Some dates are remembered across countries for the events they represent. May 9 is closely linked with the end of World War II in Europe, political transformation and moments that shaped international relations. Here is a fact-checked look at five notable events tied to this day.
Channel Tunnel construction agreement signed (1986)
On May 9, 1986, France and the United Kingdom signed the agreement to build the Channel Tunnel, linking the two countries through an undersea rail tunnel beneath the English Channel.
Rabindranath Tagore born (1861)
Nobel Prize-winning poet, writer and philosopher Rabindranath Tagore was born on May 9, 1861, in Kolkata. He became the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature and is widely celebrated for works such as Gitanjali. Tagore also composed the national anthems of India and Bangladesh.
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Victory Day celebrated in Russia and parts of Europe
Victory Day is observed on May 9 in Russia and several former Soviet countries to commemorate the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. The date remains one of the most significant military remembrance days in the region.
Europe Day observed by the European Union
Europe Day is celebrated on May 9 to mark the Schuman Declaration of 1950, proposed by French foreign minister Robert Schuman. The declaration laid the foundation for modern European integration and the eventual formation of the European Union.
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Nelson Mandela elected South Africa’s first Black president (1994)
On May 9, 1994, Nelson Mandela was elected as South Africa’s first Black president by the newly chosen National Assembly after the country’s first fully democratic elections.
