What Happened on May 1, 1945

Historical Events

  • About 1,000 citizens of Demmin in Germany, commit suicide provoked by occupation by Soviet Red Army
  • Admiral Karl Doenitz forms German government
  • Australian and Dutch troops land on Tarakan, off the coast of Borneo
  • General Belgian Labor Union (ABVV) party forms
  • Radio Budapest, Hungary re-enters shortwave broadcasting after WW II
  • Seys-Inquart flees to Flensburg
  • Soviet army reaches Rostock

Famous Birthdays

  • Carson Whitsett, American session keyboard player and songwriter ("Don't Give Up On Me"), born in Jackson, Mississippi (d. 2007)
  • John Richard Patterson, English businessman who founded Dateline, born in Hertfordshire, England
  • Rita Coolidge, American Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter (Higher & Higher; We're All Alone), born in Nashville, Tennessee

Famous Deaths

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

Joseph Goebbels (1897-1945)

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)

  • René Lalique, French jeweller (“the inventor of modern jewellery”) and glass designer, dies at 85 [1]
Died in 1945 1945 Highlights

About May 1, 1945

Day of the Week: Tuesday
How Long Ago? 78 years, 11 months and 29 days
Leap Year: No

Generation: Silent Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Rooster
Star Sign: Taurus