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Major Events of May 1945: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from May 1945 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of May 1945: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 May 1945 German Total Surrender Begins: Admiral Karl Dönitz initiates a progressive total surrender of German armed forces through localized capitulation efforts, signaling the imminent end of World War II in Europe.
  • 02 May 1945 Fall of Berlin: At 1500 hours Moscow time, Berlin, Germany capitulates to the First White Russian and First Ukrainian armies. During the twelve-day defense of the city, 343,000 German soldiers were killed.
  • 03 May 1945 Wernher von Braun Surrenders: Rocket scientist Wernher von Braun and 120 members of his team surrender to U.S. forces, a pivotal moment that would later contribute significantly to the development of the United States space program.
  • 04 May 1945 Major German Surrender Near Hamburg: At 1825 hours near Hamburg, one million German land, sea, and air force troops surrendered unconditionally to the Canadian 1st Army and British 2nd Army. Key German military leaders, including Admiral von Friedeberg, signed the surrender terms, with Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery representing the Allied forces.
  • 05 May 1945 Mauthausen Concentration Camp Liberation: The Mauthausen Concentration Camp in Austria was liberated, revealing the horrific conditions of Nazi imprisonment and marking a crucial moment in the Holocaust's aftermath.
  • 06 May 1945 Iconic Reichstag Flag Photograph Taken: Photographer Yevgeny Khaldei captured the legendary 'Raising a Flag over the Reichstag' photograph, depicting Soviet troops raising their national flag atop the Reichstag building in Berlin, symbolizing the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.
  • 07 May 1945 Auschwitz Concentration Camp Mass Murder Report: The Soviet Union's Extraordinary State Commission officially documented the systematic murder of over four million citizens from multiple European countries at the Auschwitz (Oswiecim) concentration camp, representing the most extensive documented mass murder in recorded human history.
  • 08 May 1945 Victory in Europe Day (VE Day): On May 8, 1945, World War II officially ended in Europe with Germany's unconditional surrender. The formal acceptance of this surrender by the Allies marked the end of the war in Europe. The German Instrument of Surrender was signed at 22:43 local time in Karlshorst, Berlin, symbolizing the conclusion of one of the most devastating conflicts in human history.
  • 09 May 1945 End of World War II in Europe: At 0001 hours French time, the Second World War in Europe officially concludes, marking the end of a devastating global conflict.
  • 10 May 1945 U.S. Announces Massive Troop Redeployment: The U.S. High Command officially announced plans to repatriate over three million American troops from Europe, signaling the imminent end of World War II and massive logistical operations to bring soldiers home.
  • 11 May 1945 USS Bunker Hill Kamikaze Attack: During World War II, off the coast of Okinawa, the aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill was struck by two kamikaze aircraft in a devastating attack. The suicide missions resulted in 346 crew members being killed. Despite the severe damage, the ship demonstrated remarkable resilience by successfully returning to the United States under its own power.
  • 12 May 1945 Nuremberg War Crimes Indictment: The United Nations War Crimes Commission formally indicted high-ranking Nazi officials Hermann Göring, Joseph Goebbels, and Fritz Sauckel on eight separate counts of war crimes, a crucial step in post-World War II international justice.
  • 13 May 1945 Iconic World War II Photo Published: Yevgeny Khaldei's famous photograph 'Raising a Flag over the Reichstag' is published in Ogonyok magazine, capturing a powerful symbolic moment of Soviet victory in World War II.
  • 14 May 1945 Kamikaze Attack on USS Enterprise: On May 14, 1945, a Japanese Kamikaze Zero fighter conducted a suicide attack on the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier during the Pacific Theater of World War II. This attack was part of the desperate Japanese strategy of using pilots as human missiles to inflict damage on Allied naval forces.
  • 15 May 1945 Last European Battle of World War II: On May 15, 1945, the final military engagement of World War II in Europe took place near Prevalje, Slovenia. This skirmish marked the conclusive moment of armed conflict on the European continent, signaling the definitive end of World War II in the region. The Battle of Poljana represented the last resistance of Axis forces against the advancing Allied troops, effectively bringing an end to the war in Europe.
  • 16 May 1945 Fierce Battle of Sugar Loaf/Half Moon in Okinawa: On May 16, 1945, intense and violent battles occurred around the strategic Sugar Loaf and Half Moon positions during the Battle of Okinawa. These engagements were part of the brutal Pacific campaign in World War II, where American forces fought against entrenched Japanese defenders in one of the war's bloodiest and most challenging island assaults.
  • 17 May 1945 French Colonial Intervention in Lebanon: French troops landed in Beirut to reassert colonial control in Lebanon, signaling the post-World War II reestablishment of French imperial presence in the Middle East.
  • 18 May 1945 Battle of Okinawa: Sugar Loaf Hill Captured: A pivotal moment in the Pacific Theater of World War II occurred when U.S. Marines successfully captured the strategically critical Sugar Loaf Hill after an intense 10-day battle. This victory was a significant step in the U.S. military's island-hopping campaign against Japanese forces, bringing the Allies closer to the Japanese mainland.
  • 19 May 1945 Capture of Nazi Ideologue Alfred Rosenberg: Nazi functionary Dr. Alfred Rosenberg, a key architect of Nazi racial ideology who promoted Aryan racial superiority and the concept of 'Lebensraum', is captured by Allied forces, marking another significant arrest of Nazi leadership after World War II.
  • 20 May 1945 Keith Miller's Remarkable Cricket Performance in Victory Test: Australian cricket legend Keith Miller scored an impressive 105 runs in the first Victory Test match at Lord's Cricket Ground in London, marking a significant moment in post-World War II sporting history. This match was part of a series celebrating the end of the war and showcasing the resilience and spirit of international cricket.
  • 21 May 1945 Heinrich Himmler Captured by Allied Forces: Nazi war criminal Heinrich Himmler, one of the most notorious architects of the Holocaust, was captured by Allied forces, marking a significant moment in post-World War II justice.
  • 22 May 1945 US 6th Marine Division Advances in Okinawa: As part of the Pacific Campaign in World War II, the US 6th Marine Division reached the suburbs of Naha, a significant city on the island of Okinawa. This advance was a crucial step in the United States' strategy to defeat Imperial Japan and bring an end to the war in the Pacific theater.
  • 23 May 1945 Dissolution of the Flensburg Government: The final remnant of Nazi governance, the Flensburg Government under Reichspräsident Karl Dönitz, was officially dissolved by Allied forces. British military police arrested the government's members, symbolically marking the complete end of the Third Reich's political structure.
  • 25 May 1945 U.S. Troops Begin Homeward Journey After World War II: Following Germany's unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945, United States military personnel commenced their return from European theaters of war, marking the beginning of the post-war demobilization and transition back to civilian life.
  • 26 May 1945 US Fire Bombing of Tokyo: On May 26, 1945, United States bomber aircraft conducted a devastating fire bombing raid on Tokyo, causing massive destruction and civilian casualties. This strategic bombing was part of the United States' aerial campaign against Japan during the final months of World War II, aimed at weakening Japan's military and industrial capabilities.
  • 27 May 1945 U.S. Forces Capture Ipo Dam in Manila: During the final stages of the Pacific Campaign in World War II, U.S. forces successfully captured Manila's strategically important Ipo Dam after an intense three-day bombing campaign. The operation involved dropping over 100,000 gallons of napalm on Japanese defensive positions, demonstrating the overwhelming firepower of American military forces and marking a significant milestone in the liberation of the Philippines.
  • 28 May 1945 USS Drexler Sunk by Kamikaze Attack: The American destroyer USS Drexler was sunk northwest of Okinawa by a Japanese kamikaze attack during the final stages of World War II in the Pacific. This incident highlighted the desperate tactics employed by Japanese forces and the intense naval battles of the war's closing months.
  • 29 May 1945 US Marines Capture Shuri Castle in Okinawa: The US 1st Marine Division successfully conquered Shuri Castle during the Battle of Okinawa, a critical and bloody campaign that marked a significant turning point in the Pacific War against Japan. The capture of this strategic location was a crucial moment in the Allied island-hopping strategy.
  • 30 May 1945 Iran Demands Withdrawal of Foreign Troops: On May 30, 1945, the Iranian government formally demanded the complete withdrawal of Soviet and British military forces from its sovereign territory. This diplomatic action represented a significant moment in Iran's post-World War II struggle for independence and territorial integrity, challenging the presence of foreign powers that had occupied parts of the country during the war.
  • 31 May 1945 U.S. Air Raid on Taipei during World War II: On May 31, 1945, during the final stages of World War II, United States military aircraft conducted a strategic bombing raid on Taipei, then part of Japanese-occupied Taiwan. The raid was part of the broader Allied campaign to weaken Japanese military infrastructure and capabilities in the Pacific theater. Despite careful targeting protocols aimed at minimizing civilian casualties, the bombing resulted in significant loss of life, with thousands of local residents killed or wounded. This operation highlighted the intense aerial warfare that characterized the Pacific campaign in the final months of World War II.