The world in
What happened in 1936?
21 events across 6 world regions, each with its sources.
Europe
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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.
Outbreak of the Spanish Civil WarIn 1936, a civil war broke out in Spain between the Republican government and the right-wing Nationalist forces, lasting until 1939. The Republicans were supported by the Soviet Union, while the Nationalists received aid from Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. The war was seen as an ideological and class struggle.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Unknown author Unknown author / 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.
Anti-Comintern PactOn 25 November 1936, Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan concluded the Anti-Comintern Pact, signed by Joachim von Ribbentrop and Kintomo Mushanokōji, targeting the Communist International. Italy joined in 1937, with Spain and Hungary following in 1939; additional states adhered during World War II.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Unknown photographer / Public domain ↗
Siege of Madrid (Defense of Madrid)During the Spanish Civil War, Nationalist forces under Francisco Franco besieged Republican-held Madrid starting in October 1936, lasting two and a half years. The most intense fighting occurred in the Battle of Madrid in November 1936, when the Nationalists failed to take the city. Madrid ultimately fell to the Nationalists in March 1939.
Signing of the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of 1936In 1936, the United Kingdom and Egypt signed an alliance treaty in London to promote diplomatic relations and provide for mutual defence in wartime. The treaty reduced British influence in Egyptian domestic affairs, but Britain retained significant influence over Egypt's foreign policy and defence, especially the Suez Canal.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Unknown author Unknown author / 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 ↗
Construction of the Timișoara Orthodox CathedralAround the mid-20th century, the Timișoara Orthodox Cathedral was built, becoming an Orthodox cathedral in Timișoara, Romania. It serves as the seat of the Metropolis of Banat and is dedicated to the Three Holy Hierarchs. It is listed as a historic monument in Romania.
Completion of the Arcul de Triumf in BucharestIn 1936, a triumphal arch approximately 27 meters high was completed on Kiseleff Road in northern Bucharest. The monument commemorates Romania's victory in the First World War and the coronation of King Ferdinand I and Queen Marie. Designed by Petre Antonescu, it replaced earlier temporary arches erected in 1878 and 1922.
Establishment of Herăstrău Park in BucharestIn the late 1930s, a large park began to be laid out on the northern side of Bucharest, Romania, around Lake Herăstrău. The lake, formed by the Colentina River, occupies about two-thirds of the park's total area. The park later became the largest public green space in Bucharest and was renamed King Michael I Park in 2017 in honor of the late king.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Al at Dutch Wikipedia / Public domain ↗
West Asia
1936–1939 Arab Revolt in PalestineFrom 1936 to 1939, Palestinian Arabs in Mandatory Palestine launched a large-scale uprising against British rule and Zionist policies, demanding independence and an end to Jewish immigration and land sales. The revolt erupted during a peak of Jewish immigration, with the Jewish population reaching about 320,000. Though suppressed, it became a key milestone in Palestinian nationalism.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: PLO Collection, Institute for Palestine Studies, hanini.org / Public domain ↗
Establishment of the Beit She'arim NecropolisThe Beit She'arim Necropolis is a large rock-cut cemetery located in the southern Lower Galilee. It was used from the 1st to the 4th century CE, peaking in the late 2nd century when the Sanhedrin relocated there and the family of Judah ha-Nasi was buried. The site includes tombs and town remains, and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015.
SourcesUNESCO World Heritage listing ↗Wikipedia ↗Image: CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
Establishment of the Komitas PantheonIn 1936, the Komitas Pantheon was established in Yerevan, Armenia, following the demolition of the old Mler cemetery. Named after the composer Komitas, who is buried there, it later became the resting place of many prominent Armenian artists.
Opening of the Moscow Cinema in YerevanIn 1936, the Moscow Cinema opened in Yerevan, Armenia, as the city's largest cinema hall. It was built on Abovyan Street at Charles Aznavour Square.
Founding of the Azerbaijan National Museum of ArtIn 1936, the Azerbaijan National Museum of Art was founded in Baku. It later became the country's largest art museum, with a collection of over 15,000 artworks.
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 ↗
Fallingwater Construction BeginsFallingwater, also known as the Kaufmann Residence, is a house in rural southwestern Pennsylvania whose construction began in 1936. Designed by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, it was built partly over a waterfall on Bear Run as a weekend retreat for department store owner Edgar J. Kaufmann Sr. and his wife Liliane. The house later became a public museum.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Carol M. Highsmith / Public domain ↗
Sub-Saharan Africa
Second Italo-Ethiopian War beginsOn 3 October 1935, Italy invaded Ethiopia, starting the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. The war lasted about seven months and ended with the occupation of Ethiopia and its incorporation into Italian East Africa. Italy used a 1934 border clash between Italian Somaliland and Ethiopia as a pretext and rejected all Ethiopian peace overtures.
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 ↗
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 1936
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