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

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

01 May 1934 May Constitution Establishes Austrofascist Austria: On May 1st, 1934, the May Constitution was implemented, marking the formal establishment of the Austrofascist Federal State of Austria. This constitutional change fundamentally transformed Austria's political landscape, shifting towards an authoritarian, corporatist system under Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss.
02 May 1934 Establishment of Nazi Germany's People's Court: On May 2, 1934, Nazi Germany established the People's Court (Volksgerichtshof), a specialized judicial institution designed to handle political crimes. This court was empowered to issue severe punishments, including death sentences, for charges of high treason. The court became a notorious instrument of Nazi judicial repression, effectively removing legal protections for political opponents and serving as a tool for eliminating dissent.
03 May 1934 Nazi Suppression of Catholic Youth Organizations in Bavaria: In a significant act of religious persecution, Nazi authorities seized all property belonging to Catholic Youth and Young Men's associations in Lower Franconia, Bavaria. The regime ordered these associations to dissolve, effectively nullifying the protections previously granted under the concordat, demonstrating the Nazi regime's systematic suppression of religious and youth organizations.
04 May 1934 Blue Ridge Mountains Forest Fire: A devastating forest fire destroyed 200,000 acres of timber in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, causing significant environmental and economic damage.
05 May 1934 Soviet-Polish Non-Aggression Pact Extension: The 1932 non-aggression pact between the Soviet Union and Poland was extended to the end of 1945, signaling a continued diplomatic effort to maintain peaceful relations between the two countries during a tense period in European geopolitics.
06 May 1934 Nazi Propaganda Rally in Zweibrücken: A massive demonstration of 100,000 people took place in Zweibrücken, with Joseph Goebbels delivering a provocative speech demanding the return of the Saar region to Germany, highlighting the rising nationalist sentiment in Nazi Germany.
07 May 1934 Deadly Potash Mine Fire in Müllheim, Germany: A catastrophic fire swept through a potash mine in Müllheim, Germany, resulting in the tragic loss of 87 miners' lives, highlighting the dangerous working conditions in industrial mining during the 1930s.
08 May 1934 Devastating Eruption of Mount Pelée: On May 8, 1934, Mount Pelée, an active volcano located on the Caribbean island of Martinique, unleashed a catastrophic eruption that obliterated the port city of Saint-Pierre. The volcanic event was particularly deadly, resulting in the tragic loss of approximately 30,000 lives, which represented about 15 percent of the island's total population. The eruption was characterized by pyroclastic flows—superheated clouds of gas, ash, and rock—that swept down the mountainside at incredible speeds, instantly destroying everything in their path and creating one of the deadliest volcanic disasters in modern history.
09 May 1934 Severe Dust Bowl Storm Sweeps Across High Plains: One of the most catastrophic dust storms of the Dust Bowl period began on the High Plains, demonstrating the severe environmental and agricultural crisis affecting the United States. The massive dust cloud traveled extensively, reaching major cities like Milwaukee and Chicago by mid-afternoon.
10 May 1934 Ribbentrop's Diplomatic Mission to London: Nazi diplomat Joachim von Ribbentrop met with British foreign officials Sir John Simon and Anthony Eden in London, attempting to negotiate terms regarding German rearmament. The meeting was unsuccessful, with Britain refusing to make any concrete promises.
11 May 1934 Catastrophic Dust Bowl Storm Devastates Great Plains: A severe two-day dust storm swept across the Great Plains, causing massive soil erosion and environmental devastation. This event was part of the broader Dust Bowl phenomenon that dramatically impacted agricultural landscapes and human settlements in North America during the 1930s.
12 May 1934 Duke Ellington's 'Cocktails for Two' Tops Charts: Duke Ellington's popular jazz composition 'Cocktails for Two' reached number one on the music charts, highlighting the vibrant jazz scene of the 1930s and Ellington's significant musical influence.
13 May 1934 Great Dust Bowl Storm of 1934: A catastrophic dust storm swept across the High Plains of the United States, causing massive environmental and agricultural devastation. The storm originated in the drought-stricken regions of the Great Plains and rapidly spread eastward, reaching major cities like Milwaukee and Chicago by mid-afternoon. This event was part of the larger Dust Bowl phenomenon, which dramatically impacted agricultural communities and highlighted the severe ecological consequences of unsustainable farming practices and environmental mismanagement.
14 May 1934 Sign Phillips - Welsh Actress: Sign Phillips was a Welsh actress active during the early to mid-20th century. While specific details about her career and notable performances are limited in the provided information, she represents the emerging Welsh talent in the entertainment industry during the 1930s.
15 May 1934 Kārlis Ulmanis Seizes Power in Latvia: Kārlis Ulmanis, a prominent Latvian political leader, executed a self-coup, establishing an authoritarian government by suspending the constitution and dissolving the Saeima (parliament). This political maneuver effectively ended Latvia's democratic experiment and consolidated Ulmanis's personal power, marking a significant shift in the country's political landscape.
16 May 1934 Minneapolis Teamsters Strike Begins: Teamsters union workers in Minneapolis initiated a major labor strike on May 16, 1934, which would continue until a settlement was reached on August 21. This strike was part of the broader labor movement during the Great Depression era, highlighting workers' struggles for better working conditions and fair compensation.
17 May 1934 Nazi Sympathizers Rally in New York City: The pro-Nazi organization Friends of New Germany held a massive rally at Madison Square Garden, attracting approximately 20,000 supporters. This event highlighted the significant presence of Nazi sympathizers in the United States during the pre-World War II era, demonstrating the complex political landscape and ideological divisions within American society in the 1930s.
18 May 1934 Roosevelt Calls for Arms Traffic Regulation: President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered a powerful message to Congress, highlighting the economic burden of global armament and warning about the potential for war, reflecting the growing international tensions of the pre-World War II era.
19 May 1934 Bulgarian Military Coup of 1934: On May 19, 1934, a significant political upheaval occurred in Bulgaria when Colonel Damian Veltsjev led a military coup that dramatically transformed the country's political landscape. The coup was part of a broader movement to restructure Bulgarian governance and challenge the existing political system.
20 May 1934 Birth of Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov: Alexei A. Leonov was a pioneering Soviet cosmonaut who became famous for being the first human to conduct a spacewalk during the Voskhod 2 mission in 1965. He also played a significant role in the historic Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, which symbolized cooperation between the United States and Soviet Union during the Space Race.
21 May 1934 Oskaloosa's Pioneering Fingerprinting Initiative: Oskaloosa, Iowa, made history by becoming the first municipality in the United States to implement a comprehensive citizen fingerprinting program. This groundbreaking law enforcement and identification strategy represented an innovative approach to public safety and record-keeping in the early 20th century.
23 May 1934 Bonnie and Clyde Killed in Police Ambush: Notorious American bank robbers Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were ambushed and killed by law enforcement officers in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. The infamous criminal duo, responsible for the deaths of 13 people, including nine police officers, met a violent end in a coordinated law enforcement operation.
24 May 1934 Colombia-Peru Leticia Accord: Colombia and Peru signed a diplomatic accord resolving territorial disputes over the strategic harbor city of Leticia, located in the Amazon region. This agreement was crucial in stabilizing border tensions between the two South American nations following the Leticia Conflict of 1932-1933.
25 May 1934 Death of Gustav Holst, Renowned British Composer: Gustav Holst, a pioneering English composer best known for his orchestral suite 'The Planets', passed away on May 25, 1934, in London. Holst was a significant figure in early 20th-century classical music, who significantly influenced musical composition and education. His innovative approach to composition and his interest in folk music and mysticism made him a unique voice in the musical landscape of his time.
26 May 1934 Century of Progress Exposition Opens Second Year in Chicago: The Century of Progress Exposition, a world's fair celebrating technological innovation and progress, reopened in Chicago for its second season. Running from May 26 to October 31, 1934, the exposition showcased cutting-edge technologies, architectural marvels, and cultural exhibits that highlighted human achievement during the Great Depression era.
27 May 1934 End of the Auto-Lite Strike: The Battle of Toledo: On May 27, 1934, the significant labor dispute known as the Auto-Lite strike concluded in Toledo, Ohio. This pivotal moment in American labor history represented a critical confrontation between workers and management, highlighting the intense struggles for workers' rights during the Great Depression era. The strike, which involved workers at the Electric Auto-Lite Company, was marked by significant violence and became a symbolic battle for labor unionization and workers' collective bargaining rights.
28 May 1934 Dionne Quintuplets Born in Ontario: The Dionne Quintuplets (Annette, Cécile, Émilie, Marie, and Yvonne) were born in Ontario, Canada, becoming the first known set of quintuplets to survive infancy. Their birth was a medical marvel and attracted worldwide attention.
29 May 1934 Barmen Declaration Synod Convenes: The Confessional Synod of the German Evangelical Church gathered in Barmen, Germany, to draft the Barmen Declaration. This pivotal document was a theological rejection of Nazi ideology's influence on the Protestant Church, representing early resistance against the rising Nazi regime.
30 May 1934 Establishment of Everglades National Park: On May 30, 1934, the United States officially established the Everglades National Park in Florida, marking a significant milestone in environmental conservation. This park protects a unique and fragile ecosystem spanning 1.5 million acres, home to diverse wildlife including endangered species like the Florida panther, manatees, and numerous rare bird species. The park's creation was crucial in preserving one of the most distinctive subtropical wilderness areas in the United States.
31 May 1934 Barmen Declaration Against Nazi Influence in Christianity: On May 31, 1934, a pivotal moment in religious resistance to Nazism occurred when the Barmen Declaration was signed. Primarily drafted by the renowned theologian Karl Barth, this document represented a courageous stand by Christians in Nazi Germany who rejected the pro-Nazi German Christian movement. The declaration affirmed the church's independence from political ideology and asserted that Christ, not the Nazi regime, was the ultimate authority for believers.