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

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

  • 01 Sep 1931 Lou Gehrig's Remarkable Baseball Performance: On September 1, 1931, New York Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig demonstrated his extraordinary baseball skills by hitting his 3rd grand slam in just 4 days and his 6th consecutive home run. This performance highlighted Gehrig's incredible batting prowess during the early 1930s and contributed to his legendary status in baseball history.
  • 02 Sep 1931 Uneventful Day in Global History: On September 2, 1931, no significant historical events were recorded. While this day might seem unremarkable, it represents a moment of relative global calm during a complex period between World War I and World War II. Such 'quiet' days are also part of historical narrative, highlighting that not every day is marked by dramatic events.
  • 03 Sep 1931 Britain and France Declare War on Nazi Germany: In a pivotal moment of World War II, Great Britain and France officially declared war on Nazi Germany in response to its invasion of Poland on September 1st, 1939. This declaration marked the formal beginning of World War II in Europe, signaling the start of a global conflict that would dramatically reshape world history.
  • 04 Sep 1931 Birth of Javier Solís, Mexican Singer: Javier Solís, a renowned Mexican singer and actor, was born on September 4, 1931, in Mexico City. Known for his powerful voice and contributions to ranchera and bolero music, Solís became one of the most celebrated musical artists of his era. He was part of the famous 'Three Gardenias' alongside Pedro Infante and Jorge Negrete, and made significant contributions to Mexican popular music during the mid-20th century.
  • 05 Sep 1931 Tragic Death of Scottish Soccer Player John Thomson: John Thomson, a promising young Scottish soccer player, tragically died during a Celtic-Rangers match in a fatal on-field accident. Thomson, who was only 22 years old at the time of his death, was a talented goalkeeper for Celtic Football Club. His untimely passing shocked the Scottish sporting community and became a significant moment in soccer history.
  • 06 Sep 1931 Juliana Walanika: Hawaiian Nightingale Passes Away: Juliana Walanika, known as the 'Hawaiian Nightingale', was a renowned court singer who was born in 1846 during the Kingdom of Hawaii era. Her passing marked the end of a significant musical legacy in Hawaiian cultural history.
  • 07 Sep 1931 King George V's Royal Salary Reduction: In a remarkable gesture of solidarity during the Great Depression, King George V voluntarily reduced his annual royal income by £50,000 on September 7, 1931. This symbolic act demonstrated the monarchy's awareness of the widespread economic suffering and willingness to share in the national economic burden.
  • 08 Sep 1931 Omar Mukhtar, Libyan Revolutionary, Executed: Omar Mukhtar, a 73-year-old Libyan revolutionary and resistance leader against Italian colonial rule, was hanged five days after being wounded and captured in battle, becoming a symbol of resistance and national heroism.
  • 09 Sep 1931 Murder of Salvatore Maranzano: Salvatore Maranzano, a powerful 45-year-old Sicilian-born American mob boss, was assassinated in a calculated hit at the New York Central Building. Four gangsters hired by rival mobster Lucky Luciano carried out the murder, marking a significant turning point in the organizational structure of organized crime in the United States.
  • 10 Sep 1931 1931 Belize Hurricane Disaster: On September 10, 1931, a catastrophic hurricane struck Belize, causing unprecedented destruction in St. George's Caye and Belize City. The hurricane made landfall with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h), resulting in massive loss of life and widespread infrastructure damage. Estimates suggest between 1,500 to 2,500 people perished, making it the deadliest hurricane in Belize's recorded history.
  • 11 Sep 1931 Birth of Salvatore Maranzano, Mafia Boss: Salvatore Maranzano was a prominent Italian-American organized crime figure who played a significant role in the early development of the American Mafia. Born in Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily, in 1868, Maranzano was a key leader during the Castellammarese War and briefly became the 'Boss of Bosses' before being assassinated in 1931 by Lucky Luciano.
  • 12 Sep 1931 George Jones: Country Music Legend Born: George Jones, a pivotal figure in American country music, was born on this date. He would become renowned for iconic songs like "White Lightning", "He Stopped Loving Her Today", and "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair", significantly influencing the country music genre.
  • 13 Sep 1931 Deadly Bombing in Hungary: A tragic terrorist attack occurred near the town of Biatorbágy in Hungary, where a bomb planted in a viaduct resulted in the devastating loss of twenty-two lives. This incident underscores the political volatility and violence of the era.
  • 14 Sep 1931 Nazi Party Gains Significant Electoral Power: In a pivotal moment for German political history, the Nazi Party achieved a remarkable electoral breakthrough, becoming the second largest political party in Germany. This electoral success marked a critical turning point in Adolf Hitler's rise to power, signaling growing public support for the Nazi ideology during the tumultuous Weimar Republic period.
  • 15 Sep 1931 Invergordon Mutiny in the British Royal Navy: On September 15, 1931, a significant labor protest erupted in the British Royal Navy when sailors began striking against substantial salary reductions. The mutiny, which took place at the Scottish port of Invergordon, involved approximately 1,000 sailors from the Atlantic Fleet who collectively refused to follow orders in response to severe pay cuts implemented during the economic challenges of the Great Depression.
  • 16 Sep 1931 Mukden Incident: Japan's Invasion of Manchuria: Japan staged the Mukden Incident, a false flag operation that served as a pretext for the invasion and occupation of Manchuria. This event marked a significant escalation of Japanese imperial ambitions in East Asia and was a precursor to broader conflicts in World War II.
  • 17 Sep 1931 First Long-Playing Record Demonstration: RCA Victor demonstrated the first Long-Playing (LP) record in New York City, marking a significant moment in music recording technology. Despite the innovative potential, the initial venture did not achieve commercial success.
  • 18 Sep 1931 Mukden Incident: Japan's False Flag Operation in Manchuria: On September 18, 1931, Japanese military personnel orchestrated a sophisticated false flag operation by detonating a small quantity of dynamite near a railway line owned by Japan's South Manchuria Railway close to Mukden (now Shenyang). Although the explosion was intentionally weak and failed to significantly damage the track, the Imperial Japanese Army strategically used this manufactured event to accuse Chinese dissidents of sabotage, thereby creating a pretext for a full-scale military invasion and subsequent occupation of Manchuria.
  • 19 Sep 1931 Japanese Invasion of Mukden: On September 19, 1931, Japanese Imperial Army troops launched a strategic military operation in Mukden, South Manchuria, marking a significant escalation of Japanese imperial expansion in China. The invasion resulted in the swift occupation of the city, with minimal Japanese casualties and substantial Chinese losses, signaling the beginning of Japan's aggressive territorial ambitions in the region.
  • 20 Sep 1931 Britain Abandons Gold Standard: The British government officially abandoned the gold standard, a pivotal economic decision that signaled the end of the classical gold standard era and represented a major shift in monetary policy during the global economic challenges of the early 1930s.
  • 21 Sep 1931 Britain Suspends Gold Standard Emergency Measure: On September 21, 1931, the British government took a dramatic economic step by rapidly passing emergency legislation to suspend the gold standard. The bill was swiftly approved by both the House of Commons and House of Lords, and received royal assent on the same day, marking a significant moment in British monetary policy.
  • 22 Sep 1931 United Kingdom Abandons Gold Standard: On September 22, 1931, the United Kingdom made a significant economic decision by abandoning the gold standard, which marked a pivotal moment in global monetary policy during the Great Depression era.
  • 23 Sep 1931 Soviet Union Condemns Japanese Invasion of Manchuria: On September 23, 1931, the Soviet Union officially expressed its diplomatic disapproval of Japan's military invasion and occupation of Manchuria, a northeastern region of China. This diplomatic communication marked an important moment of international tension during the lead-up to the Second Sino-Japanese War, highlighting the growing geopolitical complexities in East Asia during the early 1930s.
  • 24 Sep 1931 US Diplomatic Intervention in Manchurian Incident: Simultaneously on September 24, 1931, the United States took diplomatic action by sending official notes to both China and Japan concerning the escalating Manchurian incident. These diplomatic communications reflected the United States' growing concern about the potential for regional conflict and its desire to understand and potentially mediate the emerging geopolitical tension.
  • 25 Sep 1931 Gandhi's Visit to Lancashire Cotton Mills: On September 25, 1931, Mahatma Gandhi visited the Lancashire cotton mills during his trip to the United Kingdom. This visit was significant in the context of the Indian independence movement and the economic tensions between British textile manufacturers and Indian cotton producers. Gandhi, known for his advocacy of Indian self-reliance and opposition to British colonial economic policies, sought to engage directly with workers whose livelihoods were impacted by colonial trade dynamics.
  • 26 Sep 1931 Marriage of Claus von Stauffenberg: On September 26, 1931, Earl Claus von Stauffenberg married Freiin Nina von Lerchenfeld in a ceremony that united two prominent aristocratic families of Bavaria. Claus von Stauffenberg, who would later become famous for his role in the July 20 plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler, began his personal life with this significant union.
  • 27 Sep 1931 Multiple Countries Abandon Gold Standard: In a significant economic shift, the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, and Egypt simultaneously abandoned the gold standard. This decision was part of a broader global economic response to the ongoing Great Depression, signaling a major transformation in international monetary policy.
  • 28 Sep 1931 Denmark Abandons Gold Standard: Denmark officially abandoned the gold standard, a significant monetary policy decision reflecting the global economic challenges of the early 1930s during the Great Depression.
  • 29 Sep 1931 Record Unemployment in Britain: The British Ministry of Labour reported a staggering unemployment rate, with 2.8 million people out of work, highlighting the severe economic challenges facing the United Kingdom during the Great Depression.
  • 30 Sep 1931 British Pound Sterling Devalues Dramatically: The British government announced a substantial 20% devaluation of the pound sterling within just 10 days, marking a critical moment following the abandonment of the gold standard.