1937
Japan invades China at Marco Polo Bridge
A small firefight outside Beijing between Japanese and Chinese troops at the Marco Polo Bridge escalated within days into full-scale war across the Chinese…
Guernica bombed
On market day, German Condor Legion planes flying for Franco dropped high explosive and incendiaries on the Basque town of Guernica, machine-gunning…
Hindenburg burns at Lakehurst
The great German zeppelin, at the end of an Atlantic crossing, suddenly caught fire as it moored in New Jersey.
Amelia Earhart vanishes
On the last leg of her attempt to fly around the world, Amelia Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan disappeared over the Pacific trying to find tiny Howland…
Rape of Nanjing
After capturing the Chinese capital, Japanese soldiers embarked on six weeks of mass murder, rape, and looting.
Golden Gate Bridge opens
After four years of construction across a treacherous strait, the longest suspension bridge in the world opened to pedestrian traffic at six in the morning.
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1937?
Saeculum lists 6 events from 1937. The most significant is Japan invades China at Marco Polo Bridge.
What era was 1937 part of?
1937 falls within the Modern Era (1901-2000). World wars, cold war, and the splitting of the atom.
Which regions saw notable events in 1937?
The events from 1937 span East Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania.