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

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

01 Mar 1931 Albert Speer Joins Nazi Party: Albert Speer, who would later become a prominent architect and minister in Nazi Germany, officially joined the Nazi Party, marking the beginning of his political involvement.
02 Mar 1931 Birth of Mikhail Gorbachev: Mikhail Gorbachev, a pivotal figure in late 20th-century world history, was born in Privolnoye, Russian SFSR. He would later become the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991, playing a crucial role in the dissolution of the Soviet Union and introducing transformative policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring).
03 Mar 1931 Star-Spangled Banner Becomes US National Anthem: On March 3, 1931, President Herbert Hoover signed a congressional resolution officially designating 'The Star-Spangled Banner' as the National Anthem of the United States, formally recognizing the historic song written by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812.
04 Mar 1931 Gandhi-Irwin Negotiations: British Viceroy Edward Frederick Lindley Wood and Mahatma Gandhi met to sign a landmark agreement that would release political prisoners and ensure salt usage rights for the poorest populations in India.
05 Mar 1931 Gandhi-Irwin Pact Signed: A landmark agreement was signed between Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin, British Viceroy of India, effectively ending a period of civil disobedience. The pact included critical provisions such as the release of political prisoners, withdrawal of restrictive ordinances against the Indian National Congress, and lifting the ban on salt production and collection by Indians. This agreement was a significant diplomatic breakthrough in India's struggle for independence.
06 Mar 1931 Birth of Hal Needham, Legendary Hollywood Stuntman: Harold 'Hal' Needham was born on March 6, 1931, in Memphis, Tennessee. He would go on to become one of the most renowned and influential stunt performers and film directors in Hollywood history. Needham revolutionized stunt work in cinema, performing dangerous and spectacular stunts for numerous films and later directing action-packed movies like 'Smokey and the Bandit'. His innovative techniques and fearless approach transformed the stunt industry and inspired generations of stunt performers.
07 Mar 1931 Finland's Parliament House Inauguration: The Parliament House of Finland was officially inaugurated in Helsinki, marking a significant milestone in the country's democratic governance. This architectural landmark symbolized Finland's commitment to parliamentary democracy in the early 20th century.
08 Mar 1931 Birth of Neil Postman: Neil Postman was born in New York City, who would later become a prominent author, media theorist, and influential cultural critic. His future work would critically examine technology's impact on society and communication.
09 Mar 1931 Invention of the Electron Microscope: German physicist Ernst Ruska pioneered a groundbreaking scientific instrument by developing the first electron microscope. This revolutionary device allowed scientists to observe microscopic structures with unprecedented resolution of 50 nanometers, dramatically expanding humanity's ability to visualize and understand minute details of materials and biological structures that were previously invisible with traditional light microscopes.
10 Mar 1931 Gandhi-Irwin Pact Signed: Mahatma Gandhi and Viceroy of India Lord Irwin signed a landmark agreement that allowed coastal citizens to produce their own salt, granted amnesty to political prisoners, and committed to a second Round Table Conference in London regarding Indian independence. In exchange, Gandhi agreed to suspend his civil disobedience campaign, marking a significant diplomatic breakthrough in India's independence movement.
11 Mar 1931 Birth of Rupert Murdoch: Rupert Murdoch, an influential Australian-born media entrepreneur, is born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He would go on to become one of the most powerful and controversial media moguls in the world, founding and controlling global media corporations like News Corporation and 21st Century Fox.
12 Mar 1931 Mahatma Gandhi's Salt March Begins: Mahatma Gandhi embarks on his historic 240-mile Salt March, a pivotal act of non-violent civil disobedience against British colonial rule in India. The march, which would challenge the British salt tax monopoly, symbolized peaceful resistance and became a transformative moment in the Indian independence movement. Gandhi's strategic protest highlighted the economic oppression of the British Raj and galvanized widespread support for India's struggle for freedom.
13 Mar 1931 Communist Council Member Murdered by Nazis: Ernst Henning, a German Communist Party member of the Hamburg city council, was brutally murdered by three Nazi Party members. This violent act exemplified the escalating political violence and ideological conflicts in Germany during the Weimar Republic's final years, reflecting the growing tensions between communist and Nazi political groups.
14 Mar 1931 India's First Talking Film Released: Alam Ara, a groundbreaking milestone in Indian cinema, was released, marking the beginning of the talking film era in India. This film represented a significant technological and cultural leap in the Indian film industry, transitioning from silent films to sound-enabled productions.
15 Mar 1931 SS Viking Explosion off Newfoundland: On March 15, 1931, the SS Viking exploded off the Horse Islands near Newfoundland during the filming of the movie *The Viking*, resulting in the tragic deaths of 27 people out of 147 on board. Among the casualties was Varick Frissell, an American filmmaker who was present during the shooting of extra footage.
16 Mar 1931 Political Violence in Altona, Hamburg: A violent confrontation occurred between Communists and Nazis in Altona, Hamburg. Communists retaliated for the murder of Ernst Henning by storming Nazi Party headquarters and killing a Nazi member. In response, the Nazi leadership officially condemned the murder, and the Communist perpetrators surrendered to the police under NSDAP party instructions.
17 Mar 1931 Stalin's Political Maneuver Against Lenin's Widow: Josef Stalin politically marginalized Nadezhda Krupskaya, Vladimir Lenin's widow, by removing her from the Soviet Central Committee, demonstrating his growing power and consolidation of control within the Communist Party leadership.
18 Mar 1931 Nevada Legalizes Gambling: The state of Nevada passed legislation to legalize gambling, a pivotal moment that would later transform the state's economy and establish Las Vegas as a global entertainment destination.
19 Mar 1931 Nevada Gambling Legalization: Nevada Governor Fred Balzar signs Assembly Bill 98, comprehensively legalizing various forms of gambling. The law allows multiple gambling types including faro, roulette, blackjack, poker, and slot machines. Licensing fees are established, and the legal gambling age is set at 21, transforming Nevada's economic landscape.
20 Mar 1931 Bishop Warns Against Nazi Ideology: Bishop Schreiber delivers a critical public warning against the rising national-socialist movement in Berlin, highlighting early ecclesiastical resistance to Nazi ideology.
21 Mar 1931 Execution of Bhagat Singh, Indian Revolutionary: Bhagat Singh, a prominent Indian revolutionary and freedom fighter, was executed by British colonial authorities. Known for his radical anti-colonial stance and socialist ideals, Singh was a key figure in India's independence movement who advocated for armed resistance against British rule.
22 Mar 1931 Birth of William Shatner: William Shatner, the iconic Canadian actor best known for his portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise, was born in Montreal, Quebec. Born to a Jewish family, Shatner would go on to become a prolific actor, director, author, and cultural icon who significantly influenced science fiction and popular entertainment in the 20th century.
23 Mar 1931 Execution of Indian Revolutionary Leaders: On March 23, 1931, three prominent Indian revolutionary leaders - Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru, and Sukhdev Thapar - were hanged by the British Government in Lahore Jail. These young freedom fighters were executed for their role in the Indian independence movement, specifically for their involvement in the killing of a British police deputy superintendent. Despite their request to be shot by a firing squad, they were hanged, becoming martyrs in India's struggle against colonial rule.
24 Mar 1931 Tragic Film Production Disaster: SS Viking Explosion: On March 24, 1931, a devastating accident occurred during the filming of the movie *The Viking* when the SS *Viking* exploded near the Horse Islands. The tragic incident resulted in the death of 27 people, including Varick Frissell, an American filmmaker. This catastrophic event highlighted the dangerous conditions of maritime filmmaking in the early 1930s and the risks taken to capture cinematic footage.
25 Mar 1931 Scottsboro Boys Arrested in Landmark Civil Rights Case: Nine young Black men were arrested in Alabama and falsely accused of raping two white women, marking a pivotal moment in the history of racial injustice in the United States. This case would become a significant symbol of systemic racism and judicial inequality in the early 20th century.
26 Mar 1931 International Conference on Grain Prices: An international conference involving 48 nations convened in Rome to address the critical issue of low grain prices. The conference highlighted growing tensions around agricultural trade, particularly criticizing the Soviet Union's practice of flooding the global market with surplus grain, which was disrupting international agricultural economics.
27 Mar 1931 Germany and Austria Sign Customs Pact: Germany and Austria formalized a customs union agreement, signaling closer economic cooperation between the two nations in the early 1930s, a period of significant political and economic tension in Europe.
28 Mar 1931 National Woman's Party Challenges Workforce Discrimination: The National Woman's Party escalated its campaign against workplace gender discrimination, gaining support from several state governors. In response to the Cotton-Textile Institute's directive to eliminate women from night shift work, the organization sent telegrams to governors in all 48 states, highlighting the widespread bias against women workers, particularly married women.
29 Mar 1931 Britain Warns Austria Over Customs Agreement with Germany: In a diplomatic intervention, Britain cautioned Austria against proceeding with a proposed customs agreement with Germany. The warning specifically cited potential violations of the 1922 reconstruction protocol, which had originally stipulated that Austria must provide equal tariff treatment to all countries. This diplomatic tension highlighted the complex economic and political relationships in Europe during the interwar period, reflecting ongoing concerns about potential German economic expansion.
30 Mar 1931 Uneventful Day in 1931: While no specific significant historical event was recorded for March 30, 1931, this does not diminish the ongoing historical context of the early 1930s. This period was marked by the Great Depression, which was profoundly impacting global economies, social structures, and political landscapes. The absence of a notable event on this specific date does not mean nothing of importance was happening in the broader world.
31 Mar 1931 Tragic Plane Crash Kills Knute Rockne: Transcontinental & Western Air Flight 599 crashed near Bazaar, Kansas, resulting in the death of eight passengers, including the legendary University of Notre Dame head football coach Knute Rockne. The crash was a significant loss for the sports world and the Notre Dame community, cutting short the life of one of college football's most influential coaches.