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

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


  • 01 Sep 1936 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics Inaugurated with Historic Television Broadcast: The 1936 Summer Olympics officially commenced in Berlin, Germany, marking a groundbreaking moment in sports and media history. This was the first international sporting event to be broadcast live on television, representing a significant technological milestone that would transform global media and sports coverage.
  • 02 Sep 1936 First Transatlantic Round-Trip Air Flight: A pioneering aviation milestone was achieved when the first complete round-trip transatlantic flight was successfully completed. This groundbreaking journey marked a significant advancement in long-distance air travel, demonstrating the growing capabilities of aircraft technology and expanding global transportation possibilities.
  • 03 Sep 1936 Lou Ambers Wins Lightweight Boxing Championship: Lou Ambers secured the world lightweight boxing championship, marking a significant milestone in his professional boxing career and adding to the rich history of boxing in the 1930s.
  • 04 Sep 1936 Largo Caballero Forms War Cabinet During Spanish Civil War: During the intense Spanish Civil War, Francisco Largo Caballero formed a comprehensive war cabinet to coordinate and direct the Republican war effort, signaling a strategic reorganization of military and political leadership in response to the escalating conflict.
  • 05 Sep 1936 RMS Queen Mary's Maiden Voyage: The iconic British luxury liner RMS Queen Mary departs Southampton on her historic first transatlantic crossing, representing a pinnacle of maritime engineering and passenger travel in the 1930s.
  • 06 Sep 1936 FDR's Fireside Chat on Drought Devastation: President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered a powerful fireside chat detailing his tour of nine drought-stricken states, providing a compassionate and direct account of the environmental and economic challenges facing American families during the Dust Bowl era.
  • 07 Sep 1936 Extinction of Thylacine: The last known thylacine (Tasmanian tiger), named Benjamin, died in Hobart Zoo in Tasmania, marking the tragic extinction of a unique marsupial predator. This event symbolizes the devastating impact of human activities on wildlife and represents a significant loss to global biodiversity.
  • 08 Sep 1936 8th Nazi Party Congress in Nuremberg: The 8th Nazi Party Congress opened in Nuremberg, with Adolf Hitler delivering a three-minute address proclaiming the restoration of Germany's 'full arms sovereignty'. This event was a significant propaganda platform for the Nazi regime, showcasing their growing military ambitions and nationalist rhetoric in the lead-up to World War II.
  • 09 Sep 1936 Portuguese Navy Mutiny Against Salazar Regime: In a significant act of political resistance, crews of the Portuguese Navy frigate NRP Afonso de Albuquerque and destroyer Dão mutinied in Lisbon Harbour, openly opposing the Salazar dictatorship's support of General Franco's coup in Spain. By declaring solidarity with the Spanish Republic, these naval personnel demonstrated a bold stance against authoritarian politics.
  • 10 Sep 1936 Devastating Himalayan Landslide: A catastrophic landslide struck the Himalayan region, causing unprecedented destruction. Seven entire villages were completely obliterated, resulting in hundreds of reported fatalities. The disaster highlighted the extreme geological volatility of the mountainous terrain and the vulnerability of local communities to natural disasters.
  • 11 Sep 1936 8th Nazi Party Congress in Nuremberg: The 8th Nazi Party Congress convened in Nuremberg, with Adolf Hitler delivering a brief but significant address asserting Germany's restored military sovereignty, signaling the regime's growing militaristic ambitions.
  • 12 Sep 1936 Nationalist Capture of San Sebastián: During the Spanish Civil War, Nationalist forces captured San Sebastián, securing complete control of the strategically important Basque region, which was a significant turning point in the conflict.
  • 13 Sep 1936 Nazi Rally in Nuremberg: Adolf Hitler conducted a massive military review of 107,000 men from the Sturmabteilung (SA) and Schutzstaffel (SS) in Nuremberg, demonstrating the growing military power and organizational strength of the Nazi regime.
  • 14 Sep 1936 Assassination of Raoul Villain by Spanish Republicans: Raoul Villain, the French nationalist who assassinated prominent French Socialist leader Jean Jaurès in 1914 at the onset of World War I, was himself killed by Spanish Republicans on the island of Ibiza during the Spanish Civil War. This event represents a form of retributive justice, occurring 22 years after Villain's original crime.
  • 15 Sep 1936 German Propaganda Campaign Against Czechoslovakia: In September 1936, Nazi Germany initiated a strategic propaganda campaign targeting Czechoslovakia, alleging that the country was collaborating with the Soviet Union by providing airfields and harboring Soviet military aircraft. This propaganda effort was part of Adolf Hitler's broader geopolitical strategy to create tension and potentially justify future territorial aggression against Czechoslovakia.
  • 16 Sep 1936 Nationalist Capture of Ronda: During the Spanish Civil War, Nationalist forces successfully captured the strategic city of Ronda in southern Spain. This military action was part of the broader Nationalist campaign to defeat Republican forces and ultimately led to General Francisco Franco's victory in the conflict.
  • 17 Sep 1936 Montreux Convention Signed, Regulating Turkish Straits: The Montreux Convention was a significant international treaty signed in Switzerland, establishing new regulations for maritime navigation and military passage through the strategically crucial Turkish Straits (Bosphorus and Dardanelles). This agreement replaced the previous regime established by the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne and gave Turkey greater control over these important waterways while providing specific guidelines for warship transit.
  • 18 Sep 1936 Maritime Disaster and Hurricane Strike on US East Coast: On September 18, 1936, two significant events occurred: a tragic maritime collision on the Nile River resulted in 45 fatalities when a pleasure boat and a cargo ship crashed into each other. Simultaneously, a powerful tropical hurricane made landfall at Cape Hatteras, causing significant damage along the eastern seaboard of the United States.
  • 19 Sep 1936 Al Oerter: Olympic Discus Legend: Al Oerter was an extraordinary American track and field athlete who revolutionized the discus throw. He achieved an unprecedented feat by winning Olympic gold medals in four consecutive Olympic Games (1956, 1960, 1964, and 1968), a record of consistency and excellence unmatched in Olympic history. His remarkable performances not only showcased his athletic prowess but also set a new standard for Olympic achievement.
  • 20 Sep 1936 Dynamite Explosion in Havana Targets Press and Church: On September 20, 1936, a powerful dynamite blast rocked Havana, Cuba, causing significant destruction and loss of life. The explosion targeted a newspaper press and a nearby Catholic church, resulting in the demolition of both buildings and the tragic death of four individuals. In the aftermath of the incident, authorities arrested 20 Socialists, suggesting potential political motivations behind the bombing. The event highlights the political tensions and violent conflicts prevalent in Cuba during the mid-1930s, a period marked by social and ideological struggles.
  • 21 Sep 1936 Franco Becomes Generalissimo of Spain: On September 21, 1936, during the Spanish Civil War, the fascist junta officially named Francisco Franco as the Generalissimo and Supreme Commander of the Nationalist forces, marking a pivotal moment in the conflict that would lead to his decades-long dictatorship.
  • 22 Sep 1936 Mussolini Meets Hitler Youth Leader: On September 22, 1936, Benito Mussolini hosted Baldur von Schirach, the leader of the Hitler Youth, in Rome. A special parade was conducted in the Piazza Venezia to commemorate the visit, symbolizing the growing alignment between Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy during the lead-up to World War II.
  • 23 Sep 1936 League of Nations Supports Ethiopia's Sovereignty: The League of Nations Assembly conducted a critical vote, with 39 member states supporting Ethiopia's right to retain its seat, effectively rejecting Italy's colonial claims and continuing to recognize Haile Selassie's government as the legitimate authority of the country. This vote was a significant diplomatic moment during the period of Italian aggression and colonial expansion.
  • 24 Sep 1936 Birth of Jim Henson: Jim Henson, the legendary American puppeteer, television producer, and creator of the Muppets, was born in Greenville, Mississippi. His innovative work would revolutionize children's entertainment and puppetry, creating beloved characters like Kermit the Frog and transforming the landscape of educational television through shows like Sesame Street.
  • 25 Sep 1936 French Franc Devaluation: On September 25, 1936, the French government implemented a significant monetary policy by devaluing the franc between 25% to 33%. This strategic economic move was aimed at stabilizing the national currency during a period of economic uncertainty in pre-World War II Europe. The devaluation was part of broader efforts to manage France's economic challenges during the interwar period.
  • 26 Sep 1936 Stalin Appoints Yezhov to NKVD: Joseph Stalin appointed Nikolai Yezhov as the new head of the NKVD (Soviet secret police). This appointment would prove pivotal, as Yezhov would become a key architect of the Great Purge, dramatically expanding the scope of political repression and mass executions during Stalin's regime.
  • 27 Sep 1936 Siege of the Alcázar Ends: The Nationalist forces successfully broke the siege of the Alcázar in Toledo, a pivotal moment in the Spanish Civil War. This dramatic military action became a symbolic victory for Franco's Nationalist troops.
  • 28 Sep 1936 NFL Game Between Brooklyn Dodgers and Boston Redskins: On September 28, 1936, the Brooklyn Dodgers and Boston Redskins played a notable NFL game characterized by its unique absence of penalties. This rare occurrence highlights the sportsmanship and disciplined play of both teams during this early era of professional football.
  • 29 Sep 1936 Franco Appointed Chief of Spanish Government: Miguel Cabanellas issued a pivotal declaration officially naming Francisco Franco as the 'Chief of the Government of the Spanish State', a critical moment in Franco's rise to power during the Spanish Civil War.
  • 30 Sep 1936 Francisco Franco Becomes Chief of Spanish Government: A significant political declaration signed by Miguel Cabanellas officially named Francisco Franco as the 'Chief of the Government of the Spanish State', marking a pivotal moment in the Spanish Civil War and Franco's rise to power.