The 1930s in crisis history

A military conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland, lasting from November 30, 1939 to March 12, 1940.

World War II was a global conflict between the Allies and Axis powers from September 1, 1939 to September 2, 1945.

A bombing raid by the Condor Legion in support of Franco's forces during the Spanish Civil War, destroying much of Guernica.

The German airship Hindenburg bursts into flame while mooring in Lakehurst, New Jersey, killing 36 passengers and crew.

A skirmish near Beijing between Japanese and Chinese forces, marking the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War.

A major flood along the Ohio River in January and February, leaving 1 million people homeless and causing significant loss of life.

A police squad opens fire on peaceful demonstrators in Puerto Rico, killing 17 people and injuring over 200.

An assassination attempt on the Italian viceroy in Ethiopia, leading to retaliatory massacres of Ethiopian civilians.

Metaxas staged a self-coup, marking the beginning of an authoritarian regime in Greece.

Nazi Germany reoccupied the Rhineland in violation of the Treaty of Versailles and Locarno Treaties.

Italian forces gained a decisive tactical victory over the Ethiopian Empire.

A coup d'état launched by the Spanish Army of Africa against the Republican Second Spanish Republic.

Britain agrees to a German navy equal to 35% of her own naval tonnage, marking a significant shift in international relations.

The British Parliament passes the Government of India Act, providing for a degree of autonomy and establishing a 'Federation of India'.

A Category 5 hurricane strikes the Upper Florida Keys, killing 423 people.

Heinrich Himmler founds the Lebensborn program in Germany to support Nazi eugenics.

The Nuremberg Laws go into effect in Germany, stripping Jews of their citizenship.

A dam burst near Ovada, Italy, killing an estimated 250 people.

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Adolf Hitler announces the reintroduction of conscription to the Wehrmacht, violating the Treaty of Versailles.

A violent clash in Altona, Germany, between Nazi marchers and communist supporters.

A conflict between Japan and China in Shanghai, marking the beginning of the January 28 Incident.

A political coup in Germany that gives Franz von Papen control of Prussia, a major blow to German democracy.

A failed assassination attempt on Emperor Hirohito of Japan by Korean nationalist Lee Bong-chang.

A catastrophic flood of the Yangtze and Huai Rivers in 1931, resulting in an estimated 422,000 deaths due to drowning and subsequent starvation and disease.

The bankruptcy of Austria's largest bank, Creditanstalt, leading to a banking collapse in Central Europe and contributing to the worldwide financial crisis.

A staged explosion by the Japanese military used as a pretext for invading Manchuria.

An overloaded pleasure craft, Saint-Philibert, sinks at the mouth of the River Loire in France, resulting in over 450 deaths.

The United Kingdom abandoned the gold standard to address economic instability.

A military overthrow of the government in Argentina.

A volcanic eruption in central Java, Indonesia.

A catastrophic crash of the British R101 airship in France.

A major earthquake in northwestern Iran and southeastern Turkey.

A devastating hurricane that demolished most of the city of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.

A military uprising in Vietnam against French colonial rule.

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Haile Selassie announces a law to abolish slavery in Abyssinia.

A statute that established legislative equality between the self-governing dominions of the Commonwealth and the United Kingdom.

A set of moral guidelines for the American motion picture industry.

A landmark case in consumer law decided on appeal in the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

A papal encyclical issued by Pope Pius XI, prohibiting artificial birth control and abortion.

António de Oliveira Salazar becomes the prime minister of Portugal, a position he holds for 36 years.