Grandma's Diary: In the year 1945 . . .

1.30.2007

In the year 1945 . . .

I thought it might be fun to do an entry about happenings in the year 1945. I think most of us who read were not even born yet. It puts things more into perspective. Hard to believe sometimes how we are in the year 2007 and how our world, environment and society has changed. Hope you enjoy! ~ Valerie

(The following not necessarily in timely order)

Yalta Conference (Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin) plans final defeat of Germany (Feb).
Hitler commits suicide (April 30); Germany surrenders (May 7); May 8 is declared V-E Day. Background: World War II.
Potsdam Conference (Truman, Churchill, Stalin) establishes basis of German reconstruction (July–Aug.).
US drops atomic bombs on Japanese cities of Hiroshima (Aug. 6) and Nagasaki (Aug. 8). Background: nuclear weapons
Japan signs official surrender on V-J Day (Sept. 2).
FDR dies (April 12) and Harry S. Truman becomes president.
Manhattan Project tests first atomic bomb in Alamogordo, New Mexico (July 16).
A B-25 bomber flies into the Empire State Building, damaging the 78th and 79th floors and killing 13 (July 28).
On 24 October 1945, the United Nations was officially founded, when the UN Charter had been ratified by a majority of the original 51 Member States.
Mussolini's death
January 17 - Holocaust: Nazis begin to evacuate from Auschwitz concentration camp.
July 30 - WWII: The USS Indianapolis is hit and sunk by the Japanese submarine I-58. Some 900 survivors jump into the sea and are adrift for 4 days. Nearly 600 die before help arrives. Captain Charles B. McVay III is later court-martialed.