Events from the year 1945 in France.
Incumbents Chairman of the Provisional Government (also Prime Minister): Charles de Gaulle
Events 1 January? – Jean-Paul Sartre refuses the Legion of Honour. 6 February – Writer Robert Brasillach executed for collaboration with the Germans. 9 March – Japanese coup d'état in French Indochina: Japanese forces overthrow the Vichy French Decoux Government in Vietnam. 2 May – Colette is the first woman to be admitted to the Académie Goncourt. 7 May – General Alfred Jodl signs unconditional surrender terms at Rheims, ending Germany's participation in the war. The document takes effect the next day. 8 May – World War II ends in Europe. 8–29 May – In Algeria, French troops kill an estimated 6,000 Algerian citizens in the Sétif massacre. 23 July – Marshal Philippe Pétain, chief of state of Vichy France goes on trial, charged with treason. 31 July – Pierre Laval, fugitive former prime minister of Vichy France, surrenders to Allied soldiers in Austria. 19–30 August – Việt Minh under Ho Chi Minh carry out the August Revolution in Vietnam. October – École nationale d'administration established. 15 October – Pierre Laval, former prime minister of Vichy France, is executed by firing squad for treason. 21 October – Legislative Election held. Women are allowed to vote for the first time. 13 November – Charles de Gaulle elected head of a French provisional government. 2 December – French banks (Banque de France, BNCI, CNEP, Crédit Lyonnais and Société Générale) are nationalized. 21 December – André Malraux is appointed minister of information by de Gaulle. Duralex glass tableware manufacturers established in La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin. La tennis Bensimon business is founded.Elle magazine article (in French)
Births 22 January – Jean-Pierre Nicolas, racing driver and manager 17 February – Bernard Rapp, film director and television news presenter (died 2006) 4 April – Daniel Cohn-Bendit, political activist and politician 7 April – Joël Robuchon, chef (died 2018) 15 April – Christian Bergelin, politician (died 2008) 15 June – Françoise Chandernagor, writer 16 June – François Rossé, composer (died 2026) 20 June – Jean-Claude Izzo, poet, playwright, screenwriter and novelist (died 2000) 27 June – Catherine Lacoste, golfer 30 July – Patrick Modiano, novelist, Nobel laureate 12 August – Jean Nouvel, architect 27 August – Catherine Leroy, photojournalist and photographer (died 2006) 12 October – Aurore Clément, actress 13 October – Christophe (Daniel Bevilacqua), singer-songwriter (died 2020) 16 October – Pascal Sevran, television presenter and author (died 2008) 28 October – François-Xavier Verschave, a founder of NGO Survie (died 2005)
Deaths 5 February - Denise Bloch, heroine of World War II (born 1916) Lilian Rolfe, heroine of World War II (born 1914) Violette Szabo, World War II Allied secret agent (born 1921) 6 February – Robert Brasillach, author, executed for collaboration (born 1909) 23 March – Elisabeth de Rothschild, World War II heroine (born 1902) 30 March – Élise Rivet, nun and World War II heroine (born 1890) 3 April – Raoul Dutheil, footballer (born 1903) 8 June – Robert Desnos, surrealist poet (born 1900) 20 July – Paul Valéry, poet, essayist and philosopher (born 1871) 8 August – Le Pétomane (Joseph Pujol), flatulist (born 1857) 15 October – Pierre Laval, politician and Prime Minister, executed (born 1883) 26 October – Paul Pelliot, sinologist and explorer (born 1878)
See also List of French films of 1945
References