Timeline May 1945

Events in May 1945 12

• 1897 – 1945 Joseph Goebbels (1897-1945) Died 1 May 1945, aged 47 Goebbels served as Nazi Germany's Minister of Propaganda, directing the regime's media, censorship, and antisemitic messaging. He killed his six children and himself along with his wife in the Berlin Führerbunker the day after Hitler's suicide. He had briefly succeeded Hitler as Chancellor.
• 1900 – 1945 Heinrich Himmler (1900-1945) Died 23 May 1945, aged 45 Himmler led the SS and Gestapo and was the chief architect of the Holocaust's administrative machinery. Captured by British forces after fleeing in disguise, he killed himself with a cyanide capsule while in custody. He was among the most powerful and feared figures in Nazi Germany.
• 1940 – 1945 German occupation of the Netherlands World War II occupation Nazi Germany occupied the Netherlands during World War II while Queen Wilhelmina led the government-in-exile.
• 1945 Battle of Berlin Soviet forces storm the German capital Soviet forces launched the final assault on Berlin on April 16, 1945. Over 1.5 million Soviet troops fought through the city in brutal street-by-street combat until Germany's surrender on May 2.
• 1945 Battle of Berlin Soviet forces capture the German capital The Red Army encircled and stormed Berlin in the final major battle of the European war, fighting street by street against remaining German defenders. The battle ended with Germany's unconditional surrender days later. Soviet, German, and civilian casualties numbered in the hundreds of thousands.
• 1945 – present Bob Seger Singer-songwriter Detroit rock singer — Night Moves, Turn the Page, Old Time Rock and Roll, Against the Wind.
• 1945 Bob Seger born in Detroit Raised in Ann Arbor His father leaves when he is ten.
• 1945 German Surrender 1945 Victory in Europe The unconditional surrender of German forces to the Allies, ending World War II in Europe.
• 1945 Germany surrenders in World War II End of Nazi Germany Germany officially surrendered to Allied forces, ending World War II in Europe.
• 1945 VE Day — Victory in Europe Germany surrenders unconditionally Germany signed its unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945 — Victory in Europe Day. Massive celebrations erupted across Allied nations. The war in Europe was over after nearly six years and an estimated 70-85 million deaths.
• 1945 Charlie Parker records with Dizzy Gillespie Salt Peanuts Recordings that announce bebop.
• 1945 – 1982 Rainer Werner Fassbinder (1945-1982) Died 10 June 1982, aged 37 German filmmaker and central figure of New German Cinema. He died of a drug overdose in Munich shortly after completing the film Querelle.