Here are some of the important events that occurred on 1 May
U2 is shot down after taking off from Peshawar
The American Spy plane U2 is shot down over Soviet airspace hours after taking off from Peshawar airbase. The U2 was thought to be beyond the range of Soviet air defence missiles and aircrafts because of its ability to fly at high altitudes. The aircraft was to take-off from Badaber airbase close to Peshawar, take photographs of sensitive Soviet military sites for reconnaissance purposes and land in northern Europe.
However, the plan went awry when the aircraft was shot down by the Soviet SA-2 missile on 1 May, 1960 and the pilot, Gary Powers was arrested. The Americans, thinking that the pilot was killed, made a public announcement via NASA that a weather research plane was missing ‘North of Turkey’ and that the plane may be on autopilot. Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev announced that an American spy plane was shot down, but the Americans continued to insist it was a weather plane.
“I must tell you a secret. When I made my first report I deliberately did not say that the pilot was alive and well … and now just look how many silly things the Americans have said,” said Khrushchev on May 7.
The incident was a major embarrassment for the US. Pakistan’s relations with the US and the Soviet Union were also significantly harmed.
In addition, Nikita Khruschev threatened Pakistan after the incident, forcing Pakistan to shut down US access to the airbase.
Gary Powers eventually returned to the US after an spy-swap in 1962.
Joseph Goebbels commits suicide
Nazi politician and Reich Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda Joseph Goebbels commits suicide on 1 May, 1945. Goebbels sought to excercise complete control on information within the country and wrote many of Hitler’s public speeches. He was adept at using new sources of media such as Radio and Television for propaganda. Virulently anti-Semitic, he advocated harsh measures against the Jews which culminated in the holocaust. The loyal follower of Hitler followed in his footsteps and on May 1, 1945, committed suicide along with his wife. Joseph Goebbels poisoned to death six of his own children just before taking his own life.
Bush Mission Accomplished Speech
US President George W Bush makes the ‘Mission Accomplished’ Speech aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln in reference to the invasion of Iraq.
“Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed.”
The speech has since been widely criticised and mocked around the world given the kind of insurgency that swept Iraq after 2003.
Mass suicide in Demmin
As the Soviet Red Army closed in to the town of Demmin, sparking fears of possible violence, rapes and executions, between 1200 and 2500 people committed suicide in the town on May 1, 1945. Entire families, including children died in the mass suicide.
Illuminati founded
Illuminati is founded by Adam Weishaupt on May 1, 1776 with the aim of fighting excessive power of the state, religious influence in public life and superstition. The Illuminati is widely known and became immortalised in popular culture over associations with complex conspiracy theories.
Do you know Pakistan celebrates Yaum-e-Shuhda day on 30th April or that Hitler committed suicide on the same day?
How about 2nd May?
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