Historical Events
Watch on the Rhine
Apr 1 Lillian Hellman's play "Watch on the Rhine" premieres in NYC
- Apr 1 Nazis forbid Jewish access to cafés
- Apr 1 Pro-German Rashid Ali al-Ghailani grabs power in Iraq
- Apr 1 The Blockade Runner Badge for German Kriegsmarine is instituted.
- Apr 1 US Navy takes over Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay
- Apr 2 German occupier disallows Dutch scouting association
Churchill Warns Stalin
Apr 3 British Prime Minister Winston Churchill warns Soviet leader Joseph Stalin that a German invasion is imminent
8th US Masters
Apr 6 8th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Craig Wood wins his first major title, 3 strokes ahead of runner-up Byron Nelson; Masters' first wire-to-wire champion
- Apr 6 Beginning of operation Bestrafung - German bombers attack Belgrade (17,000 die)
- Apr 6 British major general Michael Gambier-Parry captured in North Africa
- Apr 6 German bombardment of Piraeus (munitions ship explodes)
- Apr 6 Italian forces holding Addis Ababa surrender to British & Ethiopian forces
- Apr 7 British generals O'Connor & Neame captured in North Africa
Croatia German Puppet Statete
Apr 10 Independent State of Croatia led by Ante Pavelić established as fascist German puppet state
- Apr 11 Jewish Weekly newspaper taken control by Nazis
- Apr 11 Nazi occupiers in Netherlands confiscate Jewish assets
- Apr 12 Stanley Cup Final, Olympia Stadium, Detroit, MI: Boston Bruins defeat Detroit Red Wings, 3-1 for a 4-0 series sweep
Darlan Consults with Hitler
Apr 12 Vichy-France's head of government Admiral François Darlan consults with Adolf Hitler
- Apr 13 Heavy German assault on Tobruk
- Apr 13 Pact of neutrality between the USSR and Japan is signed.
- Apr 14 1st massive German raid in Paris, 3,600 Jews rounded up
- Apr 14 45th Boston Marathon won by Leslie Pawson in 2:30:38; his third victory in the event
- Apr 14 King Peter leaves Yugoslavia
- Apr 15 1st helicopter flight of 1 hr duration, Stratford, Ct
- Apr 16 Little Theater at Adelphi Strand, London closes
- Apr 17 British troop land in Iraq
- Apr 17 Egyptian steamer SS Zamzam attacked and later scuttled by German cruiser Atlantis (all on board rescued)
- Apr 17 US Office of Price Administration forms (handled rationing)
- Apr 17 World War II: The Kingdom of Yugoslavia surrenders to Germany.
Mother Courage and her Children
Apr 19 Bertolt Brecht's play "Mother Courage and her Children" premieres in Zurich
- Apr 19 Bulgarian troops invade Macedonia
- Apr 19 Milk rationed in Holland
- Apr 20 100 German bombers attack Athens
- Apr 20 Dodgers start to wear liners in their caps
- Apr 21 WWII: Greece surrenders to Nazi Germany
- Apr 23 Greek Army surrenders to Germany; British RAF evacuates the Greek King George II to Egypt
- Apr 24 British army begins evacuation of Greece
- Apr 24 Dutch Prince Bernhard becomes an RAF pilot
Operation Mercury
Apr 25 Operation Mercury: Adolf Hitler orders the conquest of the island of Crete, the first mainly airborne invasion in military history
Famous Birthdays
- Apr 1 Ajit Wadekar, Indian cricket batsman and captain (37 Tests; top score 143; Bombay), born in Mumbai, India (d. 2018)
- Apr 3 Carl Boenish, American father of BASE jumping, born in New Castle, Pennsylvania (d. 1984)
- Apr 3 Eric Braeden, German-American actor (Victor Newman-Young & Restless, Colossus), born in Bredenbek, Germany
- Apr 3 Jan Berry, American rock and roll vocalist (Jan and Dean - "Surf City"), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 2004)
- Apr 3 Philippé Wynne, American soul singer ("I'll Be Around"), born in Cincinnati, Ohio (d. 1984)
- Apr 4 Bill Tarmey, English actor (Coronation Street), born in Ardwick, Manchester (d. 2012)
- Apr 5 Dave Swarbrick, British folk fiddler, and songwriter (Fairport Convention; Martin Carthy), born in New Malden, Surrey (d. 2016)
- Apr 5 Michael Moriarty, American-Canadian actor (Bang the Drum Slowly, Q, Stuff), born in Detroit, Michigan
- Apr 5 Viktor Kurentsov, Belarusian weightlifter (Olympic gold middleweight 1968; silver 1964; 5 x World C'ship gold middleweight), born in Tukhinka, Belarus (d. 2021)
- Apr 6 (William) Louis Shelton, American session guitarist and music producer, born in Little Rock, Arkansas
- Apr 6 Gheorghe Zamfir, Romanian pan flute player, born in Găești, Romania
- Apr 6 Hans W Geissendorfer, Augsburg Germany, director (Sternsteinhof)
- Apr 7 Cornelia Frances [Zulver], British-Australian actress (Home and Away), born in Liverpool, England (d. 2018)
- Apr 7 Gorden Kaye, British actor (Allo Allo), born in Huddersfield, England (d. 2017)
- Apr 8 Murray Khouri, New Zealand classical clarinet player (Australia Ensemble), writer, and broadcaster, born in Wellington, New Zealand (d. 2018)
- Apr 8 Peggy Lennon, American pop singer (Lennon Sisters), born in Los Angeles, California
Vivienne Westwood (1941-2022)
Apr 8 English fashion designer (Vivienne Westwood), born in Tintwistle, England [1]
- Apr 9 (Princetta) Kay Adams, American country singer ("I Cried At Your Wedding,"; "Little Pink Mack"), born in Knox City, Texas
- Apr 9 Al Gafa, American jazz and session guitarist (Dizzy Gillespie; Susannah McCorkle), born in New York City
- Apr 9 Chu Song-woong, South Korean stage actor, born in Goseong, South Gyeongsang, South Korea (d. 1985)
- Apr 9 Hannah Gordon, British actress (Oh Alfie), born in Edinburgh, Scotland
- Apr 10 Mike Stratton, American football linebacker (AFL C'ship 1964, 65; AFL All-Star 1963–68; Buffalo Bills; NFL: SD Chargers), born in Vonore, Tennessee (d. 2020)
- Apr 10 Paul Theroux, American travel book writer and novelist (Mosquito Coast), born in Medford, Massachusetts
- Apr 11 Ellen Goodman, American political columnist (Pulitzer 1980), born in Newton, Massachusetts
- Apr 11 Frederick "Rick" Hauck, American astronaut (STS-7, STS 51-A, STS-26), born in Long Beach, California
- Apr 12 Bobby Moore, English football defender (108 caps; captain World Cup 1966; West Ham United), born in Barking, Essex (d. 1993)
- Apr 12 Julio Euson, Aruban-Dutch singer ("I Use The Soap"), born in Aruba
- Apr 13 Michael Stuart Brown, American geneticist (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1985), born in Brooklyn, New York
- Apr 14 Bob McCammon, Canadian ice hockey coach (Philadelphia Fllyers 1978-84, Vancouver Canucks 1987-91), born in Kenora, Ontario (d. 2021)
Pete Rose (83 years old)
Apr 14 American baseball utility (17 × MLB All-Star; NL MVP 1973; World Series 1975 [MVP], 76 Cincinnati Reds, 1980 Philadelphia Phillies) and manager (Cincinnati Reds 1984-89), banned for gambling, born in Cincinnati, Ohio
- Apr 15 Howard Berman, American attorney and politician (Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California), born in Los Angeles, California
- Apr 15 Josep Maria Fusté, Spanish soccer midfielder (8 caps; FC Barcelona), born in Linyola, Spain (d. 2023)
- Apr 15 Roman Balayan, Ukrainian-Armenian director (Filer, Biryuk), born in Nerkin Horatagh, Nagorno-Karabakh AO, Azerbaijan
- Apr 16 Cliff Stearns, American businessman and politician (Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida), born in Washington, D.C.
- Apr 17 Adolphus Hailstork, American composer (EarthRise (A Song of Healing); Ghosts in Grey and Blue), and educator, born in Rochester, New York
- Apr 17 Max Stafford-Clark, English artistic director (Royal Court Theatre), born in Cambridge, England
- Apr 18 Michael D. Higgins, Irish politician (9th President of Ireland 2011-), born in Limerick, Ireland
- Apr 18 Walt Sweeney, American football offensive lineman (9 × Pro Bowl; First-team All-Pro 1967, 68; San Diego Chargers), born in Cohasset, Massachusetts (d. 2013)
- Apr 19 Michel Roux, French chef and restaurateur (Le Gavroche, 1st Michelin three-starred restaurant in Britain), born in Charolles, Saône-et-Loire, Vichy France (d. 2020)
- Apr 19 Roberto Carlos, Brazilian singer and songwriter (Louco por você), born in Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Brazil
- Apr 20 Grace Coddington, Welsh born fashion editor and model (American Vogue), born on Anglesey, Wales
- Apr 20 Joni Evans, American publisher (Simon & Schuster, Random House), born in New York City
- Apr 20 Mustafa Hasanagić, Serbian soccer striker (5 caps Yugoslavia; Partizan, Servette FC, FC La Chaux-de-Fonds) and manager (MKE Ankaragücü), born in Priboj, Serbia (d. 2023)
- Apr 20 Ryan O'Neal, American actor (Love Story; Paper Moon; What's Up, Doc?), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 2023) [1]
- Apr 21 (Alfred) "Pee Wee" Ellis, American jazz, funk, and rock saxophonist, arranger (James Brown; Van Morrison; Gotham; Maceo Parker), and songwriter ("The Chicken; "Cold Sweat"), born in Bradenton, Florida (d. 2021)
- Apr 21 David Lyle Boren, American politician, Governor and Senator from Oklahoma, born in Washington, D.C.
- Apr 23 Ed Stewart, British DJ and broadcaster (Crackerjack), born in Exmouth, Devon (d. 2016)
- Apr 23 Hal Daub, American lawyer and politician, (US Representative from Nebraska, 1981-89; Mayor of Omaha. 1995-2001), born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina
- Apr 23 Jacqueline Boyer [Eliane Ducos], French pop singer ("Tom Pillibi"), born in Paris
- Apr 23 Michael Lynne, American film producer (The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones), born in Brooklyn, New York
- Apr 23 Paavo Lipponen, Prime Minister of Finland (1995-2003), born in Turtola, Finland
- Apr 23 Ray Tomlinson, American computer programmer (invented email and the @ sign), born in Amsterdam, New York (d. 2016)
- Apr 24 John Williams, Australian classical guitarist, born in Melbourne, Victoria
- Apr 24 Richard Holbrooke, American diplomat (Assistant Secretary of State, UN Ambassador) and author, born in New York City (d. 2010)
- Apr 25 Bertrand Tavernier, French actor (Capt Conan, L627, Daddy Nostalgie), born in Lyon, France
- Apr 25 Lawrence J. Smith, American politician, U.S. House of Representatives from Florida (1983-93), born in Brooklyn, New York
- Apr 25 Princess Muna al-Hussein, mother of King Abdullah II of Jordan, born in Chelmondiston, Suffolk, England
- Apr 26 John Mitchell, American classical composer, organist, church music director, and opera coach, born in Hollywood, California
- Apr 27 Friedrich Goldmann, German composer and conductor, born in Siegmar-Schönau, Germany (d. 2009)
- Apr 27 Jennings Michael Burch, American writer (They Cage the Animals at Night), born in Manhattan, New York (d. 2013)
- Apr 27 Judith Blegen, American opera singer (The Magic Flute - "Papagena"), born in Lexington, Kentucky
- Apr 27 Lee Roy Jordan, American College Football HOF linebacker (Uni of Alabama; Super Bowl 1971; First-team All-Pro 1969; 5 × Pro Bowl; Dallas Cowboys), born in Excel, Alabama
- Apr 28 Ann-Margret [Olsson], Swedish-American actress (Bye Bye Birdie; Viva Las Vegas: Tommy; Grumpy Old Men), and singer, born in Valsjöbyn, Sweden
- Apr 28 Iryna Zhylenko, Ukrainian poet (An Evening Party in an Old Winery), born in Kyiv, Ukraine
- Apr 28 K. Barry Sharpless, American chemist (Nobel 2001 - developing the first chiral catalysts, Nobel 2022 - click chemistry), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Apr 28 Lucien Aimar, French cyclist (Tour de France General classification 1966), born in Hyères, France
- Apr 29 Jonah Barrington, British World champion squash player (1966-73)
- Apr 30 Johnny Farina, American rocker (Santo & Johnny), born in Brooklyn, New York City
- Apr 30 Joseph "Coke" Escovedo, Mexican-American percussionist (Santana; Malo; Azteca), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 1986)
- Apr 30 Wilfried Jentzsh, German composer, born in Dresden, Germany
Famous Weddings
- Apr 19 Youngest Mitford sister Deborah Mitford marries Andrew Cavendish, son of the Duke of Devonshire in London
Famous Deaths
- Apr 1 Hippolyte Delehaye, Flemish historian and hagiographer, dies at 81
- Apr 2 Pál Teleki, prime minister of the Kingdom of Hungary (1920-1 and 1939-41), dies at 61
- Apr 3 Pal Teleki-von Szek, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Hungary (1920-21, 39-41), committed suicide at 61
- Apr 5 Sir Nigel Gresley, Steam locomotive engineer (b. 1876)
- Apr 10 Dorothy Wilde [Dolly Wilde], English socialite, niece of Oscar Wilde, dies at 45
Annie Jump Cannon (1863-1941)
Apr 13 American astronomer (Henry Draper catalogues), dies at 77
- Apr 14 Guillermo Kahlo, German-Mexican photographer and father of Frida Kahlo, dies at 69
- Apr 14 Jack Edmonson, Australian corporal in Tobruk (Victoria Cross), dies
- Apr 16 Josiah Stamp, 1st Baron Stamp, British civil servant, industrialist, economist, statistician and banker, dies at 60
- Apr 17 Al Bowlly, South African-British dance band vocalist ("Midnight, The Stars, And You"), and bandleader, dies in a German bombing raid of London at 43
- Apr 18 Alexandros Koryzis, Prime Minister of Greece in 1941, commits suicide at about 65 as German troops closed in on Athens
- Apr 19 Johanna Muller-Hermann, composer, dies at 63
- Apr 20 Barend ter Haar, Dutch lawyer. Indonesian Adat justice, and educator, dies in Buchenwald concentration camp at 49
- Apr 22 (Arthur) "Dooley" Briscoe MC, South African cricket batsman (2 Tests; Transvaal) and soldier (Military Cross, 1941), dies in action in Ethiopia at 30
- Apr 24 Karin Boye, Swedish writer (Kallocain) commits suicide at 40
- Apr 26 Jean Demoor, Belgian physician and physiologist, dies at 74
- Apr 27 Penelope Delta, Greek author, dies at 67
- Apr 30 Edwin S. Porter, American film pioneer and producer (Jack and the Beanstalk), dies at 71