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)