Major Events of February 1929: 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 1929 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of February 1929: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Feb 1929 Soviet Political Purge: In a significant political crackdown, Soviet leaders Grigory Zinoviev and Lev Kamenev were placed under house arrest, while approximately 1,600 Trotskyists were exiled to Siberia, marking an intensification of Joseph Stalin's consolidation of power.
02 Feb 1929 Norway's Territorial Expansion in Antarctica: On February 2, 1929, Norway officially annexed Peter I Island, a remote and uninhabited volcanic island located in the Bellingshausen Sea, west of the Antarctic Peninsula. This strategic territorial claim was part of Norway's broader polar exploration and territorial expansion efforts during the early 20th century. The island, named after Russian Tsar Peter I (Peter the Great), was first discovered by Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen in 1821 but remained unclaimed until Norway's annexation.
03 Feb 1929 Spanish Government Suppresses Anti-Government Revolt: On February 3rd, 1929, Spanish authorities declared martial law in Valencia to quell an outbreak of anti-government revolt. Military troops were deployed to suppress the uprising, reflecting the political instability and tensions prevalent in Spain during the late 1920s, just a few years before the Spanish Civil War.
04 Feb 1929 Archie Jackson's Remarkable Test Cricket Debut: Young Australian cricketer Archie Jackson made a stunning debut in Test Cricket, scoring an impressive 164 runs against England at Adelaide Oval. This remarkable performance marked him as a promising talent in Australian cricket during the late 1920s, showcasing exceptional skill and composure for a debutant player.
05 Feb 1929 First Long-Distance Television Broadcast by General Electric: Engineers at General Electric achieved a groundbreaking technological milestone by successfully conducting a long-distance television broadcast. They transmitted both the face and voice of renowned movie director D. W. Griffith from WGY in Schenectady, New York, to Los Angeles, marking a significant advancement in telecommunications technology.
06 Feb 1929 Germany Accepts Kellogg-Briand Pact: Germany formally ratified the Kellogg-Briand Pact, an international agreement signed in 1928 that aimed to renounce war as an instrument of national policy and promote peaceful resolution of conflicts between nations. This diplomatic milestone was part of the interwar period's efforts to prevent future global conflicts following World War I.
07 Feb 1929 Federal Reserve Warns About Speculative Lending: On the same day, February 7, 1929, the Federal Reserve Board issued a critical public warning regarding the excessive use of credit for speculative loans. This advisory highlighted growing concerns about the potential risks in the financial system and the unsustainable lending practices that could lead to economic instability.
08 Feb 1929 Morgan and Young Arrive in Paris for Reparations Talks: J.P. Morgan Jr. and Owen D. Young traveled to Paris to participate in critical negotiations aimed at developing a new reparations plan for Germany, seeking to replace the existing Dawes Plan and potentially reshape post-World War I economic relations.
09 Feb 1929 Litvinov Pact Signed by Eastern European Nations: A significant diplomatic protocol was signed by the Soviet Union, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, and Romania, renouncing war as an instrument of national policy. This multilateral agreement followed the principles of the Kellogg-Briand Pact, representing an important early 20th-century effort to prevent international conflicts through diplomatic means.
10 Feb 1929 Assassination Attempt on Mexican President: Mexican President Emilio Portes Gil narrowly survived an assassination attempt when his train was dynamited. During the incident, a fireman was tragically killed, but the president emerged unharmed, highlighting the political volatility of the era.
11 Feb 1929 Lateran Treaty Establishes Vatican City: The Lateran Treaty was signed between the Kingdom of Italy and the Holy See, creating Vatican City as the world's smallest sovereign state. This historic agreement resolved long-standing tensions between the Italian government and the Catholic Church, granting the Pope full sovereignty over the Vatican territory within Rome.
12 Feb 1929 Leon Trotsky Arrives in Istanbul: Exiled Soviet politician Leon Trotsky arrived in Istanbul, Turkey, continuing his journey of political exile after being expelled from the Soviet Union by Joseph Stalin. This marked a significant moment in Trotsky's tumultuous post-revolutionary life and the ongoing political conflicts within the Soviet leadership.
13 Feb 1929 Omar Torrijos Herrera's Political Career: Omar Torrijos Herrera emerged as a significant political figure in Panama, later becoming a key military leader who would play a crucial role in negotiating the Panama Canal Treaties with the United States.
14 Feb 1929 Saint Valentine's Day Massacre: On February 14, 1929, a notorious gangland killing occurred in Chicago, Illinois, where seven people, primarily members of George 'Bugs' Moran's rival bootlegging gang, were brutally executed inside a garage at 2122 North Clark Street. The massacre was widely believed to be orchestrated by Al Capone's Chicago Outfit as part of the violent power struggle during the Prohibition era. The victims were lined up against a wall and shot dead, marking one of the most infamous moments in organized crime history.
16 Feb 1929 Stock Market Experiences Significant Losses: The New York Stock Exchange suffered widespread financial losses following a cautionary warning issued by the Federal Reserve Advisory Council the previous day. This event signaled growing economic uncertainty and potential market instability in the lead-up to the Great Depression.
17 Feb 1929 Formation of League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC): The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) was officially established in Corpus Christi, Texas, through the merger of three major Mexican American organizations. Founded by civil rights advocate Alonso S. Perales in Harlingen, Texas, LULAC would become the oldest and most prominent Latino civil rights organization in the United States, dedicated to advancing the social, political, and economic rights of Hispanic Americans.
18 Feb 1929 First Academy Awards Announced: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences held its inaugural awards ceremony, recognizing outstanding achievements in the film industry for the first time. This event would later become the prestigious Oscars, a globally recognized celebration of cinematic excellence.
19 Feb 1929 First Medical Diathermy Machine Deployed: On February 19, 1929, a groundbreaking moment in medical technology occurred in Schenectady, New York, when the first medical diathermy machine was utilized. This innovative device used high-frequency electromagnetic waves to generate heat within body tissues, marking a significant advancement in therapeutic medical treatments.
20 Feb 1929 American Samoa Becomes U.S. Territory: On February 20, 1929, American Samoa was officially organized as a territory of the United States. This marked a significant moment in the political status of the Pacific island group, establishing its formal relationship with the United States and defining its governance structure.
21 Feb 1929 Warlord Rebellion Battle in Shandong: In the first significant battle of the Warlord Rebellion in northeastern Shandong, China, a 24,000-strong rebel force led by Zhang Zongchang was decisively defeated at Zhifu by 7,000 National Revolutionary Army (NRA) troops, marking a critical moment in the Chinese Civil War period.
22 Feb 1929 Calvin Coolidge's Honorary Degree and Farewell Address: On February 22, 1929, U.S. President Calvin Coolidge received an honorary Doctor of Law degree from George Washington University. During the commencement ceremony, he delivered a significant farewell address that commemorated George Washington's 197th birthday. In his speech, Coolidge referenced Washington's own Farewell Address, emphasizing the importance of avoiding permanent foreign alliances and highlighting foundational principles of American diplomacy.
23 Feb 1929 Birth of Elston Howard, Pioneering Baseball Player: Elston Howard was born on February 23, 1929, in St. Louis, Missouri. He would go on to become a groundbreaking African American baseball player, notably the first Black player for the New York Yankees, breaking racial barriers in Major League Baseball during the 1950s and 1960s.
24 Feb 1929 Franco-Belgian Military Accord Revealed: The Utrecht-based newspaper Dagblad published a groundbreaking article revealing the previously confidential details of the Franco-Belgian military accord. This secret treaty, negotiated between France and Belgium, represented a significant diplomatic and strategic development in the interwar period, highlighting the ongoing tensions and mutual defense considerations in Europe following World War I.
25 Feb 1929 Attempted Break-in at Jack Dempsey's Home: A mysterious incident occurred at the Miami Beach residence of retired boxing champion Jack Dempsey. An unknown intruder and an accomplice attempted to break into Dempsey's bedroom. When Dempsey was startled awake and jumped out of bed, the assailant fired a revolver, but missed. The intruder subsequently escaped through the bedroom window. The motive remained unclear, with speculation ranging from a random burglary to a potential kidnapping plot targeting the famous boxer.
26 Feb 1929 Establishment of Grand Teton National Park: On February 26, 1929, President Calvin Coolidge signed legislation establishing the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, protecting approximately 96,000 acres (390 square kilometers) of stunning mountainous landscape. This significant conservation effort preserved one of the most iconic mountain ranges in the United States, ensuring the protection of its unique geological features, diverse wildlife, and breathtaking natural scenery.
27 Feb 1929 US-Russia Trade Agreement Signed: On February 27, 1929, the United States and Russia signed a significant trade agreement, marking an important diplomatic and economic moment in international relations during the interwar period.
28 Feb 1929 Communist Headquarters Raid in Hungary: A significant police operation targeted communist headquarters in Hungary, resulting in 60 arrests of predominantly Russian and German nationals. Authorities claimed to have successfully disrupted a potential communist plot aimed at overthrowing the government, highlighting the political tensions and anti-communist sentiments of the late 1920s.