Major Events of March 1934: 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 1934 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of March 1934: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Mar 1934 Nazi Eugenics Law Enacted: Nazi Germany implemented the Law for the Prevention of Genetically Diseased Offspring, mandating compulsory sterilization of individuals deemed to have genetic disorders. This deeply unethical law was a precursor to more horrific Nazi racial policies and represented a grave violation of human rights.
02 Mar 1934 Roosevelt Advocates for Philippine Independence: President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered a powerful message to Congress, advocating for Philippine independence. In his address, he emphasized the United States' commitment to self-determination, stating, "Our Nation covets no territory; it desires to hold no people over whom it has gained sovereignty through war against their will." This statement reflected a significant shift in U.S. colonial policy and demonstrated a growing recognition of national sovereignty.
03 Mar 1934 John Dillinger's Legendary Jail Break: On March 3, 1934, notorious American gangster John Dillinger executed a daring escape from the Lake County Jail in Crown Point, Indiana, using an ingeniously crafted wooden pistol. This audacious prison break, which involved carving a fake gun and bluffing his way past guards, further cemented Dillinger's reputation as one of the most infamous criminals of the Great Depression era.
04 Mar 1934 Roosevelt's First Inauguration Anniversary: President Franklin D. Roosevelt commemorated the first anniversary of his historic inauguration during the depths of the Great Depression. The day was marked by a special church service at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., followed by a Cabinet dinner at the Mayflower Hotel. Despite drizzling rain, large crowds gathered to show support and witness the presidential events, reflecting the public's hope and connection to Roosevelt's leadership during challenging times.
05 Mar 1934 Nazi Antisemitic Stage Performance Ban: Joseph Goebbels, Nazi Minister of Propaganda, issued a discriminatory order forbidding Jews from performing on German stages. The directive required actors to prove guild membership, effectively excluding Jewish performers from professional theater, a significant escalation of antisemitic policies in Nazi Germany.
06 Mar 1934 First Official U.S. Mothers' Day Proclamation: President Franklin D. Roosevelt officially issued the first national Mothers' Day Proclamation, recognizing the importance of maternal contributions to American society and establishing a formal national observance honoring mothers.
07 Mar 1934 Soviet Union Criminalizes Homosexual Relations: On this date, the Soviet Union's Sovnarkom (Council of People's Commissars) issued a harsh decree criminalizing homosexual relations. The law imposed severe prison sentences of 3-5 years, with increased penalties of 5-8 years if force was used or if the perpetrator exploited a power dynamic. This decree represented a significant legal oppression of LGBTQ+ individuals in the Soviet Union.
08 Mar 1934 Edwin Hubble Discovers Galaxy Population: Astronomer Edwin Hubble captures a groundbreaking photographic image revealing that the number of galaxies in the observable universe is comparable to the number of stars in the Milky Way. This observation significantly expanded humanity's understanding of the cosmic scale and the vastness of the universe.
09 Mar 1934 Birth of Yuri Gagarin, First Human in Space: Yuri Gagarin was born in the small village of Klushino in the Soviet Union (now Russia). He would later become a pioneering cosmonaut and the first human to journey into outer space, making a historic orbital flight on April 12, 1961, aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft. His groundbreaking achievement marked a pivotal moment in the Space Race and human space exploration.
10 Mar 1934 Toronto Maple Leafs Undefeated Streak: The Toronto Maple Leafs achieved a remarkable milestone by setting a franchise record with an 18-game undefeated streak, which included 15 wins and 3 ties, highlighting the team's exceptional performance during this period.
11 Mar 1934 Arbeiter-Zeitung Newspaper Resumes Publication: The prominent Socialist newspaper Arbeiter-Zeitung in Vienna, which had been banned during the February civil war, resumed publication. However, the new version bore little resemblance to its previous form, signaling significant political changes.
12 Mar 1934 Nazi Germany's Military Discrimination Against Jews: General Werner von Blomberg announced a discriminatory policy banning Jews from enlisting in the German military. The announcement's ambiguous language created uncertainty about the status of Jews already serving, signaling the early stages of systematic antisemitic policies in Nazi Germany.
13 Mar 1934 Himmler Consolidates Police Power in Nazi Germany: Heinrich Himmler, a key leader in the Nazi regime, assumed complete command of all police forces in Germany, significantly expanding the centralized control and potential for state-sponsored oppression. This strategic move was a critical step in the Nazi Party's consolidation of power and establishment of a totalitarian state.
14 Mar 1934 Albert Einstein's Birthday: Albert Einstein, one of the most influential physicists in human history, was born in Ulm, Germany. His groundbreaking work on the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics revolutionized our understanding of space, time, and the fundamental nature of the universe. Einstein's famous equation E=mc², which demonstrates the equivalence of mass and energy, became a cornerstone of modern physics and had profound implications for scientific research and technological development.
15 Mar 1934 Establishment of US Information Service: The United States Information Service (USIS) was officially established on March 15, 1934, marking a significant milestone in the U.S. government's efforts to manage and disseminate information both domestically and internationally. This agency would play a crucial role in public diplomacy, providing official communications, press releases, and cultural information about the United States to global audiences.
16 Mar 1934 6th Academy Awards Ceremony: The 6th Academy Awards celebrated outstanding achievements in cinema. Notable winners included 'Cavalcade' for Best Picture, Frank Lloyd for Best Director, Charles Laughton for Best Actor in 'The Private Life of Henry VIII', and Katharine Hepburn for Best Actress in 'Morning Glory'. Comedian Will Rogers hosted the event, creating a memorable moment by calling out to Frank Capra.
17 Mar 1934 Rome Protocols Signed by Austria, Hungary, and Italy: On March 17, 1934, Austrian Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss, Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini, and Hungarian Prime Minister Gyula Gömbös signed the Donau Pact (Rome Protocols). This diplomatic agreement strengthened economic and political ties between the three countries, creating a strategic alliance aimed at counterbalancing the influence of the Little Entente and France in Central Europe.
18 Mar 1934 Mussolini's Expansionist Vision: The 60-Year Plan Speech: On March 18, 1934, Italian Fascist leader Benito Mussolini delivered a provocative speech in Rome, articulating an ambitious 60-year strategic plan designed to establish Italy as a global superpower. In this landmark address, Mussolini proclaimed his vision of transforming the 21st century into a 'blackshirt era', signaling his regime's expansionist and imperialistic ambitions. He specifically emphasized Italy's geopolitical focus would be directed towards the 'east and south', hinting at potential territorial conquests and colonial aspirations in regions like Africa and the Balkans.
19 Mar 1934 Pope Pius XI Canonizes Three Saints: Pope Pius XI conducted a significant religious ceremony, canonizing three new saints: Giuseppe Benedetto Cottolengo, a charitable priest; Pompilio Maria Pirrotti, a religious educator; and Teresa Margaret of the Sacred Heart, a Carmelite nun.
20 Mar 1934 Early Radar Demonstration: Rudolf Kuhnold conducts a groundbreaking demonstration of radar technology in Kiel, Germany, contributing to the early development of radio detection and ranging systems.
21 Mar 1934 Nazi Germany's Public Works Program: Nazi Germany launched an ambitious public works initiative designed to combat widespread unemployment. The comprehensive plan targeted employing 5 million of the country's 6 million unemployed workers through strategic infrastructure projects, including highway construction (notably the Autobahn), land reclamation efforts, shipbuilding, and housing development. This program was a key component of the Nazi economic recovery strategy in the mid-1930s.
22 Mar 1934 First Masters Golf Tournament: The inaugural Masters Golf Tournament takes place at Augusta National Golf Club, with American golfer Horton Smith winning the first prize of $1,500, establishing what would become one of golf's most prestigious annual events.
23 Mar 1934 Fascist Rally in Rome: Thousands of Fascists gathered in Rome to commemorate the fifteenth anniversary of the Fasci Italiani di Combattimento, demonstrating the growing political influence of Fascist ideology in Italy during the 1930s.
24 Mar 1934 Exxon Valdez Oil Spill: One of the most devastating environmental disasters in U.S. history occurred when the oil tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground in Prince William Sound, Alaska, spilling 11 million gallons of oil over a 45-mile stretch, causing massive ecological damage.
25 Mar 1934 Birth of Gloria Steinem: Gloria Steinem was born in Toledo, Ohio, who would later become a pioneering feminist journalist, political activist, and key leader of the women's rights movement in the United States. Her groundbreaking work in journalism and social activism would significantly influence gender equality discussions throughout the latter half of the 20th century.
26 Mar 1934 Road Traffic Act Legislation: Britain introduced the 1934 Road Traffic Act, which established compulsory driving tests. The legislation was strategically implemented with initial voluntary participation to manage the potential surge of test candidates and ensure smooth implementation of the new regulatory framework.
27 Mar 1934 Death of Francis William Reitz, Orange Free State President: Francis William Reitz, a prominent political figure who served as the 5th president of the Orange Free State, died on March 27, 1934. Reitz was a significant historical personality in South African political history, known for his leadership during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
28 Mar 1934 U.S. Senate Overrides Roosevelt's Veterans' Compensation Bill Veto: On March 28, 1934, the U.S. Senate successfully overrode President Franklin D. Roosevelt's veto of a war veterans' compensation bill. With a decisive vote of 63-27, the Senate joined the House of Representatives in approving additional financial support for disabled war veterans and federal employees. The bill increased compensation payments by $228 million, representing a significant legislative effort to support those who had served the nation during World War I.
29 Mar 1934 Bankruptcy of Bank of Travail in Belgium: The Bank of Travail, a significant financial institution associated with the Belgian socialist workers' movement, declared bankruptcy on March 29, 1934. This event highlighted the economic challenges faced by labor-oriented financial institutions during the interwar period, reflecting the broader economic instability of the 1930s.
30 Mar 1934 Zeppo Marx Leaves Marx Brothers Comedy Group: On March 30, 1934, Zeppo Marx officially departed from the Marx Brothers comedy troupe, marking a significant transition for the legendary comedy team. As the youngest of the Marx Brothers, Zeppo had been the least comedic performer, often playing the straight man in their vaudeville and film performances. His departure would ultimately solidify the more famous comedic lineup of Groucho, Chico, and Harpo Marx.
31 Mar 1934 Birth of Carlo Rubbia, Nobel Prize-Winning Physicist: Carlo Rubbia, a distinguished Italian physicist, was born on this date. He would later become renowned for his groundbreaking work in particle physics, ultimately winning the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1984 for his critical contributions to the discovery of the W and Z bosons, fundamental particles in understanding weak nuclear interactions.