Recent History
Here are some things of import that have happened recently around the world:
January 1936
King George V of England dies at the age of 70. Edward VIII succeeds him.
Italian forces begin their invasion of Ethiopia.
The Germans offer a plan for the deportation of German Jews to Palestine or British territories, if Americans and British Jews will reimburse the German state for the "removal of Jewish capital." In effect, the Germans are asking for a subsidy for their industries and exports, as payment would have to be in the form of German goods.
February 1936
The Fourth Winter Olympics open at Garmisch-Partenkirchen. German Chancellor Adolph Hitler opens the games.
A group of young Japanese military officers attempt a coup. There is a three day standoff before the insurgents capitulate.
President Roosevelt signs the second Neutrality Act, banning loans to any belligerents.
March 1936
The Germans move into the demilitarized Rhineland, violating the treaties of Versailles and Locarno. The move is condemned by many around the world, but no one is willing to use force to oust the Germans. Britain will not provide aid to the French to do so. There are discussions between the Allies of the Great War, and a naval accord is signed by Britain, France and the U.S.
April 1936
Bruno Hauptmann is executed for kidnapping and killing the Lindbergh baby.
There are waves of violence in Palestine, resulting in a strict curfew. The Arabs go on strike, insisting that they will not stop until Jewish immigration to Palestine and sale of Palestinian land to Jews ends. The British are held responsible.
King Fuad of Egypt dies. His sixteen year old son Prince Farouk claims the throne, backed by a regent.
The Italians march on Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.
May 1936
Atomic power is used to cure cancer in mice, in an experiment in New Jersey.
The Hindenburg makes the first of its trans-Atlantic flights, docking in Lakehurst, New Jersey.
Italy completes its conquest of Ethiopia. The League of Nation refuses to lift its sanctions against Italy. Nevertheless, Italy attempts to patch up its relations with Britain.
There are British attempts to bring the United States, Germany and Japan into the League of Nations.
Here are some things of import that haven't happened yet:
Franklin Delano Roosevelt has not yet been reelected for his second term.
Neither the the Republican convention (mid June) nor the Democratic convention (late June) have happened yet. The election occurs in November, when FDR and John Garner defeat Alf Landon and Colonel Frank Knox decisively. There are very diverse opinions of FDR throughout the campaign; Hoover called him a Fascist for the New Deal legislation.
The economic difficulties of the Depression are not over.
FDR's inaugural address in January of 1937 says "I see one-third of a nation ill-housed, ill-clad, ill-nourished." The economy is climbing out of the Depression, but has not gotten out yet.
Hitler is not a dictator yet.
He is the German Chancellor of a government with democratic structures. He will not take dictatorial control until 1938.
The Germans have not invaded any non-German territory.
They've remilitarized the Rhineland, which is German territory. They will not start moving into other countries until the Austrian "Anschluss" of March, 1938.
The Axis has yet to form.
Germany, Italy and Japan have not yet started working together. The Germans and Italians won't agree on anything until October of 1936 and the Axis won't be announced until late November. Furthermore, the Axis is announced as an "anti-Communist bloc."
The Spanish Civil War has not started yet.
It doesn't start until the end of July. Thus, the bloody bombing of Guernica is still ahead, for example.
Swing dancing is not yet in fashion.
It's coming, and is known in some hot spots, but won't become a big craze until later in the year.
Jesse Owens has not shown up Adolph Hitler at the Olympics.
The Summer Olympics will not happen until August. There will be Jewish and black athletes on the American team, which causes Hitler great discomfort. (He has publicly referred to Negroes as an "inferior race".) Owens wins four gold medals. Hitler makes excuses to not be present to congratulate the winners when faced with Owens.
The Hindenburg is still flying.
It has actually just started flying regularly. It will fly until May of 1937.
The Jewish situation in Germany is known to be a problem, but it is not considered seriously by much of the world.
There are a handful of concentration camps, but they are not well known and not yet the death camps that they will become. Buchenwald, the fourth after Dachau, Sachsenhausen and Lichtenburg, will not be operational until late in 1937. Kristallnacht will not take place until November of 1938. The decision to implement the Final Solution will not take place until late 1941 or early 1942.
© 2003-2006 by Jeff Diewald. All rights are reserved.