21 May 1945
  • Heinrich Himmler was arrested by British troops near Bremen, Germany as he attempted to disguise himself as refugee "Heinrich Hitzinger" and flee with the masses. ww2dbase [Heinrich Himmler | CPC]
  • Japanese traditional and special attacks damaged five Allied ships off Okinawa, Japan. ww2dbase [Okinawa Campaign | CPC]
  • USS Charr arrived at the naval base at Subic Bay, Luzon, Philippine Islands, ending her second war patrol. ww2dbase [Charr | CPC]
  • USS Wake Island departed Guam, Mariana Islands for Okinawa, Japan. ww2dbase [Wake Island | CPC]
  • USS Missouri departed Guam, Mariana Islands. ww2dbase [Missouri | CPC]
  • USS Chub sank a Japanese ship in the Java Sea, hitting her with one of five torpedoes fired. ww2dbase [Chub | CPC]
  • Rear Admiral Russell Berkey broke his flag aboard USS Nashville. ww2dbase [Nashville | CPC]
Hawaii Japan Taiwan
  • US Far East Air Force B-25 bombers attacked targets in the town of Kagi (now Chiayi), Taiwan. ww2dbase [Kagi, Tainan | CPC]
United States US Pacific Islands Photo(s) dated 21 May 1945
View of airstrip on Tarakan, Borneo, showing extensive damage sustained during battle and some reconstruction efforts commited by 1st and 8th Airfield construction Squadrons of RAAF, 21 May 1945USS Anzio underway, 21 May 1945Two days after all internees were evacuated from Bergen-Belsen, the last hut was set alight by a British flame thrower and burned to the ground due to the thick presence of typhus and lice, 21 May 1945.USS Lexington (Essex-class) at anchor in Puget Sound, Washington, United States, 21 May 1945 following extensive repairs at the Navy Yard in Bremerton.

21 May 1945 Interactive Map

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis




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USS Intrepid launching a SB2C Helldiver during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, 24 Oct 1944.

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"With Germany arming at breakneck speed, England lost in a pacifist dream, France corrupt and torn by dissension, America remote and indifferent... do you not tremble for your children?"

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