What Happened in May 1945

Historical Events

Event of Interest

May 2 Dutch Queen Wilhelmina & Princess Juliana reach Gilze-Rijen

Queen of the Netherlands Wilhelmina of the Netherlands

May 2 More than 1,000,000 German soldiers officially surrender to the Western Allies in Italy and Austria

Raising a Flag over the Reichstag

May 2 World War II: Battle of Berlin ends as Soviet army takes Berlin forcing German commander of the city general Helmuth Weidling to surrender

Soldiers Raqymzhan Qoshqarbaev and Georgij Bulatov raise the Soviet Union flag on the roof of the Reichstag building in Berlin

May 2 Yugoslav troops occupy Trieste, Italy
May 3 1st Polish Armoured Division of the Polish Armed Forces in the West occupies Wilhelmshafen in Germany

Heisenberg Arrested

May 3 Allies arrest German physicist Werner Heisenberg

Theoretical Physicist and Pioneer of Quantum Mechanics Werner Heisenberg

May 3 British troop join in Rangoon
May 3 Louis de Visser, Dutch Communist politician (CPN), killed in Allied bombing of German prison ship SS Cap Arcona at 66
May 3 World War II: German ship "Cap Arcona" laden with prisoners sunk by Royal Air Force in East Sea, 5,800 killed - one of largest maritime losses of life
May 4 German forces in Bavaria surrender unconditionally to American commander Jacob L. Devers

German Forces Surrender

May 4 German forces in Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands surrender unconditionally to British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery at Luneburg Heath

British WWII Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery

May 5 Mauthausen Concentration camp in Austria liberated by US forces from 41st Reconnaissance Squadron
May 5 Netherlands & Denmark liberated from Nazi control
May 5 Premier Gerbrandy on Radio Orange tells Dutch they are liberated
May 5 Uprising against occupying SS troops in Prague

Dönitz Orders Ceasefire

May 5 World War II: Admiral Karl Dönitz, leader of Germany after Hitler's death, orders all U-boats to cease offensive operations and return to their bases

Naval Commander and Nazi leader Karl Dönitz

May 6 General Johannes Blaskowitz surrenders German troops in Netherlands
May 6 World War II: Axis Sally delivers her last propaganda broadcast to Allied troops (first was on December 11, 1941).

Negro Baseball League Forms

May 7 Branch Rickey announces formation of the US Negro Baseball League

Baseball Player and Sports Executive Branch Rickey

May 7 Princess Irene Brigade moves into The Hague, Netherlands
May 7 Pulitzer prize awarded to John Hersey (Bell for Adano)
May 7 SS open fire on crowd in Amsterdam, killing 22
May 7 World War II: British troops enter Utrecht, Netherlands

Unconditional German Surrender

May 7 World War II: Unconditional German surrender to the Allies signed by General Alfred Jodl at Rheims

Nazi Leader and WWII General Alfred Jodl

May 8 Canadian troops move into Amsterdam
May 8 Chinese counter attack at Tsjangte, supports by 14th air fleet

German Surrender in Berlin

May 8 German General Wilhelm Keitel formally surrenders to the Allies represented by the United States, the UK, France and the Soviet Union in Berlin

German commander Wilhelm Keitel signs the final unconditional surrender of Germany in the ruins of Berlin

May 8 V-E Day: World War II ends in Europe after Germany signs an unconditional surrender
May 9 Czechoslovakia liberated from Nazi occupation (National Day)
May 9 Dutch radio presenter and Nazi propagandist Max Blokzijl arrested for broadcasting Nazi propaganda during Nazi occupation
May 9 New balata ball used in baseball, 50% livilier

Quisling Arrested

May 9 Norwegian Nazi collaborator Vidkun Quisling arrested

Prime Minister of Norway and Nazi Collaborator Vidkun Quisling

May 9 Victory celebration at Red Square

Goering Captured

May 9 World War II: Hermann Goering is captured by the United States Army

May 9 World War II: Partisans liberate Ljubljana.
May 9 World War II: The Channel Islands are formally liberated by the British
May 9 World War II: The Soviet Union marks Victory Day
May 10 Allies capture Rangoon from the Japanese
May 10 Soviet troops occupied Prague
May 11 US Marines conquer Awatsha Draw, Okinawa
May 13 US troops conquer Dakeshi Okinawa
May 14 Kamikaze Zero strikes US aircraft carrier Enterprise

Highest Human Radiation Dose

May 14 Physician Joseph G. Hamilton injects misdiagnosed cancer patient Albert Stevens (CAL-1) with 131 kBq (3.55 µCi) of plutonium without his knowledge. Stevens lives another 20 years, surviving the highest known accumulated radiation dose in any human

May 14 US offensive on Okinawa, Sugar Loaf conquered
May 15 World War II: The final skirmish in Europe is fought near Prevalje, Slovenia
May 16 Violent battles around Sugar Loaf and Half Moon, Okinawa
May 17 2 US P-47 Thunderbolts bomb Kiushu
May 18 MLB Detroit Tigers & Philadelphia A's both have 7 straight games postponed due to rain
May 19 Start of the 1st Victory Test Cricket between England & Aust Services
May 20 Keith Miller scores 105 in the 1st Victory Test Cricket at Lord's
May 21 Australian Services win 1st Victory Test Cricket at Lord's by 6 wickets

Himmler Captured

May 21 Nazi SS-Reichsfuehrer Heinrich Himmler captured

Leading Nazi and Reichsführer of the SS Heinrich Himmler

May 22 6th US Marine division reaches suburbs of Naha Okinawa
May 22 NSB-Fuhrer Rost van Tonningen makes failed suicide attempt
May 23 German island of Helgoland in the North Sea surrenders to British

Lord Haw-Haw Arrested

May 23 Lord Haw-Haw (William Joyce) arrested at Danish boundary

Fascist Politician and Nazi Propagandist William Joyce

May 23 The Allies arrest the members of the Nazi Flensburg government, including Admiral Karl Dönitz, formally dissolving Nazi Germany
May 25 Arthur C. Clark proposes relay satellites in geosynchronous orbit
May 26 US drop fire bombs on Tokyo
May 29 US 1st Marine division conquers Shuri Castle, Okinawa

1945 History

Famous Birthdays

May 1 Carson Whitsett, American session keyboard player and songwriter ("Don't Give Up On Me"), born in Jackson, Mississippi (d. 2007)
May 1 John Richard Patterson, English businessman who founded Dateline, born in Hertfordshire, England
May 1 Rita Coolidge, American Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter (Higher & Higher; We're All Alone), born in Nashville, Tennessee
May 2 Bianca Jagger [Blanca Pérez-Mora Macías], Nicaraguan model and socialite who married Mike Jagger, born in Managua, Nicaragua
May 2 Goldy McJohn [John Goadsby], Canadian rock keyboard and Hammond B3 organ player (Steppenwolf - "Magic Carpet ride"; 'Born To Be Wild"), born in Toronto, Ontario (d. 2017)
May 2 Judge Dread [Alexander Hughes] English reggae musician, born in Kent, England (d. 1998)
May 2 Loyd Phillips, American College Football Hall of Fame defensive lineman (University of Arkansas; Chicago Bears), born in Fort Worth, Texas (d. 2020)
May 2 Randy Cain, American soul singer (4 Gents;; Delfonics - "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)"), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2009)
May 3 Jeffrey C. Hall, American geneticist (Nobel Prize 2017 behavioral rhythms of the fly), born in New York City
May 3 Joanne Bracker, American college basketball coach (Midland University 1970-2012; Women's Basketball HOF), born in Mondamin, Iowa (d. 2023)
May 3 Sadiq Mohammad, Pakistani cricket batsman 41 Tests @ 35.81, 5 x 100; brother of Hanif & Mushtaq Mohammad), born in Junagadh, India
May 4 Georg Wadenius, Swedish rocker (Blood, Sweat & Tears), born in Stockholm, Sweden
May 4 Monika van Paemel, Belgian writer (Accursed Fathers), born in Poesele, Belgium
May 4 Narasimhan Ram, Indian journalist (The Hindu), born in Madras, British India
May 5 Jiří Svoboda, Czech director and politician (2nd Chairman of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia), born in Kladno, Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
May 5 Kurtis "Kurt" Loder, American film critic, TV personality and columnist (Rolling Stone, New York, Time), born in Ocean City, New Jersey

May 5 Rodney H. Pardey, American poker player (2 x World Series of Poker C'ships; World Series of Poker Bracelets 1991, 94), born in Seattle, Washington (d. 2020)
May 6 Bob Seger, American singer and songwriter ("Old Time Rock and Roll"; "Hollywood Nights"; "Against The Wind"), born in Detroit, Michigan
May 6 Richard Eyers, American actor (My Friend Irma, Stagecoach West), born in Los Angeles, California
May 6 Victoria Bond, American conductor and composer, born in Los Angeles, California
May 7 Christy Moore, Irish folk singer and songwriter, born in Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland
May 7 Cornelius Bumpus, American saxophonist and keyboardist (Doobie Brothers; Steely Dan), born in Dallas, Texas (d. 2004)
May 7 Robin Strasser, American actress (Dorian-One Life to Live, Another World), born in New York City
May 7 Wim A. Mateman, Dutch politician (CDA), born in Aalten, Netherlands
May 8 Arthur Docters van Leeuwen, Dutch jurist (Holland's secret service)
May 8 Keith Jarrett, American jazz and classical pianist and composer (The Köln Concert), born in Allentown, Pennsylvania
May 9 Steve Katz, American rock guitarist and vocalist (Blood, Sweat & Tears), born in New York City
May 10 John Laws, Lord Justice of Appeal (1999- )
May 10 Shirley Franklin, American politician and 58th Mayor of Atlanta (2002-10), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May 12 "Little" Jayotis Washington, American cappella singer (The Persuasions), born in Detroit, Michigan
May 12 Ian McLagan, English rock keyboardist (Small Face; Faces), born in Hounslow, Middlesex, (d. 2014)

May 12 Keith Olsen, American rock record producer and sound engineer (Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac; Grateful Dead - Terrapin Station; Joe Walsh - The Confessor), born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota (d. 2020)
May 12 Linda Carlson, American actress (Newhart - "Bev"; Kaz- "Katie"), born in Knoxville, Tennessee
May 12 Patrick Ricard, French businessman and CEO of Pernod Ricard, born in Marseille, France (d. 2012)
May 13 Louis "Blue Lou" Marini, American saxophonist, arranger, and composer (Blues Brothers), born in Charleston, South Carolina
May 13 Magic Dick [Richard Salwitz], American harmonica player and musician (J Geils Band - "Centerfold"), born in New London, Connecticut
May 13 Sam Anderson, American actor (Perfect Strangers), born in Wahpeton, North Dakota
May 14 Grigori Zhislin, Russian concert violinist, and viola player, born in Leningrad, USSR (d. 2017)
May 14 Joggie Viljoen, South African rugby union scrum half (6 Tests; Griqualand West RU, Eastern Province RU), born in Cape Town, South Africa (d. 2023)
May 14 Yochanan Vollach, Israeli footballer and president of Maccabi Haifa
May 15 Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza, heir to the Portuguese crown
May 15 Jerry Quarry, American boxer (famous bouts v world champions Floyd Patterson, Jimmy Ellis, Joe Frazier, Muhammad Ali, Ken Norton), born in Bakersfield, California (d. 1999)
May 15 Lasse Berghagen, Swedish pop singer-songwriter (Teddybjörnen Fredriksson), born in Enskede, Sweden
May 16 Brewster H Shaw Jr, Mich, Col USAF/astro (STS-9, STS 61B, STS-28)
May 16 James Moran, American politician (Rep-D-Virginia 1991-2005), born in Buffalo, New York
May 16 Nicky Chinn, British-American pop songwriter and producer (with Mike Chapman: Sweet - "The Ballroom Blitz"; Suzi Quatro; Toni Basel - "Mickey"; Tina Turner - "You Better Be Good To Me"), born in London, England

May 17 Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, Indian cricketer (brilliant Indian leggie 1964-79), born in Mysore, Karnataka
May 17 D A S Pennefather, Maj-General/Commandant (General Royal Marines)
May 17 George Miller, American politician (Rep-D-CA, 1975-2015), born in Richmond, California

Pete Townshend (78 years old)

May 19 British rock guitarist, composer, and vocalist (The Who - Tommy; "My Generation": "Won't Get Fooled Again"; solo - "Let My Love Open the Door"), born in Chiswick, Middlesex, England

May 20 Anton Zeilinger, Austrian physicist (2022 Nobel Prize for experiments with entangled photons), born in Innkreis, Austria [1]
May 20 Harold Ford Sr., American politician (Rep-D-TN, 1975-97), born in Memphis, Tennessee
May 20 Lord Hollick, CEO (MAI)
May 20 Nikolai Nikolayevich Fefelov, Russian colonel and cosmonaut
May 20 Vladimiro Montesinos, Peruvian politician
May 20 Wally Herger, American politician (Rep-R-California 1987-2013), born in Yuba City, California
May 21 Ernst Willi Messerschmid, German astronaut (STS 22), born in Reutlingen Germany
May 21 Richard Hatch, American actor (Battlestar Galactica), born in Santa Monica, California (d. 2017)
May 23 Elliott Bernerd, English broker/multi-millionaire
May 23 Lauren Chapin, actress (Kathy-Father Knows Best)
May 23 Misty Morgan, American country keyboardist (duo with Jack Blanchard - "Tennessee Bird Walk"), born in Buffalo, New York (d. 2021)
May 23 Padmarajan, Indian film director (d. 1991)

Priscilla Presley (78 years old)

May 24 American actress (Jenna-Dallas, Naked Gun), born in Brooklyn, New York

May 24 Richard Ottaway, British politician (C), born in Sonning, Berkshire
May 24 Steven Norris, British Conservative politician, born in Liverpool, England
May 24 Terry Callier, American soul, folk and jazz guitarist, and singer-songwriter ("What Color Is Love"), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2012)
May 25 Dave Lee Travis [David Griffin], British DJ and presenter (Top of the Pops], convicted of indecent assault, born in Buxton, Derbyshire
May 26 Garry Peterson, Canadian drummer (Guess Who - "American Woman"; "No Sugar Tonight"), born in Winnipeg, Manitoba
May 27 Bruce Cockburn, Canadian folk rock singer-songwriter ("Wondering Where the Lions Are"; "If I Had a Rocket Launcher"), born in Ottawa, Ontario
May 28 Hunter "Patch" Adams, American doctor
May 28 John Fogerty, American songwriter, guitarist, and singer (Creedence Clearwater Revival - "Have You Ever Seen The Rain"; "Lookin' Out My Backdoor"), born in Berkeley, California
May 28 John N. Bambacus, American politician
May 29 Gary Brooker, British rock keyboardist and singer (Procol Harum -"A Whiter Shade of Pale"), born in Hackney, London, England (d. 2022)
May 29 Martin Pipe, English racehorse trainer (15-time Champion Hunt Trainer), born in Taunton, Somerset
May 29 Peter Fraser, Scottish Minister (headed investigation into Pam Am Flight 103) (d. 2013)
May 30 Barry Clifford, American underwater explorer (discovered 1st verified pirate shipwreck the Whydah), born in Hyannis, Massachusetts
May 30 Gladys Horton, American pop singer (The Marvelettes - "Please Mr. Postman"; "Too Many Fish In The Sea"), born in Gainesville, Florida (d. 2011) [or 1944]
May 30 Meredith MacRae, actress (Petticoat Junction, My 3 Sons), born in Houston, Texas
May 30 Norman Eshley, English actor
May 30 Richard Divila, Brazilian motorsports designer (Fittipaldi Automotive; Ligier, Nissan), born in São Paulo, Brazil (d. 2020)
May 30 Steve Smith, American singer (Lawrence Welk Show), born in San Francisco, California
May 31 Bernard Goldberg‎, American journalist
May 31 Linda Davies, British Judge
May 31 Rainer Werner Fassbinder, German filmmaker and director (Marriage of Maria Braum), born in Bad Worishofen, Bavaria, West Germany (d. 1982)

Born in 1945

Famous Weddings

Humphrey Bogart & Lauren Bacall

May 21 American actor Humphrey Bogart (44) weds (his fourth time) American actress Lauren Bacall (20) at Malabar Farm, Lucas, Ohio; until his death in 1957

Akira Kurosawa

May 21 Japanese film director Akira Kurosawa (35) weds Japanese actress Yōko Yaguchi (23), until her death in 1985

Lorraine Warren & Ed Warren

May 22 American paranormal investigator Lorraine Moran (18) weds partner Ed Warren (18)

Famous Deaths

May 1 Desider Antalffy-Zsiross, Hungarian organist and composer, dies at 59

Joseph Goebbels (1897-1945)

May 1 German Nazi Minister of Propaganda, commits suicide aged 47 with his wife (43) and arranges the death of their 6 children, Heidrun (4), Hedwig (6), Holdine (8), Helmut (9), Hildegard (11), and Helga (12)

May 1 René Lalique, French jeweller (“the inventor of modern jewellery”) and glass designer, dies at 85 [1]
May 2 Ludwig Stumpfegger, German SS doctor and Hitler's personal surgeon commits suicide at 34

Martin Bormann (1900-1945)

May 2 German Nazi leader (Hitler's secretary, chief of the Party Chancellery), most likely commits suicide on this date at 44 [remains identified in 1972]

May 4 Fedor von Bock, German field marshal (commander in the German occupation of Austria, invasions of Poland, France, and Russia during WWII), dies at 64
May 5 Elsie Mitchell and five Sunday school students become the only people to die during World War II on US soil when they are killed by a Japanese fire balloon that lands in the forest of Gearhart Mountain, near Bly, Southern Oregon
May 5 Peter Van Pels, Jewish Refugee (b. 1926)
May 8 Bernhard Rust, German Nazi politician and Minister of Science, Education and National Culture (1934-45), reportedly commits suicide at 61
May 10 Richard Glücks, German SS officer and concentration camp administrator, committed suicide at 56
May 13 Alfred "Tubby" Hall, American jazz drummer (King Oliver; Louis Armstrong), dies at 49
May 14 Heber J. Grant, 7th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, dies at 88
May 15 Charles Williams, British poet and writer, dies at 58
May 15 Major Courtney, US medal of honor marine, dies in battle of Sugar Loaf
May 17 Jan van Geenen, resistance fighter, dies
May 17 Sasaki Shigetsu Sokei-an, founder 1st Zen Institute of America, dies
May 19 Philipp Bouhler, German nazi leader (b. 1889)
May 22 Carel Adolph Lion Cachet, Dutch lithographer and wood carver, dies at 80

Heinrich Himmler (1900-1945)

May 23 German Nazi leader (head of the SS), commits suicide while in Allied custody at 44

May 25 Demjan Bednyi, Russian writer and satirist, dies at 62
May 30 Irma Laplasse, Flemish farmer/nazi collaborator, executed

On This Day