World Events in 1945
VE Day
On 8 May, Germany surrendered unconditionally, ending the war in Europe. Massive celebrations erupted in London, New York, and cities across the Allied world as millions took to the streets.
Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
On 6 August, the US dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, killing approximately 80,000 people instantly. Three days later, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, killing around 40,000. Japan surrendered on 15 August.
Liberation of the Concentration Camps
As Allied forces advanced into Germany and Poland, they liberated camps including Auschwitz, Bergen-Belsen, and Dachau. The world confronted the full horror of the Holocaust for the first time.
United Nations Founded
On 24 October, the United Nations officially came into existence when its Charter was ratified by the five permanent members of the Security Council. The organisation was created to prevent future wars and promote international cooperation.
Labour Wins UK General Election
In July, Clement Attlee's Labour Party won a landslide election victory, defeating Winston Churchill's Conservatives. The result stunned many but reflected a public desire for social reform, including a National Health Service.
Death of Franklin D. Roosevelt
On 12 April, President Roosevelt died of a cerebral haemorrhage at Warm Springs, Georgia. Harry S. Truman was sworn in as the 33rd President, inheriting the final stages of the war.
Music in 1945
"My Guy's Come Back"
Vera Lynn
Captured the euphoria of VE Day and the return of servicemen, perfectly reflecting the mood of a nation celebrating peace.
"Sentimental Journey"
Les Brown and His Orchestra (featuring Doris Day)
Released just as the war ended, this nostalgic ballad became an anthem for returning soldiers heading home.
#1 Film of 1945
The Bells of St. Mary's
Box Office: $21 million
Bing Crosby reprised his role as Father O'Malley opposite Ingrid Bergman in this sequel to Going My Way, becoming the year's biggest hit.
Born in 1945
Bob Marley
Jamaican reggae musician and global cultural icon
Eric Clapton
Legendary guitarist known for Layla and Crossroads
Rod Stewart
British rock singer with a career spanning six decades
Aung San Suu Kyi
Burmese politician and Nobel Peace Prize laureate
Steve Martin
American comedian, actor, and author
Lost in 1945
Franklin D. Roosevelt
32nd President of the United States who led America through the Depression and most of WWII
Age 63
Adolf Hitler
Dictator of Nazi Germany who started the Second World War, committed suicide in his bunker
Age 56
Benito Mussolini
Fascist dictator of Italy, captured and executed by Italian partisans
Age 61
Anne Frank
Jewish diarist whose diary became one of the most widely read accounts of the Holocaust
Age 15
David Lloyd George
British Prime Minister during the First World War
Age 82
Technology in 1945
The atomic bomb was detonated for the first time at the Trinity test in New Mexico, then used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ushering in the nuclear age. ENIAC, the first general-purpose electronic computer, was nearing completion. Fluoridated water was first introduced to public supplies in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
- ● First atomic bomb detonated at the Trinity test site in New Mexico
- ● ENIAC general-purpose electronic computer nearing completion at the University of Pennsylvania
- ● Grand Rapids, Michigan became the first city to fluoridate its water supply
- ● Percy Spencer accidentally discovered the microwave cooking principle at Raytheon
Cost of Living in 1945
| Item | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price | £650 | $4,200 |
| Average salary | £270 | $2,200 |
| Pint of milk | 2½d | $0.15 |
| Loaf of bread | 4½d | $0.09 |
| Dozen eggs | 1s 9d | $0.58 |
| Pint of beer | 8d | $0.18 |
| Cinema ticket | 11d | $0.30 |
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The Zeitgeist of 1945
The war ended in stages — first in Europe with VE Day in May, then in the Pacific after the atomic bombings in August. Celebrations erupted worldwide, but the relief was tempered by the horrifying revelations of the Holocaust as concentration camps were liberated. In Britain, voters shocked Churchill by electing Clement Attlee's Labour government in a landslide, signalling a desire for radical social change.
In the News in 1945
Tupperware was introduced by Earl Tupper. George Orwell published Animal Farm. The Slinky toy was demonstrated at Gimbels department store in Philadelphia. The first ballpoint pens went on sale in New York at $12.50 each.