15 May 1945
  • Croatian troops that surrendered to British forces in Austria were handed over to Yugoslavian partisans, resulting in the murder of over 110,000, including women and children. ww2dbase [Germany's Surrender | TH]
  • In fighting at Wewak, New Guinea, Australian Private Ted Kenna exposed himself to Japanese machine guns only 50 yards away, thus enabling his comrades to capture the position without further casualties. His rash bravery won him the Victoria Cross. ww2dbase [AC]
  • USS Croaker departed Subic Bay, Philippine Islands for her fifth war patrol in the Java Sea. ww2dbase [Croaker | CPC]
  • Otto Skorzeny requested the local American officers a staff car, in which he would travel to the Americans field headquarters to surrender. As a prisoner, he was taken to Salzburg, Austria in an armored car with a heavy escort. ww2dbase [Otto Skorzeny | CPC]
  • USS Ray rescued 10 airmen of a foundering PBM Mariner aircraft south of Kyushu, Japan. ww2dbase [Ray | CPC]
Indian Ocean
  • British destroyer forces sank the Japanese cruiser Haguro in the Malacca Strait off the Malay Peninsula. ww2dbase [Haguro | Malacca Strait | AC]
Japan
  • USS Sargent Bay departed Okinawa, Japan and arrived at Guam for repairs. ww2dbase [Sargent Bay | Okinawa | CPC]
  • Nobutake Kondo was appointed to the Japanese Supreme War Council. ww2dbase [Nobutake Kondo | CPC]
Latvia
  • Soviet SMERSH captured former German intelligence official and more recently commanding officer of German 81st Infantry Division Franz-Eccard von Bentivegni in the Courland Pocket in Latvia. Bentivegni would remain imprisoned in Russia until Oct 1955. ww2dbase [CPC]
Norway
  • Crown Prince Olaf of Norway returned to Oslo in a Royal Navy destroyer and was greeted by a large crowd. ww2dbase [Oslo | AC]
Russia
  • Viktor Abakumov appointed Isai Babich and Aleksandr Misyurev to head the SMERSH units attached to the Far Eastern Group of Soviet Troops. ww2dbase [Viktor Abakumov | CPC]
Taiwan
  • US B-24 bombers based in the Philippine Islands struck the city of Shinchiku (now Hsinchu), Taiwan. ww2dbase [Shinchiku | CPC]
United States Yugoslavia Photo(s) dated 15 May 1945
B-29 Superfortress bomber Soviet Information Bureau newspaper announcing Saratoga running full power trials in Puget Sound, Washington, United States, following battle damage repairs, 15 May 1945. Photo 1 of 2.Saratoga running full power trials in Puget Sound, Washington, United States, following battle damage repairs, 15 May 1945. Photo 2 of 2.

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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