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

Major Events of November 1929: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 Nov 1929 Australia Abolishes Compulsory Military Service: The Australian government officially ended compulsory military conscription, marking a significant shift in national defense policy and reflecting changing attitudes towards mandatory military service.
- 03 Nov 1929 Anti-Young Plan Referendum and Political Unrest in Berlin: German National People's Party members celebrated obtaining signatures for an anti-Young Plan referendum. The event escalated into street fighting between Der Stahlhelm (nationalist veterans' organization) and German Communists, reflecting the intense political polarization in Weimar Germany.
- 04 Nov 1929 Wall Street Continues Downward Spiral After Black Tuesday: Stock market trading returned to a manageable volume of 6.1 million shares. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 5.79%, extinguishing the brief rally that followed the stock market crash, as an anticipated buying surge failed to materialize, signaling continued economic uncertainty.
- 05 Nov 1929 British House of Commons Recognizes Soviet Union: On November 5, 1929, the British House of Commons voted to officially recognize the Soviet Union, with a decisive vote of 324 to 199. This diplomatic milestone represented a significant shift in international relations, acknowledging the Soviet state and potentially opening channels for future political and economic engagement.
- 06 Nov 1929 Junkers G.38 Maiden Flight: The innovative Junkers G.38, a large German transport aircraft, completed its first successful flight in Dessau. This groundbreaking aircraft represented a significant advancement in aviation technology and design during the interwar period.
- 07 Nov 1929 Bank of Tennessee Failure: The Bank of Tennessee fails, triggering a cascading series of bank failures in the following days, which would contribute to the economic instability preceding the Great Depression.
- 08 Nov 1929 Einstein Receives Honorary Doctorate from Sorbonne: Albert Einstein was awarded an honorary doctorate by the prestigious Sorbonne University in Paris, recognizing his groundbreaking contributions to theoretical physics and scientific understanding.
- 09 Nov 1929 Imre Kertész Birth: Imre Kertész, a renowned Hungarian writer and Holocaust survivor, was born on this date. He would later become a Nobel Prize laureate in Literature in 2002, recognized for his profound works that explore the Holocaust experience and human suffering.
- 10 Nov 1929 Portuguese Government Pardons Exiled Military Officers: In a significant political reconciliation, the Cabinet Council of Portugal officially pardoned 86 military officers who had been previously exiled to the Azores for their involvement in a failed plot against the government in 1927. This act of clemency represented an important step towards national healing and potentially reducing political tensions within the Portuguese military establishment.
- 11 Nov 1929 Ambassador Bridge Connects United States and Canada: The Ambassador Bridge, a critical international transportation infrastructure, was officially opened, connecting Detroit, Michigan in the United States with Windsor, Ontario in Canada. This suspension bridge spans the Detroit River, becoming a vital link for cross-border trade, commerce, and cultural exchange between the two nations. The bridge represents a significant milestone in North American transportation history, facilitating easier movement of people and goods between the United States and Canada.
- 12 Nov 1929 Jesse Livermore's Market Commentary During Stock Market Crash: On November 12, 1929, renowned financial investor Jesse Lauriston Livermore provided a critical market analysis during the early stages of the Great Depression. He argued that stocks had been driven to unreasonably low levels due to widespread panic, asserting that the economic fundamentals remained sound. Livermore believed investors were irrationally selling high-quality securities without considering their intrinsic value, and suggested that the market's downturn was an overreaction to a typical post-summer economic slowdown.
- 13 Nov 1929 Stock Market Crash of 1929: On November 13th, 1929, the stock market experienced a dramatic downturn, with The Times average plummeting from a peak of 452 to 224, representing a staggering 50% decline in just over two months. This event was a critical moment in the early stages of the Great Depression, signaling the severe economic instability that would grip the United States and the world in the following years.
- 14 Nov 1929 Uneventful Day in 1929: While no specific major historical events were documented for November 14, 1929, this period was during the early stages of the Great Depression, which had begun with the stock market crash on October 29, 1929 (Black Tuesday). The global economic landscape was undergoing significant transformation during this time, with widespread financial uncertainty and economic challenges affecting many countries.
- 15 Nov 1929 Hoover Convenes Business Leadership Conference on Economic Crisis: In response to the economic turmoil following the stock market crash, President Herbert Hoover announced plans to host a critical conference bringing together the nation's top business leaders and government department heads. The meeting was designed to collaboratively discuss strategies for addressing the rapidly deteriorating economic conditions and potential recovery approaches.
- 16 Nov 1929 Financial Chronicle Report on Money Supply Contraction: The Financial Chronicle reported a significant monetary contraction in rural districts during November 1929. Chase National Bank documented a substantial $1,096,000,000 decrease in money supply within a single week. The total money supply dropped from $6,801,000,000 on October 16 to $4,172,000,000 on November 13. Federal Reserve Banks noted continued reduction in member bank borrowing, with New York's discount holdings declining to $126,178,000. This event occurred during the early stages of the Great Depression, signaling severe economic stress and liquidity challenges.
- 17 Nov 1929 Stalin Removes Nicolai Bukharin from Politburo: Joseph Stalin politically marginalized Nicolai Bukharin by removing him from the Politburo, a significant moment in the internal power struggles of the Soviet Communist Party. This action was part of Stalin's broader consolidation of power and elimination of potential political rivals.
- 18 Nov 1929 Grand Banks Earthquake of 1929: A significant submarine earthquake with a Richter magnitude of 7.2 occurred off the south coast of Newfoundland in the Atlantic Ocean. The powerful seismic event broke 12 submarine transatlantic telegraph cables and triggered a devastating tsunami that destroyed numerous communities in the Burin Peninsula area, causing widespread destruction and significant communication disruptions.
- 19 Nov 1929 Hoover's Railway Executive Conference: U.S. President Herbert Hoover convened a strategic meeting in Washington with twelve prominent American railway executives to discuss the state of the nation's transportation infrastructure and potential economic strategies during the early stages of the Great Depression.
- 20 Nov 1929 Dow Jones Industrial Average Recovery: The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 248.49 points, signaling a week of steady recovery following the devastating stock market crash of October 29, 1929. This marked an early attempt at financial stabilization during the early stages of the Great Depression.
- 21 Nov 1929 Dow Jones Industrial Average Recovery: The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 248.49 points after a week of steady recovery that helped to erase most of the losses incurred before October 29, signaling potential economic stabilization following the initial stock market crash.
- 22 Nov 1929 NYSE Bookkeeping Recovery Day: Following the tumultuous financial transactions of recent days, the New York Stock Exchange remained closed to conduct a comprehensive 'clean up day', focusing on resolving bookkeeping errors and reconciling financial records in the aftermath of significant market volatility.
- 23 Nov 1929 Stock Market Crash of 1929: Hoover's Misguided Optimism: On November 23, 1929, the United States stock market experienced a catastrophic downturn, marking a critical moment in the early stages of the Great Depression. Despite the severe market plunge, President Herbert Hoover attempted to reassure the public by claiming market stability, a statement that would later be seen as dangerously out of touch with the economic reality. The sideways trading indicated significant investor uncertainty and panic, signaling the beginning of a profound economic crisis that would reshape American society.
- 24 Nov 1929 Formation of the Lapua Movement in Finland: On November 24, 1929, the Finnish far-right Lapua Movement was officially initiated when a group of former White Guard members, led by Vihtori Kosola, dramatically disrupted a communist gathering at the Workers' House in Lapua, Finland. This event marked the beginning of a radical anti-communist political movement that would significantly impact Finnish political dynamics in the early 1930s.
- 25 Nov 1929 Belgian Government Collapse: Jaspar Cabinet Falls: The government led by Prime Minister Henri Jaspar experienced a political collapse, marking a significant moment in Belgian interwar political history. The fall of the government likely resulted from internal political tensions or a parliamentary vote of no confidence.
- 26 Nov 1929 Uneventful Day in 1929: While no major historical events were specifically documented for November 26, 1929, this period was situated during the early stages of the Great Depression, which had begun with the stock market crash on October 29, 1929. The global economic landscape was experiencing significant turbulence, with financial uncertainty and economic challenges prevalent across many countries.
- 27 Nov 1929 Uneventful Day in 1929: While no specific major historical events were recorded for November 27, 1929, this period was part of the interwar years following the stock market crash of October 1929, which marked the beginning of the Great Depression. The global economic landscape was undergoing significant transformations during this time, with widespread economic uncertainty and social challenges emerging across many countries.
- 28 Nov 1929 Stock Market Continues Downward Spiral: The ongoing economic crisis deepened as the stock market continued its precipitous decline following the catastrophic October crash. The Dow Jones Industrial Average experienced further significant losses, signaling the intensifying financial instability that would lead to the Great Depression.
- 29 Nov 1929 First Flight Over the South Pole: U.S. Admiral Richard E. Byrd led a groundbreaking expedition to become the first person to fly over the South Pole, marking a significant milestone in polar exploration. Using a Ford tri-motor aircraft named the Floyd Bennett, Byrd and his team navigated the challenging Antarctic terrain, completing a historic journey that expanded human understanding of polar geography.
- 30 Nov 1929 Canadian Football League Grey Cup Championship: The Hamilton Tigers defeated the Regina Roughriders 14-3 in the 17th Canadian Football League (CFL) Grey Cup championship game, showcasing the team's football prowess and marking an important moment in early Canadian sports history.