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Major Events of September 1938: 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 1938 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of September 1938: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Sep 1938 Italian Racial Laws Against Jews: On September 1st, 1938, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini officially promulgated a series of antisemitic racial laws that systematically stripped Italian Jews of their civil rights. These discriminatory regulations, heavily influenced by Nazi Germany's racial policies, prohibited Jews from holding public office, attending public schools, and participating in many aspects of social and economic life. This marked a dark turning point in Italian history, setting the stage for widespread persecution and eventual deportation of Jewish citizens during World War II.
  • 02 Sep 1938 Soviet Diplomatic Overture Regarding Czechoslovakia: Soviet Ambassador Ivan Maisky met with Winston Churchill to convey a significant diplomatic message from Soviet Foreign Commissar Maxim Litvinov. The communication indicated the Soviet Union's willingness to militarily defend the territorial integrity of Czechoslovakia, a critical moment in the pre-World War II diplomatic landscape. This meeting highlighted the complex geopolitical tensions and potential alliances forming in response to Nazi Germany's expansionist ambitions.
  • 03 Sep 1938 Hitler's Military Strategy Meeting: Adolf Hitler held a critical military conference with Generals Walther von Brauchitsch and Wilhelm Keitel, discussing 'Fall Grün' (Case Green), a strategic plan for potential military action. Despite Brauchitsch's concerns about Wehrmacht's preparedness, Hitler insisted on readiness within two days, signaling his aggressive expansionist intentions.
  • 04 Sep 1938 Diplomatic Tensions Before World War II: Bullitt's Speech on Franco-American Relations: During a ceremony at Pointe de Grave, France, marking the unveiling of a plaque celebrating Franco-American friendship, U.S. Ambassador William Bullitt delivered a significant speech emphasizing the historical unity between France and the United States. His statement, "France and the United States were united in war and peace," sparked widespread media speculation about potential U.S. involvement in the brewing European conflict over Czechoslovakia.
  • 05 Sep 1938 Final Nazi Party Congress at Nuremberg: The annual Nuremberg Rally began, marking the last Nazi Party Congress ever held. This event symbolized the peak and impending decline of Nazi political spectacles, which had been instrumental in showcasing the party's power and ideology.
  • 06 Sep 1938 Final Nuremberg Rally of Nazi Germany: The last of the Nuremberg Rallies commenced, drawing global attention as observers anticipated Hitler's closing remarks, which were expected to signal potential diplomatic outcomes regarding the Czechoslovak crisis. This event was a critical moment in the lead-up to World War II, symbolizing the rising tensions in Europe.
  • 07 Sep 1938 Secret Diplomatic Meeting in London: Theodor Kordt, a counselor in the German embassy in London, meets secretly with British Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax at 10 Downing Street. He desperately appeals to the British government to stand firm against Hitler's planned aggression into Czechoslovakia, promising potential action by German army leaders who oppose the Nazis.
  • 08 Sep 1938 Czechoslovakia Minority Representatives Unite: On September 8, 1938, representatives from various ethnic and regional minorities in Czechoslovakia formed a unified coalition, presenting a collective stance against the government and agreeing on urgent political measures. This event occurred during a critical period of rising tensions in Central Europe, just before the Munich Agreement and the subsequent dismemberment of Czechoslovakia.
  • 09 Sep 1938 Hitler's Provocative Nuremberg Speech on Sudeten Germans: Adolf Hitler delivered a dramatic and inflammatory speech in Nuremberg, dramatically escalating tensions by declaring the supposed oppression of Sudeten Germans must end. This broadcast by CBS Radio was historically significant as it was the first time many Americans directly heard Hitler's rhetoric, providing a chilling glimpse into the rising tensions preceding World War II.
  • 10 Sep 1938 Hitler-Chamberlain Sudetenland Negotiations: Adolf Hitler meets with British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain to demand the cession of the Sudetenland, a region of Czechoslovakia with a significant German population, to Nazi Germany. This meeting is a critical moment in the lead-up to World War II, highlighting the diplomatic tensions and territorial ambitions of Nazi Germany.
  • 11 Sep 1938 Hitler's Provocative Nuremberg Speech on Sudeten Germans: Adolf Hitler delivered a highly inflammatory speech in Nuremberg, dramatically escalating tensions by declaring the supposed oppression of Sudeten Germans in Czechoslovakia. This broadcast was historically significant as it was the first time many Americans directly heard Hitler's rhetoric, with CBS Radio providing live coverage that brought the rising European tensions into American living rooms.
  • 12 Sep 1938 Hitler's Inflammatory Nuremberg Speech on Sudetenland: Adolf Hitler delivered a provocative closing address at the Nuremberg Rally, vehemently attacking Czechoslovakian leadership and the Czech people. The speech focused on the alleged oppression of ethnic Germans in the Sudetenland region. American news commentator Hans von Kaltenborn provided a comprehensive broadcast summary of Hitler's address over the CBS Radio Network, marking a significant moment in international media coverage of pre-World War II tensions.
  • 13 Sep 1938 Sudetenland Uprising Against Czechoslovak Government: On September 13, 1938, followers of Konrad Henlein, a pro-Nazi Sudeten German leader, initiated an armed revolt against the Czechoslovak government in the Sudetenland region. The uprising was marked by significant violence, leading to the declaration of martial law. After intense bloodshed on both sides, the authorities temporarily restored order. In response to the escalating tensions, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain personally sent an urgent telegram to Adolf Hitler, requesting an immediate diplomatic meeting to address the crisis.
  • 14 Sep 1938 Graf Zeppelin II Maiden Flight: The Graf Zeppelin II, the world's largest airship at the time, successfully completed its maiden flight, marking a significant milestone in aviation technology and airship development.
  • 15 Sep 1938 Munich Agreement Negotiations Begin: British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain met with Adolf Hitler at the Berghof in Germany, marking a critical moment in pre-World War II diplomacy. During this meeting, Chamberlain agreed to Hitler's demand to annex the Sudetenland, a decision that would significantly impact European geopolitics.
  • 16 Sep 1938 Czechoslovakia Mobilizes Army Amid Rising Tensions: In response to escalating geopolitical pressures, particularly from Nazi Germany's expansionist ambitions, Czechoslovakia initiated a full military mobilization, signaling growing international tensions in the lead-up to World War II.
  • 17 Sep 1938 Chamberlain's Misguided Optimism about Hitler: British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain meets with his Cabinet and expresses naive confidence in Adolf Hitler, stating that Hitler is 'a man who could be relied upon when he had given his word' - a tragically misguided assessment that would soon be proven catastrophically wrong.
  • 18 Sep 1938 Munich Crisis Diplomatic Negotiations: A critical meeting between British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, French Premier Édouard Daladier, and Foreign Minister Georges Bonnet reveals the reluctance of both governments to engage militarily over the Sudetenland crisis. The Soviet Union conditionally pledges support for Czechoslovakia, dependent on France's commitment to Czech independence.
  • 19 Sep 1938 Munich Agreement Negotiations: Britain and France Pressure Czechoslovakia: Britain and France agree to Adolf Hitler's demands and urge Czechoslovakia to surrender the Sudeten areas to Germany, a critical moment in the lead-up to World War II that exemplifies the policy of appeasement.
  • 20 Sep 1938 Czechoslovakia Rejects Sudetenland Proposal: The Czech government officially refused to accept the Anglo-French proposal to surrender the Sudetenland, a predominantly ethnic German region, which was seen as a critical moment of diplomatic tension preceding World War II.
  • 21 Sep 1938 Czechoslovakia's Capitulation to Nazi Pressure: British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain communicates with Czech President Eduard Benes, emphasizing that the British-French proposal is the only method to prevent war. The Czech government, under immense pressure, decides to capitulate, effectively accepting the impending Nazi territorial demands and placing full responsibility for potential conflict on themselves.
  • 22 Sep 1938 Hitler's Demands on Czechoslovakia at Godesberg Meeting: During a critical diplomatic meeting in Godesberg, Adolf Hitler presented aggressive territorial demands to British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain regarding Czechoslovakia, escalating tensions in Europe and setting the stage for potential military conflict.
  • 23 Sep 1938 Chamberlain Transmits Hitler's Demands to Czechoslovakia: British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain forwarded Adolf Hitler's territorial demands to the Czechoslovak government, a critical moment in the diplomatic negotiations that would ultimately lead to the Munich Agreement.
  • 24 Sep 1938 Hitler's Sudeten Land Ultimatum: Adolf Hitler formally demands the annexation of the Sudetenland region from Czechoslovakia, setting an October 1st deadline and escalating tensions in Europe that would contribute to the outbreak of World War II.
  • 25 Sep 1938 British Royal Navy Mobilizes Amid European Tensions: On September 25, 1938, the British Royal Navy was ordered to sea, reflecting the growing international tensions in the lead-up to World War II. This mobilization was likely a response to the escalating diplomatic crisis surrounding Nazi Germany's expansionist policies, particularly regarding the Sudetenland crisis.
  • 26 Sep 1938 Hitler's Territorial Claims Speech: In a provocative speech to the Nazi party in Berlin, Adolf Hitler declared his intentions regarding Czechoslovakia, asserting that resolving the Czech/German territorial dispute would be his final territorial demand in Europe. He emphasized that once the Czechs peacefully addressed minority issues, he would lose interest in the Czech state.
  • 27 Sep 1938 Nazi Antisemitic Legal Restrictions: In an escalation of antisemitic policies, Nazi Germany prohibited Jewish lawyers from practicing law, further marginalizing and discriminating against the Jewish professional community.
  • 28 Sep 1938 Munich Conference Preparations: As his self-imposed October 1 deadline for occupation of the Sudetenland approaches, Adolf Hitler invites key European leaders - Italian Duce Benito Mussolini, French Premier Édouard Daladier, and British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain - to a critical conference in Munich. Notably, the Czechoslovakian representatives are deliberately excluded from these negotiations, which would ultimately determine their country's territorial fate.
  • 29 Sep 1938 Munich Conference on Czechoslovakia: A pivotal diplomatic meeting held in Munich where leaders of Germany, Italy, Britain, and France discussed the fate of Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland. Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Neville Chamberlain, and Édouard Daladier negotiated the territorial demands, ultimately agreeing to allow Germany to annex the Sudetenland region.
  • 30 Sep 1938 Munich Agreement Signed: At approximately 1:00 AM, the Munich Agreement was signed by British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, French Premier Édouard Daladier, Italian Premier Benito Mussolini, and German Chancellor Adolf Hitler. The agreement allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia, effectively dismembering the country without its consent.