19. 1936
The first stock‑car race is held at Daytona Beach in Florida, laying the groundwork for what later becomes NASCAR racing.
20. 1942
The Dutch East Indies surrender to Imperial Japanese forces during World War II, giving Japan control of a major Southeast Asian colony rich in strategic resources.
21. 1950
Germany begins production of the Volkswagen Type 2 Bus, a vehicle that later becomes a global cultural icon associated with mobility and counterculture movements.