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Major Events of December 1937: 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 December 1937 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of December 1937: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Dec 1937 Battle of Nanjing Begins: The Battle of Nanjing, a critical and devastating conflict during the Second Sino-Japanese War, commenced on December 1, 1937. This battle would become one of the most brutal military engagements in modern history, leading to the infamous Nanjing Massacre, where Japanese forces committed widespread atrocities against Chinese civilians and surrendered soldiers.
  • 02 Dec 1937 Establishment of National Council of FET in Burgos: In Burgos, Spain, the National Council of the Falange Española Tradicionalista (FET) was ceremonially sworn in. Modeled after Italy's Grand Council of Fascism, this new governing body represented the institutionalization of Francisco Franco's fascist political structure during the Spanish Civil War.
  • 03 Dec 1937 New High Commissioner Appointed for Palestine: British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain appointed Harold MacMichael as the new High Commissioner for Palestine, replacing Sir Arthur Grenfell Wauchope, who was retiring due to health concerns. This appointment occurred during a critical period of increasing tensions in the British Mandate of Palestine.
  • 04 Dec 1937 The Dandy Comic First Published: The Dandy, a beloved British comic magazine, was first published in Scotland by D.C. Thomson & Co. This iconic publication would become one of the longest-running comics in British history, entertaining generations of readers before transitioning to digital formats.
  • 05 Dec 1937 Prince Yasuhiko Asaka Takes Command in Shanghai: On December 5, 1937, Prince Yasuhiko Asaka, uncle of Emperor Hirohito, assumed command of the Japanese Shanghai Expeditionary Army positioned to besiege Nanjing. This strategic military leadership change occurred during a critical phase of the Second Sino-Japanese War, signaling the intensification of Japanese military operations.
  • 06 Dec 1937 Uneventful Day in Global History: While no specific major historical events were recorded for December 6, 1937, this date falls during a tumultuous period leading up to World War II. In the broader context, Japan was expanding its military operations in China, with the ongoing Second Sino-Japanese War having begun in July of that year. Tensions were rising in Europe, and global geopolitical dynamics were shifting rapidly.
  • 07 Dec 1937 Chiang Kai-Shek Flees Nanjing During Japanese Invasion: As part of the Second Sino-Japanese War, Chiang Kai-Shek and his wife Madame Chiang flee Nanjing on December 7, 1937, amid the Japanese military advance, marking a critical moment in the conflict.
  • 08 Dec 1937 Bombing of Barcelona during Spanish Civil War: Nationalist aircraft conducted a bombing raid on Barcelona, escalating the violence and civilian casualties during the Spanish Civil War. This event was part of the broader conflict between Republican and Nationalist forces that would ultimately lead to Francisco Franco's dictatorship.
  • 09 Dec 1937 Battle of Nanjing Begins in Second Sino-Japanese War: On December 9, 1937, Japanese troops under the command of Lieutenant General Asaka Yasuhiko launched a significant military assault on the Chinese city of Nanjing, marking a critical moment in the Second Sino-Japanese War. This invasion would soon lead to one of the most brutal episodes in modern warfare, known as the Nanjing Massacre or the Rape of Nanjing.
  • 10 Dec 1937 1937 Nobel Prize Awards Ceremony: The prestigious Nobel Prize ceremony was held in Stockholm and Oslo, honoring outstanding achievements across multiple disciplines. Notable recipients included Clinton Davisson and George Paget Thomson in Physics, Norman Haworth and Paul Karrer in Chemistry, Albert Szent-Györgyi in Physiology or Medicine, Roger Martin du Gard in Literature, and Robert Cecil in Peace for his diplomatic work with the League of Nations.
  • 11 Dec 1937 USS Panay Incident: Japanese military aircraft bombed and sank the American gunboat USS Panay in Chinese waters, a provocative act that heightened tensions between the United States and Japan and foreshadowed the coming Pacific conflict of World War II.
  • 12 Dec 1937 USS Panay Incident: On December 12, 1937, during the Second Sino-Japanese War, Japanese aircraft attacked and sank the USS Panay, a U.S. Navy gunboat, on the Yangtze River in China. The unprovoked attack resulted in the death of three American sailors and wounded 43 sailors and five civilians. This incident significantly escalated tensions between the United States and Japan, serving as an early indicator of the growing international conflict.
  • 13 Dec 1937 Battle of Nanjing and Nanking Massacre: During the Second Sino-Japanese War, the city of Nanjing (Nanking), defended by the National Revolutionary Army under General Tang Shengzhi, fell to Japanese forces. The capture was immediately followed by the Nanking Massacre, a horrific event where Japanese troops systematically raped, tortured, and murdered hundreds of thousands of Chinese civilians and surrendered soldiers, representing one of the most brutal atrocities of the 20th century.
  • 14 Dec 1937 Nanjing Massacre Begins: Japanese Imperial Army troops captured and brutally plundered the city of Nanjing, marking the beginning of one of the most horrific atrocities of World War II. The invasion involved widespread violence, mass killings, and systematic destruction of the city.
  • 15 Dec 1937 Battle of Teruel during Spanish Civil War: The Battle of Teruel was a significant military engagement during the Spanish Civil War, which began on December 15, 1937. This battle was a crucial confrontation between Republican and Nationalist forces, fought in the harsh winter conditions of eastern Spain, near the city of Teruel.
  • 16 Dec 1937 Alcatraz Prison Escape Attempt by Cole and Roe: Theodore Cole and Ralph Roe made a daring escape attempt from the notorious Alcatraz federal prison located in San Francisco Bay. Despite their meticulous planning, the prisoners vanished without a trace after their escape, leading to decades of speculation about their ultimate fate. The harsh conditions of the bay, including strong currents and cold waters, made survival highly unlikely.
  • 17 Dec 1937 Death of World War I General Erich Ludendorff: Erich Ludendorff, a prominent German general who played a crucial role in World War I military strategy, died at the age of 72. Known for his significant military leadership and later controversial political involvement, Ludendorff was a complex figure in early 20th-century German history.
  • 18 Dec 1937 First African-American Federal Judge Appointed: William Henry Hastie makes history by becoming the first African-American appointed to a federal judgeship, a groundbreaking moment in the advancement of civil rights and judicial representation.
  • 20 Dec 1937 Tragic School Fire in Japan: A devastating fire occurred in a primary school in South Tonda (now Shirahama), Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, while schoolchildren were watching a film. The incident resulted in 81 fatalities, marking a significant tragedy in Japanese educational history.
  • 21 Dec 1937 Snow White: Disney's Landmark Film: RKO Radio Pictures world premiered Disney's 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' at the Carthay Circle Theatre. The film, costing $1.5 million and comprising two million drawings over 83 minutes, nearly bankrupted the company but became a landmark in animation history.
  • 22 Dec 1937 Lincoln Tunnel Opens in New York City: The Lincoln Tunnel, a 1.5-mile-long (2.4 km) underground passage beneath the Hudson River, officially opens to traffic, connecting New Jersey and New York City. This significant infrastructure project represents a major transportation breakthrough, enhancing regional connectivity and urban mobility.
  • 23 Dec 1937 Vickers Wellington Bomber First Flight: The Vickers Wellington bomber, a significant British aircraft of World War II, completed its inaugural flight. This twin-engine medium bomber would become a crucial part of the Royal Air Force's strategic bombing capabilities during the conflict.
  • 24 Dec 1937 Dutch Recognition of Italian Imperial Claims in Abyssinia: On December 24, 1937, the Dutch government officially recognized King Emanuel III of Italy as the emperor of Abyssinia (modern-day Ethiopia), a significant diplomatic acknowledgment of Italy's colonial expansion in East Africa during the interwar period.
  • 25 Dec 1937 Panay Incident Resolution: The diplomatic tensions between the United States and Japan were temporarily eased when the United States formally accepted Japan's official apologies for the Panay incident, a significant moment in pre-World War II international relations.
  • 26 Dec 1937 Romanian Prime Minister Gheorghe Tătărescu Resigns: On December 26, 1937, Romanian Prime Minister Gheorghe Tătărescu and his entire cabinet resigned following the National Liberal Party's poor performance in the December 20 parliamentary elections. This political transition reflected the growing instability in Romania during the late 1930s, a period marked by significant political and social tensions.
  • 27 Dec 1937 Philo T. Farnsworth Patents Electronic Television System: Television inventor Philo T. Farnsworth was granted a landmark patent for the electronic television system, revolutionizing visual communication technology. His groundbreaking concept of creating moving images through electronic scanning laid the foundational framework for modern television technology, marking a pivotal moment in 20th-century media and communication innovation.
  • 28 Dec 1937 Death of Maurice Ravel: Maurice Ravel, a renowned French composer, pianist, and conductor known for masterpieces like 'Boléro', passed away, leaving a significant legacy in classical music.
  • 29 Dec 1937 Soviet Industrial Growth: Soviet industrial production reaches approximately four times its 1928 levels, demonstrating the significant economic transformation under Stalin's Five-Year Plans.
  • 30 Dec 1937 Birth of Gordon Banks, Legendary English Goalkeeper: Gordon Banks was a renowned English footballer who played as a goalkeeper and is widely considered one of the greatest goalkeepers in football history. He was a key member of England's 1966 World Cup-winning team and famously made an extraordinary save against Pelé in the 1970 World Cup match against Brazil, which is often described as the 'save of the century'.
  • 31 Dec 1937 Antisemitic Radio Broadcast by Octavian Goga: Romanian politician Octavian Goga delivered a deeply antisemitic radio broadcast, publicly announcing his intention to implement discriminatory measures against the Jewish population, baselessly accusing them of illegal entry and economic exploitation of Romania.