King George VI officially opened the 11th modern-day Olympic Games at the Wembley Arena in London, UK.
South Korea elected Syngman Rhee as their first president.
The Berlin Blockade begins.
Manchester Mark I computer became the first stored computer to run a program at a lab at Manchester University, UK.
Egypt, Syria, Transjordan and Iraq invade Israel.
Israel declared independence from the British administration.
The United Nations formed the World Health Organization (WHO).
Harry S. Truman signs the Marshall Plan.
The UK, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France signed the Treaty of Brussels.
Czechoslovakia becomes a communist state following a coup d'etat.
Ceylon (Sri Lanka) proclaims independence within the British Commonwealth.
Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated.
The Flag of Quebec was adopted and flown for the first time over the National Assembly of Quebec.
Burma declared independence from the United Kingdom.
Last king of Romania steps down.
The French Army massacred more than 300 civilians in the Vietnamese village of Mỹ Trạch.
Queen Elizabeth II married Philip Mountbatten at Westminster Abbey in London.
Maharaja Hari Singh agrees to the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India.
US Air Force Captain Chuck Yeager became the first-ever person to break the speed of sound, flying the Bell X-1 at 662 miles per hour.
Harry Truman delivers first‑ever presidential speech on TV.
India Becomes Independent From British Rule.
Pakistan gained independence from the British Empire – a day before India's independence.
President Harry Truman signed the National Security Act.
British Princess Elizabeth got engaged to Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten.
A flying saucer crash at Roswell, New Mexico, was broadcasted to the public.
Rosewell UFO sighting.
The Soviet Union started mass producing the AK-47 assault rifle.
Swedish company Saab, previously known for making aircraft, produced their first automobile.
Thor Heyerdahl begins his legendary journey on Kon-Tiki.
President Harry Truman opened the two-lane White House bowling alley.
The Texas City industrial incident occurred, killing 536 people.
The first Tony Awards were handed out at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.
The Truman doctrine is proclaimed.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is formed.
An anti-government uprising took place in Taiwan, where around 28,000 people lost their lives.
The state of Prussia is dissolved.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) begins operating.
US General Eisenhower bid to raise $170 million in aid to help European Jews.
Edwin Land presented his Polaroid photo product, the world's first instant photos, in New York City.
The temperature plunged to -81.4°F in Snag, Yukon, Canada, making it the coldest recorded temperature in North America.
US President Harry Truman officially proclaimed the end of World War II.
UNICEF founded.
Trial of the Major War Criminals end.
Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong's flagship airline, was founded.
Interim government of India is formed.
World's first theme park opens its doors in in Santa Claus, Indiana, USA.
The Philippines gained its independence as a nation after 381 years of colonial rule.
Bhumibol Adulyadej is crowned King of Thailand.
The United States Supreme Court declared that it was unlawful to discriminate in interstate travel.
Italians voted to form a republic instead of a monarchy.
