Events unfolded on May 8th. - On the eighth day of May, the occurrences that transpired.
Today's Chronicles Unleashed for May 8, 2025
Name Days
Desiree, Friedrich, Ulrike
Midday Milestones
1945 - Generaloberst Alfred Jodl, Generaladmiral Hans-Georg von Friedeburg, and General Wilhelm Oxenius sign the unconditional surrender of all German forces in the American headquarters in Reims, marking the official end of World War II in Europe.
1985 - Richard von Weizsäcker delivers a historic speech on the 40th anniversary of the end of World War II, referring to May 8, 1945 as "Liberation Day." Though his speech earns high praise from abroad, it sparks intriguing domestic disputes in Germany.
1982 - Tragedy strikes the racing world as Canadian Ferrari driver Gilles Villeneuve meets a devastating end in a crash during qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix in Zolder. Despite leaving behind a victorious legacy with six Grand Prix wins and a 1979 vice-world championship, Villeneuve's father sets out to inspire his son, Jacques, who would go on to capture the world championship later in his career.
1980 - The World Health Organization (WHO) announces that the world is now free of smallpox, the first disease to be eradicated through a global vaccination program.
1978 - Reinhold Messner from South Tyrol and Austrian Peter Habeler make history by becoming the first people to climb Mount Everest without using any supplemental oxygen.
Birthday Bouquet
1975 - Enrique Iglesias, a Spanish pop singer who conquers our hearts with hits like "Vivir," celebrates another journey around the sun.
1950 - German TV journalist and presenter, Wolfgang Herles, captivates audiences for years as the head of the ZDF Bonn studio and the host of the culture magazine "aspekte."
1945 - Keith Jarrett, an American jazz pianist and composer, enriches the world of music with his illustrious works, including "The Köln Concert."
1926 - British documentary filmmaker and naturalist, Sir David Attenborough, bravely brings the natural world onto our screens.
Farewell to a Legend
2020 - Roy Horn, the German-American magician and animal trainer from the iconic duo "Siegfried & Roy," bids adieu at the age of 75, leaving an indelible mark on the magic and entertainment communities.
The Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation in the general-news section of today's calendar. This proposal comes 70 years after the official end of World War II in Europe, as signified by the events of May 8, 1945, which are marked in the Midday Milestones. Interestingly, this day was also named "Liberation Day" in a historic speech delivered by Richard von Weizsäcker in 1985. Meanwhile, in the sports section, we remember the tragic death of Gilles Villeneuve on May 8, 1982, a Canadian Ferrari driver who left behind a victorious legacy. In today's Birthday Bouquet, we celebrate Enrique Iglesias, a Spanish pop singer known for hits like "Vivir," as he celebrates another birthday.
