Here is a list of great and/or random events that happened on 2 May during the last century.
You may be surprised by some of the historic events that have taken place on today’s date. Here are some of the most notable events that took place on 2 May over the last one hundred years:
1918
In a conference of Allied military leaders at Abbeville, France, the U.S., Britain and France argue over the entrance of American troops into World War I.
1924
The Netherlands refuses to recognise the USSR.
1929
Billie Holiday (14) and her mother are arrested for prostitution following a raid of a brothel in Harlem.
1933
In Germany, Adolf Hitler bans trade unions
1938
Pulitzer prize awarded to Thornton Wilder for his play “Our Town”.
1945
More than 1,000,000 German soldiers officially surrender to the Western Allies in Italy and Austria. The Battle of Berlin ends as Soviet army takes Berlin and General Weidling surrenders.
1946
The “Battle of Alcatraz” takes place, killing two guards and three inmates.
1952
Operations begin at United Suriname Workers of Netherlands which flew from London to Johannesburg carrying 36 passengers.
1955
Pulitzer prize awarded to playwright Tennessee Williams for Cat on Hot Tin Roof.
1956
US Methodist church disallows racial separation.
1957
Senator Joseph McCarthy dies. McCarthy had been instrumental to the anti-communist hysteria popularly known as the “Red Scare”.
1963
General Law Amendment Act No 37 is approved in South Africa. This amendment meant that any commissioned police officer was empowered to detain, without warrant and for the purposes of interrogation, anyone suspected of a political crime.
1964
U.S. ship sunk in Saigon port by Viet Cong. The Beatles’ “Beatles’ 2nd Album” reaches number1 and stays at this position for five weeks.
1968
Israeli television begins transmitting.
1972
The end of an era at the FBI as J. Edgar Hoover dies. Hoover was director for over fifty years.
1975
Apple records closes down.
1980
Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in Wall (Part II)” is banned in South Africa.
Pope John Paul II begins his African tour.
1983
A 6.7 earthquake injures 487 in Coalinga, California.
1988
Jackson Pollock’s “Search” sold for $4,800,000.
1990
The Groote Schuur talks start between the South African government and the ANC. They reach agreement on conditions for full-scale negotiations on ending political conflict in South Africa.
1994
Michael Bolton found to have plagiarised Isley Bros “Love is Wonderful Thing”.
Nelson Mandela announces the ANC’s win in the country’s first democratic elections.
1997
Donald Trump and Marla Maples announce they are separating.
2000
President Bill Clinton announces that accurate GPS access would no longer be restricted to the United States military.
2008
The critically acclaimed “Iron Man” film starring Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, is released.
2011
Osama bin Laden, the suspected mastermind behind the September 11 attacks and the FBI’s most wanted man allegedly killed by US special forces in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
2013
Rhode Island becomes the tenth US state to legalize same-sex marriage.
2015
Fight of the Century: Floyd Mayweather, Jr. beats Manny Pacquiao in 12 for the welterweight boxing title.
2018
Kanye West widely criticized for saying “slavery is a choice” in TMZ interview.
