Major Events of January 1939: 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 1939 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of January 1939: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Jan 1939 Hewlett-Packard Founded: William Hewlett and David Packard establish their pioneering technology partnership in Palo Alto, California, which would become one of the most influential technology companies in the world.
02 Jan 1939 Jim Bakker Scandal Background: Jim Bakker, a prominent televangelist associated with the PTL (Praise The Lord) Club, was later known for a significant personal scandal involving his inappropriate relationship with Jessica Hahn, which would eventually lead to major professional and legal consequences.
03 Jan 1939 First Female Page in US House of Representatives: Gene Cox made history by becoming the first girl page in the United States House of Representatives, breaking gender barriers in congressional support staff roles and paving the way for future female participation in government operations.
04 Jan 1939 Roosevelt's 1939 State of the Union Address: President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered a pivotal State of the Union Address to Congress, warning about global tensions and emphasizing the critical importance of democratic efficiency in ensuring national defense amid growing international conflicts.
05 Jan 1939 Polish-German Diplomatic Tension: Polish Foreign Minister Józef Beck met with Adolf Hitler at the Berghof, where Hitler unexpectedly demanded the return of the Free City of Danzig to Germany. This meeting highlighted the escalating diplomatic tensions that would soon lead to World War II.
06 Jan 1939 Discovery of Nuclear Fission: Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann, prominent German scientists, announced a groundbreaking scientific discovery in Berlin, Germany: the successful identification and demonstration of uranium fission, a process that would fundamentally transform nuclear physics and eventually lead to nuclear energy and atomic weapons.
07 Jan 1939 Tom Mooney Released from Prison: Tom Mooney, a prominent American labor union leader, was freed from prison after being incarcerated since 1916. His release marked a significant moment in labor rights history, highlighting the long-standing struggle for workers' justice in the United States.
08 Jan 1939 The Screen Guild Theater Radio Anthology Series Debuts: On January 8, 1939, The Screen Guild Theater, a popular radio anthology series, made its premiere on the CBS radio network. The program featured dramatic adaptations of contemporary films, bringing Hollywood storytelling directly into American living rooms. Actors from current motion pictures would often perform in these radio dramatizations, providing audiences with unique interpretations of recent cinematic narratives.
09 Jan 1939 Death of Johnny Gruelle, Raggedy Ann Creator: Johnny Gruelle, a renowned American cartoonist, children's book author, and illustrator, passed away. Best known for creating the beloved Raggedy Ann character, Gruelle was a significant figure in early 20th-century children's literature and popular culture. His creation of Raggedy Ann, inspired by a doll he made for his daughter Marcella, became an iconic character that has delighted generations of children.
10 Jan 1939 Pre-World War II Diplomatic Discussions: British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and Foreign Minister Lord Halifax met with French leaders Édouard Daladier and Georges Bonnet to discuss the increasingly tense international political landscape. The meeting focused on potential threats to European peace, taking place just months before the outbreak of World War II.
11 Jan 1939 British Diplomacy with Mussolini in Rome: British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and Lord Halifax traveled to Rome for a critical diplomatic meeting with Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. Their primary objective was to explore potential diplomatic solutions and persuade Mussolini to support British efforts to prevent the escalation of tensions in Europe, which were rapidly moving towards World War II. This meeting was part of Chamberlain's policy of appeasement, attempting to negotiate with fascist leaders to avoid military conflict.
12 Jan 1939 Roosevelt Proposes Major Defense Spending Increase: In a pivotal address to Congress, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt outlined a comprehensive $552 million defense spending plan, signaling the United States' growing preparedness in the lead-up to World War II. This substantial investment represented a significant escalation of military readiness during a period of increasing global tensions in Europe.
13 Jan 1939 Alcatraz Prison Break Attempt: On January 13, 1939, a dramatic escape attempt occurred at Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. Five prisoners - Arthur 'Doc' Barker, Dale Stamphill, William Martin, Rufus McCain, and Henri Young - attempted to break free by sawing through cell bars. Prison guards intercepted them at the shoreline. Three men surrendered, while Barker and Stamphill resisted, resulting in Barker being fatally shot.
14 Jan 1939 Norway's Antarctic Territorial Claim: Norway officially claimed Queen Maud Land in Antarctica, expanding its territorial interests in the southern polar region and establishing a strategic presence for potential future scientific and economic exploration.
15 Jan 1939 First NFL Pro Bowl: The New York Giants defeated the NFL All-Stars 13-10 in a historic game at Wrigley Field, marking the inaugural NFL Pro Bowl.
16 Jan 1939 Superman Comic Strip Debuts in the United States: The iconic superhero Superman makes his first appearance in Action Comics #1, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, marking the beginning of a cultural phenomenon that would revolutionize comic book storytelling and popular media.
17 Jan 1939 Nazi Reich Discriminatory Order Against Jewish Professionals: The Nazi regime issued a discriminatory order prohibiting individuals of Jewish nationality from practicing as chemists, veterinarians, and dentists, further escalating systematic persecution and professional exclusion of Jewish people.
18 Jan 1939 British Police Arrest IRA Suspects: British law enforcement conducted a major operation against the Irish Republican Army (IRA), arresting 14 suspected members and seizing substantial ammunition during an investigation into the S-Plan bombings, highlighting the ongoing tensions in the region.
19 Jan 1939 Chicken Plucking Speed Record Set in Wisconsin: Ernest Hausen from Wisconsin, USA, achieved a remarkable feat by setting a world record for chicken plucking, completing the task in an astonishingly quick 4.4 seconds. This unusual achievement highlights the unique skills and efficiency of agricultural workers during the late 1930s.
20 Jan 1939 Hitler's Genocidal Declaration to German Parliament: In a chilling speech to the German parliament, Adolf Hitler explicitly proclaimed his intent to exterminate all European Jews, marking a critical moment in the lead-up to the Holocaust.
21 Jan 1939 US Female Figure Skating Championship: Joan Tozzer emerged victorious in the United States Female Figure Skating Championship, showcasing her exceptional skill and artistry on the ice during a pivotal year in pre-World War II America.
22 Jan 1939 First Uranium Atom Splitting at Columbia University: Scientists at Columbia University in New York successfully split the uranium atom, a groundbreaking scientific achievement that would later become crucial to understanding nuclear fission and ultimately lead to significant developments in nuclear physics, including the Manhattan Project during World War II.
23 Jan 1939 Dutch War Scare of 1939: Admiral Wilhelm Canaris of the Abwehr, the German military intelligence service, strategically leaked misinformation suggesting that Germany was planning to invade the Netherlands in February 1939. The purpose of this disinformation was to create strategic uncertainty and potentially use Dutch airfields as a launching point for a strategic bombing offensive against Britain. This deliberate intelligence manipulation led to significant shifts in British foreign policy and heightened tensions in pre-World War II Europe.
24 Jan 1939 Nazi Jewish Emigration Policy: Hermann Göring established the National Central Office for Jewish emigration and ordered SS leadership to accelerate the forced evacuation of German Jews, marking an escalation of Nazi persecution and systematic displacement of Jewish populations.
25 Jan 1939 Barcelona Falls to Nationalist Troops in Spanish Civil War: Spanish Nationalist troops, supported by Italian forces, captured the strategic city of Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War. This significant military victory brought the Nationalists closer to their ultimate triumph over Republican forces.
26 Jan 1939 Spanish Civil War: Fall of Barcelona to Franco: During the Spanish Civil War, nationalist troops led by General Francisco Franco, with support from Italian forces, successfully captured the strategically important city of Barcelona in Catalonia, marking a significant turning point in the conflict.
27 Jan 1939 Nazi Germany's Naval Expansion Plan Z: Adolf Hitler orders Plan Z, a comprehensive 5-year naval expansion programme designed to dramatically increase the German Navy's (Kriegsmarine) capabilities. The plan prioritizes naval resources with the strategic goal of challenging and potentially defeating the British Royal Navy by 1944.
28 Jan 1939 Death of William Butler Yeats: William Butler Yeats, the renowned Irish poet and Nobel Prize laureate, passed away in France at the age of 73. A pivotal figure in the Irish Literary Revival and one of the foremost poets of the 20th century, Yeats was instrumental in shaping modern Irish literature and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1923 for his consistently elegant and inspired writings that exemplified the spirit of Irish nationalism.
29 Jan 1939 Subhas Chandra Bose Re-elected as Congress President: On January 29, 1939, Subhas Chandra Bose was controversially re-elected as President of the Indian National Congress, defeating the candidate supported by Mahatma Gandhi, Bhogaraju Pattabhi Sitaramayya. This election highlighted the growing ideological differences within the Indian independence movement, with Bose representing a more radical approach to challenging British colonial rule compared to Gandhi's non-violent resistance strategy.
30 Jan 1939 Hitler's Ominous Reichstag Speech: On the sixth anniversary of the Nazi Party's rise to power, Adolf Hitler delivered a chilling speech to the Reichstag, making a threatening prediction about the potential extermination of European Jews in the event of another world war. This speech was a stark warning that foreshadowed the impending Holocaust.
31 Jan 1939 Nazi Regime Suppresses Berliner Tageblatt: The Berliner Tageblatt, a prominent German newspaper, was forcibly shut down by the Nazi regime as part of their systematic suppression of independent media and free press.