Famous people and celebrities who died in 1945

A dedicated page for remembering the famous people and celebrities who passed away in 1945. This year saw the loss of many influential and beloved figures who left a lasting impact on the world. From entertainment icons and sports legends to renowned scholars and public figures, our comprehensive list pays tribute to their lives and legacies. Join us in honoring their contributions and celebrating their achievements as we reflect on their remarkable stories.

• Jan. 6 Edith Frank

  Mother of Anne Frank, the famous Jewish diarist who documented her family's experiences during the Holocaust. She tragically died in Auschwitz concentration camp.

• Feb. 18 Ivan Chernyakhovsky

  Soviet military commander and Army General who was one of the youngest generals in the Red Army during World War II. He played a crucial role in several major Eastern Front battles and was killed in action near Königsberg in 1945.

• March 2 Emily Carr

  Canadian writer and artist, carr is heavily inspired by the pacific northwest coast's indigenous peoples. carr was one of the first canadian painters to adopt a modernist, post-impressionist style. she did not get much recognition for her work until later in life. as she grew older, her subject matter changed from aboriginal to landscape and forest scenes. carr, a writer …

• March 31 Anne Frank

  German-Dutch Jewish teenager who wrote a powerful diary documenting her life in hiding during the Holocaust. Her writings became a profound symbol of human resilience and suffering during World War II.

• March 31 Hans Fischer

  CHE - German chemist and academic, nobel prize laureate (b. 1881)

• April 9 Dietrich Bonhoeffer

  A prominent German theologian and Lutheran pastor who actively resisted the Nazi regime. He was a key figure in the Confessing Church movement and was executed by the Nazis for his role in a plot to assassinate Hitler.

• April 9 Hans von Dohnányi

  German jurist and prominent resistance member who actively opposed the Nazi regime, ultimately executed for his involvement in the July 20 plot to assassinate Hitler.

• April 18 Ernie Pyle

  Legendary World War II war correspondent who won the Pulitzer Prize in 1943 and was killed in action in Okinawa. He was renowned for his human-interest stories that captured the experiences of ordinary soldiers. General Omar Bradley considered him an exceptional journalist and humanitarian.

• April 28 Hermann Fegelein

  Nazi SS General who was Hitler's brother-in-law and was executed by Hitler in the final days of World War II for alleged desertion in the Berlin bunker.

• April 28 Claretta Petacci

  Mistress of Benito Mussolini who was executed alongside him at the end of World War II, symbolizing the dramatic fall of the Italian Fascist regime.

• April 30 Eva Braun

  Eva Braun was Adolf Hitler's long-time mistress and wife for a single day before their joint suicide in Berlin. She was a young photographer who became romantically involved with Hitler despite knowing little about Nazi politics. Her life was closely tied to Hitler's, and she ultimately chose to die alongside him at the end of World War II.

• May 1 Magda Goebbels

  Wife of Joseph Goebbels, Nazi Minister of Propaganda, who was deeply involved in the Nazi regime and died by suicide alongside her husband in Hitler's Berlin bunker in 1945.

• May 2 Martin Bormann

  A high-ranking Nazi official who served as Adolf Hitler's private secretary and was a key figure in the Nazi Party's inner circle. He was instrumental in implementing the Holocaust and was tried in absentia for war crimes.

• May 23 Heinrich Himmler

  A key Nazi leader who was one of the primary architects of the Holocaust, serving as Reichsführer of the SS and playing a central role in the systematic genocide of millions of Jews during World War II.

• June 8 Karl Hanke

  Karl Hanke was a Nazi German politician and SS leader who served as the last Gauleiter of Lower Silesia during World War II. He was known for his brutal actions and was considered one of the most fanatical Nazi officials.

• June 16 Aris Velouchiotis

  A prominent Greek communist leader and key figure in the Greek Resistance during World War II, who led the ELAS guerrilla movement against Nazi occupation and played a crucial role in fighting fascist forces.

• June 18 Florence Bascom

  First woman to receive a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University.

• July 13 Alla Nazimova

  Renowned Russian-American actress known for her work in silent films.

• Aug. 6 Richard Bong

  American World War II fighter pilot and Medal of Honor recipient, considered the top American fighter ace in the Pacific Theater, who tragically died in a training mission in 1945.

• Sept. 6 John McCain

  John McCain was a prominent American politician and U.S. Senator from Arizona, known for his military service, presidential candidacy in 2008, and reputation as a maverick within the Republican Party. He was a Vietnam War veteran and prisoner of war who later became a respected statesman and presidential nominee.

• Oct. 6 Leonardo Conti

  Leonardo Conti was a high-ranking Nazi physician who played a significant role in the Third Reich's health administration and was a key architect of the Nazi euthanasia program, serving as Reich Health Leader and SS member.

• Nov. 20 Francis William Aston

  CHE - English chemist and physicist, nobel prize laureate (b. 1877)

• Nov. 21 Robert Benchley

  Robert benchley was an american humorist, actor, and writer known for his witty and satirical essays and his work as a film actor and screenwriter.

• Nov. 21 Al Davis

  Legendary NFL team owner who transformed the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders and became one of the most influential figures in professional football history. He served as the team's principal owner, general manager, and head coach, revolutionizing the sport's business and competitive landscape.

• Dec. 13 Irma Grese

  Notorious Nazi SS guard known for her brutal cruelty at concentration camps Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen during World War II. She was one of the most infamous female war criminals, nicknamed the 'Hyena of Auschwitz'. Executed for war crimes in 1945 at the age of 22.

• Dec. 13 Elisabeth Volkenrath

  Nazi concentration camp supervisor at Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen, known for her brutal treatment of prisoners during the Holocaust. She was tried and executed for war crimes after World War II.

• Dec. 13 Josef Kramer

  Notorious Nazi SS officer and commandant of multiple concentration camps during World War II, including Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen. He was known as the 'Beast of Belsen' for his brutal treatment of prisoners and was executed for war crimes after the war.

• Dec. 16 Giovanni III Agnelli

  Giovanni Agnelli was a prominent Italian industrialist and key leader of Fiat, playing a crucial role in transforming the company into a global automotive powerhouse.

What happened in 1945?

Discover what the world looked like in 1945: