SprueStack Zero Hour: WW2 day by day

3 May 1945

What happened on this day in the Second World War, from 1939 to 1945, with a source for every entry.

About this page

Each day we list events from the Second World War that happened on that date, from 1939 to 1945. Every entry names its source and links to it, so you can read further. Entries are sourced and machine-screened before they go up, a subset is human-reviewed, and we add more over time.

6 of 9 sourced entries for this date, chosen by the editor.

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Entries

Burma

In ALFSEA’s 15 Corps area, 36th Brig of Ind 26th Div enters Rangoon while 71st Brig moves into Syriam, across the river from Rangoon. 23d Para Bn defends W bank of Rangoon R from Thakutpin to Elephant Pt.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Eastern Europe

Continuing W through Mecklenburg and Brandenburg on broad front, troops of Second White Russian Front effect junction with British forces of Western Front along line Wismar-Wittenberge.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Luzon

In U.S. Sixth Army’s I Corps area, 3d Bn of 161st Inf, 25th Div, prepares to attack Mt Haruna, commanding feature W of Balete Pass. In XI Corps area, 6th Div relieves final elements of 38th Div in Kembu sector.

Source US Army CMH chronology (opens external site)
Sinking of the prison ships Cap Arcona, Thielbek and Deutschland by the Royal Air Force in Lübeck Bay, resulting in more than 7,000 deaths.

Source Wikipedia (opens external site)
China-Burma-India Theater

THOR mission records show at least 54 Allied sorties (16 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1945-05-03, flown by USAAF 14th Air Force, USAAF 10th Air Force. Targets included CHINA, BURMA.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

THOR is a secondary compilation with known gaps, not a complete record.
European Theater

THOR mission records show at least 0 Allied sorties (23 recorded unit missions) in the European Theater on 1945-05-03, flown by unidentified Allied air units. Targets included CZECHOSLOVAKIA.

Source US Air Force THOR (opens external site)

THOR is a secondary compilation with known gaps, not a complete record.

The full list for this date is being cleaned and will return soon.

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3 May in other years 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944

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3 May 1945

Entries

In ALFSEA’s 15 Corps area, 36th Brig of Ind 26th Div enters Rangoon while 71st Brig moves into Syriam, across the river from Rangoon. 23d Para Bn defends W bank of Rangoon R from Thakutpin to Elephant Pt.

Continuing W through Mecklenburg and Brandenburg on broad front, troops of Second White Russian Front effect junction with British forces of Western Front along line Wismar-Wittenberge.

In U.S. Sixth Army’s I Corps area, 3d Bn of 161st Inf, 25th Div, prepares to attack Mt Haruna, commanding feature W of Balete Pass. In XI Corps area, 6th Div relieves final elements of 38th Div in Kembu sector.

Sinking of the prison ships Cap Arcona, Thielbek and Deutschland by the Royal Air Force in Lübeck Bay, resulting in more than 7,000 deaths.

THOR mission records show at least 54 Allied sorties (16 recorded unit missions) in the China-Burma-India Theater on 1945-05-03, flown by USAAF 14th Air Force, USAAF 10th Air Force. Targets included CHINA, BURMA.

THOR mission records show at least 0 Allied sorties (23 recorded unit missions) in the European Theater on 1945-05-03, flown by unidentified Allied air units. Targets included CZECHOSLOVAKIA.

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