Birth chart on this day
Discover the planets positions on May 17th, 1940 as well as what the sky looked like at your place
see horoscope and birth chart for May 17, 1940What happened on Friday, May 17, 1940?
About May 17th, 1940, in brief:
- Historical events: On May 17, 1940, German forces captured Brussels, the capital of Belgium, following the withdrawal of Belgian and British forces. The Belgian Army had been ordered to retreat to the Scheldt River to avoid encirclement, allowing German General Reichenau to occupy Brussels. This marked a significant step in the German invasion of Belgium, leading to the eventual surrender of Belgian forces on May 28, 1940.
- Day of the week: May 17th, 1940 was a Friday
- Zodiac Sign: Taurus (in western zodiac), Dragon (in Chinese zodiac)
- Moon Phase: Waxing gibbous
- Popular movie: The Grapes of Wrath directed by John Ford
More about May 17th, 1940? See below for more news and curiosities on May 17th, 1940.
A meaningful gift for someone born on May 17, 1940
Turn 1940 into a personalized nostalgia gift
The personalized 1940 nostalgia year poster is a beautifully researched snapshot of the books, songs and movies that shaped 1940.
- Best-selling books from 1940
- Popular songs from 1940
- Popular movies from 1940
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Real poster exampleTable of contents
- May 17, 1940: What happened on that day?
- What day of the week was May 17, 1940?
- Who was born on May 17, 1940?
- May 17, 1940: What famous people died on that day?
- May 17, 1940: What is The Zodiac Sign for that day?
- May 17, 1940: What was the moon phase on that day?
- How old is someone born on May 17, 1940?
- Back in 1940
May 17, 1940: What happened on that day?
Here's what happened on May 17, 1940:
- German forces capture Brussels On May 17, 1940, German forces captured Brussels, the capital of Belgium, following the withdrawal of Belgian and British forces. The Belgian Army had been ordered to retreat to the Scheldt River to avoid encirclement, allowing German General Reichenau to occupy Brussels. This marked a significant step in the German invasion of Belgium, leading to the eventual surrender of Belgian forces on May 28, 1940. source: ww2db.com
- German forces advance through Belgium and France On May 17, 1940, German forces continued their rapid advance through Belgium and France, exploiting breakthroughs in the French defenses. General Heinz Guderian's Panzer divisions crossed the Oise River and entered the valley of the Somme, moving towards the English Channel. This maneuver effectively severed communications between the Allied forces to the north and south, further isolating the British Expeditionary Force and French troops in Belgium. source: britannica.com
- Bombing of Middelburg by Luftwaffe On May 17, 1940, the Luftwaffe bombed the Dutch city of Middelburg as part of its military campaign during World War II. This attack was part of the broader strategy to demoralize and incapacitate Dutch resistance. source: britannica.com
May 17, 1940: What were the magazines covers and newspapers that day?
Look at our old newspapers and magazines page
What day of the week was May 17, 1940?
Who was born on May 17, 1940?
Famous people born on May 17, 1940:
![Adel Imam]()
Adel ImamAdel Imam is a renowned Egyptian actor and comedian, considered one of the most influential figures in the Arab entertainment industry. With a prolific career spanning over six decades, he is known for his distinctive comedic style and has starred in numerous films, television series, and plays. [bio]
![Alan Kay]()
Alan KayAlan Kay is a pioneering computer scientist who played a crucial role in developing object-oriented programming and graphical user...
![Ingrid Wendl]()
Ingrid Wendl![Peter Gerety]()
Peter Gerety![Nicola Magrone]()
Nicola Magrone
May 17, 1940: What famous people died on that day?
May 17, 1940: What is The Zodiac Sign for that day?
The Zodiac and Astrological sign for May 17th is Taurus.
Discover the zodiac sign and horoscope for any day in the past.
Taurus is the 2nd sign in the Western Zodiac. People born between April 20th and May 20th belong to the Taurus sign: discover Taurus personality and who should a Taurus marry.
Babies born in May are either Taurus or Gemini. People born before May 20th are Taurus, while people born from May 21st have the sign of Gemini.
Discover the personality of May born.
Unlock the Mysteries of May 17, 1940! Claim Your Free Numerology Report!
May 17, 1940: What is the Chinese Zodiac Sign for that day?
The Chinese Zodiac sign for May 17, 1940 is Dragon and the associated element is Metal.
Discover the Dragon personality and how the Metal Element might affect a person's traits and compatibility with other signs according to the Chinese zodiac.
Try our calculator to discover your Chinese zodiac sign based on your date of birthMay 17, 1940: What was the moon phase on that day?
Moon phase
The moon phase on May 17, 1940 was Waxing gibbous.
The moon phase refers to the appearance of the Moon in the night sky on May 17, 1940 and is determined by the portion of the Moon's illuminated surface that is visible from Earth.
An observer located in New York City on May 17, 1940 at 10pm, would see the moon, being 86% full, rising at 03:47 pm and setting at 03:39 am.
The previous full moon was on Apr 22, 1940 while the next full moon would come on May 21, 1940.
Unveil Your Inner Self: Discover Your Moon Sign Now!
Your place in the Universe on May 17, 1940
We are proud to bring you the most beautiful and accurate map of the stars on your day
Get your Star Map Now!How old is someone born on May 17, 1940?
Someone born on May 17, 1940 is:
86 years 2 months old,
or 1034 months and 5 days old,
or 4496 weeks and 5 days old,
or 31477 days old,
Enjoy a trip down memory lane: discover what the world looked like when you turned 18 years old, 30 years old, 40 years old
Use our How old am I? Calculator to know the age of a person today or use the Age Calculator to determine the interval between two dates.
How many days until your next birthday if you were born on May 17, 1940?
There are 299 days until your next birthday, which will occur on Monday May 17th 2027.
Try out our Countdown calculator to find out are many days are left until your special moments.
What generation do you belong to if you were born on May 17, 1940?
You belong to the Silent Generation if you were born on May 17, 1940.
Discover what generation people belong to with our generation calculator.
Back in 1940
Why 1940 makes a meaningful nostalgia gift
For someone born on May 17, 1940, a 1940 nostalgia poster turns a familiar date into a visual account of the world they arrived in.
The history attached to May 17, 1940 includes German forces capture Brussels, giving the gift a real story rather than a generic year label.
Cinema from the world of May 17, 1940 included The Grapes of Wrath, adding another recognizable cultural touchpoint to the year.
May 17, 1940 is also shared with notable birthdays such as Adel Imam, making the date feel connected to a wider story.
Together, those details make May 17, 1940 more than an answer to a history question: they provide the personal starting point for a gift rooted in the recipient's own date.
Because the poster is delivered digitally and personalized around 1940, it can become a birthday surprise, milestone keepsake, or printable reminder of the era connected to May 17, 1940.
The 1940 poster brings together verified books, songs, and movies, creating a personal digital keepsake for birthdays and milestone celebrations tied to May 17, 1940.
Explore the fuller story in our 1940 history guide. You can also compare ideas in our birth-year poster guide.
Make 1940 part of their celebration
A personalized digital nostalgia gift, ready to order for someone connected to May 17, 1940.
