So your decade query should use,
"active_start":[{
"value":null,
"value<":"1940",
"value>=":"1930"
}],
I think you are currently using,
"active_start":[{
"value":null,
"value<=":"1939",
"value>=":"1930"
}],
Year is the earliest time for the specific year. For example, "1939" is less
than "Jan 1, 1939".