May 7 in History

1960

Leonid Brezhnev becomes president of the Soviet Union.

1958

Howard Johnson sets an aircraft altitude record in F-104.

1954

French troops surrender to the Vietminh at Dien Bien Phu.

1952

In Korea, Communist POWs at Koje-do riot against their American captors.

1945

Germany signs an unconditional surrender, effectively ending World War II in Europe.

1943

The last major German strongholds in North Africa–Tunis and Bizerte–fall to Allied forces.

1942

In the Battle of the Coral Sea, Japanese and American navies attack each other with carrier-launched warplanes. It is the first time in the history of naval warfare where two fleets fought without seeing each other.Two crucial battles in 1942 marked the turning point of the war in the Pacific.

1937

The German Condor Legion arrives in Spain to assist Fransico Franco’s forces.

1915

The German submarine U-20 torpedoes the passenger ship Lusitiania, sinking her in 21 minutes with 1,978 people on board.

1877

Indian chief Sitting Bull enters Canada with a trail of Indians after the Battle of Little Bighorn.

1864

The Battle of the Wilderness ends with heavy losses to both sides.

1862

Confederate troops strike Union troops at the Battle of Eltham’s Landing in Virginia.

1847

The American Medical Association is formed in Philadelphia.

1824

Beethoven’s “Ninth Symphony” premieres in Vienna.

1800

Congress divides the Northwest Territory into two parts. The western part will becomes the Indiana Territory and the eastern section remains the Northwest Territory.

1763

Indian chief Pontiac begins his attack on a British fort in present-day Detroit, Michigan.

1525

The German peasants’ revolt is crushed by the ruling class and church.

1429

Joan of Arc breaks the English siege of Orleans.

1274

The Second Council of Lyons opens in France to regulate the election of the pope.