Major Events of April 1930: 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 April 1930 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of April 1930: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Apr 1930 Brüning's Political Threat in Weimar Germany: German Chancellor Heinrich Brüning threatened to dissolve the Reichstag if it did not comply with his proposed policies, highlighting the political tensions in the Weimar Republic during this tumultuous period.
02 Apr 1930 Haile Selassie Becomes Emperor of Ethiopia: On April 2, 1930, Haile Selassie was officially proclaimed Emperor of Ethiopia, succeeding Empress Zewditu following her mysterious death. This marked a significant moment in Ethiopian history, as Selassie would go on to become a transformative leader who modernized the country and played a crucial role in resisting Italian colonial aggression.
03 Apr 1930 Coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie: Ras Tafari Makonnen ascends to the throne as Emperor Haile Selassie of Abyssinia (Ethiopia), marking a significant moment in Ethiopian history. This coronation would later have profound implications for African independence and global politics.
04 Apr 1930 Frank B. Kellogg's International Diplomacy Speech: Former U.S. Secretary of State Frank B. Kellogg delivered a pivotal speech in Chicago, arguing against American isolationism and highlighting the crucial role of the World Court for a nation with extensive international commercial interests.
05 Apr 1930 Gandhi's Salt March: Civil Disobedience Against British Salt Laws: In a landmark act of civil disobedience, Mohandas Gandhi deliberately broke British colonial salt laws by marching to the sea and producing salt, challenging the British monopoly on salt production and taxation. This symbolic protest was a pivotal moment in India's non-violent independence movement.
06 Apr 1930 Gandhi's Salt Satyagraha Begins: Mahatma Gandhi dramatically initiates the Salt Satyagraha by raising a lump of salt and mud, symbolically challenging British colonial salt taxation laws. With his powerful declaration, "With this, I am shaking the foundations of the British Empire," Gandhi launches a pivotal moment of non-violent resistance against British imperial rule.
07 Apr 1930 Soviet Union Establishes Ministry of Physical Culture: On April 7, 1930, the Soviet government formally established the Ministry of Physical Culture, signaling a strategic commitment to promoting physical fitness, sports, and athletic development as part of the state's broader social and ideological agenda. This ministry would play a crucial role in organizing national sports programs, physical education initiatives, and supporting elite athletic training across the Soviet Union.
08 Apr 1930 Journey's End Film Premiere: The war film 'Journey's End' made its debut at the Gaiety Theatre in New York City, marking an important moment in early cinema's portrayal of World War I experiences.
09 Apr 1930 Birth of Nathaniel Branden: Nathaniel Branden, a prominent Canadian-American psychotherapist, philosopher, and key figure in the development of Objectivist psychology, was born on April 9, 1930. He would later become known for his work with Ayn Rand and his significant contributions to self-esteem psychology.
10 Apr 1930 British Colonial Police Raid Congress Headquarters: In a politically charged move, British colonial police conducted a raid on the Indian National Congress headquarters in Bombay, arresting two individuals. This action reflects the growing tension between the Indian independence movement and British colonial authorities during the early 20th century.
11 Apr 1930 Tokyo Stock Exchange Halts Trading Amid Market Panic: The Tokyo Stock Exchange was forced to suspend trading early in the day due to an intense selling panic, reflecting significant market volatility and investor uncertainty during the early stages of the Great Depression.
12 Apr 1930 Germany-Austria Trade Agreement: Germany and Austria formalized a bilateral trade agreement, reflecting the economic cooperation and diplomatic relations between the two Central European nations in the early stages of the interwar period.
13 Apr 1930 Salt Satyagraha Demonstration in Bombay: On April 13, 1930, approximately 500,000 people participated in a peaceful protest in Bombay (now Mumbai) as part of Mahatma Gandhi's Civil Disobedience Movement against British colonial salt laws. Demonstrators defied British restrictions on salt production and collection by symbolically throwing a large effigy representing the oppressive salt tax into the Indian Ocean. This massive, orderly demonstration was a powerful act of non-violent resistance that highlighted the growing Indian independence movement and drew international attention to the injustices of British colonial rule.
14 Apr 1930 Nehru's Arrest During Salt Law Protest: Indian independence leader Jawaharlal Nehru was arrested and charged with violating the salt law, a pivotal moment in India's civil disobedience movement against British colonial rule. This arrest was part of Mahatma Gandhi's broader Salt March campaign, which challenged the British monopoly on salt production and symbolized resistance to unjust colonial taxation.
15 Apr 1930 Indian Salt March Protest in Bombay: In a powerful act of civil disobedience, 500,000 people in Bombay demonstrated against British colonial salt laws, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's Salt March. Protesters symbolically threw an effigy representing the salt tax into the Indian Ocean, with Jawaharlal Nehru being arrested for violating the oppressive salt regulations. This event was a pivotal moment in India's independence movement, showcasing mass non-violent resistance against British imperial rule.
16 Apr 1930 Nazi Propaganda in Thuringian Schools: Wilhelm Frick, Nazi Party Interior Minister of Thuringia, introduced controversial nationalistic prayers in elementary schools. The prayers contained explicitly propagandistic content, including a line stating, 'I believe that thou wilt punish the betrayal of Germany and bless the actions of those who seek to free the Fatherland.' Liberal opponents challenged the prayers' constitutionality, marking an early instance of resistance against Nazi educational indoctrination.
17 Apr 1930 Indian Independence Demonstrators Sentenced: Twenty-seven Indian independence demonstrators, including Devdas Gandhi (son of Mahatma Gandhi), were sentenced for breaking the salt laws. Devdas received a three-month imprisonment, highlighting the ongoing civil disobedience movement against British colonial regulations.
18 Apr 1930 Chittagong Armoury Raid by Indian Revolutionaries: Indian revolutionaries, led by Surya Sen, conducted a bold and strategic raid on an armoury in the Bengal province of British India. The revolutionaries successfully seized the armoury and set it on fire, prompting British colonial authorities to declare martial law and deploy troops to suppress the uprising. This event was a significant moment in India's independence struggle.
19 Apr 1930 Warner Bros. Launches Looney Tunes: Warner Bros. released their groundbreaking first cartoon series, Looney Tunes, which would become a cornerstone of American animation history. This innovative series would continue to entertain audiences for four decades, revolutionizing the animation industry and creating iconic cartoon characters.
20 Apr 1930 Landmark War Film Premiere: The critically acclaimed anti-war film *All Quiet on the Western Front*, based on Erich Maria Remarque's novel, premiered at the prestigious Carthay Circle Theatre in Los Angeles. The film would go on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture and is considered a groundbreaking cinematic portrayal of World War I's human cost.
21 Apr 1930 Deadly Ohio State Penitentiary Fire: A catastrophic fire at the Ohio State Penitentiary in Columbus resulted in the tragic deaths of 320 inmates, exposing severe prison safety and overcrowding issues.
22 Apr 1930 London Naval Treaty Signed by Major Naval Powers: On April 22, 1930, the United Kingdom, Japan, and the United States signed the London Naval Treaty, a significant international agreement aimed at regulating submarine warfare and limiting naval shipbuilding. The treaty established strict quotas on the number and size of naval vessels, particularly heavy cruisers, in an effort to prevent an escalating naval arms race and promote international maritime stability in the aftermath of World War I.
23 Apr 1930 Chicago Crime Commission Declares War on Organized Crime: On April 23, 1930, the Chicago Crime Commission publicly identified and labeled 28 notorious gangsters as 'public enemies' during the height of Prohibition-era organized crime. The most infamous among them was Al Capone, who was specifically designated as 'Public Enemy Number 1', a term that would become legendary in American criminal history. The list also included other prominent Chicago mobsters such as Terry Druggan, Jack McGurn, Bugs Moran, Joseph Saltis, and Jack Zuta. This public declaration was a significant moment in law enforcement's efforts to combat organized crime and draw public attention to the rampant criminal activities plaguing Chicago during the Roaring Twenties.
24 Apr 1930 Marriage of Edda Mussolini and Galeazzo Ciano: On April 24, 1930, Edda Mussolini, daughter of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, married Count Galeazzo Ciano in a ceremony at the Church of San Giuseppe in Rome, Italy. Galeazzo Ciano was a prominent Fascist politician who would later serve as Italy's Foreign Minister and was a son-in-law to Mussolini. Their marriage was a significant union within the inner circle of the Fascist regime, symbolizing the close personal and political ties of the era.
25 Apr 1930 Turkestan–Siberia Railway Completion: On April 25, 1930, the construction of the Turkestan–Siberia Railway was finalized, marking a significant infrastructure achievement in the Soviet Union. This railway connected the Turkestan region with Siberia, enhancing transportation and economic integration across vast territories.
26 Apr 1930 Vithalbhai Patel's Legislative Assembly Resignation: Vithalbhai Patel resigned as President of the Central Legislative Assembly of India in sympathy with the independence movement, demonstrating his commitment to India's struggle for freedom from British colonial rule.
27 Apr 1930 First International Radiotelephone Call from a Moving Train: During the inauguration of a new train service from Montreal to Chicago, Canadian National Railway President Sir Henry Worth Thornton made history by conducting the first international radiotelephone call from a moving train. He successfully connected with multiple high-profile officials, including U.S. Commerce Secretary Robert P. Lamont, Canadian counterpart James Malcolm, and the company's vice president in London, demonstrating the emerging technological capabilities of long-distance communication.
28 Apr 1930 First Night Baseball Game in Organized Baseball: On April 28, 1930, the Independence Producers of the Class C Western Association hosted the first regular season night game in organized baseball history. The visiting Muskogee Chiefs defeated the home team under the lights with a score of 13–3, drawing a crowd of 1,000 spectators in Independence, Kansas.
29 Apr 1930 First England-Australia Telephone Connection: A groundbreaking telecommunications milestone was achieved with the establishment of the first direct telephone connection between England and Australia, dramatically reducing communication time between the two nations and marking a significant advancement in global telecommunications technology.
30 Apr 1930 Birth of Lawton Chiles, Notable Florida Politician: Lawton Chiles was born on this date, who would later become a prominent American politician serving as Governor of Florida from 1991 to 1998. Known for his grassroots campaigning style and commitment to public service, Chiles was a significant figure in Florida's political landscape during the late 20th century.