About the day » Wednesday May 8, 1940Calender converter

• Doodgeboren kind Gemen, Eindhoven, Noord-Brabant, Nederland († 1940)
• Gerhardus Johannes Maria Alferink, Hengelo († 2023)
• Hilvert Hoitzing, Stadskanaal, Groningen, Nederland († 2018)
• Gerrit Schepers, Emmen, Nederland († 1948)
• Anneke DE VRIES, Ternaard (Westdongeradeel) Friesland Netherlands († 1970)
• Andries Emmink, Havelte († 2010)
• Irma Jean Vanderstarre, Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan, Verenigde Staten († 2019)
• Harald Metzer, Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Duitsland († 2005)
• Agatha Theresia van Konijnenburg, Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, Nederland († 1945)
• Jannes de Jager, Drijber († 2006)

• Bernarda Maria Nijhuis (30), Hengelo, Overijssel, Netherlands
• Adriana Hoek (96), Sint Maartensdijk, Tholen, Zeeland, The Netherlands
• arthur aimable ANDRY (38), Warquignies (Belgium)
• Alexander Hirsch (67), Holocaust
• Anna Elisabeth Zilm (85), New Zealand
• Abraham de Vries (66), Haarlem, Noord-Holland, Nederland
• Albertus Wiltink (54), Colmschate (Diepenveen)
• Adriana VAN DER LINDEN (82), Houten,Utrecht,Netherlands
• Sluiter, Christina Antoinetta (84), Rotterdam
• Alida Blommaert (83), Heemstede, Noord-Holland, Nederland

• 1939 » Paul Drayton, American sprinter († 2010)
• 1940 » Emilio Delgado, Mexican-American actor, "Sesame Street"
• 1940 » Irwin Cotler, Canadian lawyer and politician, 47th Canadian Minister of Justice
• 1940 » James Blyth, Baron Blyth of Rowington, English businessman and academic
• 1940 » Peter Benchley, American author and screenwriter († 2006)
• 1940 » Ricky Nelson, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor († 1985)
• 1940 » Toni Tennille, American singer-songwriter and keyboard player
• 1941 » Bill Lockyer, American academic and politician, 30th Attorney General of California
• 1941 » James Traficant, American lawyer and politician († 2014)
• 1941 » John Fred, American singer-songwriter († 2005)

• 1936 » Oswald Spengler, German historian and philosopher (b. 1880)
• 1941 » Natalie, queen consort of Serbia (b. 1859)
• 1941 » Tore Svennberg, Swedish actor and director (b. 1858)
• 1942 » Nikolai Reek, Estonian general and politician, 11th Estonian Minister of War (b. 1890)
• 1943 » Mordechai Anielewicz, Polish commander (b. 1919)
• 1944 » Themistoklis Diakidis, Greek high jumper (b. 1882)
• 1945 » Bernhard Rust, German lieutenant and politician (b. 1883)
• 1945 » Frank Bourne, British soldier, last survivor of the Battle of Rorke's Drift (b. 1854)
• 1945 » Josef Terboven, German lieutenant and politician (b. 1898)
• 1945 » Wilhelm Rediess, German SS officer (b. 1900)

• 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 10 » The Soviet Union begins mass deportations of Polish citizens from occupied eastern Poland to Siberia.
• May 7 » World War II: The Norway Debate in the British House of Commons begins, and leads to the replacement of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain with Winston Churchill three days later.
• July 6 » Story Bridge, a major landmark in Brisbane, as well as Australia's longest cantilever bridge is formally opened.
• July 19 » World War II: Battle of Cape Spada: The Royal Navy and the Regia Marina clash; the Italian light cruiser Bartolomeo Colleoni sinks, with 121 casualties.
• October 1 » The Pennsylvania Turnpike, often considered the first superhighway in the United States, opens to traffic.
• November 23 » World War II: Romania becomes a signatory of the Tripartite Pact, officially joining the Axis powers.

The temperature on May 8, 1940 was between 7.7 °C and 14.6 °C and averaged 10.9 °C. There was 5.4 hours of sunshine (35%). The average windspeed was 3 Bft (moderate breeze) and was prevailing from the north-northeast.