January 1945

Monday 01:

Bahawalpur State issues its first stamps.

Friday 05:

The Soviet Union recognizes the new pro-Soviet government of Poland.

Sunday 07:

British General Bernard Montgomery holds a press conference in which he claims credit for victory in the Battle of the Bulge.

Tuesday 09:

The United States invades Luzon in the Philippines.

Friday 12:

World War II: The Soviets begin a large offensive in Eastern Europe against the Nazis.

Tuesday 16:

Adolf Hitler moves into his underground bunker, the so-called Führerbunker.

Wednesday 17:

Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg disappears in Hungary while in Soviet custody.

Thursday 18:

Liberation of the Budapest ghetto by the Red Army

Friday 19:

World War II: Soviet forces liberate ghetto of Lodz. Out of 230,000 inhabitants in 1940, less then 900 had survived Nazi occupation.

Saturday 20:

Hungary drops out of the Second World War, agreeing an armistice with the Allies.

Wednesday 24:

Auschwitz, Concentration Camp in Poland is Liberated by Soviet Troops.

Saturday 27:

World War II: The Red Army arrives at Auschwitz and Birkenau in Poland and find the Nazi concentration camp where 1.1-1.5 million people were murdered.

Sunday 28:

World War II: Supplies begin to reach China over the newly reopened Burma Road.

Tuesday 30:

deadliest maritime disaster in known history killing roughly 9,000.

Wednesday 31:

US Army private Eddie Slovik is executed, the first American soldier since the Civil War to be executed for desertion.