Major Events of March 1935: 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 1935 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of March 1935: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Mar 1935 İsmet İnönü Forms Turkish Government: İsmet İnönü formed the new government in Turkey, marking the 8th government during Atatürk's presidency. İnönü had previously served seven times as prime minister, demonstrating his significant political influence in the early Turkish Republic.
02 Mar 1935 Austrian Nazi Conspirators Condemned: In a landmark legal proceeding, 17 Austrian Nazis were condemned to death for serious criminal activities, specifically for smuggling explosives into the country. This event highlights the rising tensions and legal crackdowns on Nazi sympathizers in Austria during the mid-1930s.
03 Mar 1935 Birth of Zhelyu Zhelev: Zhelyu Zhelev, who would later become the first democratically elected President of Bulgaria after the fall of communism, was born in Veselinovo, Bulgaria. His future political significance would be pivotal in Bulgaria's transition to democracy.
04 Mar 1935 Anti-Semitic Posters in Saarland: Anti-Semitic posters appeared in towns across the Saarland, directly violating Germany's promise to the League of Nations to refrain from persecuting Jews in the region for 12 months. This event signaled the escalating discrimination and persecution of Jewish people in pre-World War II Germany.
05 Mar 1935 Italy-Ethiopia Border Tension Escalates: Italy and Ethiopia agreed to establish a neutral zone along the border of Italian Somaliland, though this diplomatic gesture was undermined by Italy's continued military buildup in the region, signaling growing tensions that would eventually lead to the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.
06 Mar 1935 DUPE - Soviet Economic Transformation: The Soviet Union completed its economic restructuring by effectively eliminating private trade, with only minimal exceptions like market vending. This marked a significant milestone in the Soviet Union's transition to a fully state-controlled economic system.
07 Mar 1935 Saar Region Reunification with Germany: Following a plebiscite in January 1935, the Saar region was officially reincorporated into Nazi Germany after being administered by the League of Nations since the end of World War I. This event was a significant step in Adolf Hitler's strategy of territorial expansion and challenging the Treaty of Versailles.
08 Mar 1935 Hachikō: A Symbol of Loyalty: Hachikō, the legendary Akita dog, passed away on March 8, 1935, in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. Known worldwide for his extraordinary devotion, Hachikō continued to wait at Shibuya Station every day for over nine years after his owner, Professor Ueno, had died. His unwavering loyalty became a powerful symbol of faithfulness in Japanese culture and later inspired numerous books, movies, and a bronze statue at the station where he waited.
09 Mar 1935 Khrushchev's Political Rise: Nikita Khrushchev was elected as the chief of the Moscow Communist Party, a pivotal early step in his eventual rise to leadership of the Soviet Union.
10 Mar 1935 Smokey Stover Comic Strip Debuts: Bill Holman's comedic comic strip *Smokey Stover* made its inaugural appearance in the *Chicago Tribune*, introducing readers to a unique and humorous cartoon series that would become a notable part of 1930s popular culture.
11 Mar 1935 Luftwaffe Officially Established: Hermann Goering formally created the German Air Force (Luftwaffe), a pivotal moment in Nazi Germany's military rearmament and a significant step towards World War II preparations.
12 Mar 1935 First Intercontinental Radiotelephone Link: Berlin to Tokyo: A groundbreaking radiotelephone communication line was inaugurated, connecting Berlin, Germany, and Tokyo, Japan. This technological achievement represented a major advancement in global telecommunications, enabling near-instantaneous voice communication between two distant continents.
13 Mar 1935 Nazi Germany Restricts Jewish Professional Opportunities: The Nazi regime implemented discriminatory policies targeting Jewish professionals by establishing a guild organization that effectively prevented Jews from working in manual trades. Individuals were required to pass a master's examination and be registered in a professional roll, creating significant barriers to employment and economic participation for the Jewish community.
14 Mar 1935 Anton Rintelen Sentenced for Coup Attempt: Anton Rintelen, a key figure in the failed July Putsch (attempted coup) against the Austrian government, was sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the political conspiracy. This sentencing represented a significant moment in Austria's political stabilization efforts during the tumultuous 1930s.
15 Mar 1935 Assassination Attempt on Ibn Saud: During the Eid al-Adha religious observances, three men attempted to assassinate King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia inside the Grand Mosque of Mecca. The attackers were armed with knives but were swiftly shot dead before they could complete their mission, demonstrating the high-stakes political tensions of the period.
16 Mar 1935 Hitler Denounces Versailles Treaty and Begins German Rearmament: On March 16, 1935, Adolf Hitler openly denounced the disarmament clauses of the Versailles Treaty, marking a significant turning point in European geopolitics. He initiated a bold program of military rearmament and reintroduced conscription, directly challenging the post-World War I restrictions imposed on Germany. This action represented a clear violation of the international agreements and signaled Hitler's aggressive expansionist intentions.
17 Mar 1935 Nazi Suppression of Religious Opposition: The Nazi regime arrested 700 pastors from the oppositional Confessional Lutheran synod, preventing them from publicly reading a proclamation that criticized the state church regime. This action represents a significant moment of religious persecution and suppression of free speech during the early years of Nazi control in Germany.
18 Mar 1935 British Diplomatic Protest Against German Rearmament: The British government officially sent a diplomatic note to Berlin expressing strong objections to Germany's ongoing military rearmament efforts, which were in direct violation of the Treaty of Versailles.
19 Mar 1935 British Colonial Violence in India: British colonial troops opened fire on a large crowd of rioting Muslims and Hindus, resulting in 27 fatalities. This event underscores the intense religious and communal tensions in British-controlled India, and demonstrates the brutal tactics used by colonial authorities to suppress civil unrest. The incident was symptomatic of the growing conflicts that would eventually lead to the partition of India.
20 Mar 1935 France Alerts League of Nations about German Rearmament: France formally requested an extraordinary session of the League of Nations to address growing concerns about German rearmament. Using Article XI of the League Covenant, which allowed member nations to highlight potential threats to international peace, France sought diplomatic intervention to manage escalating tensions in Europe during the lead-up to World War II.
21 Mar 1935 European Tensions Rise: France and Italy Protest German Rearmament: France and Italy delivered formal diplomatic notes of protest to Germany regarding its decision to rearm. German Foreign Minister Konstantin von Neurath responded by dismissing their concerns, stating that the notes did not adequately consider the current geopolitical situation. This exchange highlighted the growing tensions in Europe leading up to World War II.
22 Mar 1935 First Television Broadcast in Germany: The world's first official television program was transmitted from the Funkturm (radio tower) in Berlin, Germany. This groundbreaking broadcast represented a major technological milestone in mass communication, signaling the dawn of a new era in media and entertainment that would fundamentally transform global information dissemination.
23 Mar 1935 Philippines Commonwealth Constitution Signed: The Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Philippines was officially signed, marking a significant step in the country's path towards independence from the United States.
24 Mar 1935 Persia Officially Becomes Iran: The country officially changes its international name from 'Persia' to 'Iran', reflecting a modernization effort by Reza Shah Pahlavi. This renaming signaled a desire to emphasize the nation's Persian ethnic identity and mark a new era of national development and international engagement.
25 Mar 1935 Philippines Constitution Certification: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt formally approved the new constitution of the Philippines on March 25, 1935, a pivotal step in the Philippines' journey towards independence. This certification marked the beginning of a transitional period that would ultimately lead to the Philippines becoming an independent nation, ending decades of American colonial rule.
26 Mar 1935 Nazi Execution in Kaunas, Lithuania: In a significant legal action, four Nazis from the Memel region were sentenced to execution by firing squad in Kaunas, Lithuania, for plotting an uprising aimed at restoring Memel (now Klaipėda) to Germany. The trial resulted in the execution of these four individuals, with an additional 77 conspirators receiving prison sentences. This event highlights the rising tensions and political instability in the Baltic region during the pre-World War II period.
27 Mar 1935 Nazi Protest at Lithuanian Legation in Berlin: On March 27, 1935, thousands of Nazi supporters staged a volatile demonstration outside the Lithuanian legation in Berlin. The protest was triggered by the recent death sentence imposed on four Nazis the previous day. Local police were required to establish a protective cordon to prevent the angry mob from breaching the legation's premises, highlighting the intense political tensions of the pre-World War II era.
28 Mar 1935 DUPE: Triumph of the Will Premiere: Leni Riefenstahl's controversial Nazi propaganda film *Triumph of the Will* premiered at the Berlin Ufa-Palast, showcasing a powerful cinematic representation of Nazi ideology and propaganda techniques.
29 Mar 1935 British Diplomat Anthony Eden Conducts Moscow Peace Talks: British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden traveled to Moscow to engage in diplomatic discussions with Soviet Foreign Minister Maxim Litvinov, attempting to navigate the complex international tensions of the mid-1930s and explore potential avenues for European peace.
30 Mar 1935 Ethiopia-Italy Diplomatic Tensions: Ethiopia escalated diplomatic tensions with Italy by terminating direct border negotiations and submitting a formal complaint to the League of Nations, signaling growing international friction in the lead-up to potential conflict.
31 Mar 1935 Herb Alpert Born: Herbert Alpert, renowned American musician, bandleader, trumpeter, and co-founder of A&M Records, was born on this date. He would later become famous for his distinctive trumpet sound and leadership of the Tijuana Brass band, significantly influencing popular music in the mid-20th century.