What happened in 1936
38 entries recorded for 1936, listed by date. That was 90 years ago.
1936 at a glance
- Years ago
- 90 (as of 2026)
- Century
- 20th century
- Decade
- 1930s
- Generation born
- Silent Generation
- Entries here
- 38
- Breakdown
- 38 historical events
January
- January 4
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard published its first music hit parade.
- January 8
Reza Shah
Reza Shah issued the Kashf-e hijab decree, ordering Iranian police to remove hijabs from any women in public.
February
- February 10
Second Italo-Ethiopian War
Second Italo-Ethiopian War: The Battle of Amba Aradam began, ending nine days later in a decisive tactical victory for Italy and the neutralisation of almost the entire Ethiopian army as a fighting force.
- February 16
Popular Front (Spain)
The Popular Front, a coalition of left-wing parties, came to power in the Spanish general election, a factor in the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War five months later.
- February 26
February 26 incident
In the February 26 Incident, young nationalist Japanese military officers assassinate multiple cabinet statesmen and start a rebellion in downtown Tokyo, which is ended 3 days later.
- February 26
Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army troops attempted a coup d'etat, occupying parts of Tokyo, and killing several politicians, including finance minister Takahashi Korekiyo.
March
- March 1
Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam, straddling the Arizona–Nevada border on the Colorado River, was completed.
- March 5
Supermarine Spitfire prototype K5054
The prototype (pictured) of the Supermarine Spitfire flew for the first time.
- March 7
Remilitarisation of the Rhineland
Nazi German forces re-occupied the demilitarized Rhineland, violating both the Treaty of Versailles and the Locarno Treaties that were signed after World War I.
April
- April 5
Fujita scale
An F5 tornado struck Tupelo, Mississippi, killing at least 216 people during one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in U.S. history.
- April 15
1936–1939 Arab revolt in Palestine
The Great Arab Revolt in the British Mandate for Palestine began when unknown assailants attacked a convoy of trucks and killed two of the Jewish drivers.
- April 15
1936 Tulkarm shooting
Two Jews were killed near Tulkarm in Mandatory Palestine, an act widely viewed as the beginning of violence within the Arab revolt.
- April 27
The Adventure Girls
The trilogy The Adventure Girls (second book pictured), by the children's author Clair Blank, was copyrighted by A. L. Burt.
May
- May 5
Second Italo-Ethiopian War
Second Italo-Ethiopian War: Italian troops (pictured) captured the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa unopposed.
- May 18
Sada Abe
In a crime that captivated Japan, Sada Abe strangled her lover, cut off his genitals, and carried them around with her for several days until her arrest.
- May 25
Remington Rand
Employees of the Remington Rand company began an 11-month strike action, during which time the company executives developed the notorious "Mohawk Valley formula" to intimidate the strikers.
June
- June 16
Junkers Ju 52
A Junkers Ju 52 aircraft of Norwegian Air Lines crashed into a mountainside near Hyllestad, Norway, killing all seven people on board.
July
- July 6
Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal
A major breach of the Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal in England sent millions of gallons of water cascading 300 feet (90 m) into the River Irwell.
- July 17
Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War)
Nationalist military officers launch a coup d'état against the Spanish Republic, beginning the Spanish Civil War
- July 18
Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War)
Nationalist rebels attempted a coup against the Second Spanish Republic, sparking the Spanish Civil War.
- July 19
July 1936 military uprising in Barcelona
The July 1936 military uprising in Barcelona begins.
- July 20
July 1936 military uprising in Barcelona
The July 1936 military uprising in Barcelona is defeated by anarchist militias and Republican loyalists, beginning the Spanish Revolution of 1936.
- July 26
Canadian National Vimy Memorial
The Canadian National Vimy Memorial, dedicated to Canadian Expeditionary Force members killed in the First World War, was unveiled in Pas-de-Calais, France.
August
- August 3
African Americans
African-American athlete Jesse Owens won the first of his four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics, dashing Nazi leaders' hopes of Aryan domination at the games.
September
- September 3
The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America
The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America was founded in Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Canada.
- September 7
Thylacine
The last thylacine died in captivity in Hobart Zoo, Australia.
- September 8
António de Oliveira Salazar
Opposed to António de Oliveira Salazar's support of the Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War, the crews of the Portuguese Navy ships NRP Afonso de Albuquerque and NRP Dão mutinied while anchored in the harbour of Lisbon.
October
- October 5
Jarrow March
Around 200 men began a 291-mile (468 km) march from Jarrow to London, carrying a petition to the British government requesting the re-establishment of industry in the town.
- October 20
Mabel Freer
British woman Mabel Freer was refused entry to Australia after failing a dictation test given in Italian, leading to a debate over Australia's immigration policy.
- October 22
Royal Navy cutlasses
The Royal Navy cutlass was withdrawn from combat service.
- October 22
Dod Orsborne
Dod Orsborne, captain of the Girl Pat, was convicted of its theft and imprisoned, having caused a media sensation when it went missing.
November
- November 6
Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War: The republican government flees from Madrid to Valencia, leading to the formation of the Madrid Defense Council in its stead.
- November 25
Anti-Comintern Pact
Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan signed the Anti-Comintern Pact, agreeing that, if the Soviet Union attacked one of them, they would consult each other on what measures to take to "safeguard their common interests".
- November 30
Alan Turing
English mathematician Alan Turing published the first details of the Turing machine (model pictured), an abstract device that can simulate the logic of any computer algorithm by manipulating symbols.
December
- December 5
1936 Constitution of the Soviet Union
The 1936 Soviet constitution, also known as the "Stalin constitution", was adopted.
- December 7
Cricket
Australian cricketer Jack Fingleton (pictured) became the first player to score centuries in four consecutive Test innings.
- December 10
Edward VIII
Edward VIII, desiring to marry the American socialite Wallis Simpson against widespread British opposition, signed the instrument of abdication to renounce the throne in favour of his brother George VI.
- December 12
Republic of China (1912–1949)
Republic of China leader Chiang Kai-shek was kidnapped by Marshal Chang Hsueh-liang, a former warlord of Manchuria.
Questions about 1936
What happened in 1936?
This site records 38 entries for 1936, including Billboard (magazine) on January 4. They are listed below by date.
How long ago was 1936?
90 years ago, counting from 2026. Anyone born in 1936 turns 90 this year.
Which century is 1936 in?
1936 falls in the 20th century, in the 1930s.
Which generation was born in 1936?
Silent Generation (1928–1945). Children of the Depression and war years.
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