Okay, here's a list of significant events in 1939, formatted as a Wikipedia entry, including political, scientific, cultural, and technological developments, with a focus on events affecting the United States:
1939
1939 was a pivotal year, often considered the beginning of World War II in Europe. It was also a year of significant developments in science, technology, and culture.
Political Events
January 25: The Third Reich and Italy call for an end to Western interference in Europe.
March 15: Nazi Germany occupies Czechoslovakia. The remaining Czech territories are reorganized into the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, and Slovakia becomes a German puppet state. This marked a significant turning point, violating the Munich Agreement and demonstrating Hitler's expansionist intentions.
March 28: The Spanish Civil War concludes with a victory for the Nationalist faction led by General Francisco Franco.
April 7: Italy invades Albania.
August 23: The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, a non-aggression treaty between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, is signed in Moscow. This pact secretly includes provisions for dividing Eastern Europe into spheres of influence.
September 1: Nazi Germany invades Poland, beginning World War II in Europe. This invasion triggered declarations of war by France and the United Kingdom against Germany.
September 3: The United Kingdom, France, Australia, and New Zealand declare war on Germany.
September 5: The United States declares its neutrality in the European conflict.
September 17: The Soviet Union invades Poland from the east, fulfilling its part of the secret protocols of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.
November 30: The Soviet Union invades Finland, starting the Winter War.
Scientific Events
January 26: The first successful human-to-human blood transfusion using refrigerated blood is performed in Chicago.
January: Niels Bohr arrives in the United States to attend the Fifth Washington Conference on Theoretical Physics. He disseminates the news of the discovery of nuclear fission.
February: Lise Meitner publishes a paper giving the physical explanation for nuclear fission, naming the process after observing Otto Hahn's experiments.
Late 1939: Scientists Leo Szilard and Albert Einstein write a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, warning of the potential for Germany to develop atomic weapons, prompting the United States to begin considering the possibility of developing its own nuclear program.
Cultural Events
January 5: "Gone with the Wind" premieres in Atlanta, Georgia. It quickly becomes a major cinematic success and cultural phenomenon.
February 23: Walt Disney's "Pinocchio" is released in theaters.
August 15:The Wizard of Oz premieres in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.
September 3: Winston Churchill is reappointed First Lord of the Admiralty.
Technological Events
April 30: The first televised Major League Baseball game is broadcast, featuring the Cincinnati Reds vs. the Brooklyn Dodgers.
September 20: Igor Sikorsky completes the first helicopter that truly works.
Events Relevant to the United States
The United States remains officially neutral at the start of WWII, but debates grow regarding its role in the escalating global conflict. President Franklin D. Roosevelt begins to subtly shift public opinion toward supporting the Allies.
The Einstein-Szilard letter to Roosevelt highlights the growing concern within the American scientific community about the potential of nuclear weapons and prompts the government to explore atomic research.
The massive success of "Gone with the Wind" in the United States illustrates the continuing importance of culture even amidst growing international tensions.
This list includes the major happenings of the year, providing an overview of the world situation and the developments within the United States.