List of state leaders in 1939

1938 state leaders – Events of 1939 – 1940 state leaders – State leaders by year

Africa

• Egypt – Farouk I, King of Egypt (1936-1952)
• Liberia – Edwin Barclay, President of Liberia (1930-1944)
• South Africa –
  • Monarch – George VI, King of South Africa (1936-1952)
  • Governor-General – Sir Patrick Duncan, Governor-General of South Africa (1937-1943)
  • Prime Minister –
    1. Barry Hertzog, Prime Minister of South Africa (1924-5 September 1939)
    2. Jan Smuts, Prime Minister of South Africa (5 September 1939 – 1948)
• Zanzibar – Khalifah ibn Harub, Sultan of Zanzibar (1911-1960)

Asia

• Afghanistan
  • Mohammed Zahir Shah, King of Afghanistan (1933-1973)
  • Sardar Mohammed Hashim Shah, Prime Minister of Afghanistan (1933-1946)
• Brunei – Ahmad Tajuddin, Sultan of Brunei (1924–1950)
• China
  • Lin Sen, Chairman of the National Government (1931-1943)
  • Premier
    1. H.H. Kung, President of the Executive Yuan (1938-1939)
    2. Chiang Kai-shek, President of the Executive Yuan (1939-1945)
• India –
  • George VI, Emperor of India (1936-1947)
  • The Marquess of Linlithgow, Viceroy of India (1936-1943)
• Japan –
  • Monarch – Showa Emperor, Emperor of Japan (1926-1989)
  • Prime Minister
    1. Fumimaro Konoe, Prime Minister of Japan (1937 – 4 January 1939)
    2. Kiichiro Hiranuma, Prime Minister of Japan (4 January – 29 August 1939)
    3. Nobuyuki Abe, Prime Minister of Japan (29 August 1939 – 1940)
• Manchukuo – Aisin-Gioro Puyi, Emperor of Manchukuo (1934-1945)
• Oman – Said Bin Taimur, Sultan of Oman (1932-1970)
• Thailand (Siam to 23 June) –
  • Ananda Mahidol, King of Thailand (1935-1946)
  • Plaek Pibulsongkram, Prime Minister of Thailand (1938-1944)
• Vietnam – Bao Dai, Emperor of Vietnam (1925-1945)

Australia and Oceania

• Australia –
  • Monarch – George VI, King of the United Kingdom (1936-1952)
  • Governor-General – Alexander Hore-Ruthven, 1st Baron of Gowrie, Governor-General of Australia (1936-1952)
  • Prime Minister –
    1. Joseph Lyons, Prime Minister of Australia (1932-1939)
    2. Sir. Earle Page, Prime Minister of Australia (1939-1939)
    3. Robert Menzies, Prime Minister of Australia (1939-1941)

• New Zealand –
  • George VI, King of New Zealand (1936-1952)
  • The Viscount Galway, Governor-General of New Zealand (1935-1941)
  • Michael Joseph Savage, Prime Minister of New Zealand (1935-1940)

Europe

• Albania –
  • Head of State -
    1. Zog I, King of Albania (1928- 8 April 1939)
    2. Xhafer Ypi, Chairman of the Provisional Administration Committee (9 April – 12 April 1939)
    3. Shefqet Bej Vërlaci, Acting Head of State (12 April – 16 April 1939)
    4. Victor Emmanuel III, King of Albania (16 April 1939-1943)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Koço Kota, Prime Minister of Albania (1936-8 April 1939)
    2. Shefqet Bej Vërlaci, Prime Minister of Albania (12 April 1939 – 1941)
• Belgium –
  • Monarch – Leopold III, King of the Belgians (1934-1951)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Paul-Henri Spaak, Prime Minister of Belgium (1938-20 February 1939)
    2. Hubert Pierlot, Prime Minister of Belgium (22 February 1939-1945)
• Bohemia and Moravia –
  • Reichs Protector – Konstantin von Neurath, Reichs Protector of Bohemia and Moravia(21 March 1939-1941)
  • State President – Emil Hácha, State President of Bohemia and Moravia (16 March 1939-1945)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Rudolf Beran, Prime Minister of Bohemia and Moravia (16 March – 27 April 1939)
    2. Alois Eliás, Prime Minister of Bohemia and Moravia (27 Apri 1939 – 1941)
• Bulgaria –
  • Monarch – Boris III, King of the Bulgarians (1918-1943)
  • Prime Minister – Georgi Kiossievanov, Prime Minister of Bulgaria (1935-1940)
• Czechoslovakia –
  • President – Emil Hácha, President of Czechoslovakia (1938 – 15 March 1939)
  • Prime Minister – Rudolf Beran, Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia (1938 – 15 March 1939)
  • divided into Bohemia-Moravia and Slovakia), 15 March 1939
• Denmark –
  • Monarch – Christian X, King of Denmark (1912-1947)
  • Prime Minister – Thorvald Stauning, Prime Minister of Denmark (1929-1942)
• Éire (Ireland) -
  • Monarch – George VI, King of Ireland (1936-1949)
  • President – Douglas Hyde, President of Ireland (1938-1945)
  • Prime Minister – Eamon de Valera, Taoiseach (1937-1948)
• Estonia –
  • President – Konstantin Päts, President of Estonia (1938-1940, Head of State, 1934-1938)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Kaarel Eenpalu, Prime Minister of Estonia (1938 – 12 October 1939)
    2. Jüri Uluots, Prime Minister of Estonia (12 October 1939 – 1940)
• Finland –
  • President – Kyösti Kallio, President of Finland (1937-1940)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Aimo Kaarlo Cajander, Prime Minister of Finland (1937 – 1 December 1939)
    2. Risto Heikki Ryti, Prime Minister of Finland (1 December 1939 – 1940)
• France –
  • President – Albert Lebrun, President of France (1932-1940)
  • Prime Minister – Édouard Daladier, President of the Council (1938-1940)
• Germany –
  • Head of State – Adolf Hitler, Führer (1934-1945)
  • Chancellor – Adolf Hitler, Chancellor of Germany (1933-1945)
• Greece –
  • Monarch – George II, King of the Hellenes (1935-1947)
  • Prime Minister – Ioannis Metaxas, Prime Minister of Greece (1936-1941)
• Hungary –
  • Regent – Miklós Horthy, Regent of Hungary (1920-1944)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Béla Imrédy, Minister-President of Hungary (1938 – 16 February 1939)
    2. Pál Teleki, Minister-President of Hungary (16 February 1939 – 1941)
• Italy –
  • Monarch – Victor Emmanuel III, King of Italy (1900-1946)
  • Prime Minister – Benito Mussolini, Prime Minister of Italy (1922-1943)
• Latvia –
  • President – Karlis Ulmanis, President of Latvia (1936-1940)
  • Prime Minister – Karlis Ulmanis, Prime Minister of Latvia (1934-1940)
• Liechtenstein -
  • Monarch – Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein (1938-1989)
  • Head of Government – Franz Josef Hoop, Head of Government of Liechtenstein (1928-1945)
• Lithuania –
  • President – Antanas Smetona, President of Lithuania (1926-1940)
  • Prime Minister
    1. Vladas Mironas, Prime Minister of Lithuania (1938 – 28 March 1939)
    2. Jonas Cernius, Prime Minister of Lithuania (28 March – 21 November 1939)
    3. Antanas Merkys, Prime Minister of Lithuania (21 November 1939 – 1940)
• Luxembourg -
  • Monarch – Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg (1919-1964)
  • Prime Minister – Pierre Dupong, Prime Minister of Luxembourg (1937-1953)
• Monaco – Louis II, Prince of Monaco (1922-1949)
• Netherlands –
  • Monarch – Wilhelmina, Queen of the Netherlands (1890-1948)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Hendrikus Colijn, Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1933 – 10 August 1939)
    2. Dirk Jan de Geer, Prime Minister of the Netherlands (10 August 1939 – 1940)
• Norway –
  • Monarch – Haakon VII, King of Norway (1905-1957
  • Prime Minister – Johan Nygaardsvold, Prime Minister of Norway (1935-1945)
• Poland -
  • President –
    1. Ignacy Moscicki, President of Poland (1926-30 September 1939)
    2. Wladyslaw Raczkiewicz, President of the Polish Government-in-Exile (30 September 1939-1947)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Felicjan Slawoj-Skladkowski, Prime Minister of Poland (1936 – 30 September 1939)
    2. Wladyslaw Sikorski, Prime Minister of the Polish Government-in-Exile (30 September 1939 – 1943)
• Portugal –
  • President – António Óscar de Fragoso Carmona, President of Portugal (1926-1951)
  • Prime Minister – António de Oliveira Salazar, Prime Minister of Portugal (1928-1968)
• Romania –
  • Monarch – Carol II, King of Romania (1930-1940)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Miron Cristea, Prime Minister of Romania (1938 – 6 March 1939)
    2. Armand Calinescu, Prime Minister of Romania (7 March – 21 September 1939)
    3. Gheorghe Argesanu, Prime Minister of Romania (21 September – 28 September 1939)
    4. Constantin Argetoianu, Prime Minister of Romania (28 September – 24 November 1939)
    5. Gheorghe Tatarescu, Prime Minister of Romania (24 November 1939 – 1940)
• Slovakia –
  • President – Jozef Tiso, President of Slovakia (14 March 1939 – 1945
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Jozef Tiso, Prime Minister of Slovakia (14 March – 29 October 1939)
    2. Vojtech Tuka, Prime Minister of Slovakia (29 October 1939 – 1944)
• Spain –
  • Republican Spain -
    • Head of State -
      1. Manuel Azaña, President of Spain (1936- 1 March 1939)
      2. Diego Martínez Barrio, Interim President of Spain (1 March – 4 March 1939)
      3. Segismundo Casado López, Interim President of the National Council of Defense (4 March – 13 March 1939)
      4. José Miaja Menant, President of the National Council of Defense (13 March – 25 March 1939)
    • Prime Minister – Juan Negrín, Prime Minister of Spain Republican (1937 – 31 March 1939)
  • Nationalist Spain -
    • Head of State – Francisco Franco, Head of State (1936-1975)
    • Prime Minister – Francisco Franco, Prime Minister of Spain (1938 – 1973)
• Sweden -
  • Monarch – Gustav V, King of Sweden (1907-1950)
  • Prime Minister – Per Albin Hansson, Prime Minister of Sweden (1936-1946)
• Switzerland
  • Swiss Federal Council
    • Giuseppe Motta, Marcel Pilet-Golaz, Rudolf Minger, Johannes Baumann, Philipp Etter (President of Confederation), Hermann Obrecht, Ernst Wetter
• Union of Soviet Socialist Republics -
  • Communist Party Leader – Joseph Stalin, General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1922-1953)
  • Head of State – Mikhail Kalinin, Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (1938-1946)
  • Premier – Vyacheslav Molotov, Chairman of the Council of People's Comissars (1930-1941)
• United Kingdom -
  • Monarch – George VI, King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1936-1952)
  • Prime Minister – Neville Chamberlain, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1937-1940)
• Yugoslavia –
  • Monarch – Peter II, King of Yugoslavia (1934-1945)
  • Regent – Prince Paul, Regent of Yugoslavia (1934-1941)
  • Prime Minister -
    1. Milan Stojadinović, Prime Minister of Yugoslavia (1935-4 February 1939)
    2. Dragiša Cvetković, Prime Minister of Yugoslavia (5 February 1939-1941)
• Vatican City
  • Pope –
    1. Pius XI, Bishop of Rome (1929-1939)
    2. Pius XII, Bishop of Rome (1939-1958)
  • Secretary of State –
    1. Eugenio Cardinal Pacelli, Cardinal Secretary of State (1930-1939)
    2. Luigi Cardinal Maglione, Cardinal Secretary of State (1939-1944)

Middle East

• Egypt –
  • Farouk I, King of Egypt (1936-1952)
  • Prime Minister
    1. Muhammad Mahmoud Pasha, Prime Minister of Egypt (1937 – 18 August 1939)
    2. Ali Mahir Pasha, Prime Minister of Egypt (18 August 1939 – 1940)
• Iran –
  • Reza Pahlavi, Shah of Iran (1925-1941)
  • Prime Minister
    1. Mahmud Jam, Prime Minister of Iran (1935 – 26 October 1939)
    2. Ahmad Matin-Daftari, Prime Minister of Iran (26 October 1939 – 1940)
• Iraq -
  • King
    1. Ghazi I, King of Iraq (1933 – 4 April 1939)
    2. Faisal II, King of Iraq (4 April 1939 -1958)
  • Abdul Ilah, Regent of Iraq (4 April 1939 – 1941)
  • Nuri Pasha as-Said, Prime Minister of Iraq (1938-1940)
• Muscat – Said Bin Taimur, Sultan of Oman (1932-1970)
• Saudi Arabia – Abdul Aziz ibn Saud, King of Saudi Arabia (1932-1953)
• Turkey –
  • Ismet Inönü, President of Turkey (1938-1950)
  • Prime Minister
    1. Mahmud Celal Bayar, Prime Minister of Turkey (1937 – 25 January 1939)
    2. Refik Ibrahim Saydam, Prime Minister of Turkey (25 January 1939 – 1942)

North America and the Caribbean

• Canada –
  • George VI, King of Canada (1936-1952)
  • The Lord Tweedsmuir, Governor-General of Canada (1935-1940)
  • William Lyon Mackenzie King, Prime Minister of Canada (1935-1948)
• Costa Rica – León Cortés Castro, President of Costa Rica (1936-1940)
• Cuba – Federico Laredo Brú, President of Cuba (1936-1940)
• Dominican Republic – Jacinto Bienvenido Peynado, President of the Dominican Republic (1938-1940)
• El Salvador – Maximiliano Hernández Martínez, President of El Salvador (1935-1944)
• Guatemala – Jorge Ubico, President of Guatemala (1931-1944)
• Haiti – Sténio Vincent, President of Haiti (1930-1941)
• Honduras – Tiburcio Carías Andino, President of Honduras (1933-1949)
• Mexico – Lázaro Cárdenas, President of Mexico (1934-1940)
• Nicaragua – Anastasio Somoza García, President of Nicaragua (1937-1947)
• Panama –
  1. Juan Demóstenes Arosemena, President of Panama (1936-1939)
  2. Ezequiel Fernández Jaén, Acting President of Panama (1939)
  3. Augusto Samuel Boyd, Acting President of Panama (1939-1940)
• United States – Franklin Roosevelt, President of the United States (1933-1945)

South America

• Argentina – Roberto Ortiz, President of Argentina (1938-1942)
• Bolivia
  1. Germán Busch, President of Bolivia (1937-1939
  2. Carlos Quintanilla, Provisional President of Bolivia (1939-1940)
• Brazil – Getúlio Vargas, President of Brazil (1930-1945)
• Chile – Pedro Aguirre Cerda, President of Chile (1938-1941)
• Colombia – Eduardo Santos Montejo, President of Colombia (1938-1942)
• Ecuador –
  1. Aurelio Mosquera Narváez, President of Ecuador (1938-1939)
  2. Carlos Alberto Arroyo del Río, Acting President of Ecuador (1939)
  3. Andrés Córdova Nieto, Acting President of Ecuador (1939-1940)
• Paraguay -
  1. Félix Paiva, President of Paraguay (1937-1939)
  2. José Félix Estigarribia, President of Paraguay (1939-1940)
• Peru –
  1. Óscar Raymundo Benavides Larrea, President of Peru (1933-1939
  2. Manuel Prado y Ugarteche, President of Peru (1939-1945)
• Uruguay – Alfredo Baldomir, President of Uruguay (1938-1943)
• Venezuela – Eleazar López Contreras, President of Venezuela (1936-1941)