Benito Mussolini had Italian soldiers adopt thegoose step, or as he christened it, the "passo romano", or "Roman step". KingVictor Emmanuel III had opposed the decision, but Mussolini could not be swayed, calling thegoose a "Roman animal".[1][2]
TheOberkommando der Wehrmacht was established in Nazi Germany by decree, putting Hitler himself in complete control of the military withWilhelm Keitel as nominal commander-in-chief. The new command structure abolished the position of War Minister, and twelve senior generals were sent into retirement. The German public was still unaware of theBlomberg–Fritsch Affair and wondered if the changes were the result of some kind of failed internal coup attempt.[6]
Jews were banned from working as auctioneers in Nazi Germany.[8]
A Soviet plane crashed into a mountain inKandalaksha on a trial flight preparing to rescue Russian scientists on anice floe inGreenland. 13 of the 19 aboard were killed.[9]
Black Sunday: Hundreds of swimmers were dragged out to sea by freak waves atBondi Beach inSydney, Australia.Lifesavers were able to rescue all but five.[10]
Austrian ChancellorKurt Schuschnigg went to see Hitler inBerchtesgaden. Schuschnigg tried to open the meeting with light conversation about the beauty of the view, but Hitler brushed such talk aside and began a tirade of shouting, threatening to invade unless his demands compromising Austria's sovereignty were met.[6]
The British Empire Games closed in Sydney. Australia won the final medal count with 25 gold medals and 66 overall.
16 women drowned when a ferry boat capsized inSydney Harbour. The passengers, mostly women, had crowded on one side of the ferry hoping to get the attention of sailors aboard theLouisville.[15]
Italy gave its first indication of passingantisemitic laws in the future when an official policy statement was released announcing that Jews were not to "play a more important part in the national life than their individual abilities merit" or engage in activities "out of proportion to their numerical representation in the community."[18]
Hitler gave a three-hour internationally broadcast speech in theReichstag vowing to protect German minorities outside of the Reich and reiterating demands for restoration of German colonies.[14][21]
Died:Ciro Terranova, 49, Sicilian-born American gangster
Anthony Eden resigned as Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, telling Prime MinisterNeville Chamberlain: "I have become increasingly conscious of differences between us."[2]Lord Halifax became the new Foreign Secretary.
TheLabour Party issued a manifesto demanding that Prime MinisterNeville Chamberlain call a new general election to assess whether the public supported his appeasement policy. "This is not the time for concessions to dictators", the manifesto read. "The government holds no mandate from electors for the vital change it has made in foreign policy. We demand that a stand shall be taken with other peace loving nations against the violence and threats of Fascist powers."[23]
Kurt Schuschnigg made a defiant speech to the Austrian Diet appealing to the country to fight to maintain its independence, declaring "Rotweissrot bis in den Tod" ("Red-white-red until we are dead.")[6]
Aconstitutional referendum was held inRomania. 99.87% of voters approved the amendments, but the integrity of the voting process was highly questionable.
The firstnylon-based products went on sale in the United States:toothbrushes.[2]
TheFrench Chamber of Deputies by a vote of 439-2 endorsed the government's policy of joining Britain in entering negotiations with Germany and Italy.[25]
The Nazi prosecutor inMartin Niemöller's trial demanded that the pastor be sentenced to 20 months in prison.[26]
Died:Ilyas Zhansugurov, 43, Kazakh poet and writer (killed in the Great Purge)
Oberkommando der Wehrmacht chiefWilhelm Keitel ordered all retired military officers to be placed "at the disposal" of the military regardless of age. Officers discharged under dishonorable circumstances as well as Jews and those married to Jews were excluded.[28]
