On this day in the war years:
In 1941:
The chief of the GRU gave Joseph Stalin a note on the grouping of the German armies: "the Total number of German troops against the Soviet Union on may 5, reaches 103-107 divisions, including 6 divisions, located in the district Danzig-Poznan. In preparing the theater of war vigorously carried out the construction of all kinds. Built second a railway line for strategic ways to expand the network of airfields and landing sites, conducted reconnaissance reinforced German officers to our border".
At a solemn meeting in the Kremlin, Joseph Stalin gave a speech before graduates of military academies. This speech was not published ever. There are several options to Express it. In his speech, Stalin was named Germany as the aggressor, the invader and predicted that for Germany, this policy will fail. War with Hitler is inevitable, and if Molotov and people's Commissariat of foreign Affairs will be able to delay the start of war for 2-3 months is our happiness, said Stalin.
Joseph Stalin at a reception in the Kremlin on the toast of major-General of tank troops, which proposed a toast to Stalin's peaceful foreign policy, said, "Peace policy is a good thing. We from time to time held the line on defense – until then, until re-equipping our army has been supplied our army with modern means of struggle. And now that we our army was reconstructed, saturated technique to fight when we have become strong – now we must move on from defense to attack. The words of Stalin, some researchers regard as an allusion to the military commanders for the forthcoming attack.
Stalin gave the order to perform "creeping redeployment". Special Directive on covert mobilization was accompanied by instructions of Georgy Zhukov and Semyon Timoshenko, handwritten only 2 copies, commander of the Western special military district. The instructions clearly stated that the deployment of German troops "not of a random nature", described the event in reflection of the different types of attacks.
The German Ambassador in Moscow, Werner von der Schulenburg, the enemy plans of Hitler, took an unprecedented step. He invited the Soviet Ambassador in Berlin, who was in Moscow on the occasion of may day celebrations, as well as head of Central European Department of the people's Commissariat of foreign Affairs Alexey Pavlova for Breakfast at his residence. He tried to bring to the attention of the Soviet leadership that it was necessary to take urgent measures. In particular, he proposed to combat an avalanche of rumors about an imminent war. He was sure that if the Soviet leadership will be restrained and activates negotiations with Hitler, war could be avoided.
In 1942:
Work began on the construction of the Ladoga pipeline to supply fuel troops of the Leningrad front. 35 km pipeline was laid within 43 days.
British troops landed on the island of Madagascar, then a French territory.
The Japanese took the island of Guadalcanal from the group of the Solomon Islands.
In 1943:
Aviation of the black sea fleet bombed the enemy objects in Constanta.
The North-East from Novorossiysk our troops, penetrating to a depth of 13 kilometers, took the settlements of Red, black, Zaporozhye, Fun, Garden, Grateful, Malachowski and others. Captured 80 guns, 1 220 machine guns and other trophies. The enemy left on the battlefield more than 7,000 dead soldiers and officers.
In 1944:
Aviation of the black sea fleet pounded on the discovered transports and other vessels of the enemy. Direct hits of bombs sunk 4 transport with a gross tonnage up to 10 000 tons, two speed landing barges, one dry-cargo barge and patrol boat.
For 3 days, with 3 to 5 may, the partisans of Volyn region derailed 3 German military echelon, EN route to the front line. Broken 15 cars loaded with ammunition and several tanks of gasoline.
In 1945:
In Berlin suppressed the last resistance of small groups of Germans attempting to break out around the city to the West.
Ended Moravian-Ostrava operation, the troops of the 4th Ukrainian front. The Soviet troops took possession of the Moravian-Ostrovsky industrial area and moved to the Central part of Czechoslovakia.
Ended Bratislava-Browska operation, the troops of the 2nd Ukrainian front with the participation of the Danube flotilla and Romanian troops. Completed the liberation of Slovakia.
American General Dzh. Devers received the surrender of German troops operating in Bavaria and Western Austria.
Allied troops liberated the Austrian city of Linz.
Liberated prisoners of the Mauthausen concentration camp.
Switzerland broke off diplomatic relations with Germany.
