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

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

01 Feb 1937 Stapleton Customs-Free Port Establishment: On February 1, 1937, the port of Stapleton in Staten Island, New York was designated as a customs-free port, potentially facilitating international trade and economic development for the local region. This designation would have allowed for more streamlined import and export processes, potentially reducing bureaucratic barriers for businesses operating in the area.
02 Feb 1937 Senjūrō Hayashi Becomes Prime Minister of Japan: On February 2, 1937, Senjūrō Hayashi formed a new government and assumed the role of Prime Minister of Japan, succeeding Kōki Hirota. This political transition occurred during a period of increasing militarization and expansionist policies in Japan, just two years before the full-scale Second Sino-Japanese War would begin.
03 Feb 1937 Battle of Málaga during Spanish Civil War: The Battle of Málaga was a significant military engagement during the Spanish Civil War, where Nationalist forces led by Francisco Franco, supported by Italian and German Fascist troops, launched an offensive against the city of Málaga. The Republican defenders, numbering around 12,000 troops, were quickly overwhelmed, with the Nationalist forces breaking through their defenses within five days.
04 Feb 1937 Hitler Assumes Military Leadership in Nazi Germany: Adolf Hitler officially became commander-in-chief of the German armed forces and simultaneously appointed himself as the German war minister. This strategic move consolidated his absolute power, enabling him to directly control military operations and strategy, which would prove critical in the lead-up to World War II.
05 Feb 1937 FDR's Supreme Court Expansion Plan: President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed a controversial plan to enlarge the Supreme Court, attempting to add up to five additional justices. This 'court-packing' plan was designed to overcome judicial resistance to his New Deal policies, but ultimately failed to gain sufficient congressional support.
06 Feb 1937 Battle of Jarama in Spanish Civil War: A critical military engagement during the Spanish Civil War where Spanish Nationalist forces crossed the Jarama River, threatening the last defensive line protecting Madrid. The battle lasted three weeks and was strategically significant in the Nationalists' attempt to control the vital road connecting Madrid and Valencia, a key Mediterranean port.
07 Feb 1937 Massive Leftist March in Paris: A significant political demonstration took place in Paris, with 40,000 leftist supporters marching to commemorate the third anniversary of the February 6, 1934 counter-demonstrations. Prime Minister Léon Blum personally attended the event, standing in the rain to review the marchers, symbolizing the political tensions and social movements of the era.
08 Feb 1937 Falangist Capture of Málaga: In a significant military engagement during the Spanish Civil War, Falangist (Nationalist) troops successfully captured the strategic city of Málaga, dealing a substantial blow to Republican forces in southern Spain.
09 Feb 1937 United Air Lines Flight 33 Tragedy in San Francisco Bay: On February 9, 1937, a United Air Lines Douglas DC-3 aircraft crashed into San Francisco Bay, resulting in the tragic loss of all 11 passengers and crew members aboard. The incident highlighted the early challenges and risks of commercial aviation during the 1930s, when air travel was still a relatively new and developing mode of transportation.
10 Feb 1937 Ragnhild Hveger Sets World Freestyle Swimming Record: Danish swimmer Ragnhild Hveger established a new world record in the 400-meter freestyle swimming event, completing the distance in an impressive time of 5 minutes and 14.2 seconds. This achievement highlighted her exceptional athletic prowess and contributed to Denmark's reputation in competitive swimming during the 1930s.
11 Feb 1937 Flint Sit-Down Strike Ends with UAW Victory: The historic 44-day sit-down strike at General Motors in Flint, Michigan concluded with a landmark labor relations breakthrough. The United Auto Workers (UAW) successfully compelled General Motors to recognize the union as the exclusive bargaining agent for its employees, marking a pivotal moment in American labor rights and industrial relations.
12 Feb 1937 Birth of Last Italian Crown Prince: Vittorio Emanuele di Sovia, the last Crown Prince of Italy, was born. His birth came during a tumultuous period in Italian history, just before the rise of Mussolini and the eventual abolition of the monarchy.
13 Feb 1937 Devastating Theater Fire in Andong, China: A catastrophic theater fire at the Manchu Wutai Playhouse in Andong, China, during Lunar New Year celebrations resulted in at least 658 fatalities among 7,500 attendees, representing one of the deadliest theater fires in history
14 Feb 1937 Roosevelt's Supreme Court Reform Proposal: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt recommended a controversial judicial reform bill that proposed increasing the Supreme Court's size from 9 to potentially 15 justices. The bill suggested adding a new seat for each justice who reached 70 years of age and did not retire, which was widely seen as an attempt to reshape the court's ideological composition.
15 Feb 1937 USS Maine Explosion in Havana Harbor: On February 15, 1898, a catastrophic explosion sank the United States battleship USS Maine in Havana harbor, killing 260 American sailors. This tragic incident became a pivotal moment in American history, serving as the immediate catalyst for the Spanish-American War. The explosion, whose exact cause remains historically debated, was widely attributed to Spanish sabotage at the time, fueling American public sentiment for military intervention. The incident was a critical turning point in the Cuban struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule, ultimately leading to a conflict that would dramatically reshape geopolitical dynamics in the Caribbean and establish the United States as an emerging global power.
16 Feb 1937 Yekatit 12: Italian Atrocities in Ethiopia: On February 16, 1937, a significant and tragic event occurred during the Italian colonial occupation of Ethiopia. During a public ceremony at the Viceregal Palace in Addis Ababa, two Eritrean nationalists attempted to assassinate Viceroy Rodolfo Graziani by throwing grenades. In response, Italian security forces indiscriminately fired into the crowd of Ethiopian onlookers. The subsequent reprisals were brutal: thousands of Ethiopians were detained in harsh conditions at Danan in the Ogaden, and numerous civilians were systematically slaughtered over the next three days, representing a dark chapter of colonial violence.
17 Feb 1937 Golden Gate Bridge Construction Tragedy: On February 17, 1937, a catastrophic scaffolding collapse during the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge resulted in a devastating loss of life. Ten workers plummeted to their deaths when a section of scaffolding gave way, with the falling debris destroying the safety net intended to protect workers. Only two workers miraculously survived the fall, highlighting the extreme dangers faced by construction workers during this era of massive infrastructure projects.
18 Feb 1937 Marriner Eccles Senate Testimony on Monetary Policy: During Senate hearings, Marriner Eccles, Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, expressed significant concerns about the prevailing monetary policy. He specifically highlighted that short-term interest rates were potentially set too low, suggesting a potential strategic misjudgment in economic management. Eccles, a key economic policymaker during the Great Depression era, was known for his progressive economic views and critical approach to monetary policy.
19 Feb 1937 Yekatit 12 Massacre: Mass Killings in Ethiopia: The Yekatit 12 massacre was a horrific colonial atrocity where Italian forces murdered approximately 19,000 Ethiopians in Addis Ababa over three days. The killings were a direct response to an assassination attempt on General Rodolfo Graziani, the Governor-General of Italian East Africa, highlighting the brutal nature of colonial repression.
20 Feb 1937 Roberto Ortiz Elected President of Argentina: Roberto Ortiz was democratically elected as the President of Argentina, marking a significant moment in the country's political history during the late 1930s.
21 Feb 1937 First Issue of Detective Comics Published: In March 1937, Detective Comics was first published in the United States, marking the beginning of a legendary comic book series. The publication would later become historically significant when it introduced Batman in its 27th issue, eventually becoming the longest continuously published comic book in American history.
22 Feb 1937 Uneventful Day in 1937: While no specific major historical events were recorded for February 22, 1937, this period was part of the interwar years, characterized by global political tensions and economic recovery efforts following the Great Depression. The world was experiencing significant geopolitical shifts, with rising tensions in Europe and Asia preceding World War II.
23 Feb 1937 HMS Royal Oak Accidentally Targeted During Spanish Civil War: The British battleship HMS Royal Oak was mistakenly attacked by Nationalist forces during the Spanish Civil War. This incident highlighted the complex and chaotic nature of the conflict, where international naval vessels were at risk of being caught in the crossfire of the ongoing civil war.
24 Feb 1937 First Group Hospital-Medical Cooperative Established in Washington DC: On February 24, 1937, a groundbreaking moment in American healthcare occurred when the first group hospital-medical cooperative was officially authorized in Washington DC. This innovative model represented an early precursor to modern health maintenance organizations (HMOs), aiming to provide more affordable and accessible healthcare services to members through a cooperative structure.
25 Feb 1937 Kansas Ratifies Child Labor Amendment: Kansas became the 28th and final state to ratify the proposed Child Labor Amendment, marking a significant milestone in the national effort to regulate and protect children from exploitative working conditions. This ratification represented a crucial step in advancing labor rights and child welfare in the United States during the interwar period.
26 Feb 1937 February 26 Incident: Failed Military Coup in Imperial Japan: The February 26 Incident was a significant attempted coup d'état in the Empire of Japan, orchestrated by a radical group of young Imperial Japanese Army officers. Their primary objectives were to purge the government and military leadership of perceived factional rivals and ideological opponents, reflecting the intense internal political tensions of the era. The uprising, which took place in Tokyo, was ultimately suppressed by loyal military and government forces. The aftermath was severe: 19 conspirators were executed by firing squad, dozens were imprisoned, and several key participants committed suicide. The incident resulted in the deaths of four government officials and five police officers, marking a dramatic and violent moment in pre-World War II Japanese political history. The failed coup highlighted the deep ideological divisions within the Japanese military and government during the 1930s, and significantly impacted Japan's political landscape leading up to World War II.
27 Feb 1937 Battle of Jarama during Spanish Civil War: The Battle of Jarama continued as part of the Spanish Civil War, with Spanish Nationalist forces and their allies engaging in intense combat against Republican forces. This significant battle, taking place near Madrid, was a critical moment in the conflict that would ultimately determine the political future of Spain.
28 Feb 1937 Uneventful Day in 1937: While no specific major historical events were documented for February 28, 1937, this does not necessarily mean nothing of significance occurred. During this period, the world was experiencing significant global tensions, with events like the Spanish Civil War ongoing and rising political uncertainties in Europe preceding World War II.