1934: A Year of Consolidation, Innovation, and Growing Tension

1934 was a year marked by the consolidation of power in totalitarian regimes, groundbreaking scientific discoveries, and the continuing struggle to overcome the Great Depression. This article highlights key events across various spheres.

Politics and World Affairs

• January 26: Germany and Poland sign a ten-year non-aggression pact. This agreement, known as the German–Polish Non-Aggression Pact, temporarily eased tensions between the two nations, though it would be broken by Germany in 1939 with the invasion of Poland. German–Polish Non-Aggression Pact
• February 6: The February 6, 1934 crisis erupts in France, with anti-republican demonstrations in Paris leading to violence and the resignation of Prime Minister Édouard Daladier. The event was sparked by the Stavisky Affair, a financial scandal which shook the government.
• June 30 – July 2: The "Night of the Long Knives" occurs in Nazi Germany. Adolf Hitler orders the elimination of political rivals, including Ernst Röhm, leader of the Sturmabteilung (SA). This event solidified Hitler's absolute power and suppressed internal dissent. Night of the Long Knives
• August 2: After the death of President Paul von Hindenburg, Adolf Hitler declares himself Führer und Reichskanzler, effectively merging the roles of president and chancellor of Germany. This act formalized Hitler's dictatorial rule. Adolf Hitler
• October 9: King Alexander I of Yugoslavia and French Foreign Minister Louis Barthou are assassinated in Marseille, France, by a Macedonian nationalist affiliated with the Ustaše, a Croatian fascist organization.
• December 1: Sergei Kirov, a prominent Bolshevik leader, is assassinated in the Soviet Union. Joseph Stalin uses this event as a pretext for the Great Purge, a period of intense political repression. Joseph Stalin
• United States Involvement in the Philippines: The United States passes the Tydings–McDuffie Act, providing for Philippine independence after a ten-year transition period. This act marked a significant step towards ending American colonial rule in the Philippines. Tydings–McDuffie Act

Science and Technology

• Walter Baade and Fritz Zwicky coin the term "supernova" to describe the explosion of a massive star. Supernova
• Pavel Cherenkov discovers Cherenkov radiation, a phenomenon where charged particles traveling faster than the speed of light in a medium emit electromagnetic radiation. This discovery would later earn him the Nobel Prize in Physics. Cherenkov radiation
• Development of Synthetic Rubber: Significant advances were made in the development and production of synthetic rubber, crucial due to the growing demand for rubber in the automotive industry and the need for alternatives to natural rubber imports.

Culture and Society

• Publication of "Tender Is the Night" by F. Scott Fitzgerald. This novel explores themes of mental illness, marital discord, and the disillusionment of the American expatriate community in Europe. F. Scott Fitzgerald
• First FIFA World Cup hosted in Italy: Italy hosts and wins the second FIFA World Cup, further solidifying the tournament's status as a major international sporting event. FIFA World Cup
• United States: Motion Picture Production Code becomes widely enforced. While adopted in 1930, the "Hays Code" began to be strictly enforced in 1934, dictating the moral content allowed in Hollywood films.
• Shirley Temple becomes a major child star. Her films, such as Stand Up and Cheer!, provided escapism and hope for audiences during the Great Depression. Shirley Temple
• The musical Anything Goes premieres on Broadway. It stars Ethel Merman and features music and lyrics by Cole Porter. Cole Porter

Economics and the Great Depression

• United States: New Deal Programs Continue. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal programs continue to be implemented in an effort to combat the Great Depression. These programs included public works projects, agricultural assistance, and financial reforms. Franklin D. Roosevelt
• Dust Bowl Crisis Intensifies: The Dust Bowl, a severe ecological disaster affecting the Great Plains region of the United States, worsens, causing widespread agricultural devastation and displacement of populations. Dust Bowl

1934 was a year characterized by both progress and ominous developments, setting the stage for the dramatic events that would unfold in the latter half of the decade. The rise of totalitarianism in Europe, coupled with the economic hardships of the Great Depression, cast a long shadow over the world.