberto Nobile, embarked on a perilous Arctic expedition to reach the North Pole. During the mission, the airship crashed approximately 180 miles from Svalbard, resulting in one crew member fatality and leaving nine survivors stranded on the treacherous Arctic ice. This tragic event highlighted the extreme risks of early polar exploration and the technological limitations of airship travel in the 1920s.
24 May 1928 Umberto Nobile's North Pole Airship Expedition: Italian explorer Umberto Nobile successfully flew his airship over the North Pole, marking a significant milestone in polar exploration. This expedition demonstrated advanced aerial navigation techniques and expanded human understanding of Arctic geographical exploration during the early 20th century.
25 May 1928 First Woman to Cross the Atlantic by Air: Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean as a passenger aboard the Friendship aircraft, piloted by Wilmer Stultz and Louis Gordon. This groundbreaking journey marks a significant milestone in aviation history and women's achievements in exploration.
26 May 1928 Andy Payne Wins Historic Trans-American Footrace: Andy Payne completed an extraordinary transcontinental running achievement by winning the first 3,400-mile (5,500 km) coast-to-coast 'Trans-American Footrace', traveling from Los Angeles to New York City in an impressive 84-day journey.
27 May 1928 First Talking Motion Picture Released: On May 27, 1928, a groundbreaking moment in cinema history occurred with the release of 'The Jazz Singer', the first commercially successful talking motion picture. This film, starring Al Jolson, marked a revolutionary transition from silent films to 'talkies', fundamentally transforming the entertainment industry and setting the stage for modern cinema.
28 May 1928 Dodge Brothers and Chrysler Corporation Merger: On May 28, 1928, Dodge Brothers Inc. officially merged with Chrysler Corporation, creating a significant consolidation in the American automotive industry. This strategic merger combined the manufacturing capabilities and market presence of two prominent automobile manufacturers, marking an important moment in the industrial landscape of the early 20th century.
29 May 1928 Dodge and Chrysler Merger: On May 29, 1928, automobile manufacturers Dodge and Chrysler announced a significant merger valued at $235 million. This strategic business combination represented a major consolidation in the American automotive industry, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape and creating a more robust manufacturing entity.
30 May 1928 Kuomintang Forces Advance Towards Beijing: Kuomintang forces captured the strategic city of Baoding, positioning themselves less than 100 miles from Beijing, signaling a significant military advancement during the Chinese Civil War period.
31 May 1928 First Aerial Crossing of the Pacific Ocean: A historic aviation milestone occurred when a four-man international crew (two Australians and two Americans) departed from Oakland, California in a Fokker F.VII aircraft named Southern Cross, attempting the first trans-Pacific flight to Australia.