About the day » Sunday May 12, 1940Calender converter

• Jan Willem van der Leun, Meerkerk (Zederik), Zuid-Holland, Nederland († 2023)
• Geuje Winters, St. Jansklooster, Overijssel, Nederland († 2017)
• Johannes Bernardus Coersen, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Nederland († 1963)
• Cornelia Antonia van Kampen, Noordwijk († 2012)
• Annigje Femmigje Bouwhuis, Bergentheim († 2009)
• Engelina Cornelia Jacoba van Wijk, Schiedam, ZH Netherlands († 1999)
• Jan Wesley Bonnema († 2021)
• Jacob Keetman, Stroet-gem.St.Maarten († 2008)
• Jan van Pinxteren, Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, Nederland († 2008)
• Cornelia Antonia Petronella van Kampen, Noordwijk († 2012)

• Adriaan Franciscus Lansbergen (0), Rotterdam
• Adrianus Bertens (59), Tilburg
• Sol (83)
• Aagje Vos (85), Hillegersberg
• adrianus DOOLAARD (30), sint oedenrode
• Adriana Johanna Fransen (15), Rotterdam
• Adrianus Jacobus verhoeff (40), Rotterdam
• Adrianus Havermans (61), Wouw, Noord Brabant, Nederland
• Aagje Jacobs Visser (34), unbekannt
• Adrianus Jacobus Verhoef (40), Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, Nederland

• 1938 » Millie Perkins, American actress
• 1939 » Cyril Chantler, English pediatrician and academic
• 1939 » Jalal Dabagh, Kurdish journalist and politician
• 1939 » Miltiadis Evert, Greek minister and politician, 69th Mayor of Athens († 2011)
• 1939 » Reg Gasnier, Australian rugby league player, coach, and sportscaster († 2014)
• 1939 » Ron Ziegler, American politician, White House Press Secretary († 2003)
• 1940 » Lill Lindfors, Swedish singer
• 1940 » Norman Whitfield, American songwriter and producer († 2008)
• 1941 » Ruud de Wolff, Dutch singer († 2000)
• 1942 » Ian Dury, English singer-songwriter († 2000)

• 1925 » Amy Lowell, American poet and critic (b. 1874)
• 1931 » Eugène Ysaÿe, Belgian violinist, composer, and conductor (b. 1858)
• 1935 » Józef Piłsudski, Polish field marshal and politician, 15th Prime Minister of Poland (b. 1867)
• 1944 » Arthur Quiller-Couch, English author, poet, and critic (b. 1863)
• 1944 » Max Brand, American journalist and author (b. 1892)
• 1956 » Louis Calhern, American actor and singer (b. 1895)
• 1957 » Alfonso de Portago, Spanish bobsledder and race car driver (b. 1928)
• 1957 » Erich von Stroheim, Austrian-American actor, director, and producer (b. 1885)
• 1963 » Richard Girulatis, German footballer and manager (b. 1878)
• 1963 » Robert Kerr, Irish-Canadian sprinter and coach (b. 1882)

1. Jan
2. Johannes
3. Cornelis
4. Hendrik
5. Willem
6. Gerrit
7. Pieter
8. Jacob
9. Robert
10. Adrianus
11. Petrus
12. Jacobus
13. Wilhelmus
14. Gerardus
15. Dirk
16. Johan

1. Maria
2. Johanna
3. Anna
4. Cornelia
5. Elisabeth
6. Wilhelmina
7. Hendrika
8. Adriana
9. Catharina
10. Petronella
11. Geertruida
12. Jacoba
13. Margaretha
14. Annie
15. Marie
16. Aaltje

• Koningin Wilhelmina (Huis van Oranje-Nassau) was from 1890 till 1948 sovereign of the Netherlands (also known as Koninkrijk der Nederlanden)
• In The Netherlands , there was from August 10, 1939 to September 3, 1940 the cabinet De Geer II, with Jonkheer mr. D.J. de Geer (CHU) as prime minister.
• In The Netherlands , there was from September 3, 1940 to July 27, 1941 the cabinet Gerbrandy I, with Prof. dr. P.S. Gerbrandy (ARP) as prime minister.
• The Netherlands had about 8.8 million citizens.
• February 16 » World War II: Altmark incident: The German tanker Altmark is boarded by sailors from the British destroyer HMSCossack. 299 British prisoners are freed.
• May 15 » USSSailfish is recommissioned. It was originally the USS Squalus.
• June 3 » Franz Rademacher proposes plans to make Madagascar the "Jewish homeland", an idea that had first been considered by 19th century journalist Theodor Herzl.
• June 28 » Romania cedes Bessarabia (current-day Moldova) to the Soviet Union after facing an ultimatum.
• July 25 » General Henri Guisan orders the Swiss Army to resist German invasion and makes surrender illegal.
• October 1 » The Pennsylvania Turnpike, often considered the first superhighway in the United States, opens to traffic.

The temperature on May 12, 1940 was between 2.4 °C and 13.3 °C and averaged 7.9 °C. There was 5.2 hours of sunshine (34%). The average windspeed was 4 Bft (moderate breeze) and was prevailing from the northwest.