The world in
What happened in 1934?
24 events across 8 world regions, each with its sources.
Europe
%201b.jpg?width=176)
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.
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.
Signing of the Baltic EntenteIn 1934, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia signed the Treaty of Good-Understanding and Co-operation (the Baltic Entente) in Geneva, establishing a common framework for foreign and defense cooperation aimed at coordinating their foreign policies and providing mutual political support.
Signing of the German-Polish Non-Aggression PactOn 26 January 1934, Nazi Germany and the Second Polish Republic signed a non-aggression pact in Berlin, pledging to resolve disputes through bilateral negotiations and renounce armed conflict for ten years. The pact eased tensions over territorial disputes and ended a decade-long tariff war between the two nations.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: official juridical document / Public domain ↗
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 ↗
- 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 ↗
Founding of the Museu Nacional d'Art de CatalunyaIn 1934, the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC) was founded, housed in the Palau Nacional on Montjuïc hill in Barcelona. It focuses on Catalan visual art and is renowned for its outstanding collection of Romanesque church paintings, considered one of the most complete in the world.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: MARIA ROSA FERRE ✿ from Vilafranca del penedes, Catalunya / CC BY-SA 2.0 ↗
Pavlov's House becomes a fortified stronghold in the Battle of StalingradDuring the Battle of Stalingrad in 1942, an apartment building was converted by the Red Army into a fortified position and held for about two months, from 27 September to 25 November, against German attacks before being relieved. It was named after Sergeant Yakov Pavlov, who commanded its defense.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Unknown author Unknown author / Public domain ↗
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 ↗
.jpg?width=176)
Founding of the University of São PauloA public research university was founded in the Brazilian state of São Paulo: the University of São Paulo. It grew to become Brazil's largest public university and one of the most prestigious in Latin America and the Portuguese-speaking world, with multiple campuses covering a wide range of disciplines.
Establishment of Iguazú National ParkIguazú National Park was established in 1934 in northern Misiones Province, Argentina, covering about 550 to 677 square kilometers. Renowned for the Iguazú Falls and subtropical forest, it forms part of a cross-border protected system with Brazil's counterpart.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Martin St-Amant ( S23678 ) / CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
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 ↗
Establishment of Great Smoky Mountains National ParkIn 1934, plans were drawn up for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, laying the groundwork for what would become the most visited U.S. national park. Straddling Tennessee and North Carolina, it is known for its biodiversity, old-growth forests, and Cherokee heritage.
SourcesUNESCO World Heritage listing ↗Wikipedia ↗Image: Scott Basford / CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
Founding of Dyess ColonyDyess Colony was founded in 1934 by the Federal Emergency Relief Administration in Mississippi County, Arkansas, as part of the Roosevelt administration's agricultural relief and rehabilitation program. It was the largest agrarian community established by the federal government during the Great Depression, aiming to provide land and livelihood for impoverished farmers.
East Asia
Long March beginsIn October 1934, the main force of the Chinese Red Army's First Front Army departed from the Jiangxi Soviet, beginning a strategic retreat after the defeat in the Fifth Encirclement Campaign. This marked the start of the Long March, which lasted two years and ended with the Red Army's relocation to northern Shaanxi.
Completion of the Park HotelIn 1934, the Park Hotel was completed at the corner of Nanjing West Road and Huanghe Road in Shanghai. Its Art Deco building was the tallest in Asia at the time, became a landmark of 1930s–1940s Shanghai and serves as the origin of Shanghai's urban plane coordinate system.
Completion of St. Michael's Cathedral, QingdaoSt. Michael's Cathedral (also known as Zhejiang Road Catholic Church) was completed in the 1930s in Qingdao, becoming the seat of the Diocese of Qingdao. Built by German missionaries in the old German quarter, it is the largest Romanesque Revival church in Shandong Province.
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 ↗
South Asia
Establishment of the University of MalayaThe University of Malaya was founded in Kuala Lumpur. It is the oldest institution of higher education in Malaysia and was the only university in newly independent Malaya.
- 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake
On 15 January 1934, a massive earthquake of about magnitude 8 struck Nepal and Bihar, India, ranking among the worst in the region's history. It caused widespread destruction in northern Bihar and Nepal, completely destroying the towns of Munger and Muzaffarpur, and severely damaging Kathmandu.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
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.
West Asia
Founding of the University of TehranThe University of Tehran was founded as the first modern university in Iran, with roots in the 19th-century Dar al-Funun and School of Political Sciences. It is the oldest and most prominent Iranian university, nicknamed “The Mother University”, and is highly regarded in the Middle East.
Around 1934
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