1939
Marian Anderson, denied the use of Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution, sings on Easter Sunday before 75,000 people assembled at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
1939
Jane Bolin is appointed Judge of the Court of Domestic Relations in New York City, becoming the first female black judge in the United States.
1939
The Ku Klux Klan burns crosses in the black "ghetto" of Miami, Florida, but fails to intimidate or discourage more than 1,000 of the city's registered black voters from appearing at the polls. The Klan paraded with effigies of blacks who would allegedly be slain for daring to vote.
1939
President Roosevelt appoints Edward R. Stettinius, Jr. chairman of the War Resources Board. Stettinius selects Walter Gifford of American Telephone and Telegraph, Robert Wood of Sears, Roebuck and John Lee Pratt of GM to serve with him.
1939
The He 176, the world's first jet airplane, is tested in Germany.
1939 January
The Ahnenerbe is officially incorporated into
the SS and its leaders absorbed into Himmler's personal staff. At that time it
has 50 branches under the direction of Professor Wurst, an expert on ancient
sacred texts who had taught Sanskrit at Munich University. (Pauwels)
1939 January 1939 January-February For the tenth anniversary of the Lateran
Treaty, Pope Pius XI drafts a discourse that is said to have condemned
totalitarianism in the strongest terms. After his death (February 10), his
successor, Pius XII, chooses not to deliver the speech. (Lewy)
1939 January 1
A decree is published eliminating Jews from the
German economy.
1939 January 5
Polish Foreign Minister Joseph Beck confers with
Hitler at Berchtesgaden. Hitler says he is considering a formula that would make
Danzig politically German and economically Polish, and that he is ready to give
a formal and clear guarantee for the German-Polish frontiers. (Sturdza)
1939 January 6
Beck and Ribbentrop meet in Munich. Ribbentrop asks
for "the reunion of Danzig with Germany" and proposes a number of
guarantees.
1939 January 9
The Reich Office of Racial Research exempts Karaites
from antisemitic legislation. (Edelheit)
1939 January 10
Neville Chamberlain and Lord Halifax arrive in Rome
to meet with Mussolini.
1939 January 11
The Danzig Senate orders 1,000 of the 4,000 Jews
still in Danzig to leave by the end of the month.
1939 January 14
Pope Pius XI urges foreign diplomats at the Vatican
to grant as many visas as possible to victims of German and Italian racial
prejudice. (Edelheit)
1939 January 17
Denmark, Latvia and Estonia sign a nonagression pact
with Germany. Norway, Sweden and Finland insist on strict neutrality.
1939 January 17
Slovakian premier, Father Tiso, declares his
foremost task is to solve the "Jewish question."
1939 January 17
The eighth ordinance of the Reich
Citizenship Act is passed, barring Jewish dentists, veterinarians and chemists
from practicing their professions. Jewish dentists may only treat Jewish
patients.
1939 January 19
Hjalmar Schacht has his last meeting with George Rublee in Berlin. (Architect)
1939 January 21
Hitler dismisses Hjalmar Schacht as president of the Reichsbank and replaces him with Walter Funk. Schacht was left as an unpaid minister without portfolio until 1943. A secret report to Hitler, prepared by Himmler, had accused Schacht of being disloyal to Nazi interests in his negotiations with George Rublee. (Architect, Children)
1939 January 21
Hitler tells Czech foreign minister Chvalkovsy, "We are going to destroy the Jews -- they are not going to get away with what they did on November 9, 1918. The day of reckoning has come."
1939 January 23
Chamberlain announces the introduction of National Service and says, "It is a project that must make us prepared for war."
1939 January 24
Goering orders Reinhard Heidrich to establish the
Reich Central Office for Jewish Emigration is established to organize
and accelerate the emigration of the Jews. Heydrich names Gestapo chief
Heinrich Mueller to head the department. Almost 80,000 Jews will leave Germany
in 1939. (Days)
1939 January 24
Germany and Poland reach an agreement on Jewish
deportees. One thousand Jews at a time may return to Germany to settle their
accounts. A special proprietary account for this purpose will be set up in
Germany for deposits only. (Edelheit)
