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

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

  • 01 Sep 1933 PWA Anti-Discrimination Order: U.S. Interior Secretary Harold L. Ickes issued a landmark order prohibiting racial discrimination in hiring for all Public Works Administration (PWA) funded projects, marking an early federal effort to combat workplace discrimination during the Great Depression.
  • 02 Sep 1933 Italy and Soviet Union Sign Non-Aggression Pact: On September 2, 1933, in a surprising diplomatic move, the Fascist government of Italy and the Communist-governed Soviet Union signed a treaty of friendship, neutrality, and non-aggression. This unexpected agreement bridged the ideological divide between two seemingly incompatible political systems, highlighting the complex geopolitical maneuverings of the interwar period.
  • 03 Sep 1933 Hitler's Attack on Modern Art: At a Nazi Party rally in Nuremberg, Adolf Hitler denounced modern artistic movements, calling for a 'new artistic renaissance of the Aryan human being'. He explicitly rejected Jewish and Bolshevik artistic styles, including abstract art, cubism, Dadaism, and surrealism, signaling the Nazi regime's ideological control over cultural expression.
  • 04 Sep 1933 Cuban Army Uprising and Provisional Government: On September 4, 1933, Sergeant Fulgencio Batista led a significant military uprising of non-commissioned officers against their Army superiors at Camp Columbia, near Havana. The revolt resulted in the collapse of military discipline, with sergeants taking command and numerous officers being arrested. The Directorio subsequently agreed to overthrow President Céspedes and established a five-member civilian executive commission to lead a provisional government, marking a pivotal moment in Cuban political history.
  • 05 Sep 1933 Cuban Revolution of 1933: Presidential Transition: On September 5, 1933, during a pivotal moment in Cuban political history, President Carlos Manuel de Céspedes y Quesada was informed by members of the revolutionary junta that they were prepared to take control of the government. In response, he peacefully vacated the Presidential Palace, marking a significant shift in Cuba's political landscape.
  • 06 Sep 1933 Uneventful Day in 1933: While no specific major historical events were documented for September 6, 1933, this period was during the early years of Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency and the Great Depression era. The United States was in the midst of implementing New Deal policies aimed at economic recovery and social reform.
  • 07 Sep 1933 US Naval Deployment to Cuba During Political Unrest: In response to ongoing political instability and potential escalating tensions, the United States Navy dispatched a squadron of 16 destroyers to Cuban waters. This naval presence was intended to protect American interests and potentially stabilize the volatile political situation during a period of significant uprising and potential conflict.
  • 08 Sep 1933 Italy and Soviet Union Sign Non-Aggression Treaty: In a surprising diplomatic move, the Fascist government of Italy and the Communist-governed Soviet Union signed a treaty of friendship, neutrality, and non-aggression, temporarily bridging their ideological differences.
  • 09 Sep 1933 Miss America Pageant Revival: The Miss America Pageant was officially revived after a six-year hiatus, returning to its traditional home in Atlantic City, New Jersey. This marked a significant moment in the pageant's history, signaling renewed cultural interest and entertainment during the challenging early years of the Great Depression.
  • 10 Sep 1933 First Negro League All-Star Game at Comiskey Park: The inaugural Negro League All-Star Game was held at Comiskey Park in Chicago, with the West team defeating the East team 11-7. This groundbreaking event showcased the exceptional talent of African American baseball players during the era of racial segregation in professional sports.
  • 11 Sep 1933 Fulgencio Batista's Military Uprising in Cuba: On September 11, 1933, Sergeant Fulgencio Batista led a pivotal uprising at Camp Columbia, a Cuban Army base near Havana. By seizing control of the military installation and inciting a revolt against Army superiors, Batista set in motion a series of events that would result in the overthrow of the national government the following day. This event marked the beginning of Batista's rise to power in Cuban politics, ultimately leading to his long and controversial leadership of the country.
  • 12 Sep 1933 Leo Szilard Conceives Nuclear Chain Reaction: While waiting at a red light on Southampton Row in Bloomsbury, London, physicist Leo Szilard had a groundbreaking scientific insight: the concept of a nuclear chain reaction, which would later become fundamental to nuclear physics and atomic energy development.
  • 13 Sep 1933 First Woman Elected to New Zealand Parliament: Elizabeth McCombs made history on September 13, 1933, by becoming the first woman elected to the New Zealand Parliament. She succeeded her late husband and broke significant ground for women's political representation in the country.
  • 14 Sep 1933 Reichstag Fire Shadow Trial Begins in London: The shadow trial related to the Reichstag fire commenced in London, examining the controversial event that played a crucial role in the Nazi Party's rise to power in Germany.
  • 15 Sep 1933 Mysterious Disappearance of Mabel Smith Douglass: Mabel Smith Douglass's capsized boat was discovered on Lake Placid, New York, marking the beginning of a decades-long mystery. Her body would not be found until nearly 30 years later, creating a haunting narrative of an unsolved disappearance.
  • 16 Sep 1933 CBS Radio Network Establishes Columbia News Service: On September 16, 1933, the CBS Radio Network formally incorporated the Columbia News Service, marking a significant milestone in the development of broadcast journalism. This new organization was specifically created to enable CBS to gather and produce its own news content, moving away from reliance on external news sources. The Columbia News Service would eventually evolve into the modern CBS News, becoming one of the most prominent news divisions in American broadcasting history.
  • 17 Sep 1933 Establishment of Reichsvertretung der Deutschen Juden: The Reichsvertretung der Deutschen Juden (National Representation of German Jews) was formally established, consolidating Jewish organizational representation in Germany during the early years of Nazi rule. This organization would attempt to represent and protect Jewish interests during an increasingly hostile political environment.
  • 18 Sep 1933 Tennessee Valley Authority Established: On September 18, 1933, as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal economic recovery program, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) was officially established. This groundbreaking federal corporation was designed to provide electricity, flood control, and economic development to the economically depressed Tennessee Valley region. The TVA represented a significant government intervention in regional economic planning and infrastructure development, becoming a model for large-scale public works projects during the Great Depression.
  • 19 Sep 1933 New York Giants Win National League Pennant: On September 19, 1933, the New York Giants secured the National League pennant after the Pittsburgh Pirates were eliminated in the second game of a doubleheader. This victory solidified the Giants' position as the top team in the National League for the 1933 season, setting the stage for their potential World Series appearance.
  • 20 Sep 1933 Jewish Resistance During Nazi Era: Despite growing Nazi oppression, German Jews demonstrated remarkable resilience by achieving record-breaking attendance at synagogues during Rosh Hashanah. This act of collective defiance symbolized the community's strength and refusal to be intimidated by anti-Semitic decrees.
  • 21 Sep 1933 Marinus van der Lubbe Trial Begins: The trial of Marinus van der Lubbe, a Dutch communist accused of setting fire to the Reichstag building in Germany, opened. This trial was a pivotal moment in the early Nazi era, with significant political implications for the rise of the Nazi regime.
  • 22 Sep 1933 Establishment of Nazi Cultural Control Mechanism: On September 22, 1933, Joseph Goebbels, as the Reich Minister of Propaganda, formally established the Reichskulturkammer (Reich Chamber of Culture). This organization was designed to control and regulate all aspects of cultural production in Nazi Germany, including art, music, literature, film, theater, press, and radio. By creating this centralized institution, the Nazi regime sought to suppress artistic freedom, eliminate 'degenerate' cultural expressions, and ensure that all cultural output aligned with Nazi ideology and propaganda goals.
  • 23 Sep 1933 Stalin's Narrow Escape from NKVD Rifle Fire: During a boat trip on the Black Sea near Sukhumi, Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin experienced a harrowing incident when local NKVD secret police guards mistakenly fired rifles at his vessel, initially believing it to be carrying foreign spies. Stalin initially showed mercy, administering standard disciplinary measures. However, during the Great Purge four years later, these same guards were retrospectively executed, demonstrating Stalin's notorious unpredictability and ruthlessness.
  • 24 Sep 1933 Klaus Fuchs Arrives in England, Escaping Nazi Persecution: Klaus Fuchs, a brilliant German nuclear physics student and communist sympathizer, arrived in England after narrowly escaping arrest during a Nazi crackdown on suspected communists. His arrival would later prove pivotal in the complex geopolitical landscape of scientific espionage during World War II and the early Cold War period.
  • 25 Sep 1933 Tampico Hurricane Disaster: A devastating hurricane struck Tampico, Mexico, causing massive destruction and reportedly claiming approximately 5,000 lives. This natural disaster was one of the most significant meteorological events of 1933.
  • 26 Sep 1933 Machine Gun Kelly Surrenders to FBI: Notorious gangster George 'Machine Gun' Kelly surrendered to FBI agents in Memphis, Tennessee, dramatically shouting the now-famous line, "Don't shoot, G-Men!" This moment became iconic in law enforcement history, popularizing the term 'G-Men' as a nickname for FBI agents.
  • 27 Sep 1933 Nazi Regime Consolidates Control of Protestant Church: On September 27, 1933, Ludwig Müller was elected as the first Reichsbischof (Reich Bishop) of the German Evangelical Church, marking a significant moment of Nazi infiltration and control over religious institutions. Müller, a prominent supporter of the Nazi ideology, was part of the Deutsche Christen (German Christians) movement, which sought to align Protestant Christianity with Nazi racial and nationalist principles. This election represented a critical step in the Nazi regime's strategy to subordinate religious organizations to state control and propagate their ideological agenda.
  • 28 Sep 1933 Critical Warning About Jewish Deportations in Denmark: German diplomat Georg Duckwitz courageously warned the Jewish community in Denmark about imminent Nazi deportation plans, a pivotal moment that would ultimately help save many Danish Jews from the Holocaust.
  • 29 Sep 1933 Little King Cartoon Character Debuts: On September 29, 1933, the animated cartoon character 'Little King' was first introduced by the Von Beuren animation studio. This whimsical character, known for his rotund appearance and regal attire, marked an important moment in early American animation history. The cartoon series featured a jovial, childlike monarch who often found himself in humorous and endearing situations, reflecting the lighthearted entertainment style of the Great Depression era.
  • 30 Sep 1933 "As Thousands Cheer" Ballet Premieres in New York City: On September 30, 1933, the groundbreaking ballet "As Thousands Cheer" premiered in New York City. Created by the collaborative talents of Berlin, Hart, Heyman, and Myers, this performance was a significant cultural event during the Great Depression era, showcasing innovative choreography and artistic expression.