Today in World War II History—May 5, 1940 & 1945

Allied Third Burma Campaign, April-May 1945 (US Military Academy map)

80 Years Ago—May 5, 1940: Norwegian government-in-exile is established in London.

Off Denmark, damaged submarine HMS Seal surrenders to German seaplanes and a patrol vessel, the only British vessel surrendered by her commander during the war, the only sub captured at sea by Germany.

75 Years Ago—May 5, 1945: Allies secure Burma.

German SS unit assaults Schloss Itter in Austria, where high-ranking French POWs are being held—for the only time in the war, US and German forces fight side by side to defeat the SS troops.

In Lakeview, OR, one woman and five children are killed by a Japanese balloon bomb, the only civilians killed in the continental US by enemy action.

In the Last German U-boat attack off the US coast, U-853 sinks US cargo ship Black Point.