1938: The March of Time | Hitler's Purge & America's Naval Race

Complete March of Time radio broadcast originally aired by NBC on February 10, 1938, presenting dramatized recreations of the week's most important international and domestic news stories. This edition captures a pivotal moment in world history as Adolf Hitler consolidates his grip on Nazi Germany through a sweeping purge of senior military and diplomatic leaders, while the United States debates naval expansion amid rising tensions with Germany, Italy, and Japan. Alongside these major geopolitical developments, the program also explores remarkable human-interest stories from the Philippines, Birmingham, Washington, and Alcatraz. As with all March of Time broadcasts, the events are presented through professionally produced dramatizations based on contemporary news reporting, offering listeners a vivid snapshot of the world in early 1938. 00:00 - Historical Context and Introduction 00:25 - The March of Time: Dominga Capati's Golf Victory 05:31 - America's Naval Race 10:28 - Augustus Williams Controversy 13:52 - Al Capone's Decline at Alcatraz 19:50 - Hitler's Purge of the German Army and Diplomatic Corps 26:55 - Life Magazine's Weekly News Coverage Highlights of this broadcast: Hitler consolidates power in Nazi Germany: • The broadcast dramatizes Adolf Hitler's dismissal of senior military and diplomatic officials, including War Minister Werner von Blomberg, Army Commander Werner von Fritsch, and Foreign Minister Konstantin von Neurath. Historians regard these events as a major turning point that gave Hitler direct control over Germany's armed forces and foreign policy. America's growing naval expansion: • NBC reports on Admiral William D. Leahy's testimony before Congress as the United States considers a massive naval expansion in response to increasing military activity by Japan, Germany, and Italy. The broadcast reflects the nation's struggle to balance widespread opposition to war with growing concerns over national defense. Dominga Capati wins the Manila Women's Open: • One of the broadcast's most inspiring stories follows Filipino washerwoman Dominga Capati, who learned golf while working near the Manila Golf Club and went on to win the Manila Women's Open Golf Tournament, becoming the first Filipino golfer to capture the championship. The Augustus Williams controversy: • The program recounts the story of young African American artist Augustus Williams, whose painting was accepted into an exhibition at the Birmingham Public Library, yet segregation laws prevented him from entering the building to see his own artwork. The incident became a striking example of racial discrimination in the American South. Roosevelt's conference of small businessmen: • The broadcast covers President Franklin D. Roosevelt's conference for small business owners in Washington, D.C. Intended to encourage cooperation between government and independent businesses, the meeting instead became known for heated debates, procedural chaos, and competing political demands. Al Capone's decline at Alcatraz: • NBC reports on the deteriorating mental condition of imprisoned gangster Al Capone, describing hallucinations and serious health problems during his imprisonment at Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. Historical significance: This broadcast provides a remarkable record of world events as they unfolded in February 1938, before many of their long-term consequences became apparent. Only one month after this program aired, Germany annexed Austria in the Anschluss, followed later that year by the Munich Crisis. Hitler's removal of conservative military leaders proved to be one of the final steps in consolidating his absolute authority before Germany's aggressive expansion across Europe. Meanwhile, the United States was beginning the naval expansion that would eventually become one of the largest military build-ups in American history, laying the foundation for the U.S. Navy's role during World War II. Like all March of Time productions, this program combines authentic journalism with dramatic reenactments performed by professional actors. The series became one of the most influential radio news programs of the twentieth century, helping millions of listeners understand rapidly changing world events during the years leading up to World War II. If you enjoy authentic historical radio broadcasts and carefully restored archival recordings, please consider subscribing for more rare broadcasts from the twentieth century. #TheMarchOfTime #NBCRadio #1938 #WorldHistory #AdolfHitler #NaziGermany #HistoricRadio #OldTimeRadio #WorldWarII #History