35 May 1934

American bank robbers Bonnie and Clyde are ambushed by police and killed in Bienville Parish, Louisiana.

Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, commonly known as Bonnie and Clyde, were infamous American criminals who gained notoriety during the Great Depression. They led the Barrow Gang, which committed numerous crimes, including bank robberies, small store holdups, and murders from 1931 to 1934.

Bonnie Parker was born on October 1, 1910, in Rowena, Texas. She was known for being intelligent and talented in writing and poetry. Bonnie married Roy Thornton in 1926, but the marriage was short-lived, and they separated, though never formally divorced.

Clyde Barrow was born on March 24, 1909, in Ellis County, Texas. He grew up in a poor family and began his criminal career at a young age, initially committing petty thefts before escalating to more serious crimes.

Bonnie and Clyde met in Texas in January 1930 and quickly became partners in both love and crime. Clyde had already embarked on a life of crime before meeting Bonnie, but together they formed a more notorious and lethal partnership.

Bank Robberies: They primarily targeted banks, though they also robbed gas stations and small stores.
Murders: They were involved in several shootouts with law enforcement, resulting in the deaths of at least nine police officers and several civilians.
Escape Skills: They were adept at evading capture, often using stolen cars and relying on their network of safe houses and sympathizers.

Bonnie and Clyde were glamorized by the media, which portrayed them as romantic outlaws defying the establishment during a time of widespread poverty and disenfranchisement. Their exploits captured the public’s imagination, even though they were violent criminals.

The law finally caught up with Bonnie and Clyde on May 23, 1934. They were ambushed and killed by a posse of police officers led by Texas Ranger Frank Hamer near Bienville Parish, Louisiana. The couple was riddled with bullets, and their deaths marked the end of their violent escapades.
Legacy

Their legacy has been cemented in American folklore, largely due to the sensationalized media coverage of their crimes and the numerous films, books, and songs that have been inspired by their story. The most famous portrayal is the 1967 film “Bonnie and Clyde,” starring Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty, which brought their story to a new generation and further mythologized their lives.

11 August 1934

The first civilian prisoners arrive at the Federal prison on Alcatraz Island.

Alcatraz Island, often simply referred to as “Alcatraz,” is a small island located in San Francisco Bay, California, USA. It is renowned for its historic Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, which operated from 1934 to 1963 and is commonly known as “The Rock.”

History and Purpose: Alcatraz Island has a long history as a military fortification and later as a federal prison. It was initially used for military purposes during the Civil War and became a military prison in the late 19th century. In 1934, it was repurposed as a maximum-security federal penitentiary due to its isolated location and challenging waters, making it difficult for inmates to escape.

Maximum Security: Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary was designed to hold dangerous and high-profile criminals who had proven difficult to manage in other prisons. It was considered one of the most secure prisons in the United States, with its remote location and strong currents of San Francisco Bay acting as natural barriers to escape.

Inmates: The prison housed some infamous criminals, including Al Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly, and Robert Stroud, also known as the “Birdman of Alcatraz.” The goal was to separate these inmates from the general prison population to minimize the influence they could have on other prisoners.

Escape Attempts: Despite its reputation for being escape-proof, there were a few notable escape attempts. The most famous occurred in 1962 when three inmates—Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin—managed to escape from their cells by drilling holes in the walls and creating life vests and a makeshift raft out of raincoats. To this day, it’s unclear whether they survived their escape attempt or perished in the cold waters of the bay.

Closure and Legacy: The prison faced various challenges over the years, including high operational costs and deteriorating infrastructure. In 1963, Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary was closed due to these factors, and the remaining inmates were transferred to other facilities. The island was later occupied by Native American activists in 1969 as part of the Indian occupation of Alcatraz, drawing attention to the plight of Native Americans.

Tourist Attraction: Today, Alcatraz Island is managed by the National Park Service and is a popular tourist destination. Visitors can take guided tours of the island, including the former prison facilities. The island also features exhibits, displays, and audio presentations that provide insights into the history of the prison, the lives of inmates and guards, and the broader significance of the site.

Alcatraz Island and its former prison stand as a unique historical landmark that symbolizes the challenges of maintaining security and order in a remote and isolated environment. It continues to capture the imagination of people around the world, both for its storied past and the breathtaking views it offers of the San Francisco skyline.

25 July 1934

The Nazis assassinate Austrian Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss in a failed coup attempt.

Engelbert Dollfuss was an Austrian statesman who served as the Chancellor of Austria from 1932 until his death in 1934. He was a staunch opponent of the Austrian Nazi Party, led by Arthur Seyss-Inquart, which sought to unite Austria with Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler’s rule.

In the summer of 1934, the Austrian Nazis, with support from Nazi Germany, plotted to overthrow Dollfuss’s government and install a pro-Nazi regime in Austria. On July 25, they launched an armed uprising in what is known as the July Putsch. The rebels took over several government buildings in Vienna, including the Chancellery.

During the coup attempt, Dollfuss was inside the Chancellery and refused to surrender to the Nazi rebels. A violent standoff ensued, and Dollfuss was eventually shot and fatally wounded by one of the insurgents. Despite being gravely injured, Dollfuss held on to power until he eventually succumbed to his injuries later that day.

Following Dollfuss’s death, the coup attempt ultimately failed. The Austrian military, loyal to the government, suppressed the rebellion, and the conspirators were arrested or killed. The attempted coup strengthened the authoritarian rule in Austria and led to the establishment of the Austrofascist regime under Kurt Schuschnigg, who became the new Chancellor.

The assassination of Engelbert Dollfuss is considered a significant event in Austrian history, as it marked a turning point in the country’s path towards authoritarianism and its struggle against the growing influence of Nazi Germany. It also further isolated Austria from the international community and contributed to the eventual annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938, known as the Anschluss.

5 July 1934

“Bloody Thursday”: Police open fire on striking longshoremen in San Francisco.
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9 June 1934

Donald Duck makes his debut in The Wise Little Hen.

The Wise Little Hen is a Walt Disney’s Silly Symphonies cartoon, based on the fairy tale The Little Red Hen. The cartoon marked the debut of Donald Duck, dancing to the Sailor’s Hornpipe. Donald and his friend Peter Pig try to avoid work by faking stomach aches until Mrs. Hen teaches them the value of labor. This cartoon was released on June 9, 1934. It was animated by Art Babbitt, Dick Huemer, Clyde Geronimi, Louie Schmitt, and Frenchy de Tremaudan and directed by Wilfred Jackson. It was also adapted as a Sunday comic strip by Ted Osborne and Al Taliaferro.

The Wise Little Hen of the title is looking for someone to help her plant her corn. Peter Pig and Donald Duck both feign belly aches to get out of the chore since they would rather play than work. So, with help from her chicks, she plants it herself. Harvest time comes; again, Peter and Donald claim belly aches, but the hen sees through this when boards of their clubhouse fall off showing their little act when they shake hands with each other for evading responsibility. Upon wising up to their ruse, she and her chicks wink at each other upon knowing what to do with Peter and Donald later. She cooks up a tantalizing assortment of corn dishes, and heads over to Peter and Donald to help her eat them, but before she can open her mouth, they already fake their belly aches. Once she asks, they are miraculously “cured” but all she gives them is castor oil, to teach them a lesson. As the hen and her chicks eat the corn themselves, Peter and Donald, with nothing but an appetite, repent with all their might by kicking each other in the rump.

23 February 1934

Leopold III becomes King of Belgium.

orn Leopold Philippe Charles Albert Meinrad Hubertus Marie Miguel in Brussels, Leopold III was crowned King of Belgium on 23 Feb 1934. The WW1 veteran of the 12th Belgian Regiment very briefly attempted to resist the invading German troops in May 1940 before he surrendered. The Belgian people, who thought their King had given up too quickly, accused him of treason, but Leopold III tried proved the accusers wrong by refusing to obey Nazi policies. London, however, never recognized his right to rule.

During the winter of 1944 to 1945, he and the royal family were placed under arrest on Heinrich Himmler’s orders and they were not freed until May 1945 when the American troops reached the last location of their captivity, Strobl, Austria. He spent the next six years in exile in Switzerland due to the accusations of him being a German collaborator. In 1950, a referendum showed a slight majority of Belgians favoring his return, but upon his return he realized the nation was deeply divided over his rule. On the verge of a civil war within Belgium, Leopold III abdicated on 16 Jul 1951 and passed the crown to his son Baudouin.