1939
Centuries: Year in Review 20th Century (19th century - 20th century - 21st century)
Decades: 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s - 1930s - 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s
Years: 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 - 1939 - 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944
Events:
- March 28 - Dictator Francisco Franco conquers Madrid, ending the Spanish Civil War
- August 23 - Hitler and Stalin divides eastern Europe between themselves. Finland, the Baltic states and eastern Poland to USSR. Western Poland to Germany (Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact)
- August 27 - A Heinkel 178, the first jet-powered aircraft, flies for the first time.
- September 1 - Nazi Germany invades Poland, thus beginning World War II in Europe (see Polish September Campaign 1939).
- September 3 - France and the United Kingdom declare war on Germany.
- September 10 - Canada declares war on Germany.
- September 17 - Soviet Union invades Poland and then occupies eastern Polish territories.
- September 27 - Warsaw surrender to Germans; Modlin surrender day later; last Polish large operational unit surrender near Kock eight days later.
- November 30 - Soviet Union attacks Finland, starting the Winter War.
- December 15 - Gone With the Wind premiers in Atlanta.
- Batman created by Bob Kane.
- Nuclear fission discovered independantly by Lise Meitner and Otto Hahn
- Kirlian photography invented by Semyon Kirlian
- Siam changes its name to Thailand
Births:
- February 11 - Jane Hyatt Yolen, science fiction author.
- June 6 - Louis Andriessen, Dutch composer
- July 26 - John Howard, Australian Prime Minister
- October 14 - Ralph Lauren, American fashion designer
- Michael Moorcock, English science fiction author
Deaths:
- February 11 - Franz Schmidt, Austrian composer.
- December 23 - Anthony Fokker, aircraft manufacturer
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