What happened in 1919
33 entries recorded for 1919, listed by date. That was 107 years ago.
1919 at a glance
- Years ago
- 107 (as of 2026)
- Century
- 20th century
- Decade
- 1910s
- Generation born
- Greatest Generation
- Entries here
- 33
- Breakdown
- 33 historical events
January
- January 5
German Workers' Party
The German Workers' Party, the precursor of the Nazi Party, was founded by Anton Drexler.
- January 15
Molasses
A large molasses tank in Boston, Massachusetts, burst and a wave of molasses rushed through the streets , killing 21 people and injuring 150 others.
- January 21
First Dáil
The First Dáil convened at the Mansion House in Dublin and adopted a declaration of independence calling for the establishment of the Irish Republic.
- January 31
Battle of George Square
Intense rioting over labour conditions broke out in Glasgow, Scotlan.
February
- February 6
World War I
World War I: More than 65,000 workers in Seattle began a five-day general strike to gain higher wages after two years of wage controls in the United States.
- February 10
Inter-Allied Women's Conference
The Inter-Allied Women's Conference (delegates pictured) opened as a counterpart to the Paris Peace Conference, marking the first time that women were allowed formal participation in an international treaty negotiation.
- February 11
Friedrich Ebert
Friedrich Ebert was elected the provisional president of Germany by the Weimar National Assembly.
- February 14
Battle of Bereza Kartuska
The Battle of Bereza Kartuska, the first serious armed conflict of the Polish–Soviet War, took place near present-day Biaroza, Belarus.
- February 21
Bavaria
Bavarian socialist Kurt Eisner, who had organized the German Revolution that overthrew the Wittelsbach monarchy and established Bavaria as a republic, was assassinated.
March
- March 2
Communism
Communist, revolutionary-socialist, and syndicalist delegates met in Moscow to establish the Communist International.
- March 8
1919 Egyptian revolution
During the Egyptian Revolution, British authorities arrested rebel leader Saad Zaghloul and exiled him to Malta.
- March 23
Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini and his supporters founded the Fasci Italiani di Combattimento, the predecessor of the National Fascist Party.
April
- April 10
Mexican Revolution
Mexican Revolution leader Emiliano Zapata was shot to death near Ciudad Ayala, Morelos.
- April 11
Paris Peace Conference (1919–1920)
Paris Peace Conference: Woodrow Wilson overturns Japan's Racial Equality Proposal, stating that unanimous support was required.
- April 16
Polish–Soviet War
Polish–Soviet War: The Polish army launched the Vilna offensive to capture Vilnius (now in Lithuania) from the Red Army.
May
- May 4
May Fourth Movement
The May Fourth Movement began in China with large-scale student demonstrations in Tiananmen Square, Beijing.
- May 14
Harry Hands
Sir Harry Hands, the mayor of Cape Town, performed the first public observance of a two-minute silence in remembrance of those killed in World War I.
June
- June 2
First Red Scare
First Red Scare: The anarchist followers of Luigi Galleani (pictured) set off eight bombs in eight cities across the United States.
- June 15
John Alcock (RAF officer)
John Alcock and Arthur Brown complete the first nonstop transatlantic flight when they reach Clifden, County Galway, Ireland.
- June 17
Epsom riot
Hundreds of Canadian soldiers rioted in Epsom, England, leading to the death of a British police officer.
- June 21
Winnipeg general strike
During a general strike in Winnipeg, Canada, members of the Royal North-West Mounted Police attacked a crowd of strikers, armed with clubs and revolvers.
- June 21
Ludwig von Reuter
Admiral Ludwig von Reuter scuttled the German High Seas Fleet in Scapa Flow to prevent the ships from being seized and divided amongst the Allied Powers.
July
- July 19
Luton Peace Day Riots
Following Peace Day celebrations marking the end of the First World War, English ex-servicemen unhappy with unemployment and other grievances rioted and burned down Luton Town Hall.
- July 27
Red Summer
Red Summer: Race riots erupted in Chicago after a racial incident occurred on a South Side beach, leading to 38 fatalities and 537 injuries.
August
- August 8
Third Anglo-Afghan War
The Third Anglo-Afghan War ended with the United Kingdom signing a treaty to recognise the independence of the Emirate of Afghanistan.
- August 18
Russian Civil War
Russian Civil War: British motor torpedo boats raided the Bolshevik Baltic Fleet's home base of Kronstadt, sinking a depot ship and damaging a battleship.
September
- September 13
Boston police strike
The Boston police strike ended after four days of rule by the state militia, the deaths of nine people, and accusations that striking officers were "agents of Lenin".
- September 26
Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine
The Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine defeated the White Russian Volunteer Army at the Battle of Peregonovka.
October
- October 28
United States Congress
The U.S. Congress passed the Volstead Act over president Woodrow Wilson's veto, reinforcing Prohibition in the United States.
December
- December 2
Mykhailo Polonsky
Ukrainian Bolsheviks led by Mykhailo Polonsky attempted to assassinate Nestor Makhno, as part of the Polonsky conspiracy.
- December 21
Draft evasion
After serving two years in prison for encouraging people to resist military conscription, anarchist Emma Goldman was deported from the United States to Russia.
- December 23
Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919
The Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act was enacted, lifting most of the existing common-law restrictions on women in the United Kingdom.
- December 26
Babe Ruth
American baseball player Babe Ruth (pictured) was sold by the Boston Red Sox to their rivals, the New York Yankees, beginning the 84-year-long "Curse of the Bambino".
Questions about 1919
What happened in 1919?
This site records 33 entries for 1919, including German Workers' Party on January 5. They are listed below by date.
How long ago was 1919?
107 years ago, counting from 2026. Anyone born in 1919 turns 107 this year.
Which century is 1919 in?
1919 falls in the 20th century, in the 1910s.
Which generation was born in 1919?
Greatest Generation (1901–1927). Grew up in the Depression and fought in the Second World War.
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