Major Events of January 1936: 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 January 1936 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of January 1936: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Jan 1936 Nazi Germany Implements Discriminatory Employment Law: A deeply discriminatory Nazi law went into effect, prohibiting women under 35 from being employed by Jewish businesses. As a direct consequence, approximately 10,000 women were forcibly removed from their jobs, representing a severe escalation of antisemitic policies targeting Jewish economic participation.
02 Jan 1936 First Night Vision Electron Tube Described: A groundbreaking scientific development occurred in Saint Louis, Missouri, with the description of the first electron tube capable of enabling night vision technology. This innovation would later have significant implications for military, security, and scientific applications.
03 Jan 1936 Founding of Butlin's Holiday Camps: Billy Butlin founded Butlin's, a pioneering holiday camp business in the United Kingdom, offering affordable vacation experiences for working-class families. The first camp would revolutionize British leisure and tourism.
04 Jan 1936 Billboard Music Hit Parade Debuts: Billboard magazine launched its first music hit parade, establishing a pioneering system for tracking and ranking popular music recordings in the United States. This milestone would become a cornerstone of music industry tracking and cultural measurement for decades to come.
05 Jan 1936 Babe Ruth Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame: George Herman 'Babe' Ruth, one of the most legendary and iconic baseball players in American history, was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, cementing his status as a sports immortal and cultural legend.
06 Jan 1936 Supreme Court Strikes Down Agricultural Adjustment Act: In a landmark legal decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled the 1933 Agricultural Adjustment Act unconstitutional in the case United States v. Butler et al. This ruling had significant implications for New Deal agricultural policies and federal economic intervention.
07 Jan 1936 Iran Bans Public Veiling: Iran made a groundbreaking move by becoming the first Muslim country to officially ban the wearing of veils in public, marking a significant social and cultural reform.
08 Jan 1936 Nazi Restrictions on Jewish Booksellers: On January 8, 1936, the Nazi regime intensified its systematic persecution of Jewish professionals by ordering Jewish booksellers to surrender their Reich Publications Chamber membership cards. Without these cards, Jewish booksellers were effectively prohibited from selling books, representing another step in the regime's escalating antisemitic policies.
09 Jan 1936 Democratic National Committee Supports FDR's Re-election: The Democratic National Committee officially endorsed incumbent President Franklin D. Roosevelt for a second presidential term in the 1936 election, signaling strong party unity and support for his New Deal policies.
10 Jan 1936 Robert Wilson: Nobel Prize-Winning Physicist: Robert Wilson was a prominent American physicist and radio astronomer who made significant contributions to scientific research and was honored with the Nobel Prize.
11 Jan 1936 BOGUS: Anti-Semitic Reich Tax Law Executive Order: A discriminatory executive order was issued that prohibited Jewish individuals from serving as tax officials, representing a significant escalation of Nazi Germany's systematic persecution of Jewish citizens.
12 Jan 1936 Battle of Ganale Doria: The Battle of Ganale Doria was a significant military engagement on the Ethiopian southern front during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. This conflict was part of Italy's colonial expansion into East Africa, with Italian forces under General Rodolfo Graziani attempting to conquer Ethiopian territories. The battle took place near the Ganale Doria River, representing a critical moment in the Italian invasion of Ethiopia.
13 Jan 1936 Birth of Renato Bruson, Renowned Italian Opera Singer: Renato Bruson, a distinguished Italian opera singer known for his exceptional baritone voice and significant contributions to classical vocal performance, was born on January 13, 1936, in Italy. Throughout his illustrious career, Bruson became one of the most celebrated opera singers of the 20th century, renowned for his interpretations of works by composers like Verdi and Rossini.
14 Jan 1936 Howard Hughes Sets Transcontinental Flight Record: Aviation pioneer Howard Hughes achieved a remarkable feat by completing a non-stop transcontinental flight from Los Angeles to Newark, New Jersey in an unprecedented time of 9 hours, 27 minutes, and 10 seconds, pushing the boundaries of aviation technology and speed.
15 Jan 1936 Japan Withdraws from London Naval Conference: Japan withdrew from the London Naval Conference after refusing to accept proposed tonnage limitations on various types of warships. This diplomatic exit signaled growing tensions and Japan's increasing military ambitions in the lead-up to World War II.
16 Jan 1936 Mussolini's Red Cross Letter: Italian dictator Benito Mussolini sent a controversial letter to the International Committee of the Red Cross, attempting to dismiss the bombing of hospitals in Ethiopia as 'accidents', revealing the brutal nature of Italian colonial warfare.
17 Jan 1936 Stavisky Affair Trial Concludes in Paris: The high-profile trial related to the Stavisky financial scandal concluded in Paris, resulting in a complex legal outcome. Nine defendants were convicted while eleven were acquitted, reflecting the intricate nature of the financial fraud and political corruption case that had significantly impacted French public life in the mid-1930s.
18 Jan 1936 Election of Metropolitan Benjamin as Ecumenical Patriarch: On January 18, 1936, Metropolitan Benjamin was elected as the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, succeeding Photios II, who had passed away on December 29 of the previous year. This election was a significant moment in the religious leadership of the Eastern Orthodox Church, marking a transition of power within the historic patriarchate based in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul).
19 Jan 1936 Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Dedicated in New York City: On January 19, 1936, a significant memorial honoring the life and legacy of Theodore Roosevelt was officially dedicated in New York City. The memorial celebrated the 26th President of the United States, renowned for his progressive policies, conservation efforts, and dynamic leadership during the early 20th century. Roosevelt, a transformative figure in American history, was commemorated through this public monument, symbolizing his enduring impact on national politics, environmental protection, and social reform.
20 Jan 1936 Death of King George V and Succession of Edward VIII: King George V of Britain passed away at the age of 70 at Sandringham House after a four-day bronchial illness, surrounded by his immediate family. His eldest son, Edward VIII, immediately succeeded him to the British throne.
21 Jan 1936 Edward VIII Accession Ceremony: King Edward VIII traveled from Sandringham House to London to participate in the traditional royal accession ceremony at St James's Palace. During this formal event, he swore to uphold the Church of England and received the oath of allegiance from the Privy Council, marking the official beginning of his brief reign before his abdication later in the same year.
22 Jan 1936 Carrie Chapman Catt at the White House: Prominent suffragist and peace activist Carrie Chapman Catt visited the White House to discuss her perspectives on 'The Cause and Cure of War,' continuing her lifelong advocacy for women's rights and international peace.
23 Jan 1936 King George V Lies in State at Westminster Abbey: The body of King George V was ceremonially brought to Westminster Abbey, where it would lie in state for four days. This solemn event marked the public mourning period following the monarch's death and allowed citizens to pay their final respects to the late king.
24 Jan 1936 Benny Goodman Records 'Stompin' at the Savoy': Benny Goodman and His Orchestra recorded the iconic jazz piece 'Stompin' at the Savoy' at Victor Records in Chicago, Illinois, contributing to the swing music era.
25 Jan 1936 Al Smith Breaks with Roosevelt: In a notable radio address, former New York Governor Al Smith publicly declared his opposition to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal policies, signaling a significant political split within the Democratic Party and highlighting the controversial nature of Roosevelt's economic reforms.
26 Jan 1936 Uneventful Day in World History: On January 26, 1936, no significant global events were documented. While this day might seem unremarkable, it represents a moment of relative calm in the interwar period, just months before King Edward VIII's abdication and as global tensions were slowly building towards World War II.
27 Jan 1936 U.S. Senate Overrides Presidential Veto of Adjusted Compensation Payment Act: On January 27, 1936, the United States Senate demonstrated a rare display of legislative power by successfully overriding President Franklin D. Roosevelt's veto of the Adjusted Compensation Payment Act. With a decisive vote of 76 to 19, the Senate showed strong bipartisan support for providing financial relief to World War I veterans, who were seeking early payment of their service certificates during the Great Depression. This action highlighted the tension between the executive and legislative branches and underscored the economic challenges facing veterans during this difficult period.
28 Jan 1936 State Funeral of King George V: King George V of the United Kingdom was laid to rest with full royal honors. Following an elaborate state funeral procession through the streets of London, the monarch was interred at St. George's Chapel within Windsor Castle. This significant event marked the end of the reign of a monarch who had guided the United Kingdom through critical periods, including World War I and the early stages of significant social transformations.
29 Jan 1936 First Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees Announced: On January 29, 1936, the U.S. Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, elected its inaugural class of legendary players. The first five inductees were Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson, and Walter Johnson - a group representing some of the most iconic and influential baseball players in early 20th-century American sports history.
30 Jan 1936 Soviet-Manchukuo Border Skirmish: A border incident occurred between the Soviet Union and Manchukuo (Japanese-controlled Manchuria), resulting in the death of 3 Russian soldiers during a confrontation with Japanese-Manchukuan troops, highlighting the rising tensions in the region.
31 Jan 1936 Green Hornet Radio Show Debuts: The Green Hornet, a groundbreaking radio adventure program, first aired on WXYZ Radio in Detroit, marking the beginning of a popular series that would captivate audiences with its thrilling narrative and innovative storytelling.