Major Events of May 1968: 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 1968 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of May 1968: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 May 1968 Staff Sergeant Roy Benavidez's Heroic Vietnam Rescue: During the Vietnam War, Staff Sergeant Roy Benavidez of the U.S. Army's 5th Special Forces Group performed an extraordinary act of heroism near Loc Ninh. He single-handedly rescued 8 survivors from a 12-man Special Forces team that was surrounded by approximately 1,000 enemy troops, demonstrating exceptional courage under extreme combat conditions.
02 May 1968 Staff Sergeant Roy Benavidez's Heroic Rescue in Vietnam: Staff Sergeant Roy Benavidez of the U.S. Army's 5th Special Forces Group performed an extraordinary act of heroism near Loc Ninh in South Vietnam. Despite being off duty, he volunteered for a dangerous rescue mission involving a 12-man Special Forces team surrounded by 1,000 enemy troops. During an intense 8-hour battle, Benavidez was wounded four times while rescuing 8 survivors, administering first aid, calling in airstrikes, securing classified documents, and dragging wounded men to safety.
03 May 1968 Sorbonne Student Protests Begin: A pivotal moment in the May 1968 French student movement occurred when 500 students at the Sorbonne in Paris protested against the closure of Paris University at Nanterre and potential student expulsions. Police intervention led to the first significant riot of the 'Mai 68' period, sparking widespread university closures and social unrest across France.
04 May 1968 Controversial Kentucky Derby Disqualification: Dancer's Image was disqualified from the 94th Kentucky Derby due to a positive drug test, creating a major controversy in the horse racing world and sparking significant debate about race regulations.
05 May 1968 Journalists Murdered in Saigon During Vietnam War: During the Vietnam War, four international journalists were brutally executed by Viet Cong guerrillas in Saigon's Cholon sector. The victims included Reuters reporters Ron Lamary (England) and Bruce Pigott, Michael Birch from Australian Associated Press, and John Cantwell, a Time magazine correspondent from Australia. Remarkably, freelance journalist Frank Palmos survived by feigning death, later providing a firsthand account of the tragic incident.
06 May 1968 Detailed Account of Paris Student Demonstrations: On May 6, 1968, over 20,000 students, teachers, and supporters marched toward the Sorbonne University, which was barricaded by police. The demonstration quickly turned violent when police charged with batons, prompting protesters to build barricades and throw paving stones. Police retaliated with tear gas and mass arrests, detaining hundreds of students.
07 May 1968 May 1968 Paris Student Protests: A significant social movement erupted in Paris, with students and workers launching widespread protests against traditional societal structures, government policies, and capitalist systems. These protests challenged the conservative governance of President Charles de Gaulle and represented a pivotal moment of youth-led social rebellion in 20th-century France.
08 May 1968 Communist Leaders Convene in Moscow: Communist Party leaders from five Eastern European nations gathered in Moscow to strategize and discuss potential responses to the ongoing liberal reforms sweeping through the region, highlighting the political tensions of the Cold War era.
09 May 1968 Assassination of William Deng Nhial: William Deng Nhial, a prominent opposition leader and president of the Sudan African National Union (SANU), was assassinated shortly after his party gained five seats in parliamentary elections. This event highlighted the volatile political landscape and ongoing tensions in Sudan during this period.
10 May 1968 Paris Peace Talks: US and North Vietnam Negotiate Vietnam War Resolution: Historic diplomatic negotiations commence in Paris between the United States and North Vietnamese representatives to explore potential pathways to end the prolonged and devastating Vietnam War. These talks mark a critical diplomatic effort to de-escalate the conflict and seek a peaceful resolution.
11 May 1968 Night of the Barricades in Paris: A pivotal moment in the 1968 French student protests, the Night of the Barricades was a violent confrontation between students and police in Paris's Latin Quarter. Students erected barricades and were met with aggressive police tactics, including tear gas and physical violence. The event resulted in nearly 500 student arrests, over 250 injured police officers, and significant damage to the Latin Quarter. Importantly, the brutal police response increased public sympathy for the student movement.
12 May 1968 March of the Poor Reaches Washington DC: The 'March of Poor' led by Reverend Ralph Abernathy arrived in Washington DC, continuing the civil rights movement's efforts to highlight economic inequality and advocate for social justice.
13 May 1968 Mass Protest Against French Government Leadership: On May 13, 1968, approximately one million French citizens took to the streets in a massive demonstration against President Charles de Gaulle and Prime Minister Georges Pompidou. This protest was part of the broader May 1968 events, which represented a significant social and political upheaval in France, challenging the established political and social order.
14 May 1968 Prague Spring: Dubček's Liberalization Reforms: The Czechoslovakian government, under Alexander Dubček, announces significant liberalizing reforms aimed at creating 'socialism with a human face', marking a pivotal moment in challenging Soviet control during the Cold War.
15 May 1968 Deadly Tornado Strikes Jonesboro, Arkansas: A devastating tornado hit Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA at 10 PM, resulting in 36 fatalities and significant destruction. This event was part of a larger tornado outbreak affecting multiple states in the central and southern United States.
16 May 1968 Ronan Point Tower Block Disaster: A catastrophic structural failure occurred at the Ronan Point 23-storey tower block in Canning Town, east London, when a gas explosion triggered a partial collapse of the building. The incident resulted in five fatalities and became a landmark case in building safety and construction regulations.
17 May 1968 Catonsville Nine Vietnam War Protest: A group of Catholic anti-war activists known as the Catonsville Nine entered a Selective Service office in Maryland, seized draft records, and publicly burned them with napalm as a powerful protest against the Vietnam War. This act of civil disobedience drew national attention to the anti-war movement.
18 May 1968 94th Preakness Stakes: The 94th Preakness Stakes horse race was won by jockey Ismael Valenzuela riding Forward Pass, completing the race in a time of 1:56.8. This significant horse racing event took place at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.
19 May 1968 Nigerian Military Action in Port Harcourt: Nigerian military forces successfully capture the strategic city of Port Harcourt during a military operation.
20 May 1968 Failed Coup Attempt Against Papa Doc Duvalier in Haiti: On May 20, 1968, a significant but unsuccessful attempt was made to overthrow the oppressive regime of François 'Papa Doc' Duvalier. The coup was financed by a group of wealthy Haitian exiles who sought to end Duvalier's brutal dictatorship. The poorly executed operation highlighted the ongoing political tensions and resistance against the Duvalier regime.
21 May 1968 USS Scorpion Submarine Tragedy: The nuclear-powered submarine USS Scorpion, carrying 99 crew members, is reported missing and later discovered at the bottom of the ocean near the Azores, marking a significant maritime disaster during the Cold War era.
22 May 1968 Apollo 7 Mission Milestone: On May 22, 1968, the prime crew of Apollo 7 conducted a crucial mission that represented a pivotal moment in the United States' space exploration program, helping to restore confidence after the Apollo 1 tragedy and paving the way for future lunar missions.
23 May 1968 Echo 1 Communications Satellite Deorbits: Echo 1, the world's first communications satellite launched in 1960, completed its mission by falling out of orbit and burning up upon atmospheric re-entry. This marked the end of an important early milestone in satellite communications technology.
24 May 1968 French May 1968 Political Crisis Escalates: French president Charles de Gaulle proposes a referendum amid growing student protests, with demonstrators setting fire to the Paris Stock Exchange (Bourse), signaling intense social and political unrest.
25 May 1968 French Political Unrest: French president Charles de Gaulle proposed a referendum amid significant student protests, with students setting fire to the Paris Bourse. This event was part of the broader May 1968 protests in France, which challenged traditional political and social structures.
26 May 1968 Iceland's Historic Traffic Transition: On H-dagurinn (the 'H-Day'), Iceland made a significant nationwide transportation change by switching from left-hand to right-hand traffic driving, a complex logistical operation that occurred overnight.
27 May 1968 Supreme Court Draft Card Burning Ruling: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-1 that burning a draft card is not an act of free speech protected by the First Amendment, a significant legal decision during the Vietnam War era.
28 May 1968 McCarthy Wins Oregon Democratic Primary: U.S. Senator Eugene McCarthy wins the Democratic primary in Oregon, challenging the political establishment during a tumultuous period of the Vietnam War era.
29 May 1968 Manchester United Wins European Championship: Manchester United makes history by becoming the first English team to win the European Cup (now UEFA Champions League), defeating Benfica of Portugal 4-1 in an exciting match at Wembley Stadium after extra time.
30 May 1968 Charles de Gaulle Turns Tide in May 1968 French Crisis: Charles de Gaulle dramatically reappears after fleeing to Baden-Baden, Germany, and strategically dissolves the French National Assembly through a radio broadcast. In a powerful show of political support, nearly one million of his supporters subsequently march along the Champs-Élysées in Paris, marking a critical turning point in the May 1968 political upheaval.
31 May 1968 Manchester United Wins European Cup: In a historic match at Wembley Stadium in London, Manchester United defeats Benfica 4-1 in the European Cup Final. Bobby Charlton's two goals help the team become the first English club to win the prestigious European championship, marking a significant milestone in British football history.