Vocix

The year in history

1920

Someone born in 1920 turns 106 in 2026

🐒 Year of the MonkeyGreatest Generation

1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar and a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar, the 1920th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 920th year of the 2nd millennium, the 20th year of the 20th century, and the 1st year of the 1920s decade. As of the start of 1920, the Gregorian calendar was 13 days ahead of the Julian calendar, which remained in localized use until 1923.

What happened in 1920

January 1

Polish–Soviet War: The Russian Red Army increases its troops along the Polish border from 4 divisions to 20.

January 28

El Tercio de Extranjeros (the "Regiment of Foreigners"), later the Spanish Legion, is established by decree of King Alfonso XIII of Spain.

March 1

Hungarian admiral and statesman Miklós Horthy becomes the Regent of Hungary.

March 29

Sir William Robertson is promoted to Field Marshal, the first man to rise from private (enlisted 1877) to the highest rank in the British Army.

May 7

Mexican Revolution: Venustiano Carranza leaves Mexico City in a large train.

June 4

Treaty of Trianon: Peace is restored between the Allied Powers and Hungary, which loses 72% of its territory.

July 11

The East Prussian plebiscite determines that most of the territory in question will remain German.

August 10

Ottoman Sultan Mehmed VI's representatives sign the Treaty of Sèvres with the Allied Powers, confirming arrangements for the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire.

September 9

The Lotta Svärd women's paramilitary auxiliary is founded in Finland.

October 9

Polish–Lithuanian War: Polish troops take Vilnius.

November 12

Italy and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes sign the Treaty of Rapallo, determining national borders.

December 7

The first draft of the Mandate for Palestine is submitted to the League of Nations.

Famous people born in 1920

Isaac Asimov

American author (d. 1992)

January 2

Trevor Dannatt

English architect (d. 2021)

January 15

Michael Anderson

English film director (d. 2018)

January 30

Eddie Slovik

U.S. Army private, only deserter to be executed during World War II (d. 1945)

February 18

Robert Cardenas

American Air Force general (d. 2022)

March 10

Tetsuharu Kawakami

Japanese baseball player, coach (d. 2013)

March 23

Anita Ellis

Canadian-American singer and actress (d. 2015)

April 12

Robert Q. Lewis

American radio and television personality (d. 1991)

April 25

Mitsuko Mori

Japanese actress (d. 2012)

May 9

Peggy Lee

American singer (d. 2002)

May 26

Rolf Huisgen

German chemist and academic (d. 2020)

June 13

Walt Masterson

American right-handed baseball pitcher (d. 2008)

June 22

Mary Louise Hancock

American politician (d. 2017)

July 5

June Vincent

American actress (d. 2008)

July 17

Lea Padovani

Italian film actress (d. 1991)

July 28

Milton G. Henschel

American member of the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, 5th president of the Watch (d. 2003)

August 9

Richard E. Bellman

American mathematician (d. 1984)

August 26

Mario Benedetti

Uruguayan writer (d. 2009)

September 14

Peter D. Mitchell

English chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1992)

September 29

Donald Russell

English author (d. 2020)

October 13

Dedan Kimathi

Kenyan revolutionary leader (d. 1957)

October 31

José Lewgoy

Brazilian actor (d. 2003)

November 16

Peter Baptist Tadamaro Ishigami

Japanese Roman Catholic prelate (d. 2014)

December 1

Gianni Di Venanzo

Italian cinematographer (d. 1966)

December 18

Notable deaths in 1920