Historical Events in April 1939

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Apr 1 US recognizes Franco government in Spain at end of Spanish civil war. Pope Pius XII congratulates Generalissimo Franco's victory in Spain

Spanish Dictator and General Francisco Franco
Spanish Dictator and General
Francisco Franco
  • Apr 2 6th Masters Golf Tournament: Ralph Guldahl wins, shooting a 279
  • Apr 4 Faisal II ascends to throne of Iraq
  • Apr 5 Membership of Hitler Youth becomes obligatory
  • Apr 6 Great Britain & Poland sign military pact
  • Apr 6 US & UK agree on joint control of Canton & Enderbury Is (Pacific)
  • Apr 7 Italy invades Albania
  • Apr 8 ACV soccer team forms in Axes
  • Apr 8 King Zog I of Albania flees

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Apr 9 Marian Anderson sings before 75,000 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Singer Marian Anderson
Singer
Marian Anderson
  • Apr 10 Colijn's Dutch government opens camp Westerbork for German Jews
  • Apr 10 Grens mobilization due to Italian invasion in Albania
  • Apr 11 Hungary leaves League of Nations
  • Apr 13 W Saroyan's "My Heart's in the Highlands" premieres in NYC
  • Apr 13 The Hindustani Lal Sena (Indian Red Army) is formed and vows to engage in armed struggle against the British.

Book releaseHistoric Publication

Apr 14 John Steinbeck novel "The Grapes of Wrath" published

Author John Steinbeck
Author
John Steinbeck
  • Apr 15 Albert Lebrun elected president of France

AgreementTreaty of Interest

Apr 16 Stalin requests British, French & Russian anti-nazi pact

Soviet General Secretary Joseph Stalin
Soviet General Secretary
Joseph Stalin
  • Apr 16 Stanley Cup: Boston Bruins beat Toronto Maple Leafs, 4 games to 1

Sport defeatBoxing Title Fight

Apr 17 Joe Louis KOs Jack Roper in 1 for heavyweight boxing title

Boxer and World Heavyweight Champion Joe Louis
Boxer and World Heavyweight Champion
Joe Louis
  • Apr 17 SN Behrman's "No Time for Comedy" premieres in NYC
  • Apr 17 Stalin signs British-France-Russian anti-Nazi pact
  • Apr 18 Franz von Papen becomes German ambassador in Turkey
  • Apr 18 Hubert Pierlot forms Belgian government
  • Apr 19 43rd Boston Marathon won by Ellison Brown of RI in 2:28:51.8
  • Apr 19 Connecticut finally approves Bill of Rights (148 years late)

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Apr 20 Ted Williams' 1st hit (off of Yankee Red Ruffing) a double

Baseball Player Ted Williams
Baseball Player
Ted Williams

AgreementTreaty of Interest

Apr 28 Hitler claims German-Polish non-attack treaty still in effect

Dictator of Nazi Germany Adolf Hitler
Dictator of Nazi Germany
Adolf Hitler
  • Apr 29 Whitestone Bridge connecting the New York boroughs of Bronx and Queens opens
  • Apr 30 New York World's Fair opens

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Apr 30 NBC/RCA 1st public TV demo with FDR at opening of NY World's Fair

32nd US President Franklin D. Roosevelt
32nd US President
Franklin D. Roosevelt
  • Apr 30 Tropicana ballet of Havana, Cuba, forms

Event of interestEvent of Interest

Apr 30 Lou Gehrig sets a MLB record playing his 2,130th consecutive and final game for the New York Yankees.

Baseball Player Lou Gehrig
Baseball Player
Lou Gehrig