What Happened in 1932 — Events, Births & Deaths

The Young Brothers engaged in a gun battle resulting in the deaths of six law enforcement officers; the worst single killing of US police officers in the 20th century.

Hattie Caraway becomes the first woman elected to the United States Senate.

Alt Llobregat insurrection breaks out in Central Catalonia, Spain.

Finland and the Soviet Union sign a non-aggression treaty.

Second Sino-Japanese War: The Chinese National Revolutionary Army begins the defense of Harbin.

Alt Llobregat insurrection suppressed in Central Catalonia, Spain.

Japanese forces attack Shanghai.

Second Sino-Japanese War: Harbin, Manchuria, falls to Japan.

Prohibition law is abolished in Finland after a national referendum, where 70% voted for a repeal of the law.

The Empire of Japan creates the independent state of Manzhouguo (the obsolete Chinese name for Manchuria) free from the Republic of China and installed former Chinese Emperor Puyi as Chief Executive of the State.

Adolf Hitler, having been stateless for seven years, obtains German citizenship when he is appointed a Brunswick state official by Dietrich Klagges, a fellow Nazi. As a result, Hitler is able to run for Reichspräsident in the 1932 election.

The Mäntsälä rebellion begins when members of the far-right Lapua Movement start shooting at the social democrats' event in Mäntsälä, Finland.

Aviator Charles Lindbergh's 20-month-old son Charles Jr is kidnapped from his home in East Amwell, New Jersey. His body would not be found until May 12.

Finnish president P. E. Svinhufvud gives a radio speech, which four days later finally ends the Mäntsälä Rebellion and the far-right Lapua Movement that started it.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is opened.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is unveiled in Athens.

Dominion of Newfoundland: Ten thousand rioters seize the Colonial Building leading to the end of self-government.

Benny Rothman leads the mass trespass of Kinder Scout, leading to substantial legal reforms in the United Kingdom.

Having been incarcerated at the Cook County Jail since his sentencing on October 24, 1931, mobster Al Capone is transferred to the federal penitentiary in Atlanta after the U.S. Supreme Court denies his appeal for conviction of tax evasion.

Ten weeks after his abduction, Charles Jr., the infant son of Charles Lindbergh, is found dead near Hopewell, New Jersey, just a few miles from the Lindberghs' home.

In an attempted coup d'état, the Prime Minister of Japan, Inukai Tsuyoshi, is assassinated.

Amelia Earhart takes off from Newfoundland to begin the world's first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean by a female pilot, landing in Ireland the next day.

The American Friends of Lafayette is founded at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania

Bad weather forces Amelia Earhart to land in a pasture in Derry, Northern Ireland, and she thereby becomes the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

In Brazil, four students are shot and killed during a manifestation against the Brazilian dictator Getúlio Vargas, which resulted in the outbreak of the Constitutionalist Revolution several weeks later.

In the Netherlands, construction of the Afsluitdijk is completed and the Zuiderzee bay is converted to the freshwater IJsselmeer.

World War I veterans begin to assemble in Washington, D.C., in the Bonus Army to request cash bonuses promised to them to be paid in 1945.

Marmaduke Grove and other Chilean military officers lead a coup d'état establishing the short-lived Socialist Republic of Chile.

Bonus Army: Around a thousand World War I veterans amass at the United States Capitol as the U.S. Senate considers a bill that would give them certain benefits.

A bloodless revolution instigated by the People's Party ends the absolute power of King Prajadhipok of Siam (now Thailand).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average reaches its lowest level of the Great Depression, closing at 41.22.

The state of São Paulo revolts against the Brazilian Federal Government, starting the Constitutionalist Revolution.

Altona Bloody Sunday: A riot between the Nazi Party paramilitary forces, the SS and SA, and the German Communist Party ensues.

During the Great Depression, U.S. president Herbert Hoover orders the United States Army to forcibly evict the "Bonus Army" of World War I veterans gathered in Washington, D.C.

Great Depression: In Washington, D.C., troops disperse the last of the "Bonus Army" of World War I veterans using arson, bayonets, sabers, tanks, tear gas, and vomit gas.

Premiere of Walt Disney's Flowers and Trees, the first cartoon short to use Technicolor and the first Academy Award winning cartoon short.

The NSDAP (Nazi Party) wins more than 38% of the vote in German elections.

The positron (antiparticle of the electron) is discovered by Carl D. Anderson.

Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly across the United States non-stop (from Los Angeles to Newark, New Jersey).

The French Upper Volta is broken apart between Ivory Coast, French Sudan, and Niger.

The Battle of Boquerón, the first major battle of the Chaco War, commences.

The New York City Subway's third competing subway system, the municipally owned IND, is opened.

A speech by Laureano Gómez leads to the escalation of the Leticia Incident.

The body of actress Peg Entwistle is discovered by police, two days after her suicide by jumping off of the Hollywoodland sign.

Saudi National Day: Crown Prince (later king) Faisal of Saudi Arabia, on behalf of Ibn Saud, proclaims the unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the current iteration of the Third Saudi State.

Mahatma Gandhi and B. R. Ambedkar agree to the Poona Pact, which reserved seats in the Indian provincial legislatures for the "Depressed Classes" (Untouchables).

Last day of the Battle of Boquerón between Paraguay and Bolivia during the Chaco War.

The Kingdom of Iraq gains independence from the United Kingdom.

Tata Airlines (later to become Air India) makes its first flight.

George Lansbury became the leader of the opposition British Labour Party.

Panagis Tsaldaris becomes the 142nd Prime Minister of Greece.

Franklin D. Roosevelt is elected as the 32nd President of the United States, defeating incumbent president Herbert Hoover.

In Washington, D.C., the FBI Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory (better known as the FBI Crime Lab) officially opens.

German-born Swiss physicist Albert Einstein is granted an American visa.

Thailand becomes a constitutional monarchy.

The Chicago Bears defeat the Portsmouth Spartans in the first NFL playoff game to win the NFL Championship.

BBC World Service begins broadcasting as the BBC Empire Service.

A magnitude 7.6 earthquake in Gansu, China kills 275 people.

Radio City Music Hall, "Showplace of the Nation", opens in New York City.