What Happened in 1934

Major Events

  • Jul 4 Hungarian physicist Leo Szilard patents the chain-reaction design for the atomic bomb
  • Aug 3 Adolf Hitler merges the offices of German Chancellor and President, declaring himself "Führer" (leader)
  • Oct 16 Mao Zedong and 25,000 troops begin their 6,000 mile Long March from the south of China to the north and west
  • Dec 1 Leningrad mayor Sergey Kirov is assassinated, Joseph Stalin uses it as an excuse to begin his Great Purge of 1934-38
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1934 in Film & TV

1934 in Sport

  • Mar 25 1st Augusta National Invitation Tournament (Masters) Golf: Horton Smith wins with 20-foot birdie putt at the 17th hole, 1 stroke ahead of Craig Wood
  • Sep 24 2,500 fans see Babe Ruth's farewell Yankee appearance at Yankee Stadium
  • Sep 30 Babe Ruth's final game as a Yankee, goes 0 for 3

Did You Know?

Parisian baker and "student of medieval life" Henri Littière appears in court charged with forcing his adulterous wife Juliette to wear a chastity belt. Having committed the same offence in 1932, he was sentenced to three months in prison and fined 50 francs for cruelty to his wife

January 21, 1934


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Fun Fact About 1934

Academy Award gold statuette 1st called Oscar in print by Sidney Skolsky

March 16, 1934


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Famous Weddings in 1934

  • Jan 7 Dutch Princess Juliana marries German prince Bernhard von Lippe-Biesterfeld
  • Jan 30 American comedian and actor Lou Costello (27) weds American burlesque dancer Anne Battler (21)
  • Jan 30 Painter Salvador Dali (30) weds Gala Dali (39) in a civil ceremony in Paris

Famous Divorces in 1934

  • May 23 First wife Marguerite Van Kessel divorces NFL player Curly Lambeau (36) after 14 years of marriage
  • Nov 7 Actress Gloria Swanson (35) divorces Michael Farmer after 3 years of marriage

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