1945

What Happened in 1945

1945 marked the end of the most devastating conflict in human history—World War II. It was a year of dramatic change, filled with tragedy, relief, and the dawning of a new world order. As nations began the long process of rebuilding, the events of this year set the tone for decades to come. The Baby Boomer generation was just beginning, and many of the institutions and technologies that would define the modern era had their origins in this pivotal year.

World Events

Jan 27 – Soviet troops liberate the Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps in Poland.
Feb 13 – Allied bombing of Dresden results in a firestorm that kills over 22,000 civilians.
Apr 29 – U.S. troops liberate the Dachau concentration camp in Germany.
Apr 30 – Adolf Hitler dies by suicide in his Berlin bunker.
May 2 – Over 1 million German soldiers surrender in Italy and Austria.
May 7 – Germany signs an unconditional surrender in Reims.
May 8 – Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day): The war in Europe officially ends.
May 9 – The Soviet Union celebrates its own Victory Day.
Jun 4 – Germany is divided into four zones of occupation by the U.S., USSR, UK, and France.
Jul 17–Aug 2 – Potsdam Conference held to determine post-war Europe’s future.
Jul 26 – The Potsdam Declaration demands Japan’s unconditional surrender.
Aug 6 – The U.S. drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
Aug 9 – A second atomic bomb is dropped on Nagasaki.
Aug 14–15 – Victory over Japan Day (V-J Day) is celebrated as Japan agrees to surrender.
Sep 2 – Japan signs formal surrender aboard USS Missouri, officially ending WWII.
Nov 20 – The Nuremberg Trials begin, prosecuting Nazi leaders for war crimes.
Jun 26 – The United Nations Charter is signed by 50 nations in San Francisco.
Aug 22 – Ho Chi Minh leads a successful coup in Vietnam, marking the beginning of the conflict.
Nov 16 – UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is founded.

United Kingdom

May 8 – Celebrations erupt across the country for V-E Day.
Dec 27 – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is officially established.
Rationing and shortages continue, though the end of the war brings hope for recovery.

United States

Jan 20 – Franklin D. Roosevelt begins his unprecedented 4th term as President.
Apr 12 – Roosevelt dies; Harry S. Truman becomes the 33rd U.S. President.
Jul 28 – A U.S. bomber crashes into the Empire State Building, killing 14 people.
Oct 8 – Percy Spencer patents the microwave oven.
Dec – Flight 19 vanishes over the Bermuda Triangle, sparking ongoing speculation.

Popular Culture

Raymond L. Libby develops oral penicillin in the U.S., helping revolutionize medicine.
By war’s end, nearly 300,000 American service members had died, with an estimated 55 million global deaths—more civilians than soldiers.
The world begins the difficult process of mourning, recovery, and rebuilding.

Film and Television

Notable Films Released:

Brief Encounter
The Lost Weekend
Spellbound
Dead of Night
Mildred Pierce
The Picture of Dorian Gray
The Wicked Lady
The True Glory

Television:

No TV broadcasts in the UK in 1945. Service had been suspended during the war for fear of aiding German bombers. Broadcasting would resume in 1946.

Music

Popular Songs and Artists:

“Don’t Fence Me In” – Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters
“Rum and Coca-Cola” – The Andrews Sisters
“Sentimental Journey” – Les Brown & Doris Day
“Till the End of Time” – Perry Como
“It’s Been a Long, Long Time” – Bing Crosby
“Lover Man” – Billie Holiday
“We’ll Gather Lilacs” – Muriel Barron & Olive Gilbert
“My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time” – Doris Day
“Symphony” – Benny Goodman
“One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)” – Lena Horne
“Let the Rest of the World Go By” – Dorothy Squires
“Chickery Chick” – Sammy Kaye

Sports

Most international sporting events were suspended due to the war.
The Olympics and Wimbledon did not take place.
The world’s athletes, like its civilians, were just beginning to return to normal life.

Motoring

Driving tests, suspended during WWII, had not yet resumed. Many provisional license holders drove regardless.
Petrol rationing remained in effect.
Triumph was acquired by the Standard Motor Company, forming Triumph Motor Company (1945) Ltd.
The Ford Prefect 10 HP Model E93A entered production in October.

New Car Models Introduced:

Armstrong Siddeley Lancaster
Humber Hawk
Riley RMA
Standard Fourteen

Inventions and Technology

Microwave Oven – Percy Spencer patents the first microwave oven.
Oral Penicillin – Raymond L. Libby develops a version that revolutionises infection treatment.
United Nations – A landmark organisational structure for international diplomacy and peacekeeping.

Looking Back

The world breathed a collective sigh of relief as World War II ended. The destruction was immense, but hope began to return. The horrors of the Holocaust were fully revealed, while nations pledged to prevent future global conflict with the founding of the United Nations.

Whatever your memory, this year marked a return to a more normal life for many.

→ Feel free to share your memories or thoughts in the comments below!