1939 Facts for Kids

Millennium:	2nd millennium
Centuries:	19th century – 20th century – 21st century
Decades:	1900s 1910s 1920s – 1930s – 1940s 1950s 1960s
Years:	1936 1937 1938 – 1939 – 1940 1941 1942

1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1939th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 939th year of the 2nd millennium, the 39th year of the 20th century, and the 10th and last year of the 1930s decade. The year 1939 was a very important time in history, especially because it marked the beginning of World War II, a huge global conflict. Many significant events happened around the world during this year, changing the lives of millions of people.

Key Events of 1939
- The Start of World War II
- Other Important Events
Famous People Born in 1939
Notable Deaths in 1939
Popular Movies of 1939
New Books and Hit Songs
Images for kids
See also

Key Events of 1939

The Start of World War II

September 1 – Nazi Germany started World War II by invading Poland. This was a major turning point in history.
September 17 – Soon after, the Soviet Union also invaded Poland.
October 6 – Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union then divided Poland between them. This meant Poland lost its independence for a long time.

Other Important Events

May 15 – Nazi Germany opened the Ravensbrück concentration camp. This was a very large camp where many women were held against their will.
November 30 – The Winter War began. This was a conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland.

Famous People Born in 1939

Many well-known people were born in 1939. Here are a few of them:

February 6 – Mike Farrell, an American actor.
February 14 – John Conn, a writer from Scotland and Australia.
April 2 – Marvin Gaye, a very famous American singer.
July 1 – Karen Black, an American actress.
August 3 – Wes Craven, a well-known American film director.
September 5 – George Lazenby, an Australian actor.
September 18 – Frankie Avalon, an American singer and actor.
October 27 – John Cleese, a famous British comedian and actor.
November 13 – Will Ryan, an American actor who did many voices for cartoons.

Notable Deaths in 1939

Some important people passed away in 1939:

September – Khan Sahib Abdul Majid Khan Tarin, a British Indian judge.
November 12 – Norman Bethune, a Canadian doctor who was famous for his work in medicine.

Popular Movies of 1939

The year 1939 was a golden age for movies, with many classic films being released:

Gone with the Wind – A very long and popular historical drama.
The Wizard of Oz – A beloved musical fantasy film.
Goodbye, Mr. Chips – A British drama that won an Academy Award.
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex – A historical drama starring famous actors.

New Books and Hit Songs

A famous book released in 1939 was Finnegans Wake by James Joyce. It is known for its unique and complex writing style.
The hit song "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" was released from The Wizard of Oz movie. It won an Academy Award for the best song and is still loved today.