1945 – At the end of World War II, the last German surrender instrument is signed at the Soviet headquarters in Karlshorst, Berlin. In most of Europe, May 8 is celebrated as Victory Day in Europe. May 9 is celebrated as Victory Day over Nazi-Fascism in Russia, the former Soviet republics, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, and Israel.
1950 – Robert Schuman proposes the creation of an organized Europe, which he says is essential for maintaining peaceful relations. This proposal, known as the “Schuman Declaration”, is seen as the beginning of the creation of what is now the European Union. He proposed placing French and German coal and steel West production under a joint High Authority.
1972 – Tahir Dizdari, an Albanian folklorist and scholar, dies. He worked in the administration, devoted himself to the creation and functioning of the new Albanian administration, in 1929 the “Law of Villages and Municipalities” was published, where he played a key role in its compilation, a work that, talking about the formation, organization and functioning of local bodies, lays the foundations of stable and modern administrative structures. Later, in 1935, he published the pamphlet Guide to Conferences. In May 1945 he became a contributor to the newspaper “Bashkimi” and in October he became a member of the Writers’ League of Albania. During the years 1946-1951 he deals with the tabulation of vocabulary and folklore. In the years 1946-1949 he traveled all over Albania, took part in youth actions, collecting folklore and etymological material from the mouths of the people. Submits to the Folklore Institute a rich material of 800 typed pages. Prof. J.Nemeth of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences appreciates Dizdar’s work as an extremely rich and valuable material. At the same time, it is stated that in none of the languages of the Balkan Peninsula have the Turkish elements been collected so perfectly.
1978 – Aldo Moro is executed at the age of 61 by the Red Brigades. Moro was an Italian statesman and a prominent member of the Christian Democrat party. He served as the 38th Prime Minister of Italy from 1963 to 1968, and then from 1974 to 1976. Moro was abducted on March 16, 1978, by the Red Brigades in what is considered the “Fani Street Massacre,” and was killed after 55 days. His body was found in the trunk of a car.
1987 – A civilian airliner, the LOT 5055 Tadeusz Kosciuszko, crashes after taking off in Warsaw, Poland, killing all 183 passengers on board. The collision occurred in the area of the natural reserve of Kabaty forest on the outskirts of Warsaw, Poland. The causes of this air tragedy were revealed after some time by the Polish authorities. They were dealing with a serious defect in the side engines of the aircraft.
1991 – Majlinda Kelmendi is born in Peja. Kelmendi is a Kosovo Albanian and a two-time world champion in the sport of Judo, with two European titles. She competes in the 52 kg weight category. In 2014, Majlinda topped the IJF women’s world rankings. On August 7, 2016, she became the first Kosovar athlete to win a medal at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
2002 – A 38-day siege of the Eastern Church in Bethlehem ends when Palestinians inside agree to have 13 suspected terrorists among them deported to several different countries. The siege of the Eastern Church in Bethlehem was a siege of Palestinian militants suspected by the Israeli Defense Forces in Bethlehem on the West Bank that lasted from April 2 to May 10, 2002.
