What Else Happened In 1939?

A jam packed year of happenings

(Public domain)

1939 will always be linked to the outbreak of World War II, history’s deadliest conflict. Nazi Germany invaded Poland on September 1st, 1939, sucking the world into a war that would rage until 1945. That event and the political lead up to the war have consumed our understanding of 1939 as a whole. Without the outbreak of World War II, 1939 had the potential to be a groundbreaking year. It was filled with numerous firsts, the creation of numerous companies that would develop into international brands, and other interesting tidbits that would set the groundwork for the modern 20th-century world.

Here are some other interesting and important things that happened in 1939 that you might not have known about.

Other Wars

• Italy invades Albania, forcing the king to flee.
• The final phase of the Spanish Civil War begins with major offensives, eventually leading to the recognition of General Franco as the winner.
• The Slovak-Hungarian War kicks off and ends in a matter of a week.
• The ongoing Arab Revolt ends after nearly three years of violence.

Business and Tech

• Hewlett-Packard (HP) is founded in a garage in California.