Adolf Hitler gave a May Day speech to a rally at Tempelhof Air Field in Berlin, telling Germany that his government would make every effort to reduce unemployment. "The German people are inspired", Hitler said, "from their venerable president down to the worker and peasant, with only one wish – to become happy through work."[2]
The Concordat of 1933, regulating church-state relations in Austria, came into effect.[3]
Nazis seized all property of the Catholic Youth and Young Men's associations in Lower Franconia, Bavaria. The associations themselves were ordered to dissolve and the protection granted them in the concordat was declared canceled.[5]
100,000 demonstrated in Zweibrücken for the restoration of the Saar to Germany. "The Saar is German and will remain German", Joseph Goebbels told the crowd. "We will never rest until the despotic barriers are torn down, and we can welcome you as our blood brothers in the union of the Reich."[10]
Nazi Germany eased some restrictions on freedom of the press due to a heavy slump in sales of newspapers ever since they had all been forced to publish the same official reports of important public events.[13]
Actress Katharine Hepburn received a divorce in Mexico from her husband, Ludlow Ogden Smith.[14]
Joachim von Ribbentrop had a conference at London's foreign office with Sir John Simon and Anthony Eden, but was unable to extract any promises from Britain on the issue of German rearmament.[18]
The German secret police broke up a meeting of 1,000 anti-Nazi delegates to the Protestant synod of Brandenburg.[19]
Joseph Goebbels opened a campaign against "defeatists and critics" of the Nazi government. During his announcement he issued a "last warning" to the nation's Jews, saying they would have to "behave as guests."[19]
Fist fights broke out at the University of Madrid between socialists and fascists shortly after a 48-hour general strike by students went into effect. Riot police moved in to break up the clashes.[20]
Australian Eastern Mission: Japanese foreign minister Kōki Hirota hosted Australian deputy prime minister John Latham in Tokyo, in a meeting considered "one of the most important in Australian diplomatic history". Hirota affirmed Japan would only return to the League of Nations following de jure international recognition of the puppet state of Manchoukuo.[21]
Died:Norman Clapham (a.k.a. John Henry), 54, British comedian, suicide by coal gas poisoning;[25]Tom Pickett, 75 or 76, American cowboy, gambler, lawman and outlaw
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered a special message to Congress calling for regulation of arms traffic. "The people of many countries are being taxed to the point of poverty and starvation in order to enable governments to engage in a mad race in armament which, if permitted to continue, may well result in war", Roosevelt declared. "This grave menace to the peace of the world is due in no small measure to the uncontrolled activities of the manufacturers and merchants of engines of destruction, and it must be met by the concerted action of the peoples of all nations."[28]
Conrad of Parzham was canonized as a saint by Pope Pius XI. During the ceremony in the presence of 5,000 German pilgrims, the pope condemned the revival of paganism in Germany when he said, "The life of Conrad of Parzham is an admonition to all those who have wandered far from the truth and seek to restore and magnify with phrases the practices and customs of paganism, and who repudiate Christian doctrine which alone can recall them to virtue, civilization and the true processes."[29]
Soft serve was invented by accident when a Carvel truck in Hartsdale, New York pulled over with a flat tire but managed to sell the melting ice cream to customers.[39]
The second FIFA World Cup football tournament opened in Italy.
Unknown assailants made an attempt on the life of the American ambassador to Cuba, Jefferson Caffery, firing at the entrance to his home in Havana with sawed-off shotguns at the precise time that he usually came out. Caffery was not injured but a soldier standing guard was seriously wounded.[40]
Racer Kaye Don was involved in an accident during a practice run on the Isle of Man that killed his mechanic. Don would be put on trial for manslaughter.[41]
^Ettlinger, Harold (May 13, 1934). "Students Strike in Spain; Battle Police in Siege". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 12.
^Bird, David (2008). "The Genesis of Australian Appeasement – The 'Australian Eastern Mission' of 1934 and its Aftermath". J. A. Lyons, The Tame Tasmanian: Appeasement and Rearmament in Australia, 1932–39. Australian Scholarly Publishing. p. 74. ISBN9781740971577.
^"Armistice Ends Saudi Arabian War with Yemen". Chicago Daily Tribune. May 14, 1934. p. 13.
^"High Quest Wins Preakness; Cavalcade Second". Chicago Daily Tribune. May 13, 1934. p. Part 2, p. 1.
^Lumans, Valdis O. (2006). Latvia in World War II. Fordham University Press. p. 41. ISBN9780823226276.
^Larson, Erik (2011). In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin. New York: Crown Publishers. p. 406. ISBN9780307887955.
^Herrick, John (May 19, 1934). "Curb Arms Sale: Roosevelt". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 1.
^"Pope Condemns Nazi Paganism; Saints Doorman". Chicago Daily Tribune. May 21, 1934. p. 11.
^"Austria Frees 80 Socialists; Put on Parole". Chicago Daily Tribune. May 22, 1934. p. 12.
^""Pope" of Tibet Visits Shanghai; 10 Yr. Exile Over". Chicago Daily Tribune. May 23, 1934. p. 25.