Famous people and celebrities who died in 1945

A dedicated page for remembering the famous people and celebrities who passed away in 1945. This year saw the loss of many influential and beloved figures who left a lasting impact on the world. From entertainment icons and sports legends to renowned scholars and public figures, our comprehensive list pays tribute to their lives and legacies. Join us in honoring their contributions and celebrating their achievements as we reflect on their remarkable stories.

• Jan. 6 Edith Frank

  Mother of Anne Frank, the famous Jewish diarist who documented her family's experiences during the Holocaust.

• Feb. 18 Ivan Chernyakhovsky

  Soviet military commander and Army General who was one of the youngest generals in the Red Army during World War II.

• Feb. 21 Eric Liddell

  Scottish Olympic gold medalist and missionary who became famous for refusing to run on Sunday during the 1924 Paris Olympics, later serving...

• March 2 Emily Carr

  Canadian writer and artist, carr is heavily inspired by the pacific northwest coast's indigenous peoples.

• March 31 Anne Frank

  Anne Frank was a German-Dutch Jewish girl who became one of the most discussed Jewish victims of the Holocaust after the posthumous publication of her diary, 'The Diary of a Young Girl,' which documents her life in hiding from 1942 to 1944 during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II. [bio]

• April 9 Dietrich Bonhoeffer

  A prominent German theologian and Lutheran pastor who actively resisted the Nazi regime.

• April 9 Hans von Dohnányi

  German jurist and prominent resistance member who actively opposed the Nazi regime, ultimately executed for his involvement in the July 20...

• April 18 Ernie Pyle

  Legendary World War II war correspondent who won the Pulitzer Prize in 1943 and was killed in action in Okinawa.

• April 28 Hermann Fegelein

  Nazi SS General who was Hitler's brother-in-law and was executed by Hitler in the final days of World War II for alleged desertion in the...

• April 28 Claretta Petacci

  Mistress of Benito Mussolini who was executed alongside him at the end of World War II, symbolizing the dramatic fall of the Italian Fascist...

• April 30 Eva Braun

  Eva Braun was Adolf Hitler's long-time mistress and wife for a single day before their joint suicide in Berlin.

• May 1 Magda Goebbels

  Wife of Joseph Goebbels, Nazi Minister of Propaganda, who was deeply involved in the Nazi regime and died by suicide alongside her husband...

• May 2 Martin Bormann

  A high-ranking Nazi official who served as Adolf Hitler's private secretary and was a key figure in the Nazi Party's inner circle.

• May 23 Heinrich Himmler

  A key Nazi leader who was one of the primary architects of the Holocaust, serving as Reichsführer of the SS and playing a central role in...

• June 8 Karl Hanke

  Karl Hanke was a Nazi German politician and SS leader who served as the last Gauleiter of Lower Silesia during World War II.

• June 16 Aris Velouchiotis

  A prominent Greek communist leader and key figure in the Greek Resistance during World War II, who led the ELAS guerrilla movement against...

• June 18 Florence Bascom

  First woman to receive a Ph.

• July 13 Alla Nazimova

  Alla Nazimova was a Russian-American actress, director, and producer, renowned for her work on stage and in early silent films in the United States. She was a pioneering figure in theater and silent cinema and is remembered for her avant-garde style and influential productions. [bio]

• Aug. 6 Richard Bong

  American World War II fighter pilot and Medal of Honor recipient, considered the top American fighter ace in the Pacific Theater, who...

• Sept. 6 John McCain

  John McCain was an American politician and United States Navy officer who served as a U.S. Senator from Arizona from 1987 to 2018 and was the Republican nominee for President in the 2008 election. [bio]

• Oct. 6 Leonardo Conti

  Leonardo Conti was a high-ranking Nazi physician who played a significant role in the Third Reich's health administration and was a key...

• Nov. 20 Francis William Aston

  Prize laureate for his discovery, by means of his mass spectrograph, of isotopes, in a large number of non-radioactive elements, and for his...

• Nov. 21 Robert Benchley

  Robert Benchley was an American humorist, newspaper columnist, and film actor, renowned for his witty essays and starring roles in short comedic films during the early 20th century. He was a key member of the Algonquin Round Table and contributed to the burgeoning landscape of American humor. [bio]

• Nov. 21 Al Davis

  Legendary NFL team owner who transformed the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders and became one of the most influential figures in professional...

• Dec. 4 Thomas Hunt Morgan

  American geneticist and biologist, nobel prize laureate (b. 1866).

• Dec. 13 Irma Grese

  Notorious Nazi SS guard known for her brutal cruelty at concentration camps Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen during World War II.

• Dec. 13 Elisabeth Volkenrath

  Nazi concentration camp supervisor at Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen, known for her brutal treatment of prisoners during the Holocaust.

• Dec. 13 Josef Kramer

  Notorious Nazi SS officer and commandant of multiple concentration camps during World War II, including Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen.

• Dec. 16 Giovanni III Agnelli

  Giovanni Agnelli was a prominent Italian industrialist and key leader of Fiat, playing a crucial role in transforming the company into a...

What happened in 1945?

Discover what the world looked like in 1945: