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Major Events of March 1933: 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 1933 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of March 1933: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Mar 1933 US Bank Holiday Crisis of 1933: In a critical economic intervention during the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared bank holidays in six US states to halt widespread bank runs and prevent potential financial collapse. This emergency measure was part of the initial steps of the New Deal to stabilize the banking system and restore public confidence in financial institutions.
  • 02 Mar 1933 Franklin D. Roosevelt Inaugurated as U.S. President: U.S. President Herbert Hoover is succeeded by Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR), who delivers his iconic inaugural address referencing the Great Depression, famously stating "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself". FDR is sworn in by Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes, marking the last Inauguration Day on March 4th in United States history.
  • 03 Mar 1933 Ernst Thälmann's Arrest: Ernst Thälmann, the presidential candidate for the German Communist Party (KPD), was arrested by Nazi authorities. This event was part of the broader political suppression following Hitler's rise to power, marking a critical moment in the erosion of democratic freedoms in Germany.
  • 04 Mar 1933 Franklin D. Roosevelt Outlines New Deal in Inaugural Address: During his inauguration, President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivers a landmark speech outlining his comprehensive economic recovery plan known as the 'New Deal', aimed at addressing the severe economic challenges of the Great Depression. His famous quote, 'The only thing we have to fear is fear itself', becomes a rallying cry for national resilience and hope.
  • 05 Mar 1933 Nazi Party Gains Significant Electoral Victory in Germany: Adolf Hitler's Nazi Party receives 43.9% of the vote in the Reichstag elections, a pivotal moment that would later enable the passage of the Enabling Act and the establishment of a totalitarian dictatorship in Germany.
  • 06 Mar 1933 FDR Declares Nationwide Bank Holiday: In a critical response to the ongoing Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a nationwide bank holiday, effectively halting all banking transactions to prevent further financial collapse and restore public confidence in the banking system.
  • 07 Mar 1933 Dollfuss Establishes Authoritarian Rule in Austria: Austrian Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss suspended parliamentary procedures, effectively transforming Austria's democratic system into an authoritarian regime. This marked a significant shift in Austrian political governance, setting the stage for increased political tensions in the lead-up to World War II.
  • 08 Mar 1933 Soviet Committees of Unwealthy Peasants Abolished: The Soviet government dissolved the Committees of Unwealthy Peasants, a group that had been instrumental in enforcing collective farming policies. These committees had previously been responsible for confiscating grain from local farmers for government use. In a tragic irony, the committee members themselves were left to starve alongside the villagers they had previously oppressed, reflecting the brutal consequences of Stalin's agricultural collectivization policies.
  • 09 Mar 1933 New Deal Begins: Emergency Banking Act Submitted: During the depths of the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt initiated a landmark legislative period by submitting the Emergency Banking Act to Congress, marking the start of his transformative New Deal policies aimed at economic recovery.
  • 10 Mar 1933 Long Beach Earthquake of 1933: A devastating 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck Long Beach, California, causing widespread destruction and significant loss of life. The earthquake killed 127 people, injured over 5,000 individuals, and destroyed more than 1,300 brick-and-mortar buildings, including most of the public schools in Long Beach. This seismic event highlighted the critical need for improved building codes and earthquake preparedness in California.
  • 11 Mar 1933 Franklin D. Roosevelt's First Inaugural Address and the Banking Crisis: On March 11, 1933, the United States was in the midst of the Great Depression, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt had just delivered his famous inaugural address four days earlier, declaring 'the only thing we have to fear is fear itself'. Following his speech, Roosevelt had initiated emergency banking reforms to stabilize the financial system. The Emergency Banking Act, passed on March 9, was beginning to restore public confidence in the banking system, with banks gradually reopening and citizens starting to redeposit their money.
  • 12 Mar 1933 FDR's First Fireside Chat and National Address: President Franklin Delano Roosevelt addressed the nation for the first time as President of the United States, delivering his inaugural 'Fireside Chat' directly from the White House. This groundbreaking radio broadcast was designed to reassure and inform Americans during the depths of the Great Depression, speaking plainly and directly to citizens about the economic challenges facing the country.
  • 13 Mar 1933 Great Depression: Bank Holiday Ends: President Franklin D. Roosevelt's mandated bank holiday concludes, allowing banks across the United States to reopen and begin restoring public confidence in the financial system during the depths of the Great Depression.
  • 14 Mar 1933 Churchill Advocates for Air Defense: In a pivotal speech to the British House of Commons, Winston Churchill passionately urged the creation of a robust air force capable of defending the civilian population, demonstrating early foresight into the growing military tensions in Europe.
  • 15 Mar 1933 NAACP Launches Anti-Segregation Campaign: The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) initiated a coordinated legal and social strategy to challenge racial segregation and discrimination in the United States.
  • 16 Mar 1933 Hitler Appoints Hjalmar Schacht to Reichsbank Presidency: On March 16, 1933, Adolf Hitler appointed Hjalmar Schacht as President of the Reichsbank (Bank of Germany), a pivotal moment in the economic restructuring of Nazi Germany. Schacht, a prominent economist and central banker, would play a crucial role in implementing Hitler's economic policies and rebuilding Germany's financial infrastructure after the economic devastation of the Weimar Republic.
  • 17 Mar 1933 Hitler Appoints Hjalmar Schacht as Economic Adviser: Adolf Hitler appointed Hjalmar Schacht as his chief economic adviser, a strategic move that would significantly influence Nazi Germany's economic policies and reconstruction efforts in the early years of the Third Reich.
  • 18 Mar 1933 Death of Italian Explorer Luigi A, Duke of the Abruzzi: Luigi A, Duke of the Abruzzi, a renowned Italian explorer famous for his expeditions in the Ruwenzori mountain range, passed away at the age of 60. Known for his mountaineering and geographical exploration achievements, he was a significant figure in early 20th-century Italian exploration.
  • 19 Mar 1933 Uneventful Day in 1933: While no major historical events were recorded for March 19, 1933, this period was during the early years of Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency and the Great Depression. The United States was in the midst of implementing New Deal policies to address economic challenges and rebuild the nation's economy following the stock market crash of 1929.
  • 20 Mar 1933 Establishment of Dachau Concentration Camp: Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler officially ordered the creation of Dachau concentration camp as Chief of Police of Munich and appointed Theodor Eicke as the camp commandant. This marked a critical moment in the Nazi regime's systematic persecution and imprisonment of political opponents and targeted groups.
  • 21 Mar 1933 Establishment of Dachau Concentration Camp: The first Nazi concentration camp, Dachau, was completed near Munich, Germany. This marked the beginning of the systematic imprisonment and persecution of political opponents, Jews, and other groups deemed undesirable by the Nazi regime. Dachau would become a model for future concentration camps and a symbol of the Holocaust's early infrastructure.
  • 22 Mar 1933 Establishment of Dachau Concentration Camp: Nazi Germany opens its first concentration camp, Dachau, marking a dark milestone in the early stages of the Nazi regime's systematic persecution. Located outside Munich, the camp was initially established to detain political opponents and would later become a model for other concentration camps during the Holocaust.
  • 23 Mar 1933 Enabling Act Transforms Germany into Dictatorship: The Reichstag passed the Enabling Act, granting Chancellor Adolf Hitler unprecedented dictatorial powers. By a vote of 441-94, the legislation allowed Hitler to enact laws without legislative approval, effectively dismantling Germany's democratic processes and establishing the legal foundation for Nazi totalitarian rule.
  • 24 Mar 1933 Nazi Germany's Enabling Act: The German Reichstag passes the Enabling Act of 1933, a pivotal legislative measure that grants Adolf Hitler unprecedented dictatorial powers, effectively transforming Germany from a democratic republic to a totalitarian state. This act allows Hitler to enact laws without the consent of the Reichstag, marking a critical moment in the rise of Nazi power.
  • 25 Mar 1933 First Car Race at Donington Park: On March 25, 1933, the historic Donington Park racing circuit in Leicestershire, England, hosted its inaugural automobile racing event. This marked a significant milestone in British motorsport history, establishing Donington Park as a pivotal venue for automotive competition. The circuit, located in the East Midlands, would go on to become one of the most renowned racing tracks in the United Kingdom, attracting motorsport enthusiasts and professional racers alike.
  • 26 Mar 1933 Death of Eddie Lang, Jazz Guitar Pioneer: Eddie Lang, a groundbreaking American jazz guitarist and influential musician of the early 20th century, passed away on March 26, 1933. Known for his innovative playing style and significant contributions to jazz and popular music, Lang was a key figure in developing the guitar's role in jazz ensembles. He collaborated with many notable musicians of his era, including Bing Crosby and Joe Venuti, and is considered one of the first important jazz guitar virtuosos.
  • 27 Mar 1933 Hitler Granted Dictatorial Powers: The German Reichstag passes the Enabling Act, effectively transforming Adolf Hitler into an absolute dictator with unprecedented legislative powers, marking a critical moment in the rise of Nazi Germany.
  • 28 Mar 1933 Hitler Granted Dictatorial Powers by German Reichstag: In a pivotal moment of German political history, the Reichstag voted to confer extraordinary dictatorial powers on Adolf Hitler, effectively transforming the democratic Weimar Republic into a totalitarian Nazi regime. This legislative act, known as the Enabling Act, allowed Hitler to enact laws without parliamentary consent, marking a critical turning point in the rise of Nazi power.
  • 29 Mar 1933 First Western Report on Holodomor Famine-Genocide: Gareth Jones, a courageous Welsh journalist, published the first comprehensive report in the Western media about the devastating Holodomor, a systematic man-made famine engineered by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin to suppress Ukrainian national identity and resistance. His groundbreaking reporting exposed the brutal reality of mass starvation in Ukraine, where millions of people were deliberately starved to death between 1932-1933 as part of Soviet agricultural collectivization policies.
  • 30 Mar 1933 1933 Sanriku Earthquake and Tsunami: On March 30, 1933, a devastating magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck off the Sanriku coast of Honshū, Japan, triggering a massive tsunami that caused widespread destruction. The powerful seismic event and subsequent massive waves resulted in approximately 3,000 fatalities, significant infrastructure damage, and profound economic disruption in the coastal regions of northeastern Japan. The disaster highlighted the region's vulnerability to geological hazards and prompted subsequent improvements in earthquake and tsunami preparedness and building codes.
  • 31 Mar 1933 Hitler Assumes Power in Germany: The German Republic transfers political power to Adolf Hitler, marking a critical turning point in German history and the rise of Nazi totalitarianism.