The world in
What happened in 1933?
20 events across 6 world regions, each with its sources.
Europe
- Nazi seizure of power
On 30 January 1933, Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany, marking the Nazi seizure of power and the end of the Weimar Republic. Through subsequent elections and laws, the Nazis consolidated their dictatorship, ushering in the Third Reich.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
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The HolocaustDuring World War II, Nazi Germany and its collaborators systematically perpetrated genocide against the Jewish people, resulting in the murder of approximately two-thirds of Europe's Jewish population.
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Rise of Fascism as a Political IdeologyFascism emerged as a far-right political ideology and movement in Europe during the 1920s and early 1930s, notably in Italy and Germany. Its core features included veneration of a dictatorial leader, ultranationalism, violent suppression of opposition, and strict regimentation of society and economy. Opposed to communism, democracy, and liberalism, its rise was closely tied to post-World War I economic and social crises.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Unidentified photographer / Public domain ↗
Signing of the Treaty on the Creation of the USSROn December 30, 1922, the Treaty on the Creation of the USSR was signed at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, officially establishing the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Plenipotentiary delegates from the Russian, Transcaucasian, Ukrainian, and Byelorussian Soviet republics signed the treaty, along with a declaration serving as its preamble. The treaty legally formalized the political union of the Soviet republics that had existed since 1919, creating a new federal government with centralized functions in Moscow. Legislative power was vested in the Congress of Soviets and the Central Executive Committee, while executive power lay with the Council of People's Commissars.
Nazi Book BurningsOn May 10, 1933, a major book burning took place in Berlin’s present-day Bebelplatz, where over 5,000 students destroyed more than 20,000 books. Led by the German Student Union/NSDStB, it formed part of a broader campaign across Nazi Germany and Austria to eliminate works deemed contrary to Nazi ideology.
Signing of the Soviet–Polish Non-Aggression PactIn 1932, Poland and the Soviet Union signed a non-aggression pact in Moscow, aiming to maintain peaceful relations. The pact was unilaterally broken by the Soviet Union on September 17, 1939, with the invasion of Poland.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Agence de presse Mondial Photo-Presse. Agence photographique / Public domain ↗
Paimio Sanatorium completedPaimio Sanatorium, a tuberculosis hospital designed by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, was completed in Paimio, Finland. Aalto won the design competition in 1929, and the building received critical acclaim upon its completion in 1933, becoming a landmark of modern architecture.
- Nazi Plunder Campaign Begins
In 1933, Nazi Germany began the systematic looting of art and valuables, initially targeting German Jews before expanding into occupied territories. Carried out as part of the Holocaust and under the pretext of 'art protection' by special units, the campaign resulted in the theft of countless paintings, books, religious treasures, and other cultural items.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
Central & South America
Chaco WarBetween 1932 and 1935, Bolivia and Paraguay fought a war over control of the northern Gran Chaco region, thought to be rich in petroleum. The conflict took place in a semi-arid area, earning it the name 'War of the Thirst'. It was the bloodiest South American conflict of the 20th century, causing heavy casualties on both sides.
Banana WarsBetween 1898 and 1934, the United States carried out a series of military occupations, police actions, and interventions in Central America and the Caribbean. These operations were primarily conducted by the United States Marine Corps, which compiled the Small Wars Manual (1921) based on its experiences.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: A. R. Harrison, United States Marine Corps / Public domain ↗
- Signing of the Montevideo Convention
On 26 December 1933, 19 states signed the Montevideo Convention in Uruguay, setting key criteria for statehood shaping customary international law. At the conference, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced the Good Neighbor Policy opposing armed intervention in Latin America.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
Colombian-Peruvian WarFrom 1932 to 1933, a short armed conflict erupted between Colombia and Peru over territory in the Amazon rainforest, ending with an agreement to divide the disputed area between both countries.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Unknown author Unknown author / Public domain ↗
North America
Implementation of the New DealBetween 1933 and 1938, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt implemented a series of economic, social, and political reforms in response to the Great Depression, centered on relief, recovery, and reform. The policies aimed to stabilize the economy through massive government intervention, assist the poorest, and reform financial markets.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: LordHarris at English Wikipedia / Public domain ↗
A Century of Progress International Exposition OpensThe Century of Progress International Exposition, a world's fair highlighting technological innovation, opened in Chicago, Illinois, on May 27, 1933, and ran until October 31, 1934. Registered by the Bureau International des Expositions, it marked Chicago's centennial, featured Art Deco design, and promoted the union of science and daily life, with the Sky Ride transporter bridge as its architectural symbol.
Opening of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay BridgeThe San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge opened to traffic on November 12, 1936. Designed by Ralph Modjeski, it connects San Francisco, Yerba Buena Island, and Oakland as part of Interstate 80, carrying about 260,000 vehicles per day. Its completion preceded the nearby Golden Gate Bridge by roughly six months.
Founding of Black Mountain CollegeIn 1933, Black Mountain College was founded in Black Mountain, North Carolina, as a private liberal arts college. Established by John Andrew Rice and others, the college was organized around John Dewey's educational philosophy, emphasizing holistic learning and the centrality of art. It later became a significant platform for avant-garde artistic practices and deeply influenced 20th-century art history.
Central Asian steppe
Soviet–Japanese Border Conflicts Break OutIn 1932, a series of border clashes erupted in Northeast Asia between the Soviet Union, Mongolia, and the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo. These undeclared hostilities, ranging from minor skirmishes to major battles, persisted through the 1930s and culminated in the 1939 Battle of Khalkhin Gol, shaping the pre-WWII strategic landscape in the Far East.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Mainichi Shinbun Sha / Public domain ↗
- Outbreak of the Basmachi Movement
In 1916, an uprising by Muslim peoples of Central Asia against tsarist conscription and colonial rule broke out in Turkestan, marking the beginning of the Basmachi movement. This decentralized resistance later turned against Soviet rule and became the most protracted anti-colonial armed struggle in the region, gradually subsiding only by 1934.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
East Asia
Signing of the Tanggu TruceOn May 31, 1933, the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan signed a ceasefire agreement in Tanggu, Tianjin, ending Japan's invasion of Manchuria that began in September 1931. The Nationalist government was forced to negotiate after Japanese forces attacked the Great Wall passes while Chinese troops were tied up in campaigns against the Communists, exposing Beijing and Tianjin to threat. The truce brought temporary peace but left North China vulnerable to further Japanese encroachment.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Unknown author Unknown author / Public domain ↗
North Africa
Outbreak of the French conquest of MoroccoIn 1907, France began its conquest of the Sultanate of Morocco by occupying Oujda on 29 March. Subsequent military campaigns led to the Treaty of Fes in 1912, establishing the French protectorate, while pacification operations continued until 1934.
Around 1933
These are known only to the century, not to the year. They are listed separately so a rough date is never mistaken for an exact one.
- Completion of the Taipei Grand Mosque
- Establishment of Women's Suffrage Worldwide
- Establishment of Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park
- Construction of Grimeton Longwave Radio Station
- Construction of the Trans-Iranian Railway begins
- Construction of the 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright Begins
- Construction of the Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in 'The Centre of Heaven and Earth'
- Establishment of the Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains