What Happened in November 1944

Historical Events

Roosevelt vs. Dewey

Nov 7 Franklin D. Roosevelt is re-elected President of the United States for a record fourth term, defeating Republican candidate Thomas E. Dewey

Nov 7 Train crashes in tunnel of Aguadilla Spain; about 500 die
Nov 8 25,000 Hungarian Jews are loaned to Nazis for forced labor
Nov 8 Last German troops at Walcheren Island, Netherlands surrender
Nov 9 Red Cross wins Nobel peace prize
Nov 9 Walcheren purged of Nazi troops
Nov 10 Ammunition ship USS Mount Hood (AE-11) exploded at Seeadler Harbour, Manus, Admiralty Islands
Nov 10 German riots in Rotterdam/Schiedam 52,000 men sent to Germany
Nov 10 US 9th Army takes Margraten cemetery
Nov 11 New York Rangers beat Detroit Red Wings, 5-2 to end NHL record 25 game winless streak (0-21-4)
Nov 12 RAF sinks German battleship Tirpitz at Tromso Fjord, Norway
Nov 15 Surprise attack on office of Nethche Bank
Nov 16 US 9th division & 1st Army attacks at Geilenkirchen
Nov 19 World War II: U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt announces the 6th War Loan Drive, aimed at selling $14 billion USD in war bonds to help pay for the war effort.
Nov 20 1st Japanese suicide submarine attack (Ulithi Atol, Carolines)
Nov 20 Amsterdam: Vondelpark closed because of kappen of trees
Nov 20 Dutch Prince Bernhard establishes staff in Breda, Netherlands
Nov 21 Personnel & executive staff of Philips demonstrate for more food
Nov 22 Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry occupies Hoven at Geilenkirchen

Meet Me In St Louis

Nov 22 Film musical "Meet Me In St Louis", starring Judy Garland, and directed by Vincente Minnelli, premieres at Loew’s State Theater on Washington Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri

Ode to Napoleon

Nov 23 Arnold Schoenberg's "Ode to Napoleon" premieres in NYC

Liberation of Strasbourg

Nov 23 US 7th army under General Alexander Patch liberates Strasbourg

Nov 24 US bombers based on Saipan begin 1st attack on Tokyo
Nov 25 32nd CFL Grey Cup: Montreal HMCS defeat Hamilton Flying Wildcats, 7-6
Nov 25 World War II: A German V-2 rocket hits a Woolworth's store in Deptford, United Kingdom, killing 160 shoppers.
Nov 26 1st allied marines move onto Antwerp harbor

Heinrich Himmler

Nov 26 Heinrich Himmler orders the destruction of the Auschwitz and Birkenau crematoria

Nov 27 4,000 shells detonate in RAF arms depot at Fauld, near Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire; village of Hanbury destroyed, at least 70 people killed
Nov 27 US 121st Infantry regiment opens assault on Hurtgen in Germany
Nov 28 1st allied ship sails into Schelde Antwerp
Nov 28 400 Rotterdammers attack coal warehouse
Nov 28 Detroit Tigers pitcher Hal Newhouser is named AL MVP
Nov 28 In reprisal 40 Dutch men are executed by Nazis
Nov 28 US 121st Infantry regiment occupies Hurtgen
Nov 29 Albania liberated from Nazi control (National Day)
Nov 29 Johns Hopkins hospital in Baltimore performs 1st open heart surgery
Nov 29 The first surgery (on a human) to correct blue baby syndrome is performed by Alfred Blalock and Vivien Thomas
Nov 30 Biggest & last British battleship HMS Vanguard launched

Events in 1944

Famous Birthdays

Nov 1 (Richard) "Kinky" Friedman, American country rocker ("Ride 'Em Jewboy"), born in Chicago, Illinois
Nov 1 Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, American pro wrestling manager, colour commentator and wrestler (WWE Hall of Fame), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2017)
Nov 1 Oscar Temaru, President of French Polynesia 2011-13, born in Faa'a, Tahiti, French Polynesia
Nov 2 Jeffrey Alan Hoffman, American NASA astronaut (STS 51-D, 35, 46, 61, 75) and MIT professor, born in Brooklyn, New York
Nov 2 Keith Emerson, English rock keyboardist, composer, and arranger (Emerson, Lake & Palmer - "Karn Evil 9"), born in Todmorden, West Yorkshire (d. 2016)
Nov 2 Liesel Westermann, German discus thrower (Olympic silver 1968; world record 63.96m 1969), born in Sulingen, Germany
Nov 2 Patrice Chereau, French opera director and actor (Danton), born in Lézigné, Maine-et-Loire, France (d. 2013)
Nov 3 Bob Nave, American rock and blues Hammond B-3 organist (Lemon Pipers - "Green Tambourine"), jazz radio DJ, and philanthropist, born in Dayton, Ohio (d. 2020)
Nov 3 Mel Farr, American NFL running back (Pro Bowl 1967, 70; Detroit Lions), born in Beaumont, Texas (d. 2015)
Nov 4 Scherrie Payne, American singer (The Supremes), born in Detroit, Michigan
Nov 4 Toni Stern, American poet (The Wet Clay of My Heart), and lyricist (Carole King - "It's Too Late", "Where You Lead"), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 2024) [1]
Nov 4 Willem Breuker, Dutch saxophonist and conductor (WB Collective), born in Amsterdam (d. 2010)
Nov 6 Bill Henderson, Canadian rock vocalist and guitarist (Chilliwack), born in Vancouver, British Columbia
Nov 7 James Dashow, American-Italian composer, born in Chicago, Illinois
Nov 7 Joe Niekro, American baseball pitcher (MLB All Star 1979; NL wins leader 1979; Houston Astros; World Series 1987; NY Yankees), born in Martins Ferry, Ohio (d. 2006)
Nov 7 Julian Christopher, American actor (Jerry-Magician), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Nov 7 Luigi Riva, Italian soccer striker (42 caps; Cagliari 315 games), born in Leggiuno, Italy (d. 2024)
Nov 8 Bonnie Bramlett, American rock vocalist (Delaney & Bonnie - "Never Ending Song of Love"), born in Granite City, Illinois
Nov 8 Robert Nix, American drummer and songwriter (Roy Orbison; Atlanta Rhythm Section - "So Into You"; "Imaginary Lover"), born in Blakely, Georgia (d. 2012)
Nov 8 Rodney Slater, British rock saxophonist and woodwind player (Bonzo Dog Band), born in Crowland, Lincolnshire, England
Nov 9 Bill Hendon, American politician (Rep-R-NC, 1981-83, 85-87), born in Asheville, North Carolina
Nov 9 James Talley, American country blues singer-songwriter ("The Road to Torreón"), born in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Nov 9 Phil May, English rocker (Pretty Things), born in Dartford, Kent (d. 2020)
Nov 10 Dave Loggins, American singer ("Please Come To Boston"), born in Mountain City, Tennessee
Nov 10 Silvestre Reyes, American politician (Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas 1997-2013), born in Canutillo, Texas

Tim Rice (79 years old)

Nov 10 British lyricist (Jesus Christ Superstar; Evita; Chess; The Lion King) and EGOT (Emmy; Grammy; Oscar; and Tony Awards winner), born in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England

Nov 11 Kemal Sunal, Turkish actor (Saban the Cow,), born in Istanbul, Turkey (d. 2000)
Nov 12 (Johan) "Johnny" van Doorn, Dutch writer, poet (as Johnny the Selfkicker), and performer (Oorlog & Pap - War & Porridge), born in Beekbergen, Netherlands (d. 1991)

Al Michaels (79 years old)

Nov 12 American sportscaster (Miracle on Ice, American Football), born in Brooklyn, New York

Nov 12 Booker T. Jones, American soul and rock organist (Booker T & MGs - "Green Onions"), born in Memphis, Tennessee
Nov 13 Ken Shuttleworth, English cricket fast bowler (5 Tests, 12 wickets, BB 5/37; Lancashire CCC, Leicestershire CCC), born in St Helens, England
Nov 13 Timmy Thomas, American singer and songwriter ("Why Can't We Live Together"), born in Evansville, Indiana (d. 2022)
Nov 13 Wouter R van Romondt, Dutch/Dutch Antillean cartoonist
Nov 14 Aditya Biria, industrialist
Nov 16 David O'Sullivan, New Zealand cricket left-arm spinner (in 11 Tests 1973-76), born in Palmerston North, New Zealand
Nov 16 Hugo Dittberner, German writer, born in Gieboldehausen, Germany
Nov 16 Jay Hammer, American actor (Fletcher Reade-Guiding Light), born in San Francisco, California
Nov 16 Oliver Braddick, British psychologist (research on infant visual perception)
Nov 17 (Harold Eugene) Gene Clark, American singer-songwriter (The Byrds - "Eight Miles High"), born in Tipton, Missouri (d. 1991)

Danny DeVito (79 years old)

Nov 17 American Emmy Award-winning actor (Taxi - "Louie"; Ruthless People; Twins; It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "Frank"), born in Neptune Township, New Jersey

Nov 17 Jim Boeheim, Basketball Hall of Fame coach (Syracuse; John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award 2006), born in Lyons, New York

Lorne Michaels (79 years old)

Nov 17 Canadian TV producer, actor and comedy writer (Saturday Night Live), born in Toronto, Ontario

Nov 17 Rem Koolhaas, Dutch architect (Pritzker Prize - 2000), born in Rotterdam, Netherlands
Nov 17 Sarolta Monspart, Hungarian orienteering competitor (first non-Scandinavian female to win World C'ship 1972; 14 x national titles), born in Budapest, Hungary (d. 2021)

Tom Seaver (1944-2020)

Nov 17 American Baseball HOF pitcher (NL Cy Young Award 1969, 73, 75; 12 x MLB All Star; NY Mets, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago WS), born in Fresno, California [1]

Nov 19 Charlie Coe, American rock guitarist and bassist (Paul Revere & The Raiders, 1963-68), born in Boise, Idaho
Nov 19 Dennis Hull, Canadian ice hockey player
Nov 20 Anthea Stewart, Zimbabwean field hockey coach and player (Olympic gold 1980), born in Blantyre, Nyasaland
Nov 21 Dick Durbin, American politician (Rep-D-IL, 1983-97, Senator-D-IL, 1997-), born in East St. Louis, Illinois
Nov 21 Earl "the Pearl" Monroe, American basketball HOF guard (4 x NBA All-Star; NBA C'ship 1973 NY Knicks; NBA Rookie of the Year 1968 Baltimore Bullets), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Nov 21 Harold Ramis, actor and director (SCTV, Stripes), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2014)
Nov 21 Marcia "Marcy" Carsey, TV executive/producer
Nov 22 Max Romeo [Smith], Jamaican reggae singer and songwriter, born in St. D'Acre, St. Ann, Jamaica
Nov 22 Robert Iliffe, English publisher (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
Nov 23 Joe Eszterhas, American screenwriter (Basic Instinct, Showgirls), born in Csákánydoroszló, Hungary
Nov 23 Jose Torikens, Dutch journalist (Parool, NRC)
Nov 23 Peter Lindbergh [Brodbeck], German fashion photographer and director, born in Lissa, German occupied Poland (d. 2019)
Nov 24 Candy Darling [James Slattery], American transgender actress (Flesh, Women in Revolt), born in Queens, New York (d. 1974)
Nov 24 Claudia Dreifus, interviewer/author (7 Stories)
Nov 24 Dan Glickman, American politician (US Sec of Agriculture 1995-2001, Rep-D-KS, 1977-95), born in Wichita, Kansas
Nov 24 Ibrahim Gambari, Nigerian scholar
Nov 24 Jules Deelder, Dutch poet (T of Vondel)
Nov 25 Ben Stein, American actor
Nov 25 Mark Minkov, Russian/Soviet theater and film score composer, born in Moscow (d. 2012)
Nov 26 Alan Henderson, Irish rock bassist (Them), born in Belfast, Northern Ireland (d. 2017)
Nov 26 Jean Terrell, American singer (The Supremes, 1970-73), born in Belzoni, Mississippi
Nov 27 Dozy [Trevor Ward-Davies], British rock bassist (Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich), born in Enford, England (d. 2015)
Nov 27 Martin Corbett, English gay rights activist (Gay Liberation Front, OutRage!), born in London (d. 1996)
Nov 27 Mickey Leland, American politician (Rep-D-TX, 1979-89), born in Lubbock, Texas (d. 1989)
Nov 28 Rita Mae Brown, American poet, novelist (Rubyfruit Jungle), screenwriter (Long Hot Summer), and mystery writer (Mrs. Murphy), born in Hanover, Pennsylvania
Nov 28 Ronald Bertram "R.B." Greaves, American pop singer ("Take A Letter Maria"), born in Georgetown, Guyana (d. 2012)
Nov 28 Timothy Krajcir, American serial killer, born in West Mahanoy Township, Pennsylvania
Nov 30 Dian Parkinson [Dianna Lynn Batts], American model (The Price Is Right) and Miss USA 1965, born in Jacksonville, North Carolina
Nov 30 Luther Ingram, American R&B singer-songwriter ("(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right"; "I'll Be Your Shelter"), born in Jackson, Tennessee (d. 2007)
Nov 30 Rob Grill, American rock bassist/vocalist (Grass Roots), born in Los Angeles, California

Born in 1944

Famous Weddings

B.B. King

Nov 11 Blues musician B.B. King (19) marries his first wife Martha Denton

Eileen Ford

Nov 20 Model agency executive Eileen Ottensoser (22) weds businessman Gerard W. Ford (20) in San Francisco, California

Famous Deaths

Nov 2 Thomas Midgley, American chemist and inventor (b. 1889)
Nov 3 Jack Miner, Canadian naturalist and conservationist, dies at 79
Nov 5 Alexis Carrel, French surgeon, sociologist and biologist (Nobel 1912), dies at 71
Nov 6 Boy Ecury [Segundo Jorge Adelberto Ecury], Dutch Resistance fighter in World War II, executed by a German firing squad at 22
Nov 6 Hannah Senesh, Jewish poetess, executed by Nazis in Budapest
Nov 6 Walter Guinness, Lord Moyne, Anglo-Irish politician, British prefect (Middle-East), assassinated by Jewish terrorists at 64
Nov 7 Richard Sorge, German spy for the Soviet Union in Tokyo during World War II, hanged in Tokyo at 49
Nov 8 Walter Nowotny, Austrian-born fighter pilot ace (258 aerial victories for Luftwaffe), dies in a plane crash at 23
Nov 9 Frank Marshall, American chess player (US Champion 1909-36), dies at 67
Nov 11 Gerrit Grijns, Dutch researcher and co-discoverer of vitamin B1 (thiamine), dies at 79
Nov 12 Edgar Stillman Kelley, American composer (Gulliver), dies at 87
Nov 12 George David Birkhoff, American mathematician (Aesthetic measure), dies at 60
Nov 12 Otto Blumenthal, German mathematician, journal editor (Mathematische Annalen, 1906-38) and university professor, dies in Theresienstadt concentration camp at 68
Nov 12 Roy Agnew, Australian composer (Sonata Ballade), dies at 51
Nov 13 Paul Graener, German Romantic composer, dies at 72
Nov 13 Wang Jingwei, Chinese politician (21st Premier of the Republic of China 1932-35), dies at61

Nov 14 Carl Flesch, Hungarian violinist, dies at 71
Nov 15 Maarten Reuchlin, resistance fighter, executed
Nov 16 Charles Kelleway, Australian cricket all-rounder (26 Tests, 3 x 100s, 52 wickets, 24 catches), dies at 58
Nov 17 Archie MacLaren, English cricket batsman and captain (35 Tests; 424 Lancashire v Somerset 1895), dies at 72
Nov 17 Johan Hermanus Doorn, Dutch journalist and resistance fighter (Orange Newspaper), dies at 34
Nov 20 Sekio Nishina, Japanese inventor (kaiten-suicide submarine), dies at 21
Nov 22 Arthur Eddington, English astrophysicist, cosmologist and mathematician (stars), dies at 61
Nov 22 George Clausen, English painter, dies at 92
Nov 24 EMHCH Houtappel, resistance fighter: in Neuengamme, dies
Nov 24 Václav Štěpán, Czech pianist and composer, dies at 54

Kenesaw Mountain Landis (1866-1944)

Nov 25 American federal judge (1905-22), Baseball HOF executive and 1st MLB Commissioner (1920-44), dies at 78

Nov 27 Leonid Isaakovich Mandelshtam, Russian physicist (b. 1879)
Nov 28 Bijnen, Dutch opposition leader (LKP), shot to death in Apeldoorn
Nov 28 Joop Brouwer de Koning, youngest Dutch radio operator, executed at 25
Nov 28 Lode Zielens, Flemish author and journalist (Obscure Blood), dies at 43

Albert B. Fall (1861-1944)

Nov 30 American Senator (R-New Mexico 1912-21) and US Secretary of the Interior (1921-23), convicted for his part in the Teapot Dome scandal, dies at 83

Nov 30 Antoine Mariotte, French composer (Paysage maritime), dies at 68
Nov 30 Max Halbe, German playwright (Jugend), dies at 79

On This Day