Top News Stories from 1938

World Events

• Hitler marches into Austria; political and geographical union of Germany and Austria proclaimed.
• Munich Pact—Britain, France, and Italy agree to let Germany partition Czechoslovakia.
• Nazis destroy Jewish shops, homes, synagogues in Kristallnacht riots; 20,000-30,000 sent to concentration camps.
• First oil strike in Kuwait transforms the emirate's economy.

U.S. Events

• Orson Welles broadcasts his adaptation of H.G. Wells's War of the Worlds, creating a nationwide panic as listeners believe that aliens have landed in New Jersey (Oct. 30).
• Fair Labor Standards Act establishes minimum wage.
• Unexpected hurricane wreaks havoc on Long Island, N.Y. and in New England. See U.S. Hurricanes.

Economics

Sports

World Series

Stanley Cup

Wimbledon

Kentucky Derby Champion

NCAA Football Champions

World Cup

Entertainment

Events

• Roy Acuff joins the Grand Ole Opry and brings national recognition to the Nashville-based radio program.
• Information Please quiz show debuts on radio.

Science

• Chester F. Carlson produces the first xerographic print.
• Teflon is developed by Roy J. Plunkett at Du Pont.
• George and Ladislav Biro invent the ballpoint pen.
• U. Cerletti and L. Bini introduce electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or shock therapy, for the treatment of mental illness.

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