1931 - 1940

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1931

Census: Pop. E&W 40M, Scot 4.8M, NI 1.24M

October 21: National Government formed to deal with economic crisis

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1933

January 30: Hitler becomes chancellor of Germany

Oxford Union: "This House will in no circumstances fight for King and Country"

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1935

Land speed record of 301.13 mph by Malcolm Campbell

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1936

January 20: George V dies; Edward VIII king

First public TV transmission

Jet engine first tested

July 18: Spanish Civil War starts

December 5: Edward VIII abdicates (announced December 10) – carol that Xmas: "Hark the Herald Angels sing, Mrs Simpson's got our King"

Duke of York becomes George VI

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1937

Alan Turing publishes outline of his 'Turing Machine'

Largest ocean liner ever built, Queen Elizabeth, launched on Clydebank 

Snow White is the first feature-length cartoon.

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1939-45

Second World War (the "Peoples War")

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1939

September 3: War declared

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1940

Battle of Britain

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