In history, this year was shaping up to be an interesting period across the world, where many of the events have been recorded in our 1938 newspaper articles. This was the year George Cukor cast Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With the Wind, based on the book by Margaret Mitchell and H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds, narrated by Orson Welles, aired on the radio.
January 25, 1938
A brilliant aurora borealis, often described as “a curtain of fire”, amazes people across Europe. The light display is visible as far south as Gibraltar.
January 28, 1938
The first ski tow in America begins operation in Vermont.
February 6, 1938
Three-hundred swimmers are dragged out to sea due to three freak waves at Bondi Beach in Sydney. Eighty lifesavers perform heroically, saving all but five people.
March 3, 1938
Oil is discovered in Saudi Arabia.
May 25, 1938
Alicante is bombed during the Spanish Civil War, resulting in 313 deaths.
June 19, 1938
Italy beats Hungary 4-2 to win the 1938 World Cup.
June 22, 1938
Heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis knocks out Max Schmelig in the first round of their rematch at Yankee Stadium in New York City.
June 24, 1938
A 450-metric-ton meteorite explodes approximately twelve miles above the earth, near Chicora in Pennsylvania.
June 25, 1938
Dr. Douglas Hyde is elected the first President of Ireland.
July 14, 1938
Howard Hughes sets a new record by completing an aircraft flight around the world in just ninety-hours.
July 24, 1938
Swiss climbers Christian Almer and Peter Bohren, and Irishman Charles Barrington, complete the first successful ascent of the Eiger mountain in the Bernese Alps.
August 18, 1938
The Thousand Islands Bridge, connecting the United States with Canada, is dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
September 26, 1938
During a venomous speech at Berlin‘s Sportpalast, Hitler implies war with Czechoslovakia will begin at any time.
September 29, 1938
German, Italian, British and French leaders agree to German demands regarding the annexation of Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia. The Czechoslovak government is largely excluded from the negotiations and is not a signatory to the agreement.
September 30, 1938
Neville Chamberlain returns to Britain following a meeting with Adolf Hitler and declares “Peace in our Time.” Many senior figures, such as Winston Churchill, are disgusted by the outcome of the meeting. Germany marches into Sudetenland on the following morning and demands control of Teschen within a twenty-four hour period.
October 16, 1938
Winston Churchill, in a broadcast to the United States, condemns the Munich Agreement as a defeat and calls upon America and western Europe to prepare for armed resistance against Adolf Hitler.
October 24, 1938
The minimum wage is established by law in the United States.
Not found what you’re looking for? If you want an exact newspaper on particular events or persons, you can contact research@historic-newspapers.co.uk for in-depth articles. Many areas of interest like these are some of history’s greatest moments. You’ll find 1938 news headlines covering events worldwide, capturing the history that made the year worth remembering.
With a variety of titles available, you’ll be able to hear from multiple first-hand accounts reporting on the events of this year. The headlines in our archive reflect society at that time, giving you a unique view of how the world has since changed. In regard to social, economic and political values, a 1938 newspaper compared to a paper from today, will be a fascinating comparison for anyone keen on history.