WHAT ALL HAPPENED JANUARY TO APRIL 1939
Find out what all happened January to April 1939

Adolf Hitler's 50th birthday is celebrated as a national holiday in Nazi Germany. (20. April 1939)

NBC inaugurates its regularly scheduled television service in New York City, broadcasting President Franklin D. Roosevelt's N.Y. World's Fair opening day ceremonial address. (30. April 1939)

Spanish Civil War: The Nationalists conclude their conquest of Catalonia and seal the border with France. (10. February 1939)

Faisal II becomes King of Iraq. (4. April 1939)

First flight of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning. (27. January 1939)

The deadliest earthquake in Chilean history strikes Chillán, killing approximately 28,000 people. (24. January 1939)

The Black Friday bush fires burn 20,000 square kilometers of land in Australia, claiming the lives of 71 people. (13. January 1939)

The Grapes of Wrath, by American author John Steinbeck is first published by the Viking Press. (14. April 1939)

Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli is elected Pope and takes the name Pius XII. (2. March 1939)

The erroneous word "dord" is discovered in the Webster's New International Dictionary, Second Edition, prompting an investigation. (28. February 1939)

Spanish Civil War: Generalissimo Francisco Franco conquers Madrid after a three-year siege. (28. March 1939)

Billie Holiday records the first civil rights song "Strange Fruit". (20. April 1939)

Spanish Civil War – Catalonia Offensive: Troops loyal to nationalist General Francisco Franco and aided by Italy take Barcelona. (26. January 1939)

World War II: Italy invades Albania. (7. April 1939)

The Heinkel He 100 fighter sets a world airspeed record of 463 mph (745km/h). (30. March 1939)

United States labor law: The U.S. Supreme Court rules that sit-down strikes violate property owners' rights and are therefore illegal. (27. February 1939)

Spanish Civil War: Generalísimo Francisco Franco of the Spanish State announces the end of the Spanish Civil War, when the last of the Republican forces surrender. (1. April 1939)

Second Sino-Japanese War: Battle of Nanchang between the Kuomintang and Japan begins, (17. March 1939)

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) begins a bombing and sabotage campaign in England. (16. January 1939)

The 1939-40 New York World's Fair opens. (30. April 1939)