previous year1929
1930193119321933193419351936193719381939
1940next year

Major Events of July 1931: 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 July 1931 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of July 1931: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Jul 1931 First Global Aircraft Circumnavigation: Pioneering aviators Wiley Post and Harold Gatty become the first people to circumnavigate the globe in a single-engined monoplane aircraft, completing their historic journey in a record 8 days and 16 hours.
  • 02 Jul 1931 Post and Gatty Complete Record-Breaking World Flight: On July 2, 1931, aviators Wiley Post and Harold Gatty were celebrated with a prestigious ticker tape parade in New York City after completing a groundbreaking round-the-world flight in a remarkable 8 days and 16 hours. Their extraordinary achievement represented a significant milestone in early 20th-century aviation, demonstrating the rapid technological advancements and human potential for global exploration.
  • 03 Jul 1931 Max Schmeling Wins Heavyweight Boxing Title: Max Schmeling successfully defended his world heavyweight boxing title by technically knocking out Young Stribling in the 15th round at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, solidifying his position as a dominant boxer of the era.
  • 04 Jul 1931 Death of Prince Emanuele Filiberto, Duke of Aosta: Prince Emanuele Filiberto, 2nd Duke of Aosta, a prominent Italian general and Marshal of Italy, passed away. He was a significant military figure known for his leadership and service to Italy.
  • 05 Jul 1931 Death of Ismail Mahomed: Ismail Mahomed, the esteemed Chief Justice of South Africa and Namibia, passed away in 2000. His legacy includes being one of the first non-white judges to serve at the highest levels of the South African judicial system, playing a crucial role in the post-apartheid legal reforms.
  • 06 Jul 1931 Birth of Della Reese: Della Reese, a renowned African American actress, singer, and television personality, was born on this day in Detroit, Michigan. She would later become a celebrated performer and inspirational figure in entertainment.
  • 07 Jul 1931 Mussolini Restricts Catholic Political Participation: Benito Mussolini issued a decree prohibiting simultaneous membership in the National Fascist Party and Azione Cattolica, further consolidating his regime's control over religious and political affiliations in Italy.
  • 08 Jul 1931 Birth of Jerry Vale, Italian-American Singer: Jerry Vale, a renowned Italian-American popular singer known for his smooth vocal style and classic hits like 'Arriverderci Roma', was born on this date. Vale would become a prominent figure in the mid-20th century music scene, particularly in traditional pop and Italian-American musical genres.
  • 09 Jul 1931 Prussian Censorship of Literary Work: The Landtag of Prussia approved the removal of Erich Maria Remarque's anti-war novel *All Quiet on the Western Front* from school libraries, signaling growing censorship and suppression of critical literature in pre-Nazi Germany.
  • 10 Jul 1931 Bavaria Restricts Political Assemblies: In response to escalating political tensions and frequent violent incidents, the Bavarian government implemented a ban on outdoor political rallies, reflecting the volatile political climate of the early 1930s in Germany.
  • 11 Jul 1931 British Leaders Call for Global Disarmament: In a landmark international radio broadcast from London's Royal Albert Hall, three prominent British Prime Ministers - Ramsay MacDonald, David Lloyd George, and Stanley Baldwin - jointly appealed for global disarmament, reflecting the growing concerns about potential international conflicts in the interwar period.
  • 12 Jul 1931 Nazi Newspaper Temporarily Suppressed: The German government took decisive action by shutting down the Nazi newspaper *Völkischer Beobachter* for three weeks, signaling early tensions and governmental control over Nazi propaganda channels.
  • 13 Jul 1931 Srinagar Massacre of 1931: On July 13, 1931, a tragic and pivotal event occurred in Srinagar, Kashmir, where 22 Kashmiri civilians were brutally killed by Dogra police during a peaceful protest. The incident began when a young man stood up to recite the adhaan (Islamic call to prayer) at the Central Jail, where people were gathered awaiting the trial of Abdul Qadir. When the first man was shot for calling the prayer, another protestor immediately took his place, and this continued until 22 individuals were killed by the police. This massacre became a significant moment in Kashmir's struggle against oppressive colonial rule and marked a critical point in the region's resistance movement.
  • 14 Jul 1931 Establishment of Spanish Republican Cortes Generales: On July 14, 1931, a pivotal moment in Spanish political history occurred with the inaugural session of the Republican Cortes Generales. This marked a significant transition from monarchy to a democratic republican system, symbolizing a new era of political representation and governance in Spain.
  • 15 Jul 1931 Widespread Communist Unemployment Protests in Germany: Tensions escalated across Germany as Communists and police engaged in violent clashes during widespread unemployment demonstrations, reflecting the severe economic and political instability of the early 1930s.
  • 16 Jul 1931 Catastrophic Huang He River Flood: One of the most devastating natural disasters in recorded history occurred when the Huang He (Yellow) River in China experienced massive flooding, resulting in an unprecedented loss of human life. The flood killed between 850,000 and 4,000,000 people, making it the deadliest historic natural disaster of the 20th century. The extreme flooding was caused by prolonged heavy rainfall and inadequate river management, leading to widespread destruction across multiple provinces.
  • 17 Jul 1931 Tragic Accident During Scarface Film Production: On July 17, 1931, a serious on-set accident occurred during the filming of the classic gangster film 'Scarface'. Premature detonation of dynamite caps resulted in injuries to four actors and Gaylord Lloyd, the brother of famous silent film actor Harold Lloyd, who suffered a severe eye injury. The incident highlighted the dangerous practical effects and stunts common in early Hollywood filmmaking, where safety protocols were less stringent compared to modern film production standards.
  • 18 Jul 1931 Germany Implements Strict Currency Control Measures: In response to ongoing economic challenges during the early stages of the Great Depression, the German government introduced stringent financial regulations. These new decrees were designed to restrict foreign currency acquisition, including the implementation of a special visa system to control monetary exchanges and protect the national economy.
  • 19 Jul 1931 Binny Mills Protest Shooting in Bangalore: On July 19, 1931, a violent confrontation occurred at the Binny Mills in Bangalore, British India, where colonial police opened fire on a crowd of demonstrators. The incident resulted in eleven fatalities and approximately 200 people wounded, highlighting the tensions between the British colonial administration and local protesters during the pre-independence period.
  • 20 Jul 1931 Seven Powers Conference on German Economic Crisis: A critical international conference convened in London with representatives from seven major world powers (Great Britain, United States, France, Italy, Japan, Belgium, and Germany) to address the severe economic challenges facing Germany during the early stages of the Great Depression.
  • 21 Jul 1931 First Regular Seven-Day Television Broadcasting: CBS's New York City station pioneered the first consistent seven-day-a-week television broadcasting schedule in the United States, marking a significant milestone in media and entertainment technology.
  • 22 Jul 1931 Assassination Attempt on Bombay's Acting Governor: On July 22, 1931, Sir Ernest Hotson, the Acting Governor of Bombay, narrowly escaped an assassination attempt while visiting Fergusson College in Pune. An unknown assailant fired two shots at the governor, but fortunately, Hotson was unharmed. This incident occurred during a tumultuous period of Indian independence movement, reflecting the heightened political tensions and resistance against British colonial rule.
  • 23 Jul 1931 Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu Born: Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, the influential Māori Queen who would lead her people with dignity and grace, was born. She would become a pivotal figure in preserving Māori culture and advocating for indigenous rights.
  • 24 Jul 1931 Spanish King Alfonso XIII Abdicates: King Alfonso XIII of Spain abdicated while living in exile in Fontainebleau, France. He passed the right to the throne to his third son, 18-year-old Don Juan de Borbón, marking a significant moment in Spanish royal history.
  • 25 Jul 1931 Spanish King Alfonso XIII Abdicates: On July 25, 1931, King Alfonso XIII of Spain abdicated the throne while in exile in Fontainebleau, France. He passed the royal succession to his third son, 18-year-old Don Juan de Borbón, marking a significant moment in Spanish political history during the tumultuous transition from monarchy to republic.
  • 26 Jul 1931 Catastrophic China Floods of 1931: The 1931 China floods reached their devastating peak, becoming potentially the deadliest natural disaster in recorded human history. These massive floods along the Yangtze River basin caused unprecedented destruction and loss of life, dramatically impacting millions of people.
  • 27 Jul 1931 First British PM Visits Post-WWI Germany: Ramsay MacDonald made history as the first British Prime Minister to visit Berlin since the end of World War I. During his diplomatic mission, he publicly expressed admiration for Germany's post-war recovery efforts, signaling a potential thawing of international tensions and a diplomatic approach to healing war-time divisions.
  • 28 Jul 1931 Nazi Party Appoints Press Chief: Otto Dietrich was appointed as the Press Chief of the Nazi Party, a significant role in the party's propaganda and communication strategy during the rise of Nazi Germany.
  • 29 Jul 1931 German Banking Crisis Deepens: Germany declared a bank holiday amid growing financial instability, signaling significant economic challenges during the early stages of the Great Depression.
  • 30 Jul 1931 Lord Kylsant Convicted in Royal Mail Case: On July 30, 1931, Lord William Kylsant, a prominent British shipping magnate, was sentenced to one year in prison following a significant financial fraud trial related to the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company. The case was a landmark moment in early 20th-century corporate governance, highlighting the legal consequences of financial misrepresentation.
  • 31 Jul 1931 USS Constitution Recommissioned: The historic USS Constitution, also known as 'Old Ironsides', was recommissioned as an active vessel in the United States Navy. This recommissioning symbolized the ship's enduring legacy and continued importance as a maritime heritage icon, representing American naval history and resilience.