About the day » Wednesday May 31, 1944Calender converter

• Hendrik Frederik Hergt, Amsterdam, Gemeente Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Nederland († 1944)
• Michel Vos, Eindhoven († 1998)
• Gertrude Visserman, Zwolle, Overijssel, Nederland († 2018)
• Antonia Laven, Leiden († 1945)
• Christa Jozef Mathilda Verreet, Nijlen, België († 2020)
• Annigje Gijsberdina Kreukniet († 1998)
• Eduard Kwint, Utrecht, Utrecht, Nederland († 1945)
• Elisabeth Wilhelmina Traas, Kruiningen
• Gerrit Eersen, Putten († 2014)
• Hielkje van der Heide, opende, 9865, Nederland († 2011)

• Alphons Henricus Testers (30), Roosendaal en Nispen, Noord-Brabant, Nederland
• Adrianus Marinus REBBENS (27), Roosendaal
• Adriaan Schouwenaar (73), Wemeldinge
• * Annigje Adriana Oskam (75), Jutphaas
• Adrianus Petrus Henricus Somers (64), Roosendaal (Nl)
• Adrianus Marinus Rebbens, Roosendaal en Nispen, Noord-Brabant, Nederland
• Agatha Maria Cornelia Hoekstra (56), Poortugaal, Zuid-Holland, Nederland
• Alida Cornelia Overwater (86), Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Nederland
• Adriana Cornelia Hesemans (33), Culemborg, Gelderland, Nederland
• Aldert Henderikus Schenkel (19), Roodeschool, Nederland

• 1941 » June Clark, Welsh nurse and educator
• 1943 » Joe Namath, American football player, sportscaster, and actor
• 1943 » Sharon Gless, American actress
• 1945 » Bernard Goldberg, American journalist and author
• 1945 » Laurent Gbagbo, Ivorian academic and politician, 4th President of Côte d'Ivoire
• 1945 » Rainer Werner Fassbinder, German actor, director, and screenwriter († 1982)
• 1946 » Debbie Moore, English model and businesswoman
• 1946 » Krista Kilvet, Estonian journalist, politician, and diplomat († 2009)
• 1946 » Steve Bucknor, Jamaican cricketer and umpire
• 1946 » Ted Baehr, American publisher and critic

• 1931 » Felix-Raymond-Marie Rouleau, Canadian cardinal (b. 1866)
• 1931 » Willy Stöwer, German author and illustrator (b. 1864)
• 1945 » Odilo Globocnik, Italian-Austrian SS officer (b. 1904)
• 1954 » Antonis Benakis, Greek art collector and philanthropist, founded the Benaki Museum (b. 1873)
• 1957 » Leopold Staff, Polish poet and academic (b. 1878)
• 1957 » Stefanos Sarafis, Greek general and politician (b. 1890)
• 1960 » Walther Funk, German economist, journalist, and politician, German Minister of Economics (b. 1890)
• 1960 » Willem Elsschot, Flemish author and poet (b. 1882)
• 1962 » Henry F. Ashurst, American lawyer and politician (b. 1874)
• 1967 » Billy Strayhorn, American pianist and composer (b. 1915)

• 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 July 27, 1941 to February 23, 1945 the cabinet Gerbrandy II, with Prof. dr. P.S. Gerbrandy (ARP) as prime minister.
• The Netherlands had about 9.1 million citizens.
• April 25 » The United Negro College Fund is incorporated.
• April 26 » Heinrich Kreipe is captured by Allied commandos in occupied Crete.
• June 25 » World War II: United States Navy and British Royal Navy ships bombard Cherbourg to support United States Army units engaged in the Battle of Cherbourg.
• August 2 » World War II: The largest trade convoy of the world wars arrives safely in the Western Approaches.
• September 12 » World War II: The liberation of Yugoslavia from Axis occupation continues. Bajina Bašta in western Serbia is among the liberated cities.
• October 27 » World War II: German forces capture Banská Bystrica during Slovak National Uprising thus bringing it to an end.

The temperature on May 31, 1944 was between 11.1 °C and 22.3 °C and averaged 16.9 °C. There was 14.0 hours of sunshine (86%). The average windspeed was 4 Bft (moderate breeze) and was prevailing from the northeast.